College of Humanities and the Arts · English & Comparative Literature

Introduction to Literary Criticism Section 01

ENGL 101
Fall 2022 4 Unit(s) 08/19/2022 to 12/06/2022 Modified 08/20/2022

 Contact Information

Instructor: Dr. Maite Urcaregui

Email: [email protected]

Office Location: Faculty Offices Building (FOB) 216

Office Hours Information: Mondays & Wednesdays 3-4 p.m. in person in FOB 216

Tuesdays 4-5 p.m. on Zoom.

(https://sjsu.campusconcourse.com/Mondays%20&%20Wednesdays%203-
4%20p.m.%20in%20person%20in%20FOB%20216%20%20%20Tuesdays%204-
5%20p.m.%20on%20Zoom%3A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20https%3A/sjsu.zoom.us/j/84765764961?
pwd=MkFXSTVhb0d3alF2NXZ1Tm9XZEZKUT09)

Class Day, Time, & Location: Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Sweeney Hall 229

 Course Description and Requisites

English 101: Introduction to Literary Criticism is the study and application of various historical and contemporary approaches,
including foundational twentieth-century theory as well as contemporary approaches. Applications of critical models to various
literary, visual, and digital texts. Throughout this course, we will explore key movements of literary theory, how they have developed
over time, and how they have shaped the discipline of Literary Studies. We will practice using literary theory and criticism as
frameworks that inform our interpretations of literature, art and other media, and our own lives. Finally, we explore how theory and
criticism as tools that can develop our close reading skills and research methodologies as we develop our own interpretations and
contribute to ongoing conversations within Literary Studies.

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 100W.

Letter Graded

 Classroom Protocols
Engaging in Scholarly Discourse & Community

The classroom is a professional setting of learning. Please come prepared to discuss the day’s materials (having done the reading)
and participate in class activities. You are welcome to read and take notes on your phone, laptop, or tablet. However, please use your
devices only for class work during our time together.

Our class will require participation and collaborations and will cover theoretical approaches that explore complex issues, such as but
not limited to race and racism, gender, sexuality, and coloniality. Your respectful, responsible, and self-aware engagement and
dialogue will be vital to maintaining a productive and collaborative learning community. While we will develop community expectations
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 and discussion guidelines in class, here are some foundational considerations:

We can disagree and challenge each other’s thinking and ideas in a civil, respectful, and productive way as long as that
disagreement is not predicated on hate or exclusion. As James Baldwin famously said, “We can disagree and still love each other,
unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.”
Close attention to the language that we use is a necessary component of close reading within literary studies. Please be mindful
of the language you use and the relationship between language and power.

A Note about Emails

Please be aware that I do not respond to emails outside of traditional business hours, M-F 9-5. If it is not a weekend and I have not
responded to your email within 48 hours, please do not hesitate to follow up and send me a reminder.

When you email me, please be clear, concise, and respectful. Include a subject that states the purpose of your email as well as a
greeting and a signature that includes your name.

 Program Information
The following statement has been adopted by the Department of English for inclusion in all syllabi: In English Department Courses,
instructors will comment on and grade the quality of student writing as well as the quality of ideas being conveyed. All student writing
should be distinguished by correct grammar and punctuation, appropriate diction and syntax, and well-organized paragraphs. The
Department of English reaffirms its commitment to the differential grading scale as defined in the SJSU Catalog ("The Grading
System").

Grades issued must represent a full range of student performance. Within any of the letter grade ranges (e.g. B+/B/B-), the assignment
of a +(plus) or -(minus) grade will reflect stronger (+) or weaker (-) completion of course or assignment goals:

A [90-92=A-, 93-96=A, 97-100=A+] = Excellent;

B [80-82=B-, 83-86=B, 87-89=B+] Above average;
C [70-72=C-, 73-76=C, 77-79=C+] = Average;
D [60-62=D-, 63-66=D, 67-69=D+] = Below average;
F = Failure.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

Upon successful completion of an undergraduate degree program in the Department of English and Comparative Literature, students
will be able to:
1. Read closely in a variety of forms, styles, structures, and modes, and articulate the value of close reading in the study of literature,
creative writing, or rhetoric.
2. Show familiarity with major literary works, genres, periods, and critical approaches to British, American, and World Literature.
3. Write clearly, effectively, and creatively, and adjust writing style appropriately to the content, the context, and nature of the
subject.
4. Develop and carry out research projects, and locate, evaluate, organize, and incorporate information effectively.
5. Articulate the relations among culture, history, and texts, including structures of power.

