Effective: 2024-05-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

This course guides students in developing skills in close reading, writing, research, interpretation, and comparative analysis of short stories for application to humanities and literature fields.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: ENG 112 or divisional approval.

Course Objectives

• Critical Thinking
• Analyze short stories by examining conventions of short fiction, including (but not limited to) plot, characterization, setting, point of view, figurative language, symbolism and theme.
• Synthesize information, ideas and arguments from a variety of perspectives, including the written arguments of scholars and peers, to investigate issues related to the study of short fiction.
• Formulate interpretations of short stories using targeted literary guidelines, individual insights, historical perspective, and research.
• Evaluate short stories using specific literary criteria, personal interpretation, and research to reach well-reasoned conclusions.
• Written Communication
• Produce formal and informal written literary analyses of short stories.
• Formulate, convey, and exchange ideas in writing about short stories.
• Develop and revise writing that is appropriate to a given context, purpose, and audience.
• Civic Engagement
• Consider cultural contexts when analyzing short stories.
• Interpret short stories by exploring their ethnographic and historical backgrounds.
• Assess the impact of culture as it relates to short stories
• Reflect upon the ways short stories are capable of underscoring and challenging societal norms, exploring identity and ethics, inspiring change, preserving traditions, offering psychological insights, critiquing culture, and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Major Topics to be Included

• Literary Traditions
• Define short fiction as a genre and recognize conventions of short fiction.
• Identify and differentiate among major literary movements and compare their influence upon short fiction.
• Analyze the brevity and depth of selected short stories as distinctive in format, characterization, and style.
• Literary Inquiry
• Create and investigate meaningful inquiries about human experiences through the study of short fiction.
• Recognize and apply several approaches to literary analysis and criticism, including (but not limited to) reader-response, textual, sociological, psychological, historical, cultural, and authorial criticism.
• Historical and Social Contexts
• Explain connections among short fiction pieces and related historical, social, and literary contexts.
• Close Reading and Literary Analysis
• Conduct critical examinations of short stories using close reading methods.
• Support interpretations of short stories with textual evidence.
• Apply scholarly sources as appropriate to inform inquiry into literary texts and support interpretation.
• Writing
• Evaluate and select appropriate literary research materials.
• Compose formal essays, reflections, comparative analyses, informal responses, and other writings in response to short stories.
• Utilize citation tools and resources efficiently to ensure accuracy in documentation.