Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Understanding Literature
Imaginative Literature
Conventional Themes
The Literary Canon
Luisa Valenzuela, “All about Suicide”
Wole Soyinka, “Telephone Conversation”
Thinking Critically
Interpreting Literature
Evaluating Literature
The Function of Literary Criticism
Checklist: Evaluating Literary Criticism
2. Reading and Writing About Literature
Reading Literature
Previewing
Highlighting
Checklist: Using Highlighting Symbols
Maya Angelou, “My Arkansas”
Annotating
Writing About Literature
Planning an Essay
Considering your Audience
Understanding Your Purpose
Writing To Respond
Writing To Interpret
Writing To Evaluate
Choosing a Topic
Finding Something to Say
Brainstorming
Keeping a Journal
Seeing Connections: Listing
Deciding on a Thesis
Preparing an Outline
Drafting an Essay
Revising and Editing an Essay
Strategies for Revision
The Revision Process
Thesis Statement
Support
Topic Sentences
Introductions and Conclusions
Sentences and Words
Using and Documenting Sources
Checklist: Using Sources
Checklist: Conventions for Writing About Literature
Exercise: Two Student Papers
Student Paper: “Initiation into Adulthood”
Student Paper: “Hard Choices”
FICTION
3. Understanding Fiction
Defining Fiction
The Short Story
Gary Gildner, “Sleepytime Gal”
Margaret Atwood, “Happy Endings”
*Jonathan Safran Foer, “A Primer for the Punctuation of Heart Disease “
A Final Note
4. Reading and Writing About Fiction
Reading Fiction
Active Reading
Alberto Alvaro Ríos, The Secret Lion
Previewing
Highlighting and Annotating
Writing About Fiction
Planning an Essay
Choosing a Topic
Finding Something to Say
Brainstorming
Seeing Connections
Listing
Deciding on a Thesis
Preparing an Outline
Drafting an Essay
Student Paper: Symbols
References: The Renaissance (c. 1500-1660) The Enlightenment (c The Romantic Period (1798 - 1837) The Victorian Period (1837 – 1901) The Modern Period (1901 – Present) Glossary of Literary Terms