1. To read examples of both traditional and contemporary literary works in four major genres: short fiction, the novel, poetry and drama.
2. To examine literary elements such as character, plot, theme, setting and symbolism, thus furthering the understanding and appreciation of the literary work.
3. To write about literary works in a formal scholarly way in response to the material in the reading assignments and in a personal, creative way in maintaining a journal based on the assignments in the text.
4. To develop an in-depth paper using the novel required for course demonstrating a comprehension of literary analysis as detailed and defined in the text.
5. To begin a “reading journal” which may become a permanent, personal account of individual reading, viewing, listening experiences as part of a pattern of life-long “reading.”

You will also need a “good” dictionary and any handbook with the current MLA documentation style.

• There are NO EXAMINATIONS. The course grade will be based on the completion of all ten assignments in the text and the in-depth paper using the NORTON CRITICAL EDITION.
  
  
• Written assignments are graded on grammar, punctuation, spelling, mechanics and diction as well as on content; the specificity of details and the appropriate choice of quotations from the text are an important part of the grade. A 3-5-paragraph essay is expected as a response for each of the textbook assignments.
  
  
• Ten assignments based on selections in the text are required. The topic for the in-depth paper will be based on the critical materials in the NORTON CRITICAL EDITION and will be chosen by the student and approved by the instructor. Using the NORTON CRITICAL EDITION should enable students to complete the in-depth paper without having to come to campus for library resources. The personal “reading journal” will be informally evaluated by the student in terms of the number of entries, observed changes in the material in each entry and the subjective “value” the student sees after having kept the journal for a term.