English 250 - Reading the Novel

An introduction to the genre of the novel and to the experiences that it makes it possible for us to have. We will pay attention to the development of characters, to the complications and resolutions of plots, and to the ceaseless social framing of what it’s possible to express, but we will pay attention, as well, to less foregrounded things, like rhythm, motion, emotional atmospheres, and nonhuman forces. Students will read five novels, representing a range of types and styles, and write two ten-page papers.

Limited to 18 students. Fall semester. Professor Sanborn.

How to handle overenrollment: Preference given to sophomores and English majors

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Learning how to read closely and with emotional intelligence; learning how to augment the experience of reading through informal reflective writing and class participation; learning that all ideas are associatively connected to other ideas and that there are powerful alternatives to state-illustrate-restate arguments. There will be pre-class writing assignments, two papers, and an emphasis on the quality of the contributions to class discussion. There will be no quizzes or exams.