ENG 2120.???: Introduction to Fiction (IC)TR 9:35am-11:00am, Room #111 State Hall, Fall 2014

Instructor: Shandi WagnerOffice: 10404.2, 5057 Woodward (Maccabees Building)E-mail: shandi.wagner@wayne.eduOffice Hours: TR 11:00am-12:00pm and by appointment

Description : While Americans today are most familiar with Disney’s feature-length animated fairy-tale films, there is a long and varied literary fairy-tale tradition that extends all the way back to ancient Egypt. Originally intended for adults, the idea that fairy tales are written largely (or only) for children is a relatively recent development, and one that ignores the majority of the history of the fairy tale. While fairy tales are currently experiencing a cultural resurgence in the form of fairy-tale films (Snow White and the Huntsman and Mirror, Mirror, for example) and television series (such as Grimm and Once Upon a Time), fairy tales have been embedded within our culture all along, influencing our beliefs and actions. Through our reading and discussion of the course texts, we will explore the fairy tale in its many incarnations across time, place, and even language. We will try to delineate the characteristics of the fairy tale as a literary genre and how cultural changes have (or have not) transformed the way fairy tales are written and/or their function in society. What is a fairy tale? This question will guide our readings and discussions throughout the semester.

This course is an introduction to the critical reading and analysis of fiction. It will introduce you to the techniques and forms of fiction through critical reading of, and writing about, fairy tales from ancient Egypt to contemporary times. The class will consist of a combination of lecture-based discussions, class discussions, and small group work to facilitate students’ understanding of the complex themes and generic conventions inherent in fairy tales. Students should be aware that this class will be heavily based upon class discussions and should expect to attend every class and read every book in preparation for class discussions. Throughout the semester, students will be required to write a total of 8000 words (about 32 typewritten pages), including weekly responses to the texts we read for class. Students will also be required to compose and revise several papers, including but not limited to a close reading analysis, literary analysis or comparative paper, and a literary criticism-based final research paper that is the culmination of all of our work throughout the semester.

Please note: The prerequisite for this course is a grade of C or better in ENG 1020 or its equivalent. Earning a C or better in this course also fulfills the intermediate composition general education requirement.

Objectives: At the end of this course, successful students should be able to:

apply terms associated with the analysis of fiction, including literary elements (such as narration, settings, characterization, etc.) and figurative language, in order to demonstrate skills in reading and understanding literary and cultural texts.

compose and revise a variety of written genres, including summaries, paraphrases, responses, literary explications (“close reading”), literary analyses, and interpretive and/or critical arguments.

locate, understand, evaluate, incorporate, and interact with scholarly essays (secondary sources).

formulate a response to the question “What is a fairy tale?” that demonstrates an understanding of the complexity of the fairy-tale genre and its cultural influence and significance.

Texts:There are 2 required texts for this course. They are available at the B&N Bookstore as well as at other book retailers, including Amazon.com. Additional readings will be available on Blackboard.

1. Reading and Writing about Literature: A Portable Guide by Janet E. Gardner (3rd edition, published by Bedford/St. Martin’s) ISBN: 978-1-5476-0649-6

2. Marvelous Transformations: An Anthology of Fairy Tales and Contemporary Critical Perspectives edited by Christine A. Jones and Jennifer Schacker (published by Broadview Press) ISBN: 978-1-55481-043-7

Web Resources: This course has a Blackboard site available through Pipeline that contains readings, handouts, useful links, this syllabus, and discussion board forums for weekly responses.

This course also has a wiki, containing lesson plans and notes from class sessions, along with a more detailed and updated assignment schedule. The wiki also has all the major assignment descriptions, and it will be used to sign up for conferences and presentations. The web address for the wiki is wagner2120???.pbworks.com. (That’s the instructor’s last name, the course number, and the section number.)

Assignments:Fairy-Tale Character Analysis 2-3 pages 50 points

Final Paper Due: Sept. 9Close Reading/Explication 3-4 pages 125 points

Rough Draft Due: Oct. 7 Final Paper Due. Oct. 10

Literary Analysis/Compare & Contrast 5-7 pages 175 points Rough Draft Due: Oct. 30 Final Paper Due: Oct. 31

Annotated Bibliography 4-6 pages 150 points Due: Nov. 14

Literary Research Paper 8-10 pages 200 points (Revised Lit. An./C&C) Rough Draft Due: Nov. 19 Final Paper Due: Dec. 5

Fairy-Tale Character Analysis Presentation 2-3 pages 50 points (Revised Charact. An.) Due dates vary

Weekly Responses 100 points Due before class once each week

Quizzes (10 throughout the semester at 5 points each) 50 pointsClass Participation 100 points

1000 points total for the course

Grading Scale: A 930-1000 points A- 900-920 points B+ 870-890 points B 830-860 points B- 800-820 points C+ 770-790 points C 730-760 points C- 700-720 points D+ 670-690 points D 630-660 points D- 600-620 points F 590 or below

Grading Policies:All assignments are to be completed on time and in MLA format. For papers and presentations, see individual assignment sheets for specific grading guidelines and rubrics.