English 101 supports students in achieving all five of these Program Learning Outcomes.

Department Information:

Department Name: English and Comparative Literature

Department Office: FO 102
Department Website: www.sjsu.edu/english (https://www.sjsu.edu/english)
Department email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
Department phone number: 408-924-4425

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 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Identify, trace, and discuss key movements and methodologies within literary theory. Recognize how these methodologies
emerge from specific historical and cultural contexts and positionalities. You will explore prominent theoretical movements from
the twentieth and twenty-first century as well as the ways that they respond to and build on one another while also articulating
distinct values and approaches (Discussion Posts & Responses).
2. Apply these methodologies to literary texts and other forms of media as you develop and practice your close reading skills. You
will use theory as a framework, or methodology, through which to engage in textual analysis and, likewise, you will explore the
way that works of art and literature theorize in their own right (Discussion Posts & Responses & Critical Textual Analysis).
3. Use literary theory and criticism to develop original interpretations and participate in ongoing conversations in the discipline. You
will familiarize yourself with the ever-evolving discourses of particular theoretical schools and will conduct your own research and
analysis to contribute to these discussions (Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography & Critical Textual Analysis).
4. Practice writing and researching across genres and forms within the discipline with a particular audience and purpose in mind.
You will explore the value of theory not only to literature but also to other forms of art and media and to our lived experiences.
You will then practice sharing your insights across different forms of writing, including public-facing writing, such as op-eds or
blog posts, and more traditional scholarly formats (all writing assignments with particular emphasis on Theory-In-Action
Assignment).

 Course Materials
*Note that all of these books are available at the campus bookstore (https://sjsu.bncollege.com/course-material-listing-page?
bypassCustomerAdoptions=true) and on our Leganto course reserve (https://csu-
sjsu.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/leganto/readinglist/lists/6465346830002919). Some are available as an eBook that allows multiple
check outs and some are print materials on loan for 2-hour periods, so please plan ahead. While it is your responsibility to ensure that
you have access to these texts, you are not required to purchase them. If you have trouble getting access to or finding these texts,
please reach out to the instructor or library liaison.

Jonathan Cullers, Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction

Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Natalie Diaz, Postcolonial Love Poem

Carmen Machado, Her Body and Other Parties

Nghi Vo, The Chosen & the Beautiful

Louis Tyson, Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide (3rd edition preferable but not required)

We will also be drawing heavily from Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan's Literary Theory: An Anthology (3rd edition), which is available on
our course reserves or Canvas.

*All other readings will be made available on Canvas.

 Course Requirements and Assignments

All assignment instructions and grading criteria will be discussed in class and posted on Canvas prior to the deadline.

Discussion Posts (5) 25%: In these discussion posts, you will get to select a theoretical movement and write a response that uses
relevant course readings to describe the central questions, investments, arguments, and methodologies of that theory and to practice
applying it to a text. You will also respond to two of your peers' work.

Theory-In-Action Assignment 20%: You will select a theory of your choice and explore its significance not only to Literary Study but
also to the way we see and know the world. Your writing should be some sort of public-facing genre, whether that’s a short YouTube or
TikTok video, a blog post, an op-ed piece, or an educational pamphlet.

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 Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography 10%: This will be preparation for your critical textual analysis in which you will propose a topic
and research question and begin to collect, describe, and synthesize various sources from both within and outside of class.

Critical Textual Analysis 25%: The critical textual analysis is a longer-form paper (6-8 pages) in which you will create your own
interpretive framework that brings together multiple theories (at least two) to analyze a text of your choice (literature, art, television,
pop culture, etc.). In some ways, this is like your typical close reading paper, but in it, you will draw from theory to inform your reading
and interpretation of a text.

Final Reflection 20%: The final reflection is an opportunity for you to look back on the theories we have explored and articulate how
the emerge from, build on, and respond to one another. You will discuss which theories you found most meaningful and how you
might continue to incorporate them into your worldview and reading practice.

 Grading Information
*Please see "Program Information" for more details regarding grading. Assignment instructions and grading criteria will be discussed
in class and posted on Canvas prior to the deadline.

