BASIC COURSE INFORMATION
Cover Page
Department/ Subject Area ENG
Course Number 040A
Disciplines ENG-English
Proposal Type Course Revision (Minor)
Division Library, Learning Resources, and Language Arts Division
Cross Listing Courses
Course Title Current Literature: The Novel
Transcript Title Current Literature: Novel
Course Description This course is designed to introduce the student to themes from the contemporary novel, written within the past twenty-five years. (UC, CSU)
Community Service No
Proposed For Revision
Effective Date 2007 Fall
Change MINOR
How Course is being Changed
Change Text
Course Description
Lecture Hrs: 3.00 - 3.00
Lab Hrs: 0 - 0
Student Unit Hrs: 3.00 - 3.00
Faculty Lecture Units: 3.00
Faculty Lab Units: 0
Field Trips Not Required
Grade Options 0: A-F or Inc.
Transfer/Degree Applicability Associate Degree & Transfer
Non-Credit Options
Repeated NO
Repeat Count
Repeat Frequency
Repeat Period
Repeat Units
Repeat Rationale
Challenged NO
Rationale Student would not be able to acquire course knowledge through experience.
Fee Amount 0.00
Comparable Course Information
Comparable Course Information Community College Course
American River College
Englt 302: Introduction to the Novel
Catalog Year: 2005-2006 Page: 123
URL: http://www.arc.losrios.edu/catalog/English.pdf
This course examines the novel as a type of literature. Representative novels will be read and analyzed in an intense and thorough manner with emphasis on form, content, and style. Course transferrable to UC/CSU. 3 Units.

UC
UC Santa Barabara

Catalog Year: 2005-2006 Page:
URL: http://assist.org/web-assist/report.do?agreement

One optional lower-division course (4 quarter units) may be counted toward the elective requirement for the major. English 40A is listed among those courses.
CSU
CSU Sonoma
ENGL 349: Explorations in Literature
Catalog Year: 2004-2006 Page:
URL: http://www.sonoma.edu/catalog/english.html
A course in literary explorations that will include subjects not normally offered in the regular curriculum. Please see Schedule of Classes for current titles. May be repeated for credit. 4 Units.
Course Goals
Course Goals General Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Name some of the important contemporary novels and novelists written in English or translated into English.
2. Examine some of the important literary, social, political, and economic forces and involvements influencing modern novelists.
3. Analyze the techniques and strategies used by these writers in their fiction.
Course Objectives
Course Objectives Specific Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Analyze current novels, including works representing ethnic and gender diversity, in the context of world culture, history, and social development.
2. Analyze each novel to determine characterization, plot, symbolism, and other basic elements of fiction.
3. Evaluate the significance of the ideas of the novel.
4. Compare and contrast the authors' ideas, techniques, and characters.
5. Solve problems related to the authors' methods of presenting their ideas, the relationship between form and meaning, and the ways their fiction expresses contemporary thought and feeling.
Course Outcomes
Course Outcomes
  1. Outcome:1. Identify the basic elements of fiction (including setting, plot, characterization, tone, etc.) as well as the major themes in the contemporary novel. 2. Construct an original written analysis of a contemporary novel.
    Assessment:1. A student will demonstrate the first outcome by earning a grade of "C" or better on a comprehensive final essay exam. 2. Knowledge of the basic elements of fiction (in the first outcome) will also be assessed through in-class quizzes. 3. A student will demonstrate the second outcome by earning a "C" or better on a documented, take-home essay.
Course Outline
Outline Text
  1. History of the Novel
    1. England-18th century
    2. The American romance novel-19th century
    3. The 20th century experiments
  2. Application of Major Theories of Criticism
    1. Biographical
    2. Formalist
    3. Freudian
    4. Feminist
    5. New Historicism
    6. Structuralist
    7. Deconstructionist
  3. Themes in the Contemporary Novel
    1. Lack of communication
    2. Alienation
    3. The new definition of "family"
    4. Mass media
    5. High technology
    6. The new immigrants
    7. The rise of feminism
Course Assignments
Course Assignments Reading
Optional Text:
Assignments:
  1. Read Chapter Thirty-One in David Robbins' novel "War of the Rats" then respond to the following sets of questions listed below:
  2. 1. Since Thorvald's death five weeks prior, what has Nikki been doing in Stalingrad? How do he and the men he's banded together with celebrate Christmas?
  3. 2. What are the military conditions for the Germans within "The Cauldron"?
  4. 3. The themes of desperation and despair are prevalent in this chapter. Discuss several examples that illustrate both of these themes.
  5. 4. What causes Nikki to declare himself "no longer, in his heart, a soldier in the German Army"? What is significant about Nikki's final line in the chapter, announcing his new occupation?

