ENGL 201: Introduction to Literature: Reading Texts    Sections 039 and 046
Spring Semester 2008  George Mason University
Scott W. Berg, instructor

All of the information below is subject to change.  Reading Responses and discussion topics will be added to this schedule as the course progresses.

WEEK 1 

Tuesday, January 22
Introduction to course, course books, writing assignments, schedules, and so on and so on

Thursday, January 24 NO CLASS

WEEK 2

Tuesday, January 29 
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter I
In class: modeling close reading, talking about beginnings

Thursday, January 31 
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter II
Reading Response #1: Catalogue of characters (for each: name, some facts, an impression, supporting quotes. Two full pages.)

WEEK 3   

Tuesday, February 5
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter III
Reading Response #2: Choose one important moment from chapters I-III and, using quotes from other parts of chapters I-III, explain why you made that choice.

Thursday, February 7
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter IV
Reading Response #3: Chronological time vs. "telling" time

WEEK 4   

Tuesday, February 12 
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter V

Thursday, February 14
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter VI
Quiz: The Great Gatsby, chapters I-VI

WEEK 5    

Tuesday, February 19  NO CLASS

Thursday, February 21
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapters VII and VIII
Reading Response #4: Revisit one character from reading response #1 and write about the deepening pool of facts and impressions connected to that character

NOTE: Friday, February 22 is the last day to drop classes

WEEK 6   

Tuesday, February 26
Reading: The Great Gatsby, chapter IX
Class discussion: Re-visiting the entire book, establishing givens and asking interpretive questions

Thursday, February 28
ASSIGNED: Paper #1

WEEK 7

Tuesday, March 4 
Exam generation: The Great Gatsby
DUE: Reading response #5: Two parts, one page each: 1) Make your choice of quote(s) for paper #1; then use the quote or part of the quote as block quote, introduced with colon, introduced with comma, and as a phrase within one of your own sentences. 2) transcribe as many quotes as possible from elsewhere in the book that might be useful to you.

Thursday, March 6
EXAM: The Great Gatsby

WEEK 8   NO CLASS--SPRING BREAK

Tuesday, March 11
Thursday, March 13

WEEK 9

Tuesday, March 18
DUE: Paper #1 for provisional grade (a required assignment, despite the provisional grade)

Thursday, March 20
In-class discussion: Reading Hamlet: poetry and performance

WEEK 10  

Tuesday, March 25
Reading: Hamlet, Act I
ASSIGNED: Paper #2

Thursday, March 27
Special guest: Ed Gero, GMU faculty member and actor at Washington's Shakespeare Theater

WEEK 11   

Tuesday, April 1
Reading: Hamlet, Act II
Reading Response #6: Follow-up to Ed Gero's visit, as described in class

Thursday, April 3
Reading: Hamlet, Act II

WEEK 12    

Tuesday, April 8
Reading: Hamlet, Act III, scenes 1 and 2
Reading Response #7: Which one of the three film Poloniuses viewed in class "fits" your vision of the character best and WHY? Support with examples from the play!

Thursday, April 10
Reading: Hamlet, Act III, scenes 3 and 4

WEEK 13 
 
Tuesday, April 15
Reading: Hamlet, Act IV
Reading Response #8: One page of writing/notes exploring the comparison of a character in Hamlet and a character in Gatsby

Thursday, April 17
Reading: Hamlet, Act IV

WEEK 14   

Tuesday, April 22
Reading: Hamlet, Act V

Thursday, April 24
Reading: Hamlet, Act V
DUE: Paper #2 for provisional grade (a required assignment)

WEEK 15

Tuesday, April 29
ASSIGNED: Paper #3
Course evaluations
Exam generation: Hamlet

Thursday, May 1
Exam: Hamlet

WEEK 16  EXAM WEEK