Modernism and Postmodernism, Fall 2011, O'Donnell


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Policies
last update: August 29, 2011

 

Course Information
English 4040, section 1, TR 12:45-2:05pm B303
Dr. Kevin O'Donnell, instructor:  http://faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/, odonnell@etsu.edu 423 439-6679
Office: Burleson Hall 313

Fall 2011 Office Hours:  TR 11:15-12:30 and 2:15-3:30; W 12-2

 

Texts
- Don Delillo.  White Noise: Text and Criticism (Viking Critical Library).  Ed. Mark Osteen.  Penguin, 1998 (1984).  ISBN: 0140274987.  $16.95.

- Michael Ondaatje.  The English Patient: A Novel.  Vintage, 1993.  ISBN: 0679745203  $14.00

- Joseph Parisi and Stephen Young, editors.  The Poetry Anthology, 1912-2002 [Selections from Poetry Magazine, Chicago Ill.]. Ivan R. Dee, publisher, 2004.  ISBN: 1566636043  $19.95
- Arthur Phillips.  The Tragedy of Arthur: A Novel.  Random House, 2011.  ISBN: 9781400066476  $26.00

- Kurt Vonnegut.  Slaughterhouse Five or the Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance With Death.  Dell, 1991 (1969).  ISBN: 0440180295.  $6.99.
- Virginia Woolf.  Mrs. Dalloway [Annotated].  Harvest Books, 2005 (1921).  ISBN: 0156030357  $13.00 

 

Final Grade Breakdown
- 2 exams (short essay and identification; click here for exam 2 study guide): 15% each -- 30% total
- In-class presentation (related to term project): 10%
- Miscellaneous writing activities: 10%
- Participation: 10%
- Term project (including the series of assignments leading up to the final project): 40%

 

Term Project
The term project will be 2,000 to 2,500 words, plus annotated bibliography. Students will choose their own topics, in consultation with me. The project can take any of the following forms:
1. A reader's introduction to a work, author, or body of work.
2. A discussion of themes in a work.
3. Narrative history or biography.
4. An essay, taking off on one of the themes raised in course readings and discussions.

 

Attendance, Due Dates
    Attendance: The Department of Lit and Language policy: more than 6 absences and you fail the course. In addition, I've set the following policies:  1) You may miss 2 classes free, no questions asked.  2) No absences will be excused, so use your two freebies wisely!  3) If you miss between 3 and 5 classes, your final grade may be lowered by up to a full letter grade.
    Due Dates:  I don't accept late work, and missed assignments cannot be made up.  If you must miss class on a due date, email me your work by class time.