LITERARY SEMINAR:  MODERNISM/POSTMODERNISM

Fall 2000, Slippery Rock University

Dr. Rachela Permenter

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OPTIONAL (for poetry lovers): Poems for the Millennium: From Postwar to Millennium. The University of California Book of Modern & Postmodern Poetry. Vol. II. Eds. Jerome Rothenberg and Pierre Joris. UCBerkeley, 1998.

Films: The Matrix, Being John Malkovich,and American Beauty

In addition, each student in the seminar will choose either Poems for the Millennium or one novel from the following:

The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, Kurt Vonnegut The Female Man, Joanna Russ
Paradise, Donald Barthelme Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace
World's Fair, E. L. Doctorow Lost in the Funhouse, The Tidewater Tales, John Barth
The Colorist, Susan Daitch Neuromancer, William Gibson
Nova Express, William S. Burroughs The Second Coming, Walker Percy
White Noise, The Names, Don Delillo Almanac of the Dead, Leslie Marmon Silko
Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco Neveryona, Samuel R. Delany
Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book, Maxine Hong Kingston Motion Sickness, Lynne Tillman
The Youngest Doll, Roserio Ferre Metaphysics in the Midwest, Curtis White

We will meet at scheduled exam time to present papers.

1. Regular class attendance.

Thorough reading of assignments. Spirited and scholarly class discussion of your reading.

2. Nine Response and/or Position Papers on the readings or film for the week (at least two must be Position Papers). Limited to 1-page each, single-spaced. Bring 4 copies to class. These will help you focus the material and your ideas and will facilitate seminar discussion. Include (1) Two questions, either sincerely looking for an answer or designed to see what others have to say, and (2) Your comments about the readings. Some weeks you may have a Response Paper only (very loosely organized reactions). At least twice you will write a Position Paper (well-organized statement about a literary, theoretical, or cultural issue about which you can articulate your view). Other weeks you may wish to combine Response and Position.

3. One Background Research Paper on the readings or film for one class week. Limited to 1-page, single-spaced. Each student will be responsible for looking up some background material for the other seminar participants, bringing one copy for each student and for professor. Research historical context, cultural reception, secondary criticism, biography of author, bibliography, etc., focusing on whichever aspect most interests you.

4. One informal verbal report about your chosen text (Poems for Millennium or novel from above list). Bring copies of a one-page handout. (Limit: 15 minutes. Minimum: 7 minutes.) You are required to discuss Poems or novel with professor during office hours or by appointment before presenting to the seminar.

5. Critical Paper. 12-15 pp. Precise MLA format.

• Research one or two critical, theoretical, or cultural issues of postmodernism in literature. Formulate a focused argument. You may expand any of your Response/Position Papers.

OR
• Write a critical paper on any literary work(s) considered postmodern. You may use texts from the course syllabus if your approach is mostly outside of class discussion. Otherwise, use Poems or your chosen novel or something outside the course. You may expand any of your Response/Position Papers if appropriate. Refer to the views of other critics of the work(s) and make evident how your argument fits into the critical dialogue. Formulate a focused argument.

 

You will present your findings to the class informally (15 minutes, not reading your paper).

It is recommended that you sign up for a due date for the first draft of your paper and meet with the professor before or after class, during regular office hours, or by appointment, before turning in you final draft.

A

• All seminar requirements met completely, including full attendance.
• Consistent senior-level work (a professional seriousness, a willingness to grapple with difficult concepts, an indication of some original insight).
• Sustained evidence of active engagement with the course material.
• Apparent familiarity with the issues of postmodernism in literature.
• Apparent familiarity with the authors and texts of the seminar.
• Good writing and excellent research, consistently at the senior level.

B

• All seminar requirements met, including full attendance.
• Senior-level work (a professional seriousness, a willingness to grapple with difficult concepts, an indication of some original insight).
• Evidence of active engagement with the course material.
• Apparent familiarity with the issues of postmodernism in literature.
• Apparent familiarity with the authors and texts of the seminar.
• Senior-level research and writing.

C

• The final paper completed and presented, most response/position papers turned in on time, no more than four missed classes.
• Most other course requirements met, including active participation in discussion.
• Indication of engagement with the course material.
• Evidence of some familiarity with the issues of postmodernism in literature.
• Evidence of some familiarity with the authors and texts of the seminar.
• Adequate writing.

D & F

• Less than "C" requirements met.

Late Work. For each week-day a written assignment is late, half a letter grade will be deducted.

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you submit any work which is not the product of your own study and efforts, you will receive a grade of "F" for the course.

Conferences. You are encouraged to seek individual discussion with the professor during regular office hours, after class, and by appointment. You are encouraged to sign up for a due date for the first draft of your paper and meet with the professor before Nov. 16^th.