HONOLULU COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ENGLISH 256
POETRY AND DRAMA

 
COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the semester, the student should be able to:
  • Understand the history and development of both poetry and drama, and, particularly, appreciate and enjoy both genres.
  • Recognize and use key literary terms in discussions, journal entries, tests, and written papers.
  • Explicate individual poems and analyze plays: compare/contrast them with other works by the same author, or compare/contrast them with other works by different authors.
  • Write analytical, well-organized, and correctly documented papers about poetry and drama.
  • · Above all, the student should be able to fully appreciate and enjoy the selected literary works by learning to use his/her personal "mirror."
Literature is a mirror of reality, and, like a mirror, its reflections contain certain characteristics. These reflections can be wholly accurate, they can have various shades of distortion, and they are always influenced by the mood, the personality, and the maturity of the beholder.

 
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION:

This course will begin with the history of poetry, using early models from ancient literature, and progress to the modern forms.  The second half of the course will concentrate on drama, chronologically arranged.  Films will be used for both poetry and drama when appropriate.

Lectures and films will explain history, development, and literary terms; however, class discussions will be the "soul" of this course. These discussions may involve the whole class, or, on some occasions, may be conducted in small groups.

Because this class is "Writing Intensive," short reaction papers, longer term papers, and journal entries are an integral part of English 256. Sharing written analyses, either with small groups, or with the whole class will also be an important part of learning.
 

 
REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to regular attendance and class participation in class discussions, the student will be required to prepare:
  • two (2) analytical, properly documented term papers (minimum five typewritten pages) - one for poetry and one for drama
  • two (2) short analyses (one to two pages): one for poetry and one for drama
  • A midterm, in-class essay
  • A final, take-home exam
  • Short, in-class quizzes on assigned material
  • Thoughtfully written journal entries **
  • Some outside reading for both poetry and drama
** Journal Guidelines

Journal entries, lengthy or short, should reflect reactions to assigned readings.  These entries should be the bases for class discussions, and they should generate ideas for papers: questions, opinions (positive or negative), and general reactions to not only the literature, but also to class discussions, lectures, etc. The entries should not be merely summaries.

The journals will be collected approximately every two weeks.  They will not be graded, but they will be given credit for their thoughtfulness and completeness (Y+=50, Y-=30, Y=10).  Entries should cover at least 50 poems and all the plays.
 

EVALUATION:
All papers and journals must be turned in on the day they are due. Late papers will receive one grade lower for each day late.
Each student must have a conference with the instructor after the writing sample is returned (second class) and after the first paper is graded (approximately four weeks). The student and/or the instructor may ask for a conference as often as necessary, and students are encouraged to consult with the instructor frequently. This is particularly important when writing rough drafts and revisions.
Grading is based upon a point system. Attendance is worth one point for each class attended. However, points will be deducted for late papers, missing rough drafts, etc.
Final grades earned are A, B, C, D, F, or I. The Incomplete grade will be followed by a slash and the grade earned by the student at the end of the semester (ex: I/D). This grade will be given only if the student has no more than three (3) missing assignments to complete. I do not give Ns in transfer-level courses, except in extraordinary circumstances. Most colleges at UH consider the N as a failing grade, and most Mainland colleges do not understand or recognize an N. At best, such a grade has a negative connotation. A W, for Withdrawal, can only be obtained by the student before the "withdrawal date" specified in the school calendar.

 

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Last Updated 12/01