Fairy Tales, Fables, and Parables




ENWR 106 (11294): College Writing II--Writing and Literary Study 
TR 8:30-9:45
DI-179 (Tuesdays--[Please note: No food or drink allowed in room]) and DI-277 (Thursdays)
<http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/106.html>
<http://english.montclair.edu/>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Office: Dickson Hall 324; Mailbox: Dickson Hall 439
nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays/Thursdays 11:15-12:45 and by appt.

Texts available at University Bookstore:
Course description: College Writing II is the second semester of the intensive first-year writing sequence. Emphasis on the writing process continues as students study works of fiction, poetry, and drama in order to improve their writing and their understanding and appreciation of complex literary texts. Required: approximately 6000 words of formal writing, including at least one documented essay. With ENWR105, this course satisfies the GEN ED 2002 Communication Requirement in Writing/Literature. Prerequisite: ENWR105, College Writing I or HONP100. The title for Prof. Nielsen's course is Fairy Tales, Fables, and Parables; students will analyze the roots of Western and non-Western narrative in these genres as well as their influence on modern poetry, drama, and fiction. We will study the ways in which literature is used as a tool for teaching in oral, written, ancient, and modern texts.

Requirements:

Grading Rubric: 98-100  A+; 93-97 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 63-66 D; 60-62 D-; 0-59 F

Please observe the following:

  • Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Participation therefore counts for a substantial part of your grade.  Please be in class at the start of the hour with work completed. 3 absences are automatically excused, but failure to attend class beyond that number will affect your final grade. 
  •   Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time. Use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). Late papers will result in grade reductions. Never submit a paper without proofreading it carefully.
  • To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work. Plagiarizers risk failing, academic suspension, and even expulsion.
  • Accommodations are always arranged for students with disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally.   

    • Tentative Class schedule--Please check website <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/106.html> for updates
    Date
    		 Class Topics
    		 Homework Due
    1. T 1/20
    		 Course + Student Introduction; Genre; Literature before 1800: Fables (Aesop and La Fontaine) and Parables;  FW + Discussion: Literature and Education
    		 See below for Thursday's reading
    Unit I
    		 Ancient Origins:
    		Fairy Tales, Fables, and Parables
    2. R 1/22
    		 Class meets in DI-277; Review of L. 1; Definition of the Fable; Frame Narratives; How to Mark a Text; http://montclair.blackboard.com
    		 Tales from the 1001 Nights 7-23, 405-07, 88-98
    3. T 1/27
    		 Review of L. 2; Trickster Tales: "Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp"; Literary Techniques: the Motif
    		 1001 Nights 165-204; Bring 3 discussion questions to class (to be collected!)
    4. R 1/29
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 3; Trickster Tales: "Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp": Literary Techniques: the Symbol; How to Cite Text
    		 1001 Nights 205-36; Response #1 (1 page/250 words; post to Blackboard, bring as electronic copy [email attachment/disk], or hard copy): What do fables teach readers and what techniques do they use to convey moral lessons?
    5. T 2/3
    		 Review of L. 4; Technical Aspects in Aladdin; Family and Inheritance: "The Tale of Judar and His Brothers"
    		 1001 Nights 330-71; Bring 3 discussion questions to class 
    6. R 2/5
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 5;  Definition of the Fairy Tale;  Useful Vocabulary; Western Revisions: Puss in Boots and his Lesser-Known Cousins 
    		 Folk and Fairy Tales 155-66, 126-29; Response #2: What different kinds of lessons do Western folk and fairy tales teach readers? Do their methods differ from Eastern versions? Include at least one citation using the MLA method in your response
    7. T 2/10
    		 Review of L. 6; Animal Natures: Little Red Riding Hood and Childhood Fears
    		 F&FT 1-16, 365-91; Bring 3 discussion questions to class
     
