SALEM COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS STUDIES IN THE SHORT STORY Course Code: ENG 211 Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 0 Credits: 3 Course Description: ENG 211, Studies in the Short Story, emphasizes the development of the short story by examining the major literary elements of the genre, such as plot, theme, point of view, character, setting, symbol, and irony. Readings include selections from masters from around the world, including pieces from contemporary authors. Pre-Requisite: ENG 102 Place in College Curriculum: ENG 211, Studies in the Short Story, qualifies as English, Humanities Limited, or Open Elective.
ENG 211 / Page 2 of 5 Course Outline: I. Development of the Genre A. Emergence from other short fiction 1. Fables 2. Parables 3. Tales B. Emergence as the American genre II. Analysis of the Elements of Short Fiction A. Plot B. Point of View C. Character D. Setting E. Tone F. Irony G. Style H. Theme I. Symbol III. Thinking and Writing About Short Fiction A. Explication B. Evaluation C. Analysis IV. Research for Writing About Short Fiction (IL) A. Finding and obtaining appropriate secondary sources B. Documenting sources correctly C. Citing sources correctly 1. Quoting a. Primary sources b. Secondary sources 2. Paraphrasing a. How to paraphrase without lifting b. When to paraphrase 3. Summarizing a. How to summarize without lifting b. When to summarize
ENG 211 / Page 3 of 5 Course Performance Objective #1: Student will demonstrate that they know the place of the short story in the literary canon. 1. Students will read about and receive lectures on the origins of the short story. 2. Student will answer questions orally and /or in writing about the origins of the short story. Course Performance Objective #2: Student will demonstrate that they know the elements of short fiction and can apply them to short stories read for class and for writing assignments. 1. Student will read about and receive lectures on the elements of short fiction. 2. Student will answer questions orally and/or in writing on the elements of short fiction. 3. Students will discuss and write about how the short stories they read for class and writing assignments demonstrate use of the elements of short fiction work to create unique pieces of fiction. Course Performance Objective #3: Student will write a cogent, researched term paper on a group of short stories by one author to determine the author s style. 1. Students will read a collection of short stories by one author to determine likenesses and differences among the works. 2. Student will take notes from the primary materials to support their conclusions about an author s style. 3. Student will find, read, and take notes from secondary materials to support their conclusions about an author s styles. (IL) 4. Student will produce a 1,500-word (minimum) term paper that demonstrates correct Modern Language Association and documentation. Course Performance Objective #4: Students will demonstrate that they can consider and write about a group of short stories by various authors to reveal the likenesses, differences, and attributes of the writers. 1. Students will discuss in class and in groups the works of several authors to identify Commonalities and variety in their styles and in the influences of the cultures and time periods in which the stories were produced. 2. Student will responses to essay questions designed to reveal their knowledge of a group of short stories, focusing on the qualities that bring together or differentiate the works.
ENG 211 / Page 4 of 5 Course Activities: Students will be required to read short stories and background information about the stories and short story theory. Students will be graded on their class discussions, homework assignments and/or quizzes, research papers, and examinations. Students will receive lecture on the development of the short story, the elements of analysis of short stories, the background of short stories, and the contents of individual short stories. Students will be asked to explain, critique, and analyze individual short stories and group of short stories. Course Requirements and Means of Evaluation: All ENG 211 students will be required to complete reading and writing assignments; participate in classroom discussions; submit typewritten out-of-class papers, including a term paper; and take instructor-developed quizzes and/or tests. Final Grades will be calculated by an instructor-determined grading system that includes assessment of at least two essay-question examinations and at least two formal writing assignments, one of which will be a term paper of not fewer than 1,500 words. The term paper must reflect use of at least four secondary sources, at least one of which is not an electronic source. A suggested grading system follows: Essay-questions examinations (two minimum) 60% Research Paper 30% Homework, quizzes, class participation 10% Final grades will be determined using the following scale: Letter grade Numerical Value Grade Points A 93-100 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 88-89 3.3 B 83-87 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 78-79 2.3 C 73-77 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 68-69 1.3 D 60-67 1.0 F 59 and below 0 FA* 59 and below 0 *The FA grade is given for failing the course and missing 30 percent or more of the course. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. The instructor will explain the specific attendance policy for this class.
ENG 211 / Page 5 of 5 Academic Honesty Policy: Students found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty may be subject to failure in this course, academic probation, and/or suspension from the college. See the Student Handbook for additional details. Required Text: Giola, Dana, and R.S. Gwynn. The Longman Masters of Short Fiction. Longman: New York, 2002.