Disability in Literature
42.258.201
Fall 2009
Dr. Bridget M. Marshall: bridget_marshall@uml.edu
Web site:
http://faculty.uml.edu/bmarshall/
Our
course will explore how texts portray people with disabilities of many kinds
– physical, emotional, social, and mental. We will read short stories, poems, memoirs, essays, and
plays. The majority of texts will
be roughly contemporary, but some will also help us to historicize images of
disability in literature. We will
also watch films, both documentary and otherwise. WeÕll read texts written by
disabled and non-disabled writers.
We will explore the ways that many stereotypical portrayals of the
disabled undermine, invalidate, and infantilize the disabled community, and
seek out literary voices that empower the disabled and question our definition
of Ònormal.Ó Studying disability
in literature helps us to explore what our culture decides is Ònormal,Ó and
asks us to consider what makes us human.
Literature both reflects and creates cultural messages about ability and
disability, ÒnormalÓ and Òabnormal.Ó
Literature can help us understand the experience of the disabled, as
well as understand our own responses to disability in our own lives and in our
culture.
þ
To
become familiar with the history of the portrayal of disability in literature.
þ
To
make connections between literary portrayals and real-life situations.
þ
To
gain understanding of the varied experiences of the disabled community.
þ
To
develop skills of close and careful reading.
þ
To
enhance discussion skills through a focus on participating in classroom
discussion and leading classroom discussion.
þ
To
improve presentation skills with an end-of semester paper presentation.
þ
To
develop writing skills through multiple drafts and peer response on papers.
Class
Meetings:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 to 3:15
Office
Hours & Location:
Tues/Thurs 12:30 – 1:45 & by appointment in OÕLeary 415 Phone: 978-934-4179
Required
Texts: Available
at the South campus bookstore
þ
Mark
Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
þ
Jean-Dominique
Bauby: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
þ
Lucy
Grealy: Autobiography of a Face
þ
Lisa
Genova: Still Alice
þ
Course
Packets, to be distributed periodically in class (donÕt lose these!)
Instructional
Resources and Disability Accommodations: The Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services
provide many resources, including tutoring in writing:
http://class.uml.edu/. In
accordance with University policy and the ADA, I will provide accommodation for
students with documented disabilities.
If you have a disability, please contact the Office of Disability
Services: McGauvran 363, phone: (978) 934-4338 as soon as possible. This
documentation is confidential.
A
note on classroom conduct:
In this
class, and in all classes at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, students
are expected to exhibit professional and respectful behavior that is conducive
to a mutually beneficial learning environment in the classroom. Examples of inappropriate behavior
include: text messaging, listening to music, cell phone use (other than the
campus alert system), late arrivals, early departures, use of laptops for other
than class purposes, disrespectful comments or behavior, intentional
disruptions, failure to follow faculty directives. Students in violation
of these standards may be asked to leave class and/or be referred to the Dean
of Students for disciplinary action.
þ Attendance is required. You must be here to join class
discussion, make presentations, and participate in group work. You have two Òfreebies,Ó no questions
asked. For every class beyond
those two that you miss, your final grade for the class will be lowered one
level (A to A-, A- to B+, and so on).
þ Good classroom citizenship is
required. Good classroom citizenship begins with being prepared for class. Good classroom citizenship goes beyond
just ÒparticipationÓ in the sense of raising your hand a lot. It includes
sharing your thoughts and ACTIVELY LISTENING to the thoughts and comments of
your peers. Please be considerate
of your classmates and make the classroom a space where everyone can speak
their mind. As a courtesy to everyone in the room, please turn off your cell
phone before class begins.
þ You are responsible for all the
readings and assignments listed on this syllabus. I reserve the right to give
reading quizzes as necessary to prod your reading, though I would rather not
resort to such ploys.
þ You must view the three
films. The films are available on
reserve in our library through the media center, where you can watch them. They
are also available through Netflix and Blockbuster, and at many local public
libraries. Start thinking well
ahead of time about how and when you will watch the films. Like a reading assignment, you should
watch the film BEFORE coming to class and be prepared with notes to facilitate
discussion.
