ENGL311 (Section 001, Schedule #40361)
Virginia Commonwealth University
Fall 2021
MW 2pm-3:15pm :: MPC Academic Learning Commons 2107
Prof. David Golumbia
Office: 333 Hibbs Hall
Fall 2021 Office Hours: Tues 2-4pm (over Zoom)
Linguistics and Literary Theory
Literature is made out of language, especially written language, so there are many strong connections between the theoretical questions raised by the study of literature and those raised by the study of language. This class explores some of those connections. We will cover topics such as the relationship between written language and spoken language; the incorporation of spoken language into written texts (such as the use of dialogue in novels); poststructuralist questions about the nature of language; the question of “style” in writing; the historical relationship between the study of language and the study of literature; the idea of “literary” writing; the question of interpretation in the production and reception of language; and the use of linguistics concepts in the practice of literary criticism. Evaluation will be via short written assignments and vigorous participation in discussion. Some familiarity with literary theory and/or linguistics will be useful but is not required.
Texts for Purchase (all other readings will be provided in Canvas and on the web)
Modality
This class uses a hybrid modality. We may need to adjust the specifics over the course of the term, but in general it will work this way:
- Class will not meet during class time on Mondays. Instead, we will use asynchronous tools in Canvas in place of Monday class time. The asynchronous tools will consist of threaded discussion, and perhaps other tools to be added later. You do not need to contribute to discussion during the Monday class period, but can contribute at any time during that week.
- Wednesdays, class will meet either in-person or over Zoom. The modality for each Wednesday will be indicated in the syllabus below
in green text
. Modality for specific days may change for a number of reasons, and I will make every effort to notify you via Canvas as early as possible of any change in modality.
Assignments and Evaluation
- Exams: 40%. Two multiple-choice exams will be administered over the course of the semester. The exams will be time-limited take-home exams. Keeping up with both readings and discussions will be essential to doing well on these exams.
- Paper: 20%. Students will write a short paper, due by the end of the final exam period of the class, of at least 1500 words, on a topic to be developed over the course of the term with the instructor.
- Course Participation: 40%. This portion of the grade will be assigned based on the frequency and quality of each student's participation in Canvas discussion (and, where applicable, Zoom discussions). Participation grades focus primarily on how often the student contributes to discussion, and whether those contributions reflect having read the material and other students' comments. Unlike papers, participation grades are largely not focused on how smart or incisive your comments are. The point is to participate often and show that you've read the material and your classmates' comments: it is meant to be easy to get full credit or nearly full credit for the term for participation.
Official VCU Policy Statements
Week-by-Week Syllabus
Week One. Introduction.
- Weds, Aug 25. No reading. Modality: in-person.
Week Two. Culler, Literary Theory
- Mon, Aug 30. Reading: Culler, Literary Theory, Chapters 1-2.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Sep 1. Reading: Culler, Literary Theory, Chapter 3.
Modality: in-person.
Week Three. Culler, Literary Theory
- Mon, Sep 6 (Labor Day). No class or readings.
- Weds, Sep 8. Reading: Culler, Literary Theory, remainder of book.
Modality: in-person.
Week Four. McWhorter, What Language Is
- Mon, Sep 13. McWhorter, What Language Is, Intro & Chapter 1.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Sep 15. McWhorter, What Language Is, Chapter 2.
Modality: Zoom.
Week Five. Study Week. No class meetings
- Mon, Sep 20.
- Weds, Sep 22.
Week Six. McWhorter, What Language Is
- Mon, Sep 27. McWhorter, What Language Is, Chapters 3-4.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Sep 29. McWhorter, What Language Is, Chapter 5 & epilogue.
Modality: in-person.
Week Seven. Heteroglossia
- Mon, Oct 4. Heteroglossia: Andrew Robinson, "In Theory: Bakhtin: Dialogism, Polyphony, and Heteroglossia" (web); Judith Baxter, "Heteroglossia" (Canvas).
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Oct 6. Heteroglossia: Dorothy J. Hale, "Bakhtin in African-American Literary Theory" (Canvas).
Modality: Zoom.
Week Eight. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., The Signifying Monkey (selections)
- Mon, Oct 11.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Oct 13
Week Nine. Study week; no class meetings
Week Ten. Derrida
- Mon, Oct 25.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Oct 27
Week Eleven. Spillers, "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe"
- Mon, Nov 1.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Nov 3
Week Twelve. Christina Sharpe, In the Wake (selections)
- Mon, Nov 8.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Nov 10
Week Thirteen. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, "Can the Subaltern Speak?"
- Mon, Nov 15.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Nov 17
Week Fourteen. Thanksgiving week; no class meetings
- Mon, Nov 22 (Thanksgiving)
- Weds, Nov 24 (Thanksgiving)
Week Fifteen. Fascism and Rhetoric
- Mon, Nov 29.
Modality: asynchronous/Canvas discussion.
- Weds, Dec 1
Week Sixteen. Individual paper meetings
Week Seventeen. Individual paper meetings
- Mon, Dec 13. Final essay due during final exam period. There is no other exam for the course.