I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Literature

2. Course Prefix & Number:
ENGL 1463

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

Introduction to literature is a survey course of great, creative literature, specifically prose, drama, and poetry. In addition to developing personal responses to the selected works in the course, students will become adept at discussing and analyzing literature and will develop fluency in literary concepts (plot, point of view, characterization, setting, symbolism, theme, tone, figurative language, stream-of-consciousness, Realism, et. al.).  For students wishing to continue study in poetry, drama, American, or world literatures, this course is a necessary starting point. Students who wish to expand their reading experience, develop a deeper appreciation for creative literature, and learn techniques for literary interpretation will also benefit greatly from this course.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

7. Other Prerequisites

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Normandale Community College, English 1000: Introduction to Literature, 3 credits
St. Cloud State University, ENGL 184 Introduction to Literature, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 7 – Human Diversity

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
Demonstrate written communication skills	Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Understand literary works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Demonstrate communication skills necessary for living and working effectively in a society with great population diversity.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society. Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

Expected Outcome	MnTC Goal Area
Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.	6
Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.	6
Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.	6
Engage in the creative process or interpretive performance.	6
Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.	6
Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in United States' history and culture.	7
Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society.	7
Analyze their own attitudes, behaviors, concepts and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.	7
Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.	7

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Prose
   
   •  Short story
   •  Origins of the short story as a literary form
   •  Reading for enjoyment and reading critically
   •  Active reading: using the text to support interpretation
   •  Elements of fiction
   • Genre (short story, novel, and novella)
   • Structure
   • Style
   • Point of view
   • Setting
   • Symbolism
   • Plot
   • Characterization
   • Symbolism
   • Tropes
   • Tone
   • Irony
   • Theme
   • Style
2. Poetry
   • Poetry and song (cultural and historical origins)
   • “How to Read Poetry”--making poetry accessible
   • Elements of poetry
   • Speaker
   • Imagery
   • Sounds
   • End-rhyme
   • Assonance and consonance
   • Form
   • Sonnet
   • Villanelle
   • Sestina
   • Ballad
   • Free verse
   • Lyric
   • Blank verse
   • Dramatic monologue
   • Narrative poetry
   • Couplets
   • Odes
   • Quatrains
   • Meter
   • Stanzas
   • Lineation
3. Drama
   • Introduction to Drama
   • Classical drama
   • Aristotle
   • Elements of Drama
   • Plot
   • Characterization
   • Theme
   • Diction
   • Melody
   • Spectacle
   • Setting
   • The Nature of Tragedy
   • Realism
   • Theater of the Absurd
4. Writing about Literature
   • Literary analysis
   • Thesis statement
   • Using textual support effectively
   • Citing sources in MLA format