English 200:

Introduction to English Studies

Fall 2003

Stephen C. Behrendt
319 Andrews Hall
Phone: (402) 472-1806
FAX:   (402) 472-9771
Office Hours:  11:00 - 12:00 TR and by appointment

sbehrendt1@unl.edu
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Part 1: Creativity
Aug 26 T  Information, introductions. Setting course parameters and individual and group goals.
                 Thinking about creativity
        28 R Creativity and English Studies
—
Sep    2 T  What about Harry Potter?
          4 R  And what to do with "English," anyway???
          5 F – Last day to drop any class and have it removed from the permanent record.
                   After today (and until 12 April) all "drops" will be indicated by a "W" on the permanent record
—
         9 T  Reading, thinking about, and writing poetry
       11 R  Mini poetry workshop
—
       16 T  Poetry texts
       18 R  Share drafts of Project #1: poems
                 More poetry texts
                 Begin reading Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
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Part 2: Analysis: Critical Thinking:  Approaches and Methodologies in English Studies
        23 T  Frankenstein. Working with "meaning"
                  – Project #1 due today, with Course Portfolio –
        25 R  more Frankenstein
—
        30 T  group presentations on Frankenstein
Oct    2 R  What can we "do" with Frankenstein? — Popular Culture and English Studies: the example of Frankenstein
—
         7 T  Ways of reading/using Frankenstein: literature and theory
         9 R  Imagery, iconography, and myth: the example of Frankenstein
—
       14 T  Richard Brinsley Peake, Presumption; or, The Fate of Frankenstein
       16 R  Why is Presumption not what Frankenstein leads us to expect?
                 — the nature of drama and the nature of theatre
       17 F  Last day to change your registration for this course to or from "Pass/No Pass"
—
Part 3: Discovering Identity
       21 T  Fall Break – no class
       23 R  Important issues for Students in English Studies
                 – Project #2 due today, with Course Portfolio –
—
       28 T  The English Major: tracks, concentrations, options
                     "You and the Major in English Studies"
       30 R  Begin reading Ha Jin, The Bridegroom
—
Part 4: Identity and Difference
Nov   4 T  Ha Jin, The Bridegroom
          6 R  more
—
        11 T  Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
        13 R  more
        14 F  Last day to withdraw from any class for the semester
—
        18 T  Historical/cultural research and English Studies, 1
        20 R  Historical/cultural research and English Studies, 2
—
Part 5: Revisiting the Major in English Studies
        25 T  Cultural/Contextual approaches to A Christmas Carol
        27 R  Thanksgiving holiday – no class
—
Dec    2 T  Group work on aspects of the major – all week
          4 R  – Project #3 due today –
—
          9 T  Final thoughts on the UNL English Major
                  – Complete Course Portfolios due today –
        11 R  Closure (of sorts).