Time Schedule:
William S. Arighi
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
COUNTERFEIT MONEY
In this course we will focus on developing good practices for academic writing, attempting to extend our skills in clarity, concision, claims-building, and revision through writing about literature selected from across the globe. This section of C LIT 240 will focus on the literary representation of money. Though often thought of in contemporary society as a thing in itself, a look into short stories, novels, literary essays, and movies that contemplate money exposes the crisis of representation in which money is always trapped. Money (like both literature and essays) is both a thing in itself and a means of communication between individuals, and, as a means of communication, is subject to issues of truth and power. The readings for this course will include short stories by Juana Manuela Gorriti and Guy de Maupassant, a short novel by Ousmane Sembène, essays by John Ruskin, Marc Shell, and Jean-Joseph Goux, and a movie directed by Marcelo Piñeyro. Through these readings, in-class discussion, and writing assignments, we will develop skills in rhetorical analysis, literary analysis, analytic and expository writing, and comparative literary studies. We may also learn a thing or two about money. (All readings are available in English; select texts may also be available in their original language.)
Student learning goals
How to write an analytic essay about one or several works of literature.
How to structure individual paragraphs, and an entire essay, step by step.
How to effectively take notes about a text and draw upon them for writing.
How to close-read and interpret different types of text.
How to edit one's own writing and work with improving drafts.
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
