.

English 364OL - The Short Story

Course Number: 13061

Wednesday 7-9:45pm

---

Week One - Wednesday, August 27th

Introduction to Course

NOTE: Please read & study the following links PRIOR to our first class:

Please email Instructor to Complete Registration!

Netiquette Rules: Internet Etiquette in Our Discussion Forums

Technical Requirements for WebCT as listed on Course Syllabus

Plagiarism Statement & Student Conduct Code as listed on Course Syllabus

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room
• 8:30pm - Class Meets in WebCT Discussion Forum: "Student Introductions"

Homework: Due 9/3

1. Please practice WebCT Chat & Threaded Discussions! Click on our course links to visit the appropriate tutorials. You will need to be familiar and comfortable with the online applications by next week.
2. READING ASSIGNMENT PART ONE: Please read "Introduction: On Fiction" pgs. 1-35. Take particular note of these aspects of literary analysis: POV - Point of View, Characterization, Dramatic Structure (emphasis on conflict), Imagery & Symbolism, Setting, Tone & Voice, and Theme.
3. READING ASSIGNMENT PART TWO: Please read the following short stories:
• "Everyday Use"
• "The Lottery"
4. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response to "Everyday Use" & "The Lottery" in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "CONFLICTS IN SOCIETY" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.
5. COURSE LECTURE: Please review the following online lecture: Elements of Fiction.
6. SPECIAL NOTE: All WebCT whole-class discussion forum postings will be graded 'A' for effort and thoughtfulness, and will be calculated into your overall participation grade. Initial responses must be posted prior to class time in order to be eligible to receive maximum credit. Please be on time to all class-time discussions so you may have sufficient time to read and respond to your peers. Carefully read each homework requirement -- our week to week schedule will vary. For some stories, you will be required to Email a response to the Instructor AND post in a Whole-Class Forum. On occasion, you will be required to respond in only ONE way - a forum OR an email. For Emailed responses, you will be asked to analyze specific elements that are listed in the homework requirements. Please paste your analysis into the body of the email!!! For Whole-Class Forums, you will find that each WebCT forum has its own question and posting instructions. You will need to post your responses to all our readings BEFORE the class meetings. Consider our Whole-Class Forums as part of our class discussion. Throughout the semester, we will discuss our ideas in two formats: Whole-Class WebCT Forums and Live Chat Rooms. Each environment offers advantages for a thorough discussion and exchange of ideas. Whole-Class Forums are "teacher-free" and offer you the opportunity to "hear" from every student in class; please enjoy reading and responding to a variety of perspectives and points of view!

Week Two - Wednesday, September 3rd

Literary Theme: Conflicts in Society

Discuss "The Lottery" & "Everyday Use"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "Conflicts in Society"
• 8:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 9/10

1. COURSE LECTURE: Please review the following online lecture: Literary Theory.
2. READING ASSIGNMENT PART ONE: Please read "How to Read and Write About Fiction" pgs. 37-49.
3. Please surf the Internet for sites on Civil Rights and the Civil Rights Movement. Be prepared to share your URLs and general site information with the class in our WebCT Whole-Class Discussion Forum.
4. READING ASSIGNMENT PART TWO: Please read the following short stories:
• "Sonny's Blues"
• "A Worn Path"
5. WRITING ASSIGNMENT PART ONE: Please Email a response to both stories to the Instructor PRIOR TO our next class meeting. Please paste your analysis into the body of the email!!! Write a 250 word analysis for each, analyzing each story's use of narration. Discuss any evidence of "unreliable" narration and/or character bias -- from the first or third person point of view. YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER GRADE FOR EACH STORY ANALYSIS.
6. WRITING ASSIGNMENT PART TWO: Post your Civil Rights Internet URLs in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "OPPRESSION & CIVIL RIGHTS" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.

Week Three - Wednesday, September 10th

Literary Theme: Conflicts of Oppression & Narrator Bias/Point of View

Discuss "Sonny's Blues" & "A Worn Path"

Discuss Literary Theory

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "Oppression & Civil Rights"
• 7:45pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 9/17

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "Hills Like White Elephants"
• "Cathedral"
2. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response to "Hills Like White Elephants" & "Cathedral" in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "MINIMALIST STYLE" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.

