Overall Course Objectives | Major Course Topics | Course Format | Orientation |
Course Requirements | Materials |

Overall Course Objectives

Once you have completed this course you will be able t

• Identify and apply literary terms, concepts, devices and characteristics in short stories,   poetry, and drama;
• Think critically and independently in interpreting short stories, poetry, and drama;
•  Analyze how literature reflects human values and thus has relevance to today’s world;
•  Describe the structural and language devices that are characteristic of the three genres studied;
• Write clearly and intelligently about literature;
• Communicate effectively an understanding of the literature and exchange ideas about literature;
• Understand and demonstrate the conventions of writing about literature;
• Use basic MLA-style documentation in writing about literature;
• Read literature more effectively with an appreciation for the sound and rhythm of words.

Major Course Topics

• Introduction to Reading Fiction, the Idea of the Literary Canon
• Reading and Writing from Different Critical Perspectives
• Plot, Style, Tone, and Irony
• Character, Point of View
• Setting, Symbolism, and Theme
• Introduction to Dram
• Shakespeare
• Introduction to Poetry
• Poetry: Ways of Making Sense
• Word Choice, Word Order, and Tone: Figures of Speech

Course Format

• Is not self-paced.
• Does not require an on-campus meetings.
• Does not require real-time chats.  Student dialogue occurs through responding weekly to each other's writing.

Orientation

This course does not have a face-to-face orientation.

Course Requirements

• Review the "What you should know before you register" section of the Distance Learning Homepage.
• Read assigned literature.
• Complete weekly journal responses to the assigned literature.
• Post weekly responses to specific assignments and react to other students' responses (i.e., class discussion).
• Complete all three essay exams (one for each genre studied).
• Write one critical paper.
• View one film on reserve in the HCC library (also available for rental at a local video store).

Materials

Required:

Meyer, Michael.  The Bedford Intro to Literature 7^th Ed. Packaged with LiterActive CD-ROM. Boston: Bedford, 2005.

Buy your textbooks from our online Bookstore or visit our Bookstore, (Maps).

Technical Requirements and Plug-Ins:

Review the Technical Requirements link above.  The following plug-ins are required for this course:

• Acrobat Viewer
• Internet Explorer
• Netscape
• PowerPoint Viewer, if you don't have the full version of Microsoft PowerPoint
• Windows Media Player
• Word Viewer, if you don't have the full version of Microsoft Word