8:129 The Critical Tradition:
Course Information and Assignments

Room 209 EPB, 5:30-6:45 p. m.
Instructor: Florence Boos  (florence-boos@uiowa.edu)
Office: 319 English-Philosophy Building
Office hours: most days, informally after class; Tuesdays 4-5 and Wednesdays 5-7 p. m.; by appointment

The course text is the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, ed. Vincent B. Leitch, 2001 edition. If you use an earlier edition, it may not contain the selections assigned later in the course. I will provide handouts where marked on the syllabus.

Course assignments:

  1. in class questions: For each class period, please read the assignment carefully in advance. You may often need to reread passages to decipher what you think they mean.

    Then prepare four questions to hand in at the beginning of the period: these may be either "real" questions, that is, a request for explanation or discussion of an unclarity, or a class question, one intended to evoke discussion on an issue.

    Even if we do not have time for your contribution that day, you can use your questions as a basis for your bi-weekly posting.
  2. journal on-line: every other week you should prepare a 1 1/2 - 2 page commentary on one of the texts we have read for that week, and post it on our web page link to ICON, with a paper copy to me, for a total of 7 postings a semester. These should be posted within two weeks of the day we discuss this text in class. I will read these promptly and make suggestions if needed, but will not grade them until the end, when I will ask you to print them out in a packet to turn in with your final paper.
  3. attendance: near perfect attendance is necessary for this course. The first two absences are without penalty; for each successive absence (except for death of family member or hospitalization), please post an additional 1 page journal, with a paper copy to me.
  4. overview and critique: You are asked to write a six-page (typed) essay providing an overview of three or more essays which are linked in theme or approach--for example, three formalist essays, or three essays on feminism--followed by your evaluation of the merits and/or limitation of each. A one-page outline or abstract will be due October 12th, and the paper itself is due October 19th or 20th.
  5. research essay: This essay, of a minimum of six-pages, should provide a summary, background material, and critique of a book or other fairly substantial work of criticism of your choice. It should demonstrate a knowledge of its historical context and the opinions of some earlier critics; and the final portion of the paper, of course, should be your own evaluation of the merits of this approach. For example, you could choose one of Emmanual Levinas's books, then provide background on his relationship to the holocaust and how previous writers have categorized his works, and for your conclusion, reflect on which of his ideas seem to have continued relevance.

    The research essay is essentially a take-home final and will be due the Tuesday of exam week. Please be prepared to summarize your essay to your fellow students at our last session; if for some reason you cannot attend that last session, you may give your presentation the final week of class.

Copyright © 2005 Florence Boos. All rights reserved.
Last update August 22, 2006 3:47