Popular Literature

ENG 381 (WI)

Summer Session II:     07/02/18 to 08/10/18 Online (Asynchronous)
Professor R. Hsu /Office:  KUY 512 / rhsu@hawaii.edu /Skype address:

Description:
This class is about reading, thinking and writing about contemporary literature that have been very popular with both the reading public and literary scholars. Selected texts are from the genres of the memoir, graphic narrative, fantasy, speculative fiction, and the novel. Literature reflects and represents socio-cultural and historical issues as well as project possible futures. What might these books say about the deepest aspirations and fears of the communities depicted in these books? What might account for the popularity of these books and authors?

Procedure:
This class is an online, asynchronous class which means that except for one 50-minute session in the first week of the summer session, when we will convene at the same time but online, course content and writing assignments will be handled online. I will read and provide written feedback on your writing; regular individual consultations with me on your writing are required and will take place via Skype or similar software.

Writing assignments are essential to you engaging (reading and thinking about and responding to) fully with the prose narratives.

What does a Writing Intensive designation mean:

  1. Writing assignments (essays; forum posts) in total will generate no less than 4000 words or 16-, double-spaced pages of complete, finalized text.
  2. Written feedback from instructor: I will provide written feedback on your critical analysis papers, your forum posts, and your Reading Journal.
  3. Individual consultations via Skype or similar software: I will “meet” with each student two to three times during this course and, as necessary, in order to provide additional feedback on your written work. These individual “meetings” are mandatory.

Required texts:
Alison Bechdel, Fun Home (graphic novel)
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (fantasy)
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me (memoir)
Celeste Ng, Little Fires Everywhere (fiction) (NYT bestseller list)
Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale (speculative fiction)

Writing Requirements:
1) Three critical analysis papers: Min. 800 words per paper; 2) Three forum posts (via Laulima): Min. 300 words per post; 3) Reading journal: entries on each of the five texts; min. 200 words per text; 4) Exercises: on how to develop strong, clear, analytical thesis statements, paragraph development, syntax.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLO):

  • Gain an understanding of societal, cultural, and historical factors that may contribute to the popularity of certain literary works;
  • Gain an understanding of and enhance the ability to identify and analyze literary devices, narrative elements, and conventions of genre;
  • Enhance the ability to think and to write independently about literary texts.