Weekly responses of 250-500 words are to be posted to the appropriate discussion board in Blackboard two hours prior to class once a week. If a specific prompt is provided, they are to respond thoughtfully and thoroughly to that prompt. Otherwise, responses should discuss some aspect of the assigned reading for that class session (such as significant or favorite quotations) and/or demonstrate the development of an idea to be used in an assigned paper. You may be asked to read your weekly responses out loud in class to facilitate discussion.

Quizzes will be administered during the first 10 minutes of class. No allowances will be made for late arrivals or absences. The lowest quiz score will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Late Work & Extensions:Late work will not be accepted. In order for writing to receive credit, it must be submitted and/or posted in the appropriate space by the deadline. Late work may still be commented on, but it will not receive credit.

Extensions may be granted if requested prior to a project deadline. Students will be responsible for submitting work by the newly agreed-upon deadline. Extensions will be approved on a case-by-case basis.  Attendance:

As this is a discussion and workshop-driven class, attendance of all participants is particularly important. In accordance with English department attendance policies, enrolled students in this class must attend one of the first two class sessions; otherwise, they may be required to drop the class. Afterwards, two unexcused absences are allowed without penalty; subsequent absences will result in a reduction of your final grade by 2.5% for each unexcused absence. Absences (excused or unexcused) may affect your participation grade. Please note that two late arrivals will count as one unexcused absence and that missing more than 6 class periods will result in a failing grade for the course. Add/Drop Information:The last day to add this course is September 3, 2014. The last day to withdraw from this course with tuition cancellation is September 10, 2014. The last day to withdraw from this course with no tuition refund is November 9, 2014. Withdrawals can seriously impact your financial aid and progress toward degree completion. Consider carefully before making the decision to withdraw from this course. The SMART document (available on the course Blackboard site) describes resources for helping you with this decision.

Rough   Draft Workshops & Conferences: For each of our major projects, we will have either an in-class peer review workshop or individual conferences. Failure to participate in the rough draft workshop or conference for a project (by absence or by failing to complete your rough draft and/or participate in the peer critique of others' drafts) will result in a 5% deduction in the grade of the final draft of that project.  Media Policy:Respectful behavior is expected in our classroom. In order to be respectful to our classmates, it is important to use technology only at times and in ways that are appropriate. Please do not allow cell phones or other electronic devices to interrupt class. Please refrain from texting. Repeated interruptions will be held accountable as one unexcused absence. Email Policy:As an extension of respect in the classroom, emails will be responded to within 48 hours of receipt, if not sooner. However, email response may be delayed if they are received 1) between 8pm and 8am business days and 2) during the weekend. Emails that lack an appropriate salutation and/or closing will not receive a response. Academic Dishonesty:Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of ideas and information from sources without proper citation and documentation (e.g., copying from texts or pasting from websites without quoting, and not providing a complete list of Works Cited). Instructors are required to report all instances of plagiarism to the Department of English. According to the WSU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ policy on plagiarism, instructors may give a failing grade on the assignment or for the course. 

In this course, the first instance of plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the project; a second instance of plagiarism will result in a failing grade in the course. Incomplete Policy:As detailed in the WSU   Undergraduate   Bulletin , the mark of “I” (Incomplete) is given to a student when he/she has not completed all of the course work as planned for the term and when there is, in the judgment of the instructor, a reasonable probability that the student can complete the course successfully without again attending regular class sessions. The student should be passing at the time the grade of ‘I’ is given. A written contract specifying the work to be completed should be signed by the student and instructor. Responsibility for completing all course work rests with the student. The Writing Center:The Writing Center (2nd floor, UGL) provides individual tutoring consultations free of charge for students at Wayne State University.  Undergraduate students in General Education courses, including composition courses, receive priority for tutoring appointments.  The Writing Center serves as a resource for writers, providing tutoring sessions on the range of activities in the writing process – considering the audience, analyzing the assignment or genre, brainstorming, researching, writing drafts, revising, editing, and preparing documentation.  The Writing Center is *not* an editing or proofreading service; rather, students are guided as they engage collaboratively in the process of academic writing, from developing an idea to editing for grammar and mechanics.  To make an appointment, consult the Writing Center website:  http://www.clas.wayne.edu/writing/ . To submit material for online tutoring, consult the Online Writing Center at http://clasweb.clas.wayne.edu/writing/OnlineWritingCenter.

