KINGSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE/CUNY
Department of English, C-309
ENGLISH
66: FALL, 2005
DR. LORETTA KASPER
Mon.,
Tues., Thurs. B hour (
Office:
C-219 Messages:
C-309 or 368-5849 E-mail: lkasper@kingsborough.edu
NOTE:
The easiest way to reach me is by email.
Required
YOU MUST BRING YOUR BOOK(S) TO CLASS EVERYDAY.
Class
Handouts and
Course Overview
English 66, "Literature and
Human Behavior", is a course that examines the complexities of human
behavior as they are presented in literature. We will analyze various literary
themes and genres in the context of their behavioral implications, and will
explore cross-cultural similarities and differences.
This course will be taught in an
interactive style. While I will lecture on the material, you will also be
expected to take an active role in class and to share your ideas about the
works read. Please note that
participation, along with attendance and preparation, counts for 20% of your
grade.
Method
of evaluation:
You will be evaluated on the basis
of a midterm exam, a final exam, a research paper, and the quality of your
class participation and preparation.
Your grade will be calculated as follows:
Midterm exam: 20%
Final exam: 20%
Research paper: 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Attendance, Class Participation and
Preparation: 20%
You are
allowed a MAXIMUM of six hours of absence in this course.
Please be sure that you attend all classes unless you are ill or have an
emergency. If you are absent, please email me so that I can send you the day’s
assignment. You
will receive a failing grade if you are excessively absent from class.
The
midterm and final exam will ask questions that require you to write thoughtful
analyses of the books read.
Class
Participation and Preparation is key to your success
in the course. To be prepared you must
finish reading each of the books by the FIRST
DAY OF THE WEEK in which we discuss them. You will be required to produce
an in-class written response to the
book on that day. This
response will be graded as a QUIZ.
Course
outline: Timeframes and dates proposed are estimates and will be adjusted as
necessary. Dates listed in boldface type are quiz dates.
September 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20: Introduction to literature
and human behavior: Viktor Frankl and Carol Gilligan;
psychological theories-Stanley Milgram. Website on Gilligan versus Kohlberg. QUIZ ON FRANKL ON TUESDAY, SEPT.
13; QUIZ ON GILLIGAN/KOHLBERG ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 20.
September
22, 26, 27: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Milgram/Frankl) QUIZ ON
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22.
September 29, October 3, 6: To Live by Yu Hua (Milgram/Frankl/Milgram/Gilligan) QUIZ ON THURSDAY, SEPT. 29.
October 11, 17, 18: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Gilligan/Frankl) QUIZ ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18.
October 20: Discuss Term
Paper Format/Requirements
Week 6: Midterm
exam and review
Review:
October 24; Midterm Exam: October 25 and 27
October 31, November 1, 3, 10: The Poetry of
Sylvia Plath
November 14, 15, 17: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb (Frankl,
Milgram,
November 21, 22, 28: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (Frankl, Milgram, Gilligan)
November 29, December 1, 5: A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller (Frankl,
Milgram) QUIZ ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29.
December 6, 8: Overall review of themes and issues
TERM PAPER IS DUE ON
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
Finals
Week—Wednesday, December 14—Tuesday, December 20: Final exam