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ELIT 39 Contemporary Literature see flyer http://facultyfiles.deanza.edu/gems/howlandstephen/Elit39Draft1.doc
EWRT 39 Contemporary Literature
Steve Howland
MTWTh 11:30 – 12:20 Office & Office Hours: TBA
Fall 2011
PE 669
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Someone once remarked that all writers are exiles, and a chief theme of this course is the Literature of Exile: actual or figurative separation from, or loss of, home or homeland. Modern writers have understood exile as a defining contemporary condition, using it as means both to characterize the world and to understand the self against a backdrop of “a world on the move”—the meeting of peoples, ideas, belief-systems and the vast migrations, both within and between countries, that typify the present historical moment. Related to this, a secondary theme of our course might be called Progress and its Discontents; a few of the works we’ll read raise profound questions about what Progress is and whose interests are served, and excluded. But more immediately and intimately, our readings will address issues of personality, character, fate, the nature of self and world—and other timeless questions of literature.
As one novelist put it, “Literature is the one place in any society where, within the secrecy of our own heads, we can hear voices talking about everything”—including our most pressing concerns—“in every possible way.” We’ll share with each other what we make of these voices—voices that “can be funny one minute and sad the next…raucous and melodic in the course of the same sentence”—as we engage with the question of how these works become worthy objects of our contemplation.
TEXTS AND READINGS
Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth
Roberto Bolano, Distant Star
Mary Karr, Lit
Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
Haruki Murakami, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
Louise Erdrich, The Plague of Doves
a web-reading or two and possibly our shared ‘performance’ of selections
from Rita Dove’s play Darker Face of the Earth, w/copies I’ll provide
COURSE REQUIREMENTS Passing this course means being responsible for all aspects of your work over the quarter–the conceptual work of reading, thinking, and writing; the cooperative work of participating in a reading and writing community; and the procedural work of completing reading and writing assignments, meeting deadlines, and attending class, and conferences. Be advised that failure to do the required reading, incomplete or unsatisfactory homework, or erratic attendance—and more than five absences—may be cause for you to not pass this class.
GRADES
Assignment Value (percentage)
Quizzes (3) 15%
Essay 25%
Midterm 15%
Take Home Final 25%
Homework: Journals, etc. 10%
Attendance & presentations 10%
Total 100
JOURNALS Your journals are thoughtful, free-ranging, exploratory writings of at least 200 words in length, usually in response to questions I pose related to the reading. You will normally remit them to our course website. Typically I’ll ask a series of questions and invite you to respond to one or two (or more if you’d like). Journals are not individually graded but must be completed regularly, faithfully, and on-time, and your overall journal grade does figure in your course grade—see “Grades” above).
DISCUSSION (‘Netiquette)
A word about on-line etiquette: please know that the implied social contract of any class stipulates that we’re all—including me—here to learn. And this necessarily involves maintaining an atmosphere that’s free of contemptuous, polarizing, or dismissive remarks—language and/or tone which stops discussion cold rather than invites it.
Please also know that your continued enrollment in this course signals your willingness to read our course texts with an open-mind, and insofar as possible with sympathetic intelligence, empathy, and compassion.
LATE ARRIVALS/LATE WORK
Please come to class by 11:30 AM; I will count two instances of arriving late or leaving early as an absence.
Graded assignments will lose one-third of a grade for each day late (from a “B” to a “B-“, for example). They must be handed in no later than two days after the due date. If you miss class and need to reach me, e-mail is a good way.
PLAGIARISM To really know anything well is to be able to put it in your own words. By contrast, the unattributed borrowing of someone else’s language is plagiarism—a serious offense against academic integrity which will result in a failed paper.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Financial Aid: 864-8718, Hinson Campus Center
Web Site: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/financialaid/
Counseling: 864-5400
NEW LOCATION: Second floor of the new Student and Community Services Building --located on the Stevens Creek Blvd side of campus.
Web Site: http://www.deanza.fhda.edu/counseling/
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