Discussion Posts & Responses (5) 25%

Theory-In-Action Assignment 20%

Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography 10%

Critical Textual Analysis 25%

Final Reflection 20%

Extra Credit: You may earn extra credit of up to a 3% points on your final grade by attending an SJSU performance or event outside of
class and writing a critical response to it that engages a theory discussed in class.

Extensions & Late Work: I am very willing to work with you if you anticipate that you may need extra time to submit your best work in
an assignment. However, I can only do this if you communicate with me in advance. Please email me at least 72 hours in advance if
you would like to request an extension on an assignment. Unless there is an emergency, extensions will not be granted if the
assignment is due in less than 72 hours. If late work is submitted, it will be graded at the instructor’s discretion and may receive a
deduction.

 University Policies
Per University Policy S16-9 (http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/docs/S16-9.pdf), relevant university policy concerning all courses, such as
student responsibilities, academic integrity, accommodations, dropping and adding, consent for recording of class, etc. and available
student services (e.g. learning assistance, counseling, and other resources) are listed on Syllabus Information web page
(https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php) (https://www.sjsu.edu/curriculum/courses/syllabus-info.php). Make
sure to visit this page to review and be aware of these university policies and resources.

 Course Schedule
Note that, while I will not add more work to this schedule, the timing and exact readings are subject to change and will be
communicated accordingly.

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Topic, Week, Dates Readings, Assignments, Deadlines

Introduction to Monday 8/22

Course
Introduction to course & “theory in the flesh” exercise
Week 1 Begin reading F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby

Aug. 22-24 Wednesday 8/24

Lois Tyson “Everything you wanted to know about critical

theory but were afraid to ask” from Critical Theory Today

What is Literary Monday 8/29

Theory?
Jonathan Cullers “What is theory” from Literary Theory: A
Week 2 Very Short Introduction
F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby pp. 1-102 (Make
Aug. 29-31 sure to read Min Jin Lee “Introduction” on Canvas)

Wednesday 8/31

“What is literature and does it matter?” from Literary

Theory: A Very Short Introduction
Finish The Great Gatsby

New Criticism Monday 9/5

Week 3 No class due to the Labor Day holiday. Enjoy your long
weekend & catch up on rest & reading!
Sept. 5-7 Begin reading Nghi Vo The Chosen and the Beautiful

Wednesday 9/7

“New Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today

Viktor Shklovsky “Art as Technique” and Cleanth Brooks
“The Formalist Critics” (pp. 8-20) in Literary Theory: An
Anthology

Formalism & New Monday 9/12

Formalism
Monroe Beardsley & W. K. Wimsatt “The Intentional
Week 4 Fallacy” in Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 29-41)
Nghi Vo The Chosen and the Beautiful pp. 1-39 (Ch. 1-3)
Sept. 12-14
Wednesday 9/14

Marjorie Levinson “What Is New Formalism?”

Colleen Lye “Racial Form”
Kadji Amin, Amber Jamilla Musser, and Roy Pérez “Queer
Form: Aesthetics, Race, and the Violences of the Social”
Complete Discussion Post #1

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Topic, Week, Dates Readings, Assignments, Deadlines

Structuralism Monday 9/19

Week 5 “Structuralism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today

Ferdinand de Saussure Ch. I & II fromCourse in General
Sept. 19-21 Linguistics in Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 138-147)
The Chosen and the Beautiful pp. 40-72 (Ch. 4-6)

Wednesday 9/21

Culler “Language, Meaning, & Interpretation” inLiterary

Theory: A Very Short Introduction
Mikhail Bakhtin “Discourse in the Novel” InLiterary
Theory: An Anthology (pp. 205-216)

Deconstructive/Post- Monday 9/26

Structuralist
Criticism “Deconstructive Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today
The Chosen & the Beautiful pp. 73-107 (Ch. 7-9)
Week 6
Wednesday 9/28
Sept. 26-28
Jacques Derrida “Différance” in Literary Theory: An
Anthology (pp. 474-495)
Complete Discussion Post #2

Psychoanalytic Monday 10/3

Criticism
“Psychoanalytic Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today
Week 7 Sigmund Freud “Creative Writers and Daydreaming”
Carmen Machado’s “The Resident” from Her Body and
Oct. 3-5 Other Parties

Wednesday 10/5

Read Jacques Lacan “The Mirror Stage as Formative of

the Function” & D.W. Winnicott “Transitional Objects and
Transitional Phenomena” in Literary Theory: An
Anthology (pp. 618-635)
Alison Bechdel selection from Are You My Mother?

