31 Jan. 2002
Introduction to each other; introduction to course; practical criticism - investigating our practices
7 Feb. READ
14 Feb. - READ Bressler, Chapter 3 on New Criticism. No extra linked readings! I think Bressler does a thorough job and the professional essay included is by Cleanth Brooks, a major figure in New Criticism. Be sure to read both student and professional essays and to read or re-read the 2 Keats' poems, which you'll find in their entirety at Text Links. POST to class email list by Tuesday, 12 Feb., 5pm: 1) any questions you have regarding the reading; 2) the titles of 1-5 texts you already teach and to which you would like to apply an expanded critical repertoire - please note in what ways you are currently both satisfied and dissatisfied with your teaching of the text
21 Feb. - READ: Bressler, Chapter 4 on Reader-Response. BE SURE to read Susan Glaspell's Trifles (which Glaspell also published as a short story under the name "A Jury of Her Peers"). Bressler refers to Huckleberry Finn at the start of the chapter, and the professional essay's topic is Hamlet. ALSO READ: "Louise Rosenblatt and Theories of Reader-Response" by Carolyn Allen. POST: 1) questions to the list, and 2) a *succinct* articulation of your present literary theory. Use the free writing we did in class as a starting point. Your formulation should be a short paragraph, 2-5 sentences.
28 Feb.
VISITOR: Amy Seidel will collect degree-seeking applications and check them over. READ: Bressler, Chapter 5 on Structuralism. In class, we will review the significant linguistic concepts presented. ALSO READ:
"A Critical Summary of 'Structuralism and Literature'". "Structuralism and Literature" is an article published by Jonathan Culler in 1977, and the critical summary is part of The Literary Criticism Web, an excellent resource you may want to spend some time exploring. BE SURE: to read Trifles, if you didn't read/re-read it for last week, and attend to your reactions to the 2 student essays on the play: "The Masks That Separate: A Paradox of Knowing in Glaspell's Trifles" (Bressler, p. 77) and "A Structuralist Look at Glaspell's Trifles (Bressler, p. 101). To which essay do you find yourself most drawn or critically aligned and why? POST: One representative from each of our four working groups will post a summary of her/his group's progress. Please read these postings and comment online or in class.
7 March *1) No reading from Bressler. Please look at Questions on page 100 of Bressler book and pick one of the first 4 questions to answer. This is a chance to apply what you've learned. You can substitute texts Bressler mentions for texts nearer and dearer to your heart and pedagogy. Don't worry about a polished paper. Just respond to questions. Refresh your skills on structuralism with Bressler and investigate some of the websites under Text Links on the class website. Please hand in hard copy. *2) Continue working on your Critical Analysis. Don't hesitate to email or call me if you have any questions about your sources or need help. *3) Be sure to become a member of TappedIn. If you weren't in class on Thursday, here are the instructions I handed out:
Go to TappedIn (www.tappedin.org) and select "Click here for free membership!" On the "Become a TAPPED IN Member page," scroll down to the "Free Individual Membership Application" and fill it out. Be sure you use the email address you access most frequently. Under "Verfication," you may use a contact from your workplace or my name and email address (shattuck@umbc.edu) as your contact from the Dept. of Education at UMBC. You will receive a username and password (usually within a few minutes) addressed to your email address.
14 March - READ: Bressler, Chapter 6 on Deconstruction. Particularly if you are at all befuddled, be sure to avail yourself of supplemental discussions of deconstruction on the websites listed under Text Links. POST: to the class email list by Tuesday, 5pm, and questions, rants/raves, or signifying moments you wish to articulate.
21 March - READ: Bressler, Chapter 7 on Psychoanalytic Criticism POST: your questions on the reading to the class email list by Tuesday, 5pm.
28 March - NO CLASS - SPRING BREAK
4 April - READ: Bressler, Chapter 8 on Feminism. Please read with caution, as discussed in my posting to the class list. Focus on Elizabeth Meese's essay and re/read Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God so that you can better assess Meese's essay. POST: questions/comments to the class email list by Tuesday, 5pm.
11 April - CRITICAL ANALYSIS DUE;
18 April - READ: Heart of Darkness - my text has this on pages 17-94. Please also read the section on feminist criticism called "What is Feminist Criticism?" - this includes Johanna M. Smith's article, "'Too Beautiful Altogether': Patriarchal Ideology in Heart of Darkness" POST: questions on any part of this reading by Wednesday, 5pm. I've extended the deadline for postings one day, since this seems to be a crowded time of the semester.
25 April - READ: Bressler, Chapter 10 on Cultural Poetics or New Historicism; in the Murfin book, read the chapter on New Historicism and Brook Thomas' essay, "Preserving and Keeping Order by Killing Time in Heart of Darkness" POST: questions to the list by Tuesday, 5pm
2 May - Amy Seidel will visit to conduct teacher evaluations (SCEQ's) and to finalize summer registration READ: Bressler, Chapter 9 on Marxism. CHOOSE in Murfin either the section on deconstruction, pyschoanalytic or reader-response criticism. As a group, present the selection to your peers. POST: questions to the list by Tuesday, 5pm
9 May group presentations - each of the four groups will have approximately 1/2 hour to present and get feedback
first published: 21 january 2002
last revised: 19 april 2002
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