COURSE DESCRIPTIONA sampling of recent postmodern writing, predominantly North American and predominantly prose fiction. All of the authors we will read are alive and publishing today. Given its emphasis on literary postmodernism, the course will feature texts that experiment with narrative, genre, textual representation, and the material form of the book itself. See the reading schedule for specific works.
INSTRUCTORDr. Matthew G. KirschenbaumEmail: mgk@pop.uky.edu Office: 1319 Patterson Office Tower Phone: 859-257-6985 Email is almost always the most efficient way to get in touch with me. Office Hours
T 3:30-4:30 I am also happy to arrange appointments if the above days and times conflict with your other scheduled classes.
GRADING and REQUIREMENTSThe course requirements, which I discuss in more detail below, are as follows:
There will be both a mid-term and a final exam (see the reading schedule for specific dates). I will discuss their format and content before they are administered. You will each write a 5-7 page paper (or submit a Web site with equivalent content) on one or more of the texts we are reading in the course. The specific topic is up to you; but I will ask you to submit your topic and a thesis statement beforehand so as to ensure no one gets off on the wrong foot. The paper will be due on Tuesday, April 10. Participation, both in class and on our electronic discussion list counts. This class is a community, and you are all expected to contribute to that community. Thoughtful and consistent participation throughout the semester will garner the highest participation grades. Regarding email, I will initiate some discussion topics, but you are all also encouraged to put forth topics of your own, based on your responses to the readings and class discussions. I will expect you to reply to one another, forming what are called "threads" -- that is how dialogue and insight happen -- but I will also expect you to be mutually courteous and respectful. Flames are not appropriate, even in jest. Subscription to the class list is mandatory. Note that a public archive of the list's discussion is available for your reference. Please do not forward advertisements (called "spam"), attachments (which may contain destructive viruses), or jokes (not everyone will share your sense of humor). I will also be using email to distribute announcements and other materials. You should get into the habit of checking your mail once a day, even if this seems excessive at first. You will be held responsible for the content of all email messages 24 hours after they have been posted. Twice during the semester, according to a pre-arranged schedule which I will distribute, you will each prepare three written discussion questions about the work we are currently reading and discussing. It will be your job to xerox enough copies of your questions for everyone in the class. Good questions are open-ended and provacative; questions should not simply be of the "yes" or "no" variety, or otherwise open and shut. At the same time, they should not be so general as to be unapproachable; where possible, point us to a specific passage in the text. Discussion questions cannot be made up at a later date if you were absent on the day you were supposed to have prepared them, or if you happen to forget about them: they are your responsibility. Finally, I will occassionally give unannounced pop quizzes, shamelessly designed to monitor your progress on the readings. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class, and cannot be made up if you miss them. I will, however, drop the lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester.
ATTENDANCE and LATE WORKAttendance is required, and I will take attendance every class. You will each be allowed two unexcused absences for the semester, no questions asked. More than two unexcused absences will mean that I will decline to offer you any benefit of the doubt should your end of the semester grade fall evenly between two letter designations. (Thus, a student with more than two unexcused absences whose work was stronger than a B but weaker than an A would unequivocally receive the B.) Students who are chronically absent will be asked to withdraw from the course.For a list of University-sanctioned excused absences, see the Student Handbook of Rights and Responsibilities, pages 45-6. All assignments will be due at the beginning of class meetings. If you are absent, your work is still due on the assigned date. Late assignments will be docked a full letter grade for each day -- not class meeting -- that they are overdue. If turned in late on the day immediately following their assigned due date they will still be docked at one full letter grade. Exceptions will be granted only for those who have made prior arrangements with me and who can demonstrate a legitimate need for an extension. |