þ At three assigned times during the
semester, students are required to prepare a one page informal response to the
reading on the day it is due.
þ One mid-term paper is due roughly
half of the way through the course.
þ There will be one in-class essay
exam, roughly 2/3 of the way through the course.
þ In place of a final exam, students
will choose a book that does not appear on the syllabus and write a final essay
of roughly 8 to 12 pages. There will also be short presentations associated
with the final papers. I will provide more information on this paper later in
the semester.
Grading
is my least favorite aspect of the course; however, grades are necessary, not
only to the University, but also in many cases in order to motivate
students. I note each dayÕs
attendance with a ÒcheckÓ in my grade book. You will get credit for all quizzes and short writing that
you complete and turn in to me.
Particularly active class participation or strong short writing
assignments will earn a Òcheck plus.Ó
The final grade will include the following elements:
á
Classroom
Citizenship: 20%
á
Three
Òone-pagersÓ and three film logs: 15%
á
Mid-term
paper: 20%
á
In-class
exam: 20%
á
Final
Paper: 25%
If you
have a concern about a grade or a question about your standing in the class, I
am happy to talk with you. This
type of conversation is best suited to an individual conference. You can see me during my office hours,
or schedule an appointment at another time.
A
final note on grades: If you are determined to do only the minimal amount of
work and get the minimum passing grade, you might want to know what the bottom
line is. This much is
nonnegotiable: you are not eligible for a passing grade of D unless you have
attended at least 11 of 14 weeks worth of classes, and completed 90% of the
assignments.
All
University policies on academic dishonesty apply to all assignments in this course.
As explained in the UniversityÕs official policy, academic dishonesty includes:
þ Cheating - use, or attempted use, of
trickery, artifice, deception, breach of confidence, fraud, or
misrepresentation of one's academic work.
þ Fabrication - falsification or invention of
any information or citation in any academic exercise.
þ Plagiarism - representing the words or ideas
of another as one's own work in any academic exercise.
þ Facilitating dishonesty - helping or attempting to help
another commit an act of academic dishonesty, including substituting for
another in an examination, misrepresenting oneself, or allowing others to
represent as their own one's papers, reports, or academic works.
If you
plagiarize or cheat on an assignment in this course, you will receive an ÒFÓ
for this course,
and you are subject to other discipline (including expulsion from the
University) at the discretion of the instructor and the University. Please keep
in mind that even if you write some part or even ÒmostÓ of the paper, if some
portion of the paper is copied from another source without proper attribution,
(i.e., if you Òonly plagiarize a littleÓ) you will still get an ÒFÓ for the
course. DonÕt plagiarize at all.
Unintentional
plagiarism is still plagiarism.
You must cite all sources that you use, including online sources. Also, remember that ÒusingÓ a source
includes DIRECTLY QUOTING, PARAPHRASING, AND USING IDEAS from any source. There is nothing wrong with Ògetting
helpÓ from other writers, just be sure to acknowledge it by using quotation
marks or author/page citation appropriately. Please take the time to give proper credit to the work of
other authors. It is a matter of
respect – for yourself, for other authors, for your classmates, and for
me.
I know
that it is easy to find information and indeed whole papers on the
internet. You should know that it
is also easy for me to find these sources. If I suspect youÕve done this, I will take the time to find
the source, and there is every likelihood you will be caught. Please donÕt waste your time or mine by
plagiarizing a paper. If youÕre
having difficulty with a writing assignment, please talk to me before the day
it is due.
