Good attendance is pivotal to your success in the course, so you are expected to attend regularly and on time. No more than one unexcused absence will be allowed. Excused absences are for illness or family emergency only. Excessive absences will lower the final course grade by one-half grade. Coming to class late is disruptive. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off in class.
Active and informed participation is especially important in the seminar setting. Be generous with your comments in response to your colleagues' presentations. Always take notes on what you read, and come to class with a brief synopsis of your ideas about the text and the author as they are developing in your mind in order to try them out and hear what others have to say.
Even though the list of texts included in the course may seem long, the reading load is not excessive and does not exceed 120 pages per week - keep in mind that most of the works on the list are shorter fiction.
Two short textual analyses of selected passages from two different works on the syllabus provided by the professor should focus on the stylistic and structural elements of the text. Details and exact methodology will be covered in class before the first paper is due.
The final paper may concentrate on any literary or cultural problem which sparked your interest in the course of our readings. The topic should involve several texts which were read in class as well as independently consulted resources outside of class. I will be happy to read and critique a draft, given a week's lead time.