Course Syllabus

ENGL 2400 Special Topics in Literature and Culture

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce unique literary topics on a semester-to-semester basis. The course allows students to explore a variety of cultural, political, religious, social, and philosophical viewpoints that are sometimes left out of a typical course of study. The specific subject for any given semester will be shown in the class schedule.

Justification

This course allows students to explore a variety of cultural, political, religious, social, and philosophical viewpoints that are often beyond their realm of experience. It will provide variety in the English Department offerings and a chance for faculty to experiment with potential new courses. While this course is fairly unique to Snow, it meets all HU outcomes and thus fulfills the Humanities GE requirement. It will transfer as part of the GE package or elective credit to other USHE institutions.

The Humanities are a group of academic disciplines that study the many ways by which humans have attempted to understand themselves and their world. At Snow College, the Humanities focus on cultural traditions that are expressed largely through text or which have a strong textual component: languages, literature, and philosophy. The methods by which the Humanities study culture are at once analytical and interpretive, objective and subjective, historical and aesthetic.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. Students will learn about the humanities through an introduction to literature from a theme-based perspective. The particular emphasis will vary by course. An important goal of this course is to foster an appreciation of literature in general and to introduce students to various voices and cultures. Readings, quizzes, exercises, exams, and writing assignments will ask students to consider readings, examine ideas, and demonstrate understanding in a variety of contexts.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students will practice close reading of literary texts and will demonstrate comprehension and analysis through participation in class discussion, reading exercises, exams, application of literary terminology, and writing assignments.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. No matter the topic of a particular iteration of this class, students will consider the perspectives offered by history, psychology, gender studies, or any number of other disciplines as they engage with course materials.
   
   Students will demonstrate their ability to make these interdisciplinary connections through readings, quizzes, exercises, exams, and writing assignments.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students will reason critically about culture and values by grappling with issues raised in the literary texts. Students will demonstrate this skill through reading exercises, exams, and writing assignments.
5. A student who completes the GE curriculum can communicate effectively through writing and speaking. Students will use effective processes to write arguments and responses about literature. They will also learn discipline-specific language and terms used to effectively discuss literature and its connection to culture. They will demonstrate these skills by participating in class discussions and in written assignments.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Students will explore questions of the human experience as revealed through a variety of theme-based literary texts. Class readings, class discussions, and written assignments will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the relationship of the theme to human experience. The specific questions will vary by course topic. Students will explore questions of the human experience as revealed through a variety of theme-based literary texts. Class readings, class discussions, and written assignments will provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the relationship of the theme to human experience. The specific questions will vary by course topic.
2. Understand how knowledge is created through the study of language systems, literature, and/or philosophy. Students will understand the way literary texts use structure, character, plot and other devices to create art that comments on the human experience. Students will demonstrate this understanding through verbal participation in class discussion and through formal and informal written responses.
3. Understand cultural traditions within an historical context and make connections with the present. Students will be able to articulate ways in which historical context influences one's understanding of course texts and ways in which the literature they read is relevant today. They will demonstrate this ability through verbal participation in class discussions and through formal and informal written responses. The specific historical contexts will vary by course topic.
   
4. Critically read and respond to primary texts (original, uninterpreted) from a Humanities’ perspective. Students will read fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, and/or drama appropriate to the topic of the course (visual texts may be used but with secondary emphasis). They will read critically and closely, making sense of how the literary texts create meaning. They will demonstrate their close reading of primary texts through verbal participation in class discussions and through formal and informal written responses.
5. Write effectively within the Humanities discipline to analyze and form critical and aesthetic judgments. Students will articulate thoughtful responses to and analysis of course readings in writing. They will also demonstrate their use of effective writing processes. Students will demonstrate their writing skills through written work and through peer-review work and other writing-process type assignments.

Course Content

Course content varies according to the specific topic in any given semester; however, the content will include reading a substantial number of major works of literature associated with the topic of the course. Course content will typically be delivered through lecture and class discussion.