Writing
Optional Text:
Assignments: Take-Home Essay
  1. While the five novels examined this semester illustrate that citizens and non-combatants greatly suffer from war, each text emphasizes that the psychological damage inflicted on soldiers (American, German, Russian, North Vietnamese, and South Vietnamese) is traumatic and enduring. In a 6-8 page detailed, documented essay, analyze the psychological effects of war on these men and women, emphasizing the ways in which they respond to battle, the ways in which they cope (or fail to cope) with the war, and the extent to which they manage to rebuild their lives after the war. How do the soldiers’ psychological wounds affect their individual identities? Though you may discuss some texts more than others, you must provide examples of characters from all five novels assigned this semester in order to thoroughly support the analysis.

Other
Optional Text:
Assignments: In-Class Essay Prompt
  1. Although "Paco's Stoy" and "Going After Cacciato" are told from the perspective of an American soldier, each text contains diverse representations of Vietnamese civilians and enemy soldiers. Analyze these representations included in both texts, being sure to explain the soldier's attitude toward the villagers and/or the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) as well as the attitude of the Vietnamese toward the American soldiers.
Course Methods of Evaluation
Opt Heading
Course Methods of Evaluation A student's evaluation will be based on a required final examination and multiple measures of performance including critical thinking. These methods may include, but are not limited to the following.
The student will be graded on class participation, quizzes, mid-term essay examinations, research presented orally to the class, a final examination, and other assignments as established by the instructor. At least one method of evaluation will be used which will require the student to demonstrate critical thinking as evidenced through writing and/or problem-solving.
Course Methods of Instruction
Opt Heading
Methods Lecture
Other Methods
Course Distance Education
Delivery Methods
Other Methods
Quality Assurance
Evaluation Method
Additional Resources
Distance Ed - Contact Types
Distance Ed - Contact Types
Course Textbooks
Textbooks Heinemann, Larry. Paco's Story. 2005 Vintage , 1986
Hayslip, Le Ly. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. 2003 Plume , 1989
Robbins, David. War of the Rats. 2000 Bantam , 1999
Hornby, Nick. About a Boy. 1999 Riverhead Trade , 1999
Marquez, Garbriel Garcia. Of Love and Other Demons. 1996 Penguin , 1996
Dexter, Pete. Paris Trout. 1989 Penguin , 1989
Follett, Ken. Night Over Water. 1992 Signet , 1992
Guterson, David. Snow Falling on Cedars. 1995 Vintage , 1995
Manuals
Periodicals
Course Supplies
Course Supplies
Course Resources
Course Resources Learning Resources
Optional Text: Current support adequate
Resources:
Computer Resources
Optional Text: Current support adequate
Resources:
Disabled Student Programs and Services
Optional Text: Current support adequate
Resources:
Other Resources
Optional Text: None
Resources:
Entry Skills
Entry Skills Advisory
English 1A
  • ENG 001A - Narrow a topic to an appropriate focus, research the topic using both electronic and printed indexes, and evaluate the findings for use in a research paper.
  • ENG 001A - Paraphrase, summarize, and quote source material for a research paper.
  • ENG 001A - Evaluate sources for bias, currency, and applicability.
  • ENG 001A - Compose a research paper following assigned documentation guidelines.
  • ENG 001A - Compose an expository essay, employing appropriate patterns of development, with a structure containing introduction, body, and conclusion, and a clear, limited thesis
  • ENG 001A - Compose a timed, on-demand essay in response to a prompt, similar to university-level competency examinations.
  • ENG 001A - Revise essays for grammar, usage, structure, and content through self-evaluation, peer editing, and instructor comments.
  • ENG 001A - Read, understand, and summarize essays and book-length works.
    		•
    Course Requisites
    Course Requisites Requisite Type: Advisories
    Sub Area Course #: ENG-001A
    Comment:

    General Education Requirements
    Proposed For Categories
    District General Education HUMANITIES
     
    Transfer Types Course can be transferred to CSU
    Course can be transferred to UC
    Course Codes
    CB00 State ID CCC000359674
    SAM Code (CB09) E = Not Occupational
    TOP Code (CB03) 1501.00 - English
    Course Credit Status (CB04) Credit - Degree Applicable
    Coop Educational Code N - N = Not Coop Education
    Coop Work Code (CB10) Y - Y = Not Applicable
    CAN Code (CB14)
    Course Completion Assessment Level None
    Instructional Code M - Intermediate
    Classification Codes (CB11) A - Liberal Arts
    Print Catalog YES
    Print Class Schedule YES
    Independent Studies NO
    Open Entry NO
    Work Experience NO
    Special Topics NO
    Appointment YES
    Contract Course NO
    Basic Skills (CB08) N Not Basic Skills
    Organizational Unit Library, Learning Resources, & Language Arts Div
    Prior Skills (CB21) Y = Not applicable
    Originator Ginger Holden
    Previous Course ENG 040A Current Literature
    Proposal Type Course Revision (Minor)
    Course Status Active
    Admin Dates
    Board of Trustees 11/21/2006
    3835