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8:036:SC8 Introduction to the Short Story
“Community & The Short Story in American Literature” – 203 EPB
Office Telephone: 660-7075
Office: 200Y Art Building
Email: keith.wilhite@duke.edu
Summer 2006: June 6 – July 27
Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Course Description
This course will introduce students to the short story through a reading of short story collections in American literature. We will explore the literary phenomenon of the short story “cycle”: a collection of stories that interweaves recurring characters, themes, or places. More specifically, we will consider how these collections explore the theme of community in rural, small town, urban, and suburban settings. One of our main objectives will be to question the idea of unity implied by the short story cycle. How do authors juxtapose images of unity and fragmentation in their stories? Does the story cycle form a more complete portrait of the fictive community or a fractured mirror that subverts our desire to discover a unified representation or meaning? Of course, you can also pursue your own lines of inquiry into the themes, characters, and settings our course readings introduce.
Required Texts (available at Prairie Lights Bookstore, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA 52240)
Kate Chopin, Bayou Folk (1894)
Sherwood Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio (1919)
Ernest Hemingway, In Our Time (1925, 1930)
Richard Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children (1940)
J. D. Salinger, Nine Stories (1953)
Raymond Carver, Cathedral (1983)
Jhumpa Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies (1999)
Course Requirements
As is typical for a summer course, we will find ourselves covering a fairly substantial amount of reading within a relatively short period of time. We will devote our class periods to the discussion and analysis of the short story collections we read. WARNING: This is not a lecture course. The success of our class will depend on each of us taking an active role in our class discussions. I will expect you to come to class on a regular basis, prepared to ask questions and offer your insights into the works we read. Here’s what I have in mind in terms of specific course requirements:
- Participation (25%): Consistent and thoughtful contributions to our discussions are a must. Participation also includes your performance on occasional reading quizzes (if necessary) and your submission of two discussion questions per class period, written out on index cards.
- Literary Analysis Essay (20%): More details will follow, but this will be a standard literary interpretation essay in which you explore and analyze some theme, concept, characterization, or theory about one or more of the works from our course. (4-5 pages)
- Two Response Papers (20%): For each Response Paper, I will ask you to compare and contrast representations of community in two of the works from our course. (2-2 ½ pages each)
- “Community Presentation” (20%): Since our theme for the course is “community,” I’ll be asking each of you to present on some aspect of community and Iowa. I also ask that you submit a detailed outline of your presentation to me (2 pages max.).
- Final Exam (15%): This will be a VERY BRIEF exam, including an identification section, two short answer questions, and one essay response.
Attendance
A brief word on attendance: This class meets twice a week for eight weeks. Taking into account the July 4th Holiday, that means we will meet for class 15 times this summer. Frequent absences or consistently arriving late to class will adversely affect your performance in this course. More than three absences—which would mean missing more than 20% of the course—will likely result in a failing grade for Participation. A failing grade for Participation (25% of your total grade) will make it difficult for you to earn a grade higher than “C” for the course.
Deadlines
Assignments are due in class at the start of class. Late work will usually be credited only by prior arrangement. You should let me know as soon as possible if you are unable to turn in an assignment on time. Reading quizzes and other in-class work cannot be made-up at a later date.
The Writing Center
If you would like to receive one-on-one consultation with your writing assignments, I encourage you to consider the Writing Center (110 EPB/ph# 335-0188). The Writing Center can help you interpret writing assignments, brainstorm ideas, develop arguments and theses, organize, and edit your essays. They have three services available: a twice-a-week program, scheduled appointments, and e-mail tutoring. Call or stop by for more information. Or visit the Writing Center online at www.uiowa.edu/~writingc/.
Additional Information
The best way to get in touch with me is via e-mail. I check my e-mail once a day, usually in the morning, and will do my best to respond to any messages or inquiries within 24 hours. Please do not wait until the day before an assignment is due to contact me with your questions.
If at any time you feel uncomfortable with the ideas expressed or the level of discussion in this course, please share those concerns with me. I want the classroom to be an accommodating environment in which we can discuss a variety of ideas and exchange diverse perspectives. Everyone’s voice deserves to be heard in this course, and it will be everyone’s responsibility to treat one another with consideration and respect. If at any point in the semester you have questions or concerns about the course, the assignments, or your grade, please come speak to me first, either during office hours or after class.
Reading Schedule
Week 1
6/6: Course Introduction
6/8: Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio
Week 2
6/13: Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio
6/15: Anderson, Winesburg, Ohio & Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies
Week 3
6/20: Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies
6/22: Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies & Salinger, Nine Stories
Week 4
6/27: Salinger, Nine Stories
**Reaction paper #1 due, june 27**
6/29: Hemingway, In Our Time
Week 5
7/4: HOLIDAY—NO CLASS
7/6: Hemingway, In Our Time & Carver, Cathedral
Week 6
7/11: Carver, Cathedral
7/13: Carver, Cathedral & Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children
Week 7
7/18: Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children
**literary analysis paper due, july 18**
7/20: Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children & Chopin, Bayou Folk
Week 8
7/25: Chopin, Bayou Folk
7/27: FINAL Exam & **Reaction paper #2 due, july 27**