Week Four - Wednesday, September 17th

Literary Theme: Minimalism, Subtext & Relationships

Discuss "Hills Like White Elephants" & "Cathedral"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "Minimalist Style"
• 7:45pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms
• Please exchange email addresses, phone numbers, etc., AND spend this time getting to know each other!
• Blue Group: Garrett Krell, Beth Miller, Frank Pipolo, Teri Trieu, Nar Yaghoubian
• Red Group: Yelena Avetisyan, Meg Flaharty, Brianna Marchand, Shayna Schnereger, Hermine Torabyan
• Green Group: Lex Abdoyan, Bedros Atmajian, Mariam Budagyan, Jerry Guerrero, Anna Minkova, Lindsay Munson
• Teal Group: Jon Antflick, Chris Cattan, Ari Holden, Caitlin Howison, Lauren Michaels, Tracy Todd
• Purple Group: Quintin Armstrong, David Carreon, Susan Davis, Heather Howison, Lauren Palmer, Chris Parron
• Orange Group: Sidney Allen, Stef Barodte, Cherie Coles, Richard DeVilla, Jen Dillehunt, Leigh Stewart
• 8:15pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 9/24

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "The Rocking-Horse Winner"
• "Araby"
2. COURSE LECTURE: Please review the following online lecture: Myth & Archetype: The Hero's Quest
3. WRITING ASSIGNMENT - PART ONE: Like so many stories in our anthology, "The Rocking-Horse Winner" is shaped by initiation -- perhaps even a dark initiation. Please discuss the boy's "initiation" into adulthood (and subsequent conflicts) as you Email a 250 word analysis of the Lawrence story to the Instructor PRIOR TO next week's class time. Please paste your analysis into the body of the email!!! Note that the main character follows both the hero archetype and the Oedipus Complex Theory in mythology; you may wish to compare the boy's "ordinary" world to his "special" world and/or initiation into adulthood.
4. WRITING ASSIGNMENT - PART TWO: Please post a response to "Araby" in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "ARABY" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.

Week Five - Wednesday, September 24th

Literary Theme: Setting, Identity & The Hero's Journey

Discuss "The Rocking-Horse Winner" & "Araby"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "Araby"
• 7:45pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms
• Please discuss the characters' search for personal identity (conflicts and themes of initiation and/or growth) AND the Use of symbolic language/images.
• Blue Group: Garrett Krell, Beth Miller, Frank Pipolo, Teri Trieu, Nar Yaghoubian
• Red Group: Yelena Avetisyan, Meg Flaharty, Brianna Marchand, Shayna Schnereger, Hermine Torabyan
• Green Group: Lex Abdoyan, Bedros Atmajian, Mariam Budagyan, Jerry Guerrero, Anna Minkova, Lindsay Munson
• Teal Group: Jon Antflick, Chris Cattan, Ari Holden, Caitlin Howison, Lauren Michaels, Tracy Todd
• Purple Group: Quintin Armstrong, David Carreon, Susan Davis, Heather Howison, Lauren Palmer, Chris Parron
• Orange Group: Sidney Allen, Stef Barodte, Cherie Coles, Richard DeVilla, Jen Dillehunt, Leigh Stewart
• 8:15pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 10/1

1. Please surf the Internet for sites on The Women's Suffrage Movement. Be prepared to share your URLs and ideas on women's roles throughout history, particularly the time periods of this week's assigned stories, with the class in our Whole-Class Discussion Forum.
2. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "The Yellow Wall-Paper"
• "I Stand Here Ironing"
3. WRITING ASSIGNMENT PART ONE: Please Email a 250 word analysis of each story to the Instructor PRIOR TO next week's class time. Please paste your analysis into the body of the email!!! Emphasize the characters and their conflicts (treatment of women in society) according to Feminist & Historicist Literary Theory.
4. WRITING ASSIGNMENT PART TWO: In addition, post your Women's Suffrage Movement Internet URLs in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "CONFLICTS OF WOMEN" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.

Week Six - Wednesday, October 1st

Literary Theme: Conflicts of Women

Discuss "The Yellow Wall-Paper" & "I Stand Here Ironing"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum: "Conflicts of Women"
• 7:30pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms
• Discuss the meaning of each story's title AND examine each story from a Feminist & Historicist POV as you discuss the role of women in 19th & 20th Century America.
• Blue Group: Garrett Krell, Beth Miller, Frank Pipolo, Teri Trieu, Nar Yaghoubian
• Red Group: Yelena Avetisyan, Meg Flaharty, Brianna Marchand, Shayna Schnereger, Hermine Torabyan
• Green Group: Lex Abdoyan, Bedros Atmajian, Mariam Budagyan, Jerry Guerrero, Anna Minkova, Lindsay Munson
• Teal Group: Jon Antflick, Chris Cattan, Ari Holden, Caitlin Howison, Lauren Michaels, Tracy Todd
• Purple Group: Quintin Armstrong, David Carreon, Susan Davis, Heather Howison, Lauren Palmer, Chris Parron
• Orange Group: Sidney Allen, Stef Barodte, Cherie Coles, Richard DeVilla, Jen Dillehunt, Leigh Stewart
• 8:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 10/8

