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Syllabus Eng. 364 The ShoRt Story spring 2026

Instructor Information

Instructional Materials

The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction
Compact 10th Ed.
rent a textbook info
Ann Charters
Bedford St. Martins

ISBN13:9781319531478

Supplemental Readings & Online Resources

You will find relevant reading materialsand additional online resources on our Canvas course.

You are enrolled in a course which is part of the myCSUNDigitalAccess (MCDA) program.

    The MCDA program provides digital materials to students at a deeply discounted price.
  1. Either some, or all, of your materials for this course are being provided digitally through the MCDA program
  2. ALL enrolled students will have access to the materials through Canvas by the 1st day of class, but more likely earlier.
  3. A charge will be placed on your CSUN student portal account (much like tuition, but a separate charge), which you must pay to the University. You will maintain access to your materials unless you choose to Opt-Out.
  4. If you choose to obtain your materials elsewhere you have until FRIDAY, 2/13 to complete the Opt-Out process (see instructions below). Once your Opt Out request has been submitted, your access to the materials will be removed. MCDA charges can be left unpaid and will be removed from your student account after the Opt-Out deadline (2/13/26).
  5. It is highly recommended to stay opted in if you are using courseware (Connect, MindTap, MyLab, Inquizitive, etc.). This ensures you don’t lose access to assignments and that you are paying the lowest price for the material.
  6. The Opt-Out process must be completed by Friday, 2/13 to avoid course material charges. Students who do not Opt-Out prior to the deadline (Friday, 2/13) will maintain access to their course materials and the charge will not be removed from their student account.

Opt Out Instructions

If you wish to opt out of this program and not receive access to the required digital materials, please follow the steps below no later than February 13, 2026:

  1. Go to https://accessportal.follett.com/0150.
  2. Click on Create an Account on the lower right.
  3. Create an account using your CSUN email account.
  4. Select the course(s) you wish to Opt-Out from.
  5. You will receive an email confirming your Opt Out selection, access will be removed, and you will need to purchase the materials elsewhere on your own.
  6. If you need further assistance, please email digitalaccess@csun.edu .

Additional Materials

Never throw anything away that you do for this class. Save everything!!

  1. We will use Canvas for our classroom. You must have a CSUN email account to access Canvas.
  2. Go the CSUN Account Utility Page at: https://www.csun.edu/account/ to get your CSUN email ID and password.
  3. If you have problems with this, call the ITR HelpDesk at 818-677-1400.
  4. To log on to Canvas, please go to www.csun.edu, click on Canvas, and log in with your CSUN ID and
    password.

 

 

Policies

Engl. Dept. Grading Scale (only):Grades are not negotiated. They are earned!

Standards of Student Conduct

CSUN Policy & Procedures

My Classroom Policies - Review GAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence) policies closely

 

 

Student Learning Objectives & Outcomes

Specific areas of concentration, and aspects by which you will be graded, & by the end of semester should be able to do as follows:
  1. To identify the elements of fiction;
  2. To explain how the elements of fiction contribute to the analysis of short stories;
  3. To understand how literary movements of the past two centuries affected the development of the short story;
  4. To explore how the literary, intellectual, historical, and social contexts of a time period impact short stories;
  5. To explore the representation of race, class, gender, and sexual orientation in the stories
  6. To trace different attitudes as seen in literature during different periods of writing
  7. To think about the relationships between the stories we read and what goes on in our own world;
  8. To improve critical thinking and writing skills;
  9. To scrutinize relevant critical debates about the time periods under consideration,
  10. To understand concepts of intertextuality, i.e. how select authors relate to their precursors,
  11. To analyze and compare critical reviews and secondary literature
  12. To organize essays about the readings in an effective manner (including creating a thesis
    statement to structure the essay as a whole as well as supporting claims by using relevant
    textual evidence and reasoning),
  13. To deliver oral presentations;
  14. To demonstrate satisfactory competence in the conventions of Edited American English and the elements of presentation (including layout, format, and printing);
  15. To enjoy the stories and to have fun while learning.
  16. To apply the basics of 9th Edition MLA documentation style.

 

Course Information Overview

Course Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Preparatory: Upper division standing. A study of the short story, beginning with careful examination of some classics in the genre, followed by analysis of more contemporary works. Critical writing required. (Available for General Education, C2 Humanities.) (WI).

Course Description

Preparatory: Completion of lower-division writing requirement and upper-division standing. Not for credit in the English major or minor. Study of the short story, beginning with careful examination of some classics in the genre, followed by analysis of more contemporary works. Critical writing required. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities).
This course will focus on the genre of the short story, from its inception in the early 19th century to modern times. We will look at how basic literary modes and techniques function in the pieces that we read. We will explore how factors such as, close reading, discussion, literary analysis, and critical writing, impact our understanding and appreciation of this genre.

CSUN's GE Upper Division Writing Policy states that all upper-division required GE courses be designated writing-intensive. In each such course, students will be required to complete writing assignments totaling a minimum of 2,500 words.

This course requires intensive reading and writing as well as engaged participation in classroom projects and discussions.  You will be learning as much from each other as you will from the textbooks, your research, and the instructor; the success of the class depends on your active participation. Your attendance and participation are required.  Late arrivals and early departures will impact your course grade.  (See My Classroom Policies above.)

