ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH EDUCATION
FACULTY OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION INDONESIA UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
Course : Critical Analysis of Prose
Code : IG 539
Credit : 2 Chs
Instructors : Nia Nafisah, M.Pd/2329 1. Goals:
At the end of the semester, students are able to
1. Be aware of the relationship between a text of prose and its socio historical and political contexts.
2. Critically analyze the potential issue(s) raised in a text of prose. 3. Write a coherent and argumentative essay on a text analysis. 2. Contents:
The course covers critical readings of different types of prose: essay, short story, and novel. It encourages students to have close readings of such texts so that they are not only able to comprehend the text, interpret it, but also are able to relate it to its socio historical and political contexts. In doing so, they can identify and argue for the potential issue(s) raised in a text, be it gender, postcolonial, Marxist, or aesthetic issues. Furthermore, this course requires students to write essays on their interpretation and elaboration of the
potential issue reflected in the texts in a coherent and argumentative manner. 3. Learning Activities:
Classroom communicative expository approach with reading, lecturing, classroom discussions and quizzes.
4. Prerequisite:
Foundations of Literature Exploring Prose
5. Evaluation:
Evaluation will be based on the following components:
1. Participation = 20%
2. Quizzes 2x10% = 20%
3. Three Individual assignments = 60%
100% Notes:
- Minimum 80% attendance is required to submit the last two individual assignments.
- Less than 80% attendance is subject to fail the course.
- Late submission of individual assignment is subject to a 20% deduction.
NOTE ON PLAGIARISM:
Grading: 85 – 100 = A 70 – 84 = B 55 – 69 = C 40 – 54 = D < 39 = E
Grading is subject to modify according to class performance. 6. Weekly Syllabus
Week s
Topics Sources
1 1. Introduction to the course 2. Syllabus overview
3. What is Critical Analysis of Prose?
1. Syllabus
2. Handout/Powerpoi nt
2 – 3 An Essay:
- Discover the underlying perspectives and themes - Analyze how the choices of
content and language affects the readers
Lincoln, A. Rodriguez.
4 -6 Two Short Stories:
- Review on elements of short story - Close reading
- Interpreting the text - Due date essay 1: week 4
Atwood. (1987) Twain, M. (1999)
7 - Quiz One
- Due date essay 2
- Review on writing essay 8-11 Novel 1:
- Discuss the socio historical political aspects
- Analyze the potential issue(s)
Dickens, C. (1998)
12-14 Novel 2:
- Discuss the socio historical political aspects
- Analyze the potential issue(s) - Due date essay 3: week 13
Achebe, C. (2006)
15 Review on Critical Analysis of Prose 16 - Quiz 2
- Feedback 7. References:
A. Main Sources:
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
Achebe, C. 2006. Things Fall Apart. London: Penguin Red Classic. Atwood, M. 1987. ‘Happy Endings’.
Dickens, C. 1998. Hard Times. London: Wordsworth Classic.
B. Other Relevant Sources:
Casson, Allan. 2001. CliffsAP: English Literature and Composition. New York: Wiley Publishing, Inc.
Drabble, Margaret. (ed). 2000. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. Oxford: OUP.
Dobie, A. 2009. Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism.Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Loevy, Diana. 2006. The Book Club Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to the Reading Group Experience. New York: Berkley Books.
Morner, Kathelen & Ralph Rausch. 1998. NTC’s Dictionary of Literary Terms. Chicago: NTC Publishing Group.
Session Topic Competence Activities Evaluation and Assignment
s
Sources
1 Introduction to course outline and overview of basic concepts in literature & authors of the prose discussed in the course.
Students can explain basic concepts in literature.
-Introduce course outline
-Overview of basic concepts.
-Reading assignment: The Gettysburg
Address
Oral/discussi
on 1. Syllabus2. Handout/ Powerpoi nt
2 The Gettysburg Address: a
prose poem Students can understand the structure of this essay and analyze its strength
-Discuss how historical contexts influence the making of the essay -Discuss the essay’s relevance to today’s situation
Quiz
Assignment: Reading second essay
About.com
3 Foul Shots: A personal essay
Students are able to identify the potential issue raised in the text.
-Discuss the text and find the potential issue raised in the text.
Classroom note
About.com
4 Happy Endings:
A short story Students are able to identify the potential issue raised in the text.
-Discus the text Classroom note
Short paper 1 dues
Atwood. 1987
5 The £ 1,000,000 Banknote:
A short story Students can identify setting and characterization of the story and connect it to
-Discuss how the story is built on setting and characterization.
Classroom
note Twain. 1999.
the present situation 6 The £ 1,000,000 Banknote:
A short story Students can identify theme and style of the novel to appreciate its strength
- Discuss whether and how the story’s theme is relevant to the present world. - Appreciate the
author’s wit to present the theme
Short essay
assignment Twain. 1999.Dobie. 2009
7 Quiz 1
Review on writing essay - Students understand what they have learned
- Students write a better essay
Discussions on the
students’ essay writing Question andanswer Reading assignment: Book I
Dickens. 1998.
8 Hard Times: Close reading
on Book I Students can understand the vocabulary and details of the novel from historical point of view.
-Discuss how the novel is influenced by
Victorian social condition
-Discuss the
vocabulary used in the novel.
9 Hard Times: Close reading
on Book II Students can analyse the theme of the novel from its setting and
characterization
-Discuss the theme of the novel and its detail. -Discuss the progress of the novel.
Reading assignment: Book III
10 Hard Times: Close reading
on Book III Students can analyse the theme of the novel from its symbolism
-Discuss the theme of the novel and its symbols.
Classroom
note Dickens. 1998 Dobie. 2009 11 Hard Times: critical analysis Students can critically
analyse the novel from literary theories they have learned
Discuss the possible tool to analyse the novel.
Reading assignment: Things fall Apart
12 Things Fall Apart: Part I Students can analyse the setting and
characterization of the novel
Discuss the setting and characterization of the novel
Classroom note
Reading assignment: Part II
Achebe. 2006.
13 Things Fall Apart: Part II Students can analyse the theme and symbolism of the novel
-Discuss the theme and symbolism of the novel
Classroom note
Reading assgn: Part III
Achebe. 2006.
14 Things Fall Apart: Part III Students can critically analyse the novel from literary theories they have learned.
-Discuss the possible tool to analyse the novel
Classroom
note Achebe. 2006. Dobie. 2009 15 Review on Critical Analysis
of Prose Students can understand and apply their skills of critically analysis other literary texts
-Discuss how a text can be analised using different literary theories
Paper
assignment 3 due
Dobie. 2009.
