| Course Description |
This course is a study of the elements of fiction as exemplified in the short story and the novel. The first half of the term is devoted to discussions of short stories, each of which was chosen for its strength in a certain element: characters, dialogue, language use, plot, atmosphere, and point of view. The discussions also analyze how these various elements work in harmony – or discord - to create theme. In the second half of the term, the same analytical process is applied to a novel in chapter-by-chapter class discussions. To prepare the class for these discussions, the instructor will assign each student an aspect of the socio-historical background of the story of the novel to research on and present to the class. Then each student chooses a second novel which he/she responds to in the form of a reading journal. He/she presents the novel to the class near the end of the term. Learning is evaluated through critical response essays, journal writing, presentations, and class participation.
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