Semester
Schedule:
DATE |
DUE IN
CLASS ON THIS DATE |
Thursday
3 September |
First
day Introductions; hand-outs |
Tuesday
8 September |
Nancy
Mairs: ÒOn Being a CrippleÓ (handout) Write
comments & questions on the handout to prepare for class discussion |
Thursday
10 September |
Cheryl
Marie Wade & others: poems (handout) Written
response to Accessibility Scavenger Hunt and discussion |
Tuesday
15 September |
Mark
Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time 1 - 83 RESPONSE
GROUP 1 |
Thursday
17 September |
Mark
Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time 83 - 136 RESPONSE
GROUP 2 |
Tuesday 22
September |
Mark
Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time 137 - 221 RESPONSE
GROUP 3 |
Thursday
24 September |
Excerpts
from Temple Grandin: Thinking in Pictures (handout) RESPONSE
GROUP 4 |
Tuesday
29 September |
Discussion
of film Murderball You need to watch the film BEFORE todayÕs class meeting Complete
Film Log |
Thursday
1 October |
Jean-Dominique
Bauby: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly pages 3 - 68 RESPONSE
GROUP 1 |
Tuesday
6 October |
Jean-Dominique
Bauby: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly pages 69 - 132 RESPONSE
GROUP 2 |
Thursday
8 October |
Lynn
Manning: Shoot!
(handout) RESPONSE
GROUP 3 |
Tuesday
13 October |
Lucy
Grealy: Autobiography of a Face pages 1 - 68 RESPONSE
GROUP 4 |
Thursday
15 October |
Lucy
Grealy: Autobiography of a Face pages 69 – 139 RESPONSE
GROUP 1 |
Tuesday
20 October |
Lucy
Grealy: Autobiography of a Face pages 140 - 236 RESPONSE
GROUP 2 |
Thursday
22 October |
Mid-term
paper due today |
Tuesday
27 October |
Discussion
of film My Left Foot; Watch the film BEFORE todayÕs class meeting! Complete
film log |
Thursday
29 October |
Lisa
Genova Still Alice pages 1 -66 RESPONSE
GROUP 3 |
DATE |
DUE IN
CLASS ON THIS DATE |
Tuesday
3 November |
Lisa
Genova Still Alice pages 67 - 240 RESPONSE
GROUP 4 |
Thursday
5 November |
Lisa
Genova Still Alice pages 241 - 293 |
Tuesday
10 November |
Nathaniel
Hawthorne: ÒThe Birth MarkÓ (handout) |
Thursday
12 November |
Rebecca
Mallett ÒChoosing ÔStereotypesÕÉ.Ó (handout) |
Tuesday
17 November |
Discussion
of film The Savages; You need to watch the film todayÕs class meeting!
Complete
film log |
Thursday
19 November |
In-class
essay exam |
Tuesday
24 November |
NO
CLASS: ONLINE ASSIGNMENT FOR TODAY |
Thursday
26 November |
NO
CLASS: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY |
Tuesday
1 December |
Poetry
handouts from class |
Thursday
3 December |
Charlotte
Perkins Gilman: ÒThe Yellow WallpaperÓ |
Tuesday
8 December |
PRESENTATIONS
ON FINAL PROJECTS |
Thursday
10 December |
PRESENTATIONS
ON FINAL PROJECTS |
Thursday
17 December |
Final
paper project due |
General
Advice to Students:
Come to
class prepared to work. This means
several things:
1) You
should have completed the assigned readings or viewings, and any associated
writing. You might even have notes
in your book, underlining of passages, or page markers for interesting spots in
the reading.
2) You
should be prepared to listen and talk in discussion. This means you shouldnÕt come to our class and take a nap,
or sit sullenly, or complete your calculus homework.
3) You
should avoid distractions during class.
Distractions include things like small pets, cell phones and text
messaging devices, notes to classmates, i-pods, or any other gadget that will
engage your brain in something other than the academic discussion in the
classroom. While you may think I
donÕt notice, I do, and so do your classmates. ItÕs distracting for you, but also for those around you.
When you
donÕt come to class (for whatever reason) it is your responsibility to find out
the work that was missed, including any handouts, in-class activities, or
changes to the syllabus. If you
can do this via e-mail before the next class meeting, thatÕs great. If you canÕt, you should definitely
come speak with me before class, after class, or in my office hours. In any case, donÕt try to
avoid me, hoping that I didnÕt notice you were absent.
If you
need extra time for an assignment, for whatever reason, it is better to ask
early. I do not automatically give
extensions; however, I am a reasonable person, and you should ask for help or
time if you need it. I would
rather have a late paper than no paper at all; I would rather have no paper at
all than a plagiarized paper. Late
papers are subject to a grade reduction at my discretion, and I do not provide
comments on late papers.