Honors Contract: Introduction to Literature

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
HONORS PROGRAM

Introduction to Literature  

This Honors Contract can be taken concurrently or sequentially (the semester immediately following the semester the course is taken) with the following course:

DESCRIPTION OF HONORS CONTRACT

Course Title:  Introduction to Literature                     Course No:  ENGL 130

(course allowing the contract)

Author of Contract:  Thomas Reynolds                      Hours Credit:  1

 In addition to satisfying the normal objectives/competencies of the course, the student must complete the following objectives to accomplish a higher level of scholastic work:

 Objectives:

 Option A: Biography/Philosophy

 The student will complete a substantial project which explores the influence of a writer’s life and/or theory of art on his/her writing.

Option B: Visualization

 The student will complete a substantial project which (1) identifies what can and/or cannot be achieved by a translation of an author’s work OR (2) creates a portfolio of work in which he/she provides illustrations that interpret the author’s work.

Option C: Theme

 The student will complete a substantial project in which he/she composes a reader’s journal of comments in response to a classic novel in preparation for writing a major essay focusing on a specific theme of the novel.

OPTION A: BIOGRAPHY/PHILOSOPHY 

1. Select a major writer whose work appears in the Norton Anthology of Literature, 10^th edition.
2. Read a substantial collection of poems, a major novel (or short story collection), or two plays by the same author.
3. Read a major biography and a significant collection of critical essays which discuss the author’s writing philosophy.
4. Complete a summary of the work and a reaction/analysis to the work (4 pages or 1000 words.
5. Complete a proposal for a final paper and an accompanying annotated bibliography.
6. Write a 10 page essay in which the philosophy or biography of the author is used to explain the form, content, and/or thematic elements of the poems, novel, or plays.

Grading Criteria (Option A: Biography/Philosophy):

 Evaluated work:

Summary/Reaction to the Work:                    20%

Proposal/Annotated Bibliography:                 20%

Essay                                                            50%

Performance (discussion, attendance):             10%

OPTION B: VISUALIZATION (2 POSSIBLE APPROACHES: CRITICAL, CREATIVE)

 Critical Approach: 

1. Select a writer whose work is often translated into film and read a major novel or play by this writer.
2. View at least three film versions of this writer’s work.
3. Compose a reader’s journal focusing on specific aspects of the adaptations.
4. Read a substantial collection of film reviews and critical essays focusing on the adaptations.
5. Complete a proposal for a final paper and an accompanying annotated bibliography.
6. Write a 10 page essay which identifies the challenges/successes that accompany an effort to translate the author’s work into film OR which identifies what can be learned (about society, etc.) through comparing/contrasting the three film adaptations.

 Grading Criteria (Option B: Visualization—Critical Approach): 

Evaluated work:

Reader’s Journal  :                            20%
Proposal/Annotated Bibliography: 20%
Essay:                                                  50%
Performance (discussion, attendance):             10%

 Creative Approach: 

1. Select a classic novel or play.
2. Create 7-10 visual illustrations of important scenes from the literary work.
3. Read a significant collection of critical essays focused on the work.
4. Complete a summary of the work and a reaction to/analysis of the work (4 pages or 1000 words.
5. Develop a portfolio of the illustrations with an accompanying 6 page essay to explain the choice of scenes to illustrate and explore the artistic decisions made in visualizing them.

 Grading Criteria (Option B: Visualization—Creative Approach): 

Evaluated work:

Summary/Reaction: 20%
Portfolio/Essay:  70%
Performance (discussion, attendance): 10%

 OPTION C: THEME 

1. Select a classic novel by celebrated novelist, such as Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Herman Melville, Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, or Henry James.
2. Keep a reader’s response journal while reading the work, focusing comments on a specific theme or aspect of the novel’s world.
3. Read a significant collection of critical essays focused on the work.
4. Complete a proposal for a final paper and an accompanying annotated bibliography.
5. Write a 10 page essay based on the completed journals that comments upon the novel and the critical essays from the research.

 Grading Criteria (Option C: Theme): 

Evaluated work:

Reader’s Journal :  20%
Proposal/Annotated Bibliography:   20%
Essay:       50%
Performance (discussion, attendance):             10%

Expectations:

Time committed to task (approximately 50 hours).
Regular meetings with mentor, totaling 8 hours, involving critical thinking and engaged discussions of course materials
Punctual attendance at all scheduled meetings.
Independence in defining the area to be investigated, in finding sources, and in completing the assignments but willingness to seek help from instructor whenever necessary.
Willingness to revise writing to a high level of proficiency.
Completion of all assigned work.

Grading scale:

Written assignments will receive point grades according to the following scale:

A+ =  100      B+ =  88        C+ =  78        D+ =  68
A   =   95       B   =  85       C   =  75       D   =  65       F   =  0-59
A-  =   90      B-  =  80       C-  =  70       D-  =  60