World Novel Summer 2002 Description

Professor: Donald F. Larsson Office: AH 229F Phone: 389-2350 (or 389-2117)

This course aims to give a necessarily brief but hopefully useful introduction to a few novelists working in different parts of the world, in this case Nigeria, India, Colombia, China and Egypt. We will read five novels—about one a week—and examine their uses of history, culture, character, story-telling, and imagery in the context of their own countries’ histories and encounters with colonialism.

No course could hope to encompass a category as broad as "world" novel, but by the end of the term, you should have some understanding of the issues being confronted by writers from different cultures and the literary means by which they try to express their visions. In addition to questions about love, family, political and cultural responsibility, and simple individual existence that many writers try to address, some of our authors also look specifically at problems posed by race, gender and sexual orientation.

A few cautionary words: One thing that we will try to do--in at least a limited way--is to place these writers in the contexts of their time and place. Two of our authors have won the Nobel Prize for literature. Many of them have been acclaimed for their ability to depict aspects of their society or fellow citizens. But none has escaped one kind of criticism or another and none could said to be "typical" of his or her country. Many of these writers have worked under the burden, or at least the threat, of censorship. All of these writers, though, deserve our close scrutiny and our praise as well as our criticism. I want to urge an open exchange of your own views and concerns, both in and out of class.

A	B	C	D	F
900-1000	800-899	700-799	600-699	0-599

Attendance	Weekly Background Notes	Weekly Response	Final Paper	Total
10/class=250	50/novel=250	50/week=250	250	1000

Attendance	Weekly Background Notes	Weekly Response	Final Paper	Total
10/class=250	50/novel=250	50/week=250	250	1000

As this is a relatively small upper-level/graduate class, your attendance and participation are vital. If we are to discuss the works and learn from each other, you have to be here (especially on Fridays!). Each class is worth 10 points, for a total of 250. (July 4 is a free day!)

Undergraduates: Each week, you will prepare a one-page note (100-250 words) that gives some kind of factual information about the background of the novel we will be studying and that may be of some use to yourself and to the rest of the class. You may discuss historical events, cultural references, particular cultural practices or rituals, gender roles within a culture, etc., as long as the information relates to the novel, its events and/or characters. You should have a paper copy of your own, but you should submit your entry electronically to me as well—by e-mail or as a PC-Word document. I will then post the notes on the class website for easy reference. Be sure to include any print or electronic sources that you got your information from.

Graduates: Your Background Report will consist of a brief biography of the author (no more than 1 page), a bibliography of that author’s major works, listed in MLA format, and a bibliography of 3-4 major books or articles on that writer.

Both undergraduate and graduate background notes will form the basis for class discussion on the days listed in the schedule, along with other materials that I will present. For this assignment, I urge you all to collaborate and share resources with each other. Points will be assigned on the basis of correctness and depth of information and for visual presentation.

On the Friday class of each week, you will bring in a written reaction to the work we have read and discussed that week. These reactions should be typed or neatly written and kept in a folder or notebook that can be turned in at the end of the term. Each entry should be at least 250 words (about one typed double-spaced page) long and address some feature of the work that you found interesting, intriguing, puzzling, annoying, fascinating or provocative. You should describe what the feature of the work was that provoked you and attempt to account for its function or purpose in the novel. If you wish, the entry can take the form of a reading journal compiled over the several days in which we are covering that work in class.

There are no right or wrong answers to these entries but they must focus on some aspect of the work itself. You may also submit these electronically. I will post excerpts from these responses on the website as well. Use parentheses to indicate any pages that your are referring to in the work. If you use any sources outside of the novel itself, it must be given proper credit in MLA format. Points will be assigned on the basis of completeness of the entries, neatness of format, and depth of analysis.

You will write a paper of at least 10 pages (2500 words), analyzing some aspect of one or more of the works or authors we are reading in class. You may isolate a particular theme, issue or literary element of the novel and analyze it. You may address a particular controversy about the author or the novel. You may compare some aspect of two or more of the novels we are reading. You may also analyze another fiction or non-fiction work by one of these authors. In any event, you should put forth a particular thesis that you want to demonstrate about the book or author and support it. You are not expected to use outside references, but if you do use any they must be given proper credit in MLA format.

Graduates: Your Final Paper assignment is the same as that listed above, except that it must be at least 15 pages (3750 words) and make use of at least three print or online sources in addition to the novel itself.

1. Except for the Reaction Journal, all written work should be typed or wordprocessed, double-spaced, and stapled, paperclipped or placed in a folder or binder. I do not normally bring a stapler to class with me! (Please avoid the plastic binders with removable hard plastic edges--the @#$% things always fall off!)

2. If you draw upon any outside sources for facts or ideas as well as quotes, they must be given proper credit in MLA format. Failure to give proper credit is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade for that paper (and maybe the class).

3. Exceptions or revisions to these assignments are possible. I am willing to listen to reasonable suggestions (and excuses), but please check with me before you make a change in any of these requirements.

Objectives	Schedule		Requirements
Backgrounds		Responses