Instructors may require individual students to attend the Writing Center to receive tutoring on a specific assignment, skill, or aspect of the writing process.  Instructors may also require individual students to attend the Writing Center to receive instruction in grammar and mechanics.  Instructors may *not* require entire classes to attend the Writing Center. 

For more information about the Writing Center, please contact the Director, Jule Wallis (phone:  7-2544; email:  au1145@wayne.edu). Student Disability Services:If you feel that you may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, please feel free to contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Additionally, the Student Disabilities Services Office coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The Office is located in 1600 David Adamany Undergraduate Library, phone: 313-577-1851/577-3365 (TTY). http://studentdisability.wayne.edu

Grade Appeals:The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences stipulates that course grade appeals must be initiated within 30 days from the time the grade is posted. The English Grade Appeal Form can be obtained at the English Main Office on the 9th Floor of 5057 Woodward or by

emailing Royanne Smith at ad2073@wayne.edu. More information on this process, including the limited grounds for appeal, can be found at http://www.clas.wayne.edu/clas_files/Grade_Appeal_process.pdf

WSU Resources for Students: Student Disability Services (SDS) http://studentdisability.wayne.edu/ Academic Success Center http://www.success.wayne.edu/ Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) http://www.caps.wayne.edu Dean of Students’ Office http://www.doso.wayne.edu Department of English website http://clasweb.clas.wayne.edu/english

***Please Note: Syllabus is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.***

Tentative Schedule: ***This schedule is included merely as a quick reference as we begin the semester. An up-to-date schedule will be available on the course wiki, so please refer to that schedule throughout the semester.***

Week 1Aug 28 TR: Introduction to course: Syllabus, course theme, student introductions

“Introduction to Reading and Writing about Literature” (R&WAL p. 1-5)Assignment (for 9/2): Read “Prewriting,” “Drafting the Paper,” “Summary,” and “Analysis” (R&WAL p. 21-31, 51-2, 59-62),

Week 2Sept 2 T: Analysis vs. Summary

Introduce Fairy-Tale Character Analysis PaperQuiz #1 (on syllabus & R&WAL assigned readings)Assignment: Select fairy-tale character for analysis and draft thesis

Sept 4 TR: Thesis Statements“Character” (R&WAL p. 72)Assignment: Read “Introduction: ‘How to Read a Fairy Tale’” (MT p. 21-40)

Week 3Sept 9 T: Introduction to Fairy Tales (What is a fairy tale?)

Quiz #2 (on MT p. 21-40)Fairy-Tale Character Analysis Paper DueAssignment: Read Chapter 2 “The Role of Good Reading” (R&WAL p. 6-20) & “The Tale of Two Brothers” and “The Old Woman’s Tale” (MT p. 41-68)

[Schedule includes topics/texts for discussion, quizzes, workshops, and paper information from here until the end of the semester.]

Sept 11 TR: What does it mean to read critically? Introduce Close Reading Paper

“The Tale of Two Brothers” and “The Old Woman’s Tale” (MT p. 41-68)

Week 4Sept 16 T: “Le Fresne” and “The Story of King Shahrayar and Shahrazad” (MT p. 69-98)

“Lanval” by Marie de France (Blackboard)Quiz #3 (on “Le Fresne,” “Lanval,” and “The Story of King Shahrayar and Shahrazad”)

Sept 18 TR: “Explication” (Close Reading) & “Elements of Fiction” (R&WAL p. 56-8, 72-4)

Week 5Sept 23 T: Tales by Straparola, Johnson, and Basile (MT 99-138; note Johnson is on MT

website)Quiz #4

Sept 25 TR: “Stories for Analysis” (class activity) (R&WAL p. 75-95)

Week 6Sept 30 T: “The Discreet Princess,” “Riquet a la Houppe,” “The Enchanter” (MT p. 139-

163; note “The Enchanter is on MT website)Quiz #4

Oct 2 TR: Individual Conferences (Sign up for time on wiki)

Week 7Oct 7 T: “Revising and Editing” & “Peer Editing and Workshops” (R&WAL 32-39)

Rough Draft Workshop: Close Reading Paper

Oct 9 TR: “Tips for Writing about Literature,” “Using Quotations Effectively,” and “Manuscript Form” (R&WAL 40-50)

Oct. 10 (F) Close Reading Paper Due

Week 8Oct 14 T: Tales by Perrault, d’Aulnoy, de Murat, Baron de Bransac, and Leprince de

Beaumont (MT p. 163-234)Quiz #6

Oct 16 TR: Introduce Literary Analysis/Compare & Contrast Paper“Analysis” and “Comparison and Contrast” (R&WAL p. 59-65)Tales by Grimm brothers and Croker (MT p. 235-63)

Week 9Oct 21 T: Tales by Andersen, Asbjornsen and Moe, Cruikshank, Afanas’ev, and

