Please let me know if you are squeamish about watching gory horror films. If so, I can provide alternate assignments for you on the days on which we watch those particular films. However, please note that these make up assignments will take as much as time as watching the film and you will also still be required to be in class for the section of our class period in which we are not watching the film.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
COURSE SCHEDULE
Course Schedule
*you may read ahead anytime you like
Monday, Jan. 4: Course introductions
HW: read The Exorcist part 1 (stop at Part II The Edge)
Tuesday, Jan 5
*In class Essay One introduction
HW: read The Exorcist part II (stop at Part III The Abyss)
Wednesday, Jan 6
HW: read The Exorcist part III (stop at Part IV "And Let My Cry Come Unto Thee")
Thursday, Jan 7
*In class watch Paranormal Activity
HW: finish the Exorcist, begin "The Missing" (stop at chapter 4)
Friday, Jan 8
HW: read "The Missing" (stop at chapter 7)
Monday, Jan 11
NO CLASS-PROFESSOR AT CONFERENCE
HW: finish "The Missing"
Tuesday, Jan 12
*In class Essay One Workshop, introduce Presentation/Story Assignment 3
HW: read "Out" to page 100
HW: read "Out" to page 100
Wednesday, Jan 13
*In class watch It Follows
HW: read "Out" to page 200
Thursday, Jan 14 *ESSAY 1 DUE VIA EMAIL ONLY BEFORE CLASS STARTS
*prepare for Essay 2
HW: read "Out" to page 300
Friday, Jan. 15
*In class sign up for presentation time slots
HW: finish "Out"
Monday, Jan 18
*Watch film ATM
*EHW: read "American Psycho" to page 100
Friday, Jan. 15
*In class sign up for presentation time slots
HW: finish "Out"
Monday, Jan 18
*Watch film ATM
*EHW: read "American Psycho" to page 100
Tuesday, Jan 19
*Essay 2 in class
HW: read "American Psycho" to page 200
Wednesday, Jan 20
*In class presentations, discuss OUT & ATM
HW: read "American Psycho" to page 300
Thursday, Jan 21
*In class presentations, discuss American Psycho
HW: finish "American Psycho"
Friday, Jan 22
*In class presentations, watch Cabin in the Woods
Monday, Jan 25
*Finals TBA
Syllabus
Professor Kate Durbin
It is assumed that you have a basic working knowledge of grammar, paper formatting, and MLA style.
Course Requirements:
For this class you will write two papers, one short story, and do one solo presentation. The papers will be 4-5 pages in length, and you will receive separate instructions for all of them. One will be an in-class essay. You will also have short exercises, analysis assignments, and quizzes throughout the semester.
All papers must be typed and carefully proofread. Papers should always have a title. If you have grammatical or stylistic questions consult reference guides such as A Writer’s Reference or the OWL @ Purdue website. If you are using a computer lab, always be sure to give yourself extra time, and to save your material frequently.
Plagiarism—claiming ownership of ideas and language that are not your own—is simply unacceptable. Plagiarized papers will result in a failing grade for the course, and a report will be submitted to the office of Student Life.
Participation and Attendance:
There will be moments when I will lecture. Aside from these times, class should operate like a seminar. This means that it is imperative that you read the material--on time--and are prepared to discuss this material in class. Part of your grade is participation-based, and it is required that you speak up in class in order to receive full credit with participation. You will also be quizzed regularly on the reading, and failing to do the reading will severely harm your class score.
Always be prepared, and always come to class on time. Classes for which you are more than ten minutes late will count as absences, and two tardies count as an absence.
Your grades and my notes on your papers will also be returned to you electronically via email—so check for them there.
Jan Term 2016
E-mail: katedurbinteacher@gmail.com (NOT MY WHITTIER)
Moodle: I don't use it
Required Texts:
E-mail: katedurbinteacher@gmail.com (NOT MY WHITTIER)
Moodle: I don't use it
Required Texts:
Out by Natsuo Kirino
The Missing by Sarah Langham
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
The Exorcist by William Blattey
Readings via links on Class Blog (check syllabus)
*Make sure you have all of the books at the beginning of the course, as it goes by quickly. You can purchase them in the bookstore, or use two day shipping or overnight shipping on Amazon.
Course Description:
“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones."
*Make sure you have all of the books at the beginning of the course, as it goes by quickly. You can purchase them in the bookstore, or use two day shipping or overnight shipping on Amazon.
Course Description:
“We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones."
-Stephen King
"Horror fiction shows us that the control we believe we have is purely illusory, and that every moment we teeter on chaos and oblivion."
-Clive Barker
Horror fiction is often seen as a low-brow genre, one that is not worthy of serious literary consideration. However, horror has much to teach us about the parts of the human condition we find most unsavory and uncomfortable: the shadow side of culture and ourselves, how close we teeter at all times to chaos and oblivion. For it is only when we face our fears that we come to understand them.
For this course, we will read the works of several important horror writers, works that reveal the specific horrors of certain cultural groups, times and places--for horror never exists in a vaccum, it always represents particular place and people. We will watch several films as well, and students will be expected to create their own horror narratives that represent our current cultural moment. These will be shared with the class in a presentation format.
We will also watch a number of films to complement the novels you are reading; these films and novels will fall into different sub-categorys of the horror genre.
It is assumed that you have a basic working knowledge of grammar, paper formatting, and MLA style.