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "The Man I Killed"
• "The Lives of the Dead"
2. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response to the Tim O'Brien stories in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "O'BRIEN STORIES" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.
3. MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT - DUE IN TWO WEEKS - October 15TH: For your midterm paper, you are required to read Brokeback Mountain, Story to Screenplay AND view the 2005 Ang Lee film Brokeback Mountain. The assignment is posted online at: Brokeback Mountain Midterm Paper Assignment. Please Email a 750-1000 word analysisto the Instructor PRIOR TO midnight on Wednesday, October 15th. Please paste your midterm paper into the body of the email!!! In order to give you sufficient time to prepare and complete the midterm, we will not meet as a class on October 15th.

Week Seven - Wednesday, October 8th

The Trauma of War

Discuss "The Man I Killed" & "The Lives of the Dead"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "O'Brien Stories"
• 7:45pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 10/15

1. MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT - DUE NEXT WEEK!!!: For your midterm paper, you are required to read Brokeback Mountain, Story to Screenplay AND view the 2005 Ang Lee film Brokeback Mountain. The assignment is posted online at: Brokeback Mountain Midterm Paper Assignment. Please Email a 750-1000 word analysis to the Instructor PRIOR TO midnight on Wednesday, October 15th. Please paste your midterm paper into the body of the email!!! In order to give you sufficient time to prepare and complete the midterm, we will not meet as a class next week. Good luck and enjoy this story to screenplay analysis experience!

Week Eight - Wednesday, October 15th

MIDTERM WEEK!!! No Live Chat!

EMAIL your midterm paper to Instructor PRIOR TO Midnight!!!

Homework: Due 10/22

1. GROUP PRESENTATION: Please read the GROUP SHORT STORY PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT. You will have time in our next class to meet in your small group chat rooms to discuss possible story selections. Please scan through the unassigned stories in our text and select several choices to discuss with your group. Only one group can present a given story -- so please discuss several options. NOTE: ONLY CONSIDER STORIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED -- PLEASE CHECK THE ENTIRE SCHEDULE!

Week Nine - Wednesday, October 22nd

Brokeback Mountain Discussion

Groups Select a Story for Presentation

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due 10/29

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "The Magic Barrel"
• "Idiots First"
2. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "MALAMUD'S MORAL COMPASSION" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.

Week Ten - Wednesday, October 29th

Literary Theme: Moral Compassion

Discuss "The Magic Barrel" & "Idiots First"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "Malamud's Moral Compassion"
• 7:45pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room
• 9:00pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms to work on story presentations!!!

Homework: Due 11/5

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
• "A Rose for Emily"
2. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please EMAIL a response to both stories to the Instructor prior to our next class meeting. Please paste your analysis into the body of the email!!! Write a 250 word analysis for each, applying Psychological Literary Theory to the main female characters (Granny and Emily). In other words, psychoanalyze any actions, emotions, ideas, relationships, etc. in order to determine each character's psychological state of mind. You may discuss pertinent symbols, character personality traits and conflicts to support your ideas.
3. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Continue work on group presentations.

Week Eleven - Wednesday, November 5th

Literary Theme: Psychological Literary Theory

Discuss "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" & "A Rose for Emily"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room
• 8:30pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms to work on story presentations!!!

Homework: Due 11/12

1. READING ASSIGNMENT: Please read the following short stories:
• "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"
• "A Hunger Artist"
2. COURSE LECTURE: Please review the following online lecture: Experimental Literature: Metafiction & Surrealism
3. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response to both stories in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "Fantasy & Magical Realism" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.
4. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Continue work on group presentations.

Week Twelve - Wednesday, November 12th

Literary Theme: Fantasy & Magical Realism

Discuss "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" & "A Hunger Artist"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "Fantasy & Magical Realism"
• 7:45pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room
• 9:00pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms to work on story presentations!!!