Campbell (MT 264-303; note Cruikshank’s story is on MT website)

Quiz #7

Oct 23 TR: Tales by Ritchie, de Morgan, Kuhne-Harkort, Capuana (MT 322-53)“Virgin Soil” (on Blackboard)

Week 10Oct 28 T: “Modern and Postmodern Tales” (MT p. 359-428; skip Sexton’s poem)

Quiz #8

Oct 30 TR: Rough Draft Workshop: Literary Analysis/Compare & Contrast Paper

Oct 31 (F) Literary Analysis/Compare & Contrast Paper Due

Week 11Nov 4 T: Introduce Literary Research Paper

“Writing a Literary Research Paper” and “Literary Criticism and Literary Theory” (R&WAL 130-178) Quiz #9

Nov 6 TR: “Introduction: How to Read the Critical Essays” and “Genre” (MT p. 485-503)

Week 12Nov 11 T: “Ideology” and “Authorship” (MT p. 509-538)

Discuss DisneyQuiz #10

Nov 13 TR: “Reception” and “Translation” (MT p. 539-570)Discuss Disney

Nov 14 (F): Annotated Bibliography Due

Week 13Nov 18 T: Review Incorporating Secondary Sources & Revision

Quiz #11

Nov 20 TR: Individual Conferences: Mandatory (sign up for times on wiki)

Week 14Nov 25 T: Individual Conferences: Mandatory (sign up for times on wiki)

Nov 27 TR: NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING

Week 15Dec 2 T: Rough Draft Workshop: Literary Research Paper (Part 1)

Dec 4 TR: Rough Draft Workshop: Literary Research Paper (Part 2)

Dec 5 (F): Literary Research Paper Due

Fairy-Tale Character Analysis* (2-3 pages)50 points

*Please note that the assignment is an analysis and not a summary.

This first writing assignment is meant to get you thinking and writing about the topic of the course, the fairy tale. This will be a much different paper from the others, as I am asking you to answer specific questions about the character that you choose. After the paper is returned with my comments, you will be given the opportunity to revise your paper before presenting your character analysis to the class in a short (~5 minute) oral presentation. For this paper, I am asking you to choose a character to analyze from a novel, short story, television show, graphic novel, or film that revises or is influenced by fairy tales. For example, you could choose Snow White from Once Upon a Time, Ursula from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, or the wolf from the Grimm brothers’ “Little Red Cap.” After you make your choice, I would like you to write an argument about how this character is portrayed within the fictional world that is created by the novel/film/show/etc.

Your thesis statement (or main argument) for this paper should address how you perceive the character. Is the character well-developed? Sympathetic? Frustrating? Your body paragraphs will expand on your thesis statement by helping your reader understand how the character is portrayed through your use and explanation of specific evidence from the fairy tale to support your claims.

The following elements (in bold) should be included in your paper: Introduction:

o What fairy-tale text, film, show, etc. are you introducing to us?o When was this fairy tale published/released/aired?o Which character are you analyzing?o Thesis Statement: How is this character portrayed?

Body Paragraphs:o What evidence from the fairy tale supports your claim(s) regarding the

portrayal of your chosen character? How does this evidence prove your point(s)?

o You may want to use some nuance here—Is the character evil, but also strong? Do you sympathize with her even though she is evil?

o Other questions you may want to respond to include: Is the character complex or one-sided? Is he a hero that you admire or one you find annoying or frustrating?

o Remember to use specific examples from the fairy tale to illustrate your points. Give us a portrait of the character through textual examples.

Conclusion:o How does the portrayal of this character affect your reaction to the fairy tale?

o The following questions may help you formulate your response to the question above: Does the tale seem more realistic or more fantastic? Is the intended audience adults, children, or both? Is the character a revision of a more popular fairy-tale character (for instance, a character from a Disney film), and if so do you relate more or less to this revised character portrayal?

You may find it helpful to begin creating a list of character traits prior to writing your thesis and/or body paragraphs. A sample list and possible thesis statement follows on the character of Snow White from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).

1. Snow White is… • dainty• innocent• frail• naive• pretty & petite• domestic• sympathetic• passive• courageous• without complexity• frustrating in lack of action

2. Possible thesis statement: Snow White is a sympathetic character but she is frustrating as well because of her passivity and unrealistic innocence.

Grading Rubric:

• Development of argument through a thesis statement and supporting paragraphs (20 points)

 • Use of textual evidence through integrating and explaining the significance of

appropriate quotations and/or summaries (10 points) 

• Response to all of the questions in bold on this assignment description (15 points) 

• Spelling/grammar (5 points) Due Date: Sept. 9 (Bring paper copy to class for submission and submit digitally to SafeAssign via Blackboard.) .