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A. Rohrbach | |
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Office Hours: M:4:30-6 |
x8661 |
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Tues: 4:30-6 or by appointment |
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Augusta.Rohrbach@oberlin.edu |
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In this course we will explore the narrative mode of memoir as both a representation of self and culture. Part of how we will do this will be through text selection: all the books on this reading list are or have been bestsellers and/or have been recognized as having some outstanding merit. Through readings, writings, class discussion and group presentations we will explore several different kinds of memoirs, noting the way their authors make use of popular fictional forms such as detective ficiton, the adventure story and the bildungsroman (the novel of initiation). Throughout the semester, we will ask ourselves how we make sense of our readings. For instance, how do we categorize our reading experiences and how does such categorization inform the reading process. When we read a "memoir," for instance, what kinds or rights and limitations does this active participation in this genre grant a text? Using the autobiographical moment to engage these and other issues, this course will focus on works by James Ellroy, Kevin McBride, Mary Karr, Susanna Kaysen, Patty Hearst, Eva Hoffman and Jon Krakauer. Other questions we will consider are: How are these stories emblems of the time, place and persons they describe? How do they reflect the circumstances of their publication? What makes these stories suitable for publication? What bearing does being a "New York Times Bestseller" have on how we interpret its value? Are they designed to be "bestsellers"? What about other aspects of the author's life and context? How do they contribute to the book's appeal?
Class participation and attendance are mandatory. In order to facilitate small group work, the class will be divided into small groups; these groups will meet outside of class on a rotating schedule and prepare short writing assignments and in-class presentations. Individual group members will meet with me outside of class at set intervals. In addition to these responsibilities, students will also write three short papers in the first half of the semester, two drafts of their final paper and a final draft.
Procedures: This class is fortunate to have a writing tutor. Groups will meet with the tutor at least three times outside of class. Because the tutor will be helping you with the writing process, you must hand in two copies of each paper--one for me and one forthe tutor. The tutor will also be available for one-on-one sessions, arranged at your mutal convenience. NB: If you fail to meet the tutor at an arranged time, it will count as an unexecused absence. Failure to attend the out-of-class sessions will also count as an unexcused absence. More than two unexcused absences will put your grade at risk.
Grades: All semester participation and written work will be evaluated broadly. C-range work is able to account analytically for the text at hand. B-range work is sharp analytically, but is held together and strengthened by interpretative links and leaps. A-range work reaches beyond the normative analyses and interpretations to glimpse an underlying structure or overarching pattern that tells us something about the CULTURE we're studying, the WORLD we live in, and/or our RELATION to it. EVERY PAPER BENEFITS GREATLY FROM SPECIFIC DETAILS DRAWN FROM THE TEXT YOU'RE DISCUSSING. Late papers will not be acepted without prior consent.
Required Texts:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5 (group 1 scheduled meetings)
Week 6
Week 7 SPRING BREAK
Week 8 (group 2 scheduled meetings)
Week 9 (group 3 scheduled meetings)
Week 10 (Group 1 scheduled meetings)
Week 11 (Group 2 scheduled meetings)
Week12 (Group 3 scheduled meetings)
Week 13
Week 14
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