L204 31017 INTRODUCTION TO FICTION
Romayne Rubinas Dorsey

Second eight-weeks only.

1:25p-3:45p MW (25 students) 3 cr., A&H, IW.

In this intensive writing course, we will do a good deal of
intensive reading: of fiction old and new, serious and
funny, “popular” and “difficult,” written for a wide range of
audiences. Many people consider reading for pleasure and reading
analytically to be two different activities, but through
investigations of plot, character, point of view, symbolism and
other narrative elements, we will challenge this opposition,
exploring the pleasures of literary interpretation.

Students will typically read one novel a week, or one or two short
stories each day as well as occasional supplemental critical
material; write four essays over the course of the semester, three
of which will go through drafting processes where you will give and
receive detailed peer critiques of paper drafts; and take two in-
class essay exams. I reserve the right to institute regular reading
quizzes should discussion reflect a need. All written assignments
will be evaluated with close attention to organization and
expression as well as to substance and argument. Graded revisions of
three of the four course papers is a requirement of the course.