Paul Auster, The New York Trilogy
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Sherlock Holmes
William Empson, 7 Types of Ambiguity
Susan Howe, My Emily Dickinson
Nathaniel Mackey, Discrepent Engagement
Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations
- other materials include movies reserved at the library, electronic reserves, and on line resources

First Essay 10%:Due October 1, in class. 3 pages minimum. Give a reading of one of the Holmes stories not assigned for class, making use of either Todorov, Moretti, or Ginzberg. You will be graded on attention to textual evidence and for making a persuasive claim about how the story exemplifies the theory applied.

Second Essay 25%: Write a critical review of three recent works of criticism on Emily Dickinson. Try to find works with a practical focus, i.e. discussing particular poem(s), preferably even the same poem(s).

Steps
1) Generate sources. Only one source may be electronic (not including sources in full-text databases). First try using databases such as Project Muse, JSTOR, and MLA. Only then go to search engines.
2) Evaluate sources. Typical evaluation terms of individual sources: accuracy, authority, objectivity, coverage, currency. Typical evaluation between sources examines points of agreement/disagreement.
3) Write review. Goals of review: show your understanding of the sources; comparative interpretation and evaluation of sources; statement of current status and direction of criticism.
 
Format
1) intro
2) review and comparison
3) conclusion
4) works cited
* 5 pages minimum, 1” margins, 12 pt font, double-spaced, header, MLA format.
 
Significant dates
10/24 Annotated bibliography for one source posted to MIX
10/31 Draft review (wherever you’re at) posted to MIX
11/7 Essay due via email to Sandy

Final Essay 35%: Write an essay that develops a critical argument about a single text from the course. You must choose a text you have not yet written about. Your text should be one of the literary texts for the course, broadly defined to include any of the short stories, the novels, the poems, and the films. You may choose to focus on one of the critical writings as well, though you should discuss this with Sandy. The essay must draw on at least three sources from outside the course, and may draw on any sources from within the course reading. “Drawing on outside sources” means doing much the same research and thinking as the second essay.

“Critical argument” means a persuasive thesis about the text, with a clearly articulated critical approach / way of reading. You need to make your method evident. Your essay must demonstrate that you can apply the knowledge developed in this class. If you focus on narrative (e.g. a Sherlock Holmes story, the Borges story, the Poe story, the Auster novel(s), a movie, etc.), you should demonstrate your grasp of the arguments about narrative (e.g. time, space, genre, function, plot, story, etc.). The same applies if you focus on a poetic text. Note that these categories overlap – one could easily apply Empson to one of the movies, for example. But the point is to make a clearly articulated thesis in terms of the knowledge developed in the course. Of course, the text you choose will determine the approach you take, but you will be graded in part on showing an understanding of the issues and arguments of the course, and for articulating your critical approach within your essay. So: some part of your essay will be a “critical statement,” a summary and discussion of one or more critical methods of reading, in which you articulate what you are taking from these methods and how you’ll be approaching your source text.

Possible Steps
1. Choose a text.
2. Develop a thesis statement and a critical statement.
3. Determine secondary texts, within the course and outside. (Follow the method for Essay 2)
4. Revise your thesis.
5. Draft your essay.

Significant Dates
11/21 Two tasks: 1) Provisional thesis statement and critical statement, posted to MIX 2) Respond to at least one other posting. Response should be substantive. Guidelines to be posted later.
12/5 Two tasks: 1) Post draft to MIX. Includes revised thesis statement and annotated bibliography, at a minimum. 2) Respond to at least one other draft, posted to MIX. Responses must be substantive (100 words minimum). Guidelines to be posted later.
12/10 Essay due by 6pm, posted to MIX.

12 Pass/Fail Responses 10%

Participation and Attendence 10%

Presentation 10%

Presentations

Each student will present once. Presentations will start with the September 3rd class. Presentations should be a minimum of 10 minutes and must include handouts with any pertinent information. They may frame the work theoretically, historically, or biographically; they may give close attention to particular aspects of the work; they may make fruitful connections to other works in the course. You are encouraged to make your presentation the basis of your final project. If a presentation falls on a day when a response is due, you may post a version of your presentation as your response.

Reponses are due Wednesday night by midnight, prior to the classes indicated (with a *). Prompts and responses will be posted to MIX, with the exception of the first response which will be handed in at the Aug 29 class. Responses must be a minimum of one page (250 words). For Aug 28 respond to the following (must be typed):

• Begin to describe and catalogue the differences between the classical work as described by Aristotle, and the text or open work as described by Barthes and Eco. List oppositions, e.g. Work vs. Text, and then define each using the terms of the essays; finally, state the difference in your own words. Do this for as many oppositions as you can.

Social Justice Statement

West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I concur with that commitment and expect to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration.

If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Disability Services (293-6700).

Work and Text *