Course Overview

Welcome to EL 312, "Literary Criticism."

The course website is located at http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DennisJerz/EL312. I will update the online syllabus periodically, so the printout I gave you is only for your convenience on the first day of classes. The official version of the syllabus is the online version (though I will notify you in advance of any significant changes).

Topics for today:

• Review syllabus.
  
• What is literary criticism?
  
• How does it differ from plot summary and close readings?
  
• Discuss analysis vs. and synthesis/evaluation (see "Writing that Demonstrates Thinking Ability").
  

While the class meets on Thursday, note that preparatory assignments are due by midnight on Monday and 1pm Wednesday, so that we can all come to class on Thursday ready to discuss the week's material. (That means you should probably plan to devote time on the weekends to do the readings.)