Time Schedule:
Katy Masuga
C LIT 240
Seattle Campus
Comparative approach to literature and a workshop in writing comparative papers in English. Emphasis on cross-cultural comparison of literary works. Readings in English with an option to read selected texts in the original languages Offered: AWSp.
Class description
This course offers an introduction to the writing of critical essays in the context of world literature. Students will read a variety of British, Irish, American, French and German literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries (what is considered the period of "modern" literature), in order to develop the ability to write comparative essays. Much of the class time will be devoted to analyzing and improving the style and structure of the essay based on elements from the reading (e.g. author and narrator, real and fictional world, representation, point of view, etc.) and in relation to aspects of the modernist aesthetic (e.g. the metropolis and the experience of the landscape of the city; shock, fragmentation, discontinuity and montage; the transparency and opacity of language; and the critique of civilization, technology and enlightenment). The ultimate aim of this course is to develop academic writing and critical thinking skills through discussion, group-work, class presentations and, most importantly, writing assignments.
Student learning goals
-To develop skills in writing on and constructing arguments about complex works of modern literature
-To develop close reading and critical judgment skills through the ability to work with, comprehend and evaluate complex texts and the issues they raise
-To learn how to communicate effectively through class discussions, activities, and written assignments
-To gain ethical and social understanding through an appreciation of the philosophical and social contexts of the texts and issues of modernism
-To establish the basis for a thorough knowledge of the area through a familiarity with a variety of important texts
General method of instruction
Class sessions will include lectures, discussions, and group and partner work. This is a W-course and will focus on writing in and out of the classroom.
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
The focus for this course will be on writing. There will be writing assignments of various lengths, as well as peer-editing sessions in order to develop analytical reading skills and also simply to better writing skills through serious critical review. There is no final exam, but there will be periodic quizzes on the reading material. Each student will also give a substantial presentation on one of the texts read.
Grades are assigned through a combination of evaluation of written assignments, presentation, quizzes and general participation and preparedness.
