Mar 28, 2024  
Official Course Syllabi 2020-2021 
    
Official Course Syllabi 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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ENGL 2855 - Special Topics in Literature

Credit Hours: 3.00


Prerequisites: ENGL 1190 or ENGL 1220

This course is an in-depth examination of a narrowed topic in literature, focused on a specific time period, author, literary movement, or genre. Topics that may be covered include African-American literature, autobiography, detective fiction, the graphic novel, horror, humor, science fiction, the western, women’s studies.

Contact Hours: 3
Billable Contact Hours: 3
OUTCOMES AND OBJECTIVES
Outcome 1: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply major literary concepts to written analyses of primary texts.

Objectives:

  1. Support their own identification of significant themes, characterization, setting, symbolism, etc. of primary texts of the special topic.
  2. Identify significant genres, themes, and literary devices in primary texts of the special topic.
  3. Identify and analyze the significance of literary devices in primary texts of the special topic.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to develop an individual interpretation of the writer’s conception of the world and the system of values that accompanies it.

Objectives:

  1. Recognize and discuss the writer’s use of the special topic’s common themes
  2. Evaluate the place of historical forces or events in the writer’s work.
  3. Analyze the writer’s role in literary movements or the writer’s place in the historical development of the special topic.
  4. Discuss the socio-economic background presented in the world of the writer’s work.
  5. Compare international and multi-cultural aspects of the various worlds presented in the works being studied if relevant.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to evaluate primary texts as aesthetic creations through the oral and/or written application of appropriate criteria.

Objectives:

  1. Argue for appropriate criteria for making an aesthetic judgment of literary texts
  2. Apply criteria that are most relevant to the specific literary text.
  3. Express an aesthetic response to the literary texts through the application of relevant criteria.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to conduct research on an aspect of the literature of the special topic and write a paper (MLA style) based on that research.

Objectives:

  1. Employ appropriate sources.
  2. Analyze an aspect of the literature of the special topic.
  3. Synthesize the results of research and analysis of the literature of the special topic.
  4. Cite, parenthetically and on the works cited page, the sources used (MLA Style).

COMMON DEGREE OUTCOMES
(Bulleted outcomes apply to the course)

  1. The graduate can integrate the knowledge and technological skills necessary to be a successful learner.
  • 2. The graduate can demonstrate how to think competently.
  1. The graduate can demonstrate how to employ mathematical knowledge.
  • 4. The graduate can demonstrate how to communicate competently.
  1. The graduate is sensitive to issues relating to a diverse, global society.

COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
The design of the course should include the following elements but may add to these:

  1. Works
    1. A number of literary works that operate within the confines of the special topic
    2. Works chosen for variety of cultures and time periods if appropriate
  2. Elements of Literature
    1. Structural elements such as plot, setting, and characterization
    2. Stylistic elements such as tone, diction, and word choice
    3. Evaluative elements such as theme and aesthetic criteria
  3. Cultural Aspects
    1. Contexts for literary works under study (such as historical and philosophical influences)
    2. Influence of literary works on contemporary and/or current culture and vice versa
  4. Writing Skills
    1. Methods for writing analysis
    2. Review as needed for finding, evaluating, using, and documenting secondary sources according to MLA documentation.

Primary Faculty
Young, James
Secondary Faculty
McGee, Nancy
Associate Dean
Ternullo, Annette
Dean
Pritchett, Marie



Official Course Syllabus - Macomb Community College, 14500 E 12 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48088



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