Homework: Due 11/19

1. Please read the following short stories:
• "My Life with the Wave"
• "How I Finally Lost My Heart"
2. WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Please post a response to both stories in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "Experimental Literature" PRIOR TO our next class meeting. You will have an opportunity to respond to your peers during next week's class time.
3. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Continue work on group presentations. Presentations for Red, Teal, & Purple Groups Due 12/3! Presentations for Blue, Green & Orange Groups Due 12/10! Please read ALL stories PRIOR to presentations!!!
• Blue Group Story: "The Bucket Rider" by Franz Kafka - pg. 357
• Red Group Story: "The Lady with the Dog" by Anton Chekhov - pg. 246
• Green Group Story: "Lust" by Susan Minot - pg. 835
• Teal Group Story: "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe - pg. 87
• Purple Group Story: "The Man Who Could See Radiance" by John J. Clayton - pg. 732
• Orange Group Story: "Hansel and Gretel" by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm - pg. 58
4. REMINDER: Please POST your responses in each group's WebCT discussion forum PRIOR to the group's scheduled whole-class chat room presentation/discussion!!!
5. Groups POST Story Presentations in WebCT group presentation forums on the weekend PRIOR to their scheduled presentation!

Week Thirteen - Wednesday, November 19th

Literary Theme: Experimental Techniques

Discuss "My Life with the Wave" & "How I Finally Lost My Heart"

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Discussion Forum "Experimental Literature"
• 7:45pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room
• 9:00pm - Groups Meet in Small Group Live Chat Rooms to work on story presentations!!!

Homework: Due 11/26

1. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Continue work on group presentations. Groups arrange to meet next week! We will not hold a live chat on Thanksgiving Eve! However, I am available to join you in your small group chat rooms by appointment only!
2. Presentations for Red, Teal, & Purple Groups Due 12/3! Presentations for Blue, Green & Orange Groups Due 12/10! Please read ALL stories PRIOR to presentations!!!
• Blue Group Story: "The Bucket Rider" by Franz Kafka - pg. 357
• Red Group Story: "The Lady with the Dog" by Anton Chekhov - pg. 246
• Green Group Story: "Lust" by Susan Minot - pg. 835
• Teal Group Story: "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe - pg. 87
• Purple Group Story: "The Man Who Could See Radiance" by John J. Clayton - pg. 732
• Orange Group Story: "Hansel and Gretel" by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm - pg. 58
3. REMINDER: Please POST your responses in each group's WebCT discussion forum PRIOR to the group's scheduled whole-class chat room presentation/discussion!!!
4. Groups POST Story Presentations in WebCT group presentation forums on the weekend PRIOR to their scheduled presentation!

Week Fourteen - Wednesday, November 26th

No Live Whole-Class Chat!

Groups Arrange to Meet in Small Group Chat Rooms!!!

Homework: Due 12/3

1. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Finalize work on group presentations. Presentations for Red, Teal, & Purple Groups Due 12/3! Presentations for Blue, Green & Orange Groups Due 12/10! Please read ALL stories PRIOR to presentations!!!
• Blue Group Story: "The Bucket Rider" by Franz Kafka - pg. 357
• Red Group Story: "The Lady with the Dog" by Anton Chekhov - pg. 246
• Green Group Story: "Lust" by Susan Minot - pg. 835
• Teal Group Story: "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe - pg. 87
• Purple Group Story: "The Man Who Could See Radiance" by John J. Clayton - pg. 732
• Orange Group Story: "Hansel and Gretel" by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm - pg. 58
2. REMINDER: Please POST your responses in each group's WebCT discussion forum PRIOR to the group's scheduled whole-class chat room presentation/discussion!!!
3. Groups POST Story Presentations in WebCT group presentation forums on the weekend PRIOR to their scheduled presentation!

Week Fifteen - Wednesday, December 3rd

Red, Teal & Purple Group Presentations!!!

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• Prior to Class Time POST ALL responses to WebCT Group Presentation Forums!
• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room

Homework: Due - 12/10

1. GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Finalize work on group presentations. Presentations for Blue, Green, & Orange Groups Due next week!
2. REMINDER: Please POST your responses in each group's WebCT discussion forum PRIOR to the group's scheduled whole-class chat room presentation/discussion!!!
3. Groups POST Story Presentations in WebCT group presentation forums on the weekend PRIOR to their scheduled presentation!

Week Sixteen - Wednesday, December 10th

Blue, Green & Orange Group Presentations!!!

*Today's Schedule of Class Time Activities:

• Prior to Class Time POST ALL responses to WebCT Group Presentation Forums!
• 7:00pm - Class Meets in Our WebCT Whole-Class Chat Room