    8. R 2/12
    		 DI 277; Review of L. 7; Modern Revisions: Angela Carter's "Company of Wolves"; Essay I Assignment: the Pedagogy of Fairy Tales F&FT 280-89, 415-27; Response #3: How does the modern, written form of fairy tales differ from oral folk tales? What different effects do they have on you as a reader?
    9. T 2/17
    		 Review of L. 8; Broken Families: Cinderella and her Sisters; Brainstorming for Essay
    		F&FT 37-52, 59-70; Revise one of your previous responses for sample evaluation by instructor (hard copy please; 1 page; consult general evaluative criteria)
    10. R 2/19
    		 DI 277; Review of L. 9; Modern Revisions: Poetry and the Short Story; In-class Response: What is poetry?; Preliminary Essay Writing F&FT 290-306, 322, 325-28, 330; Write a prospectus for Essay I
    11. T 2/24
    		 Peer review; Elements of good writing
    		Essay I: Rough Draft due--bring two hard copies to class. Note: the first draft is a substantial piece of work, representing several hours of writing--perhaps exploring a topic, or working on one approach, abandoning it, and trying another.
    12. R 2/26
    		 DI 277; Review of L. 11; Peer-review; Self-Evaluation Essay I: Mid-process Draft due; bring two hard and/or electronic copies to class; and email it to instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment). Note: A mid-process draft is the re-working or extension of the materials of the first draft. Now your essay should really take shape in terms of content and depth. You have gone beyond description and into analysis. This draft will certainly be as long as your final draft.
    13. T 3/2
    		 Submission of Papers; Rushdie and the Novel
    		 Essay I: Final Draft due; Note: A final draft is the re-working or extension of the mid-process draft. You need to hand in the first draft, the mid-process draft, and all notes (including peer-editing sheets and other notes) with the final draft. Final drafts must be proofread carefully; here is where a reference guide like Hacker and your dictionary will be useful.
    Unit II
    		 Modern Revisions: the Novel, Novella, the Short Story, Drama, and Film
    14. R 3/4 DI 277; Evaluation of Editing; Haroun and the Sea of Stories Rushdie 1-43; Bring 3 discussion questions to class
    15. T 3/9
    		 Review of L. 14; Haroun and the Sea of Stories; Essay II Topic; Essay I returned Rushdie 47-93; Bring 3 discussion questions to class; 
    16. R 3/11
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 15; Politics of Haroun; Research on Rushdie Rushdie 93-156; Response #4: What politics underline Rushdie's text? Have a nice Spring Break!
    17. T 3/23
    		 Review of L. 16; Haroun and the Sea of Stories Rushdie 159-211; Prospectus due; Library research should be accomplished
    18. R 3/25
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 17; Peer Review; Research Annotation; MLA documentation
    		 Essay II: Rough Draft due; bring your library source to class
    19. T 3/30 Review of L. 18; Peer Review; Self Evaluation
    		 Essay II: Mid-Process Draft due
    20. R 4/1
    		 MEET IN DI-179
    		 Essay II: Final Draft due
    21. T 4/6
    		 Metamorphosis Kafka 1-54; Bring 3 discussion questions to class
    22. R 4/8
    		 Metamorphosis; Essay III: Kafka's "Metamorphosis"
    		 Kafka 157-58, 174-81; Response #5: In what ways do 'animal stories' simultaneously alienate and reach audiences? 
    23. T 4/13
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 22; Peer Review Essay III: Rough Draft due
    24. R 4/15
    		 Peer-Review; Self-Evaluation Essay III: Mid-process Draft due
    25. T 4/20
    		 Elements of Drama; Citation; Portfolio Assignment
    		 Essay III: Final Draft due
    26. R 4/22
    		 DI-277; Review of L. 25; Discussion of Ibsen; Essay IV assigned Ibsen 1-28; Response #6: What advantages and disadvantages does the drama have in comparison to other genres we have studied? 
    27. T 4/27
    		 Review of L. 26; The Anti-Fairy Tale; Essay IV Topics
    		 Ibsen 29-72; Suggested: write a rough draft
    28. R 4/29
    		 Course summation; Review of Essay IV
    		 Essay IV: Mid-Process Draft due;

    Portfolio (revision of 1 essay and 3 responses; discussion questions [optional]) + cover letter due; Mid-process drafts may be submitted to instructor by end of class period
    No class on T 5/4
    		 Finals week Essay IV due R 5/6  11:30-12:30 in DI 324 (office) or DI 439 (Nielsen box)