 

Class Technology

Keep in mind that this is a fully online class. Please make sure you are giving yourself enough time to complete the assignments for the course to minimize any unforeseen challenges. I strongly encourage you not to wait until the last minute before the deadlines to complete the assignments or the final exam. I have tried to give you a flexible window to complete the assignments from when they post to when they are due (which will be listed on the Canvas site), as well as the window that the final exam is open. If you ever have any technical difficulties accessing the Canvas site materials you are welcome to email me or you can contact the CSUN IT department that can be reached at (818) 677-1400. Their hours are Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm.

Course Etiquette

Your online participation is crucial, not only for you but for your classmates, too! You all have something of unique value to add to the class environment based on your life experience, background, ethnic and cultural heritage. Please be graceful and generous and share your talents and knowledge with all of us. I see our online classroom as a nurturing place of compassion where we all engage with one another to grow. Please contact me if you should have special requests or questions about our class. I anticipate an enjoyable, interactive, and productive semester!

Requirements

 

English 364 is an upper division general education course in the genre of the short story! In this discussion-based virtual classroom, we will study a variety of stories with varying themes, written at different periods of time, and authored by a diverse group of writers. The goal of our course is to appreciate the short story as a genre of literature and to enhance students' analytical reading and writing skills.

a. 10% Participation and Attendance -- see below

b. 15% Journals & Online Discussion Boards - Throughout the semester, you will keep an online journal (12-15 entries, typed, 250-300 words) which will provide a space for you to critically respond to class readings and assignments. You will submit your journal entries on Canvas.

Your online discussion board entries will be evaluated on the basis of the thoughtfulness and substance of your comments. The online entries and discussions will help you to critically reflect on the texts under scrutiny and build a supportive classroom community.  Some discussion boards are going to be creative, encouraging you to tap into a different learning style.

Your entries are not to consist of summary, but rather you are to react, respond, analyze, and synthesize your thoughts regarding our readings. 

c. 10% Weekly Quizzes  - Weekly online quizzes on assigned readings for the week to include short stories and accompanying critical readings for that week.

d. 15% Presentations -- You will be asked to give an online presentation (using PowerPoint/Google slides/Panopto/ another dynamic media to include voiceover) which will consist of a short biography of your assigned author and their work; instead of presenting an author’s biography, you might also be assigned a research article which you will summarize and evaluate. If you were assigned a research article, you will argue the extent to which you agree or disagree with the article by comparing the scholar’s take on a given text with your analysis of that literary text. For the date, please review the weekly schedule/Canvas.   

 

e. 30% Analytical Essays -- You will write two substantive, thesis-driven out-of-class essays (4-5 pages worth 12% and 5 -6 pages worth 18 %). Specific requirements for papers will be described in each assignment sheet (on Canvas). All out-of- class essays are to be typed on a computer, double-spaced with standard margins and font sizes, and citations must follow MLA 9th edition guidelines. Consult weekly schedule for due dates.

Essays- All must be submitted via Canvas in a timely manner for credit. Only Google Docs saved as a pdfs will be acepted for essay submission and instructor must be added as editor to your google docs essay.  Essays will not be accepted in any other manner. Google doc URL must be included in submission as well. 

f. 20% Final Essay-The final exam will be an essay that reflects on the texts we have read in class.                                       

 

 

Learning Resource Writing Center click here!

The writing center is located in the Oviatt Library 3rd floor east wing and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis.

LRC visits are strongly recommended for each analytical essay this semester. Tell them to alert me.

Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each major essay!

 

CLASS PARTICIPATION 10 % will also be based on:

Since a significant part of this class will be based on active student participation in class discussion, and/or assigned presentations, it is essential that students attend class regularly, ask questions, and offer their impressions, ideas and opinions for classroom dialogue. In order to participate effectively, students must come prepared.

1. In addition to preparing your dynamic oral presentation with voiceover, you will also facilitate an in-class discussion by supplyng 3-4 questions classmembers must post reponses to.

You are assessed on how you interact with your peers and me in class discussion, individual presentations, email, Canvas posts, and group work of any kind.

2. Reading Assignments--You are expected to do all conscientiously and in a timely fashion.The reading assignments are to be done by the day due. "I have not been able to purchase my textbook yet" is NOT an acceptible excuse. You are required to participate in the onlie or iin class discussions and you cannot do so if you have not read the assignment. In order to earn full participation credit, students will need to participate every time class meets is requred for submission.

3. Assignments are due on the date stated on the syllabus either prior to, or during the class period. A computer problem is not an excuse for a late paper; campus labs are open late into the night. Do your work early in the week so that you're not late to class because you're still downloading/uploading. Keep extra copies of hard copies, or duplicate flash drives or CDs, OR better yet, email your papers to yourself.

4. Make sure your name, my name, our course & session number, and the date, per MLA 9th edition with header format, & 1 inch margins all around, left justified, is on "everything" you turn in.

5. Do not commit the academic faux paux of emailing me to ask "Did I miss anything?" You are responsible for obtaining assignments when you miss class either from accessing them from our course syllabus page OR from Canvas or asking your classmates for a copy. Obtain the emails of several other students to ask about schedule changes, assignments, & class activities