Course Requirements:
For this class you will write two papers, one short story, and do one solo presentation. The papers will be 4-5 pages in length, and you will receive separate instructions for all of them. One will be an in-class essay. You will also have short exercises, analysis assignments, and quizzes throughout the semester.
All papers must be typed and carefully proofread. Papers should always have a title. If you have grammatical or stylistic questions consult reference guides such as A Writer’s Reference or the OWL @ Purdue website. If you are using a computer lab, always be sure to give yourself extra time, and to save your material frequently.
Plagiarism—claiming ownership of ideas and language that are not your own—is simply unacceptable. Plagiarized papers will result in a failing grade for the course, and a report will be submitted to the office of Student Life.
Participation and Attendance:
There will be moments when I will lecture. Aside from these times, class should operate like a seminar. This means that it is imperative that you read the material--on time--and are prepared to discuss this material in class. Part of your grade is participation-based, and it is required that you speak up in class in order to receive full credit with participation. You will also be quizzed regularly on the reading, and failing to do the reading will severely harm your class score.
Always be prepared, and always come to class on time. Classes for which you are more than ten minutes late will count as absences, and two tardies count as an absence.
More than one absence may result in a lower grade; more than three may result in a failing grade. Any absences at all can only mar your performance in the class. Inform me in advance regarding major religious holidays or other significant reasons for being excused.
Class Policies:
No laptops unless I approve them for notetaking (ask first). I don’t want to see your phones out—if I do, I will take them away, no exceptions. If it seems you are not paying attention or you are talking while I am talking, you may be asked to leave the classroom and take an absence for the day. If you show up without having done your work, you may also receive an absence for the day. On workshop days, it’s absolutely necessary that you come prepared with your drafts of your papers. On those days if you come unprepared you will be asked to leave, no exceptions.
Please use the facilities and get drinks of water before class—it’s your job to be in class on time as you would for a job. Please do not show up to class then ask if you can leave to get a drink of water or use the restroom. If you do so, you are tardy.
Abiding by these policies will allow us a pleasant, productive class session. Anyone who repeatedly abuses these policies is treating his or her peers with disrespect, and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Communication (Blog):
I will communicate with you regularly via this class blog, so check it for updates here. I ask that you check it every 24 hours, and in the mornings before class. I will also post any updates to the Course Schedule here. You don’t need to print the syllabus out, but you may want to.
Class Policies:
No laptops unless I approve them for notetaking (ask first). I don’t want to see your phones out—if I do, I will take them away, no exceptions. If it seems you are not paying attention or you are talking while I am talking, you may be asked to leave the classroom and take an absence for the day. If you show up without having done your work, you may also receive an absence for the day. On workshop days, it’s absolutely necessary that you come prepared with your drafts of your papers. On those days if you come unprepared you will be asked to leave, no exceptions.
Please use the facilities and get drinks of water before class—it’s your job to be in class on time as you would for a job. Please do not show up to class then ask if you can leave to get a drink of water or use the restroom. If you do so, you are tardy.
Abiding by these policies will allow us a pleasant, productive class session. Anyone who repeatedly abuses these policies is treating his or her peers with disrespect, and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
Communication (Blog):
I will communicate with you regularly via this class blog, so check it for updates here. I ask that you check it every 24 hours, and in the mornings before class. I will also post any updates to the Course Schedule here. You don’t need to print the syllabus out, but you may want to.
Papers
All final papers will be submitted electronically ONLY via email. I will give you a specific time that they are due, and anything after this time is considered late. For every half hour your paper is late, your grade is lowered one whole letter score. Do not turn in late papers.
All final papers will be submitted electronically ONLY via email. I will give you a specific time that they are due, and anything after this time is considered late. For every half hour your paper is late, your grade is lowered one whole letter score. Do not turn in late papers.
I ask that you submit your paper both as an attachment in .doc or .docx form, as well as copy and pasted in the body of your email. Please do your best to maintain proper MLA formatting when you copy and paste.
Your grades and my notes on your papers will also be returned to you electronically via email—so check for them there.
You may NOT bring your laptops instead of hard copies for workshop.
Email:
I do not check the Whittier email address EVER so please contact me via katedurbinteacher@gmail.com. I do check this email address several times a day, and will get back to you asap. I recommend this over any other means of contacting me. Please do not send me facebook messages related to class concerns. Thank you.
Email:
I do not check the Whittier email address EVER so please contact me via katedurbinteacher@gmail.com. I do check this email address several times a day, and will get back to you asap. I recommend this over any other means of contacting me. Please do not send me facebook messages related to class concerns. Thank you.
Also, if you have quick questions re homework, I recommend asking each other before asking me, in case I am not able to respond to you as quickly as you might require.
Grade Breakdown:
Paper 1: 25%
Paper 2: (in-class) 25%
Presentation & Paper 3: 30%
Grade Breakdown:
Paper 1: 25%
Paper 2: (in-class) 25%
Presentation & Paper 3: 30%
Attendance, participation, reading quizzes, and brief assignments: 20%
Students with Disabilities:
Students desiring accommodations on the basis of physical, learning or psychological disability for this class are to contact Disability Services. Disability Services is located in the Library building, first floor, room G003 and can be reached by calling extension 4825.
Students with Disabilities:
Students desiring accommodations on the basis of physical, learning or psychological disability for this class are to contact Disability Services. Disability Services is located in the Library building, first floor, room G003 and can be reached by calling extension 4825.
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