Eng 471 Syllabus

Course Texts:

Culler, Jonathan. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction

Perl, Sondra, ed. Landmark Essays on Writing Process

Course Description:

English 471 is the capstone theory course for all English writing majors. The role of the course is to introduce a subject that is both complicated and basic to the discipline of English. That topic is "Theory." Though "theory" is the central subject of this course (and therefore you would think the teacher would know what "theory" is), one of our major questions for the semester will be: "What is theory?" As a starting point, I would suggest that theory is the system of stated and unstated assumptions underlying any field of study. The theory of gravity, for instance, is a formal principle that underpins a great deal of study in the field of Physics (although relativity theory suggests that gravity is not absolute, and is not as absolute as Newton must've thought when that apple smacked him on the noggin). For us, then, as writing majors within in the field of English, what principles and assumptions form the groundwork for the ways we evaluate and use language? Jonathan Culler's Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction offers some answers to the question of theory, but none is a final answer—"Theory," writes Culler, "does not give rise to harmonious solutions." Rather, it reveals the ways that conflicting values and ideologies control the possibilities for making meaning in the world. "What we take for granted as 'common sense,'" writes Culler, "is in fact a historical construction, a particular theory that has come to seem so natural to us that we don't even see it as a theory" (4). So, we use theory to understand how things that seem natural to us are constructed by culture.

As writing majors, our theoretical base is slightly different than the theoretical base for literature majors. So, as we grapple with questions about the theoretical grounding of various systems of meaning, we will use the tools provided by the ancient discipline of Rhetoric. The first "writing majors" went to school in the 5th Century B.C., studying the art of public oratory from teachers known as "Sophists." Our course will begin with a brief historical overview of Rhetoric, providing students with some of the major names and dates in rhetorical studies, and many of the analytical tools they'll need to take on course projects.

This class will be based on what is called a "Cultural Studies" or "Critical Theory" approach to the study of theory. This approach takes the position that "Literature" is a category of language that has been given special privileges by the power systems of the academy, but that those privileges are not "natural" in any sense. In other words, "Literary Theory" isn't necessarily "Literary" at all. Once the "specialness" of Literature has been deconstructed, the tools of theory can be used to study any cultural text in a critical manner. That's why, in contemporary academia, serious thinkers study popular culture subjects such as the significance of Elvis, or of television shows (believe it or not "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is a popular subject for Cultural Studies) or movies (I recently saw an announcement for an academic conference focused solely on "Brokeback Mountain"). This expanded notion of what constitutes a readable "text" is the notion that we will employ in this course.

Assignments:

A midterm project which will use rhetorical analysis of texts to show how an important concept is socially constructed (100 points)

A classroom presentation on your midterm project (50 points)

A process analysis--you'll study the creative process of a writer or artist and write it up as a case study. (100 points)

A presentation on your process analysis report (50 points)

Participation (100 points)

Course Policies:

The Viterbo University Catalog stipulates that students who miss more than 15% of class time (4 classes) due to unexcused absences may fail. Only absences due to Viterbo-sponsored events are considered excused. Absences due to illness, family responsibilities, vacations, etc. are unexcused. If you are absent and unexcused, you may not make up any in-class assignments (such as a reading quiz) that you might miss, you are responsible for turning in any work due during the class you missed, and you are responsible for keeping up with the class.

Late work may be accepted with no penalty under extreme circumstances. Other late work may be accepted with penalty or may not be accepted.

Viterbo University policy applying to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability: “it is the policy of Viterbo University to comply with the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act and regulations issued thereunder to the extent applicable to Viterbo University.” If you have a disability and require auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations for this class, please inform me and Jane Eddy, the disabilities coordinator (MRC 332; 796-3194), within 10 days to discuss your needs.