Marxist Criticism Monday 10/10

Week 8 “Marxist Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today

Karl Marx “The Philosophic & Economic Manuscripts of
Oct. 10-12 1844” in Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 717-729)
The Chosen & the Beautiful pp. 108-157 (Ch. 10-12)

Wednesday 10/12

Louis Althusser “Ideology and Ideological State

Apparatuses” in Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 768-
777)
Selection from Cedric Robinson Black Marxism
Angela Davis “Communist Women”
Complete Discussion Post #3

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Topic, Week, Dates Readings, Assignments, Deadlines

New Historical & Monday 10/17

Cultural Criticism
Read “New Historical & Cultural Criticism” in Tyson
Week 9 Critical Theory Today
The Chosen & the Beautiful pp.158-182 (Ch. 13-15)
Oct. 17-19 Discuss Theory-In-Action Assignment

Wednesday 10/19

Culler “Literature & Cultural Studies” & “Identity,

Identification, & the Subject” in Literary Theory: A Very
Short Introduction
Michel Foucault “We ‘Other Victorians’”

Feminist Criticism Monday 10/24

Week 10 “Feminist Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today

Judith Butler “Imitation and Gender Insubordination” in
Oct. 24-26 Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 955-963)
The Chosen & the Beautiful pp. 183-224 (Ch. 16-18)

Wednesday 10/26

Read Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw “Demarginalizing the

Intersections of Race and Sex”
Selected poetry
Submit Theory-In-Action Assignment

Queer Criticism Monday 10/31

Week 11 “Lesbian, Gay, and Queer Criticism” in TysonCritical

Theory Today
Oct. 31-Nov. 2 Finish The Chosen & the Beautiful pp. 224-260

Wednesday 11/2

Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick selections fromEpistemology of

the Closet & Queer Nation “Queers Read This” inLiterary
Theory: An Anthology (pp. 1014-1034)
Discuss Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography
Assignment
Complete Discussion Post #4

Queer of Color Monday 11/7

Criticism
Roderick A. Ferguson “Introduction” from One-
Week 12 Dimensional Queer
José Esteban Muñoz selections fromCruising Utopia” in
Nov. 7-9 Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 1054-1065)
Machado “The Husband Stitch,” “Inventory,” & “Mothers”
from Her Body and Other Parties

Wednesday 11/9

Sandra K. Soto’s “Introduction” from Reading Chican@

Like a Queer: The De-Mastery of Desire
Machado “Real Women Have Bodies" & "Eight Bites” from
Her Body and Other Parties

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Topic, Week, Dates Readings, Assignments, Deadlines

African Monday 11/14

American/Black
Studies Criticism Class cancelled due to Dr. Urcaregui presenting at
PAMLA academic conference.
Week 13 Complete required discussion post activity on Canvas.

Nov. 14-16 Wednesday 11/16

Read “African American Criticism” in Tyson Critical

Theory Today & Toni Morrison “Playing in the Dark” in
Literary Theory: An Anthology (pp. 1163-1173)
Submit Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography

Week 14 Monday 11/21

11/21 Selections from Audre Lorde

Selected poetry
Discuss Critical Textual Analysis

Wednesday 11/23

No class. Non-instructional day. Enjoy some time off to

catch up on rest and reading!

Postcolonial & Monday 11/28

Decolonial Theory
Postcolonial Criticism” in Tyson Critical Theory Today
Week 15 Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak “Three Women’s Texts and a
Critique of Imperialism”
Nov. 28-30
Wednesday 11/30

Gerald Vizenor “Aesthetics of Survivance”

Natalie Diaz Postcolonial Love Poem pp. 1-52
Discuss Final Reflection
Submit Critical Textual Analysis

Ecocriticism Monday 12/5

Week 16 Pippa Marland “Ecocriticism” in Literary Theory: An

Anthology
Dec. 5-7 Finish Diaz Postcolonial Love Poem

Wednesday 12/7

Wrap up & reflections

Complete Discussion Post #5

Final Exam We will not meet during your final exam time, but yourfinal
reflection papers will be due by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday,
Dec. 13 December 13.

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