ENGL 4011-01: Critical Theory                                                             Fall 2008

Dr. Kathryn Pratt Russell                                                                         A&S Room G131

Course Description: A junior- and senior-level course in literary and cultural theories.

Student Responsibilities: The university policies on student responsibilities must be followed.  The link to the policies is: http://a-s.clayton.edu/BasicUndergraduateStudentResponsibilities.htm

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

Learning Outcomes: 1) Students will develop critical thinking skills and enhance their capacity for discussion of and writing about literature and culture.  2) Students will develop a general understanding of textual, critical and historical approaches to literature and culture.

Absence Policy: Students with more than 9 unexcused absences (20% of coursework) will fail the course.  Students with more than 5 unexcused absences will earn an “F’ for the class participation grade (20%).  I rarely ever have to use this policy, because I am very helpful and will email you if you get close to the five unexcused absence limit.

Accommodations:

Students with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, STC 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu

Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty approved hardware and software requirements for the student’s academic program.  Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU’s Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.

Computer Use In This Course:

Student notebook computers will not be used in the classroom in this course.  Computers will be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism involves copying another person’s words or ideas without citing the source with appropriate documentation.  A plagiarized paper is considered an incomplete assignment.  Any student who plagiarizes will earn an F for the course.

Instructor Information:

Dr. Kathryn Pratt Russell                                email: KathrynPratt@clayton.edu

phone: 678-416-8271 (cell)                           office: Arts and Sciences Building, Room G210-E

office hours: MWF 10-11, 12-1 p.m.

Class Meetings:

MWF 11:00 a.m.; Arts and Sciences

Textbooks:

Literary Theory: An Anthology, Ed. Rivkin and Ryan. A Confederacy of Dunces by Toole.

Grade Distribution:

First Paper (4-5 pp): 20%                               Midterm Exam: 20%

Class Participation (incl. Quizzes): 20%       Final Paper (5-6 pp): 20%

Final Exam: 20%

Class Schedule

M Aug 18 Introduction

W Aug 20 Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces

F Aug 22 Rivkin and Ryan, “Formalisms” p. 3

M Aug 25 Bakhtin, p. 674, 686

W Aug 27 Confederacy of Dunces

F Aug 29 Brooks,p. 22, 28

M Sept 1 LABOR DAY NO CLASSES

W Sept 3 Structuralism, p. 53; Culler, p. 56

F Sept 5 Saussure, p. 59; Jakobson, p. 76

M Sept 8 Foucault, p. 90; Confederacy of Dunces

W Sept 10 Rivkin and Ryan, “Psychoanalysis” p. 389

F Sept 12 Freud, p. 397, 415

M Sept 15 Freud, p. 418, 438; Lacan, p. 441

W Sept 17 Lacan, p. 447, Confederacy of Dunces

F Sept 19 Confederacy of Dunces, FIRST PAPER DUE (4-5 pp.)

M Sept 22 Rivkin and Ryan,  “Marxism” p. 643

W Sept 24 Hegel, p. 647; Marx, p. 650, 653

F Sept 26 Marx, p. 659, 665; Gramsci, p. 673

M Sept 29 Althusser, p. 693; Rivkin and Ryan, “Language and Action”p. 127

W Oct 1 Husserl, p.137

F Oct 3 MIDTERM EXAM

M Oct 6 Austin, p. 162; Rivkin and Ryan, “Post-Structuralism” p. 257

W Oct 8 Nietzsche, p. 262, 266

F Oct 10 Confederacy of Dunces

M Oct 13 Heidegger, p. 271

W Oct 15 Confederacy of Dunces

F Oct 17 Derrida, p. 278

M Oct 20 Derrida, p. 300

W Oct 22 Derrida, p. 332

F Oct 24 Confederacy of Dunces

M Oct 26 Rivkin and Ryan, “Feminist Paradigms” p. 765

W Oct 29 Rubin, p. 770

F Oct 31 Gilbert and Gubar, p. 812; Lorde, p. 854

M Nov 3 Rivkin and Ryan, “Contigencies of Gender,” p. 885

W Nov 5 Sedgwick, p. 912; Butler, p. 900

F Nov 7 Halberstam, p. 935; Confederacy of Dunces

M Nov 10 Rivkin and Ryan, “Ethnic Literary and Cultural Studies”

W Nov 12 Morrison, p. 1005; “Postcolonial,” p. 1071

F Nov 14 Said, p. 1112

M Nov 17 Bhabha, p. 1167

W Nov 19 Confederacy of Dunces

F Nov 21 “Cultural Studies”

M Nov 24 SECOND PAPER DUE (5-6 pp)

W Nov 26-30 THANKSGIVING NO CLASSES

M Dec 1 Benjamin, p. 1235

W Dec 3 Films in Theory

F Dec 5 LAST DAY OF CLASS: PAPERS DUE