To introduce three major western literary genres （fiction, poetry, drama）　over a 3-semester course, and to strengthen students in reading, analyzing, and discussing works of literature from a discerning and critical standpoint. In each of three semesters students are introduced to both representative and non-traditional texts in fiction, poetry and drama respectively. Students read closely, think critically, and evaluate texts chosen to elucidate critical ideas introduced in class. Class meetings include instructor-led textual examination, student-generated discussion, and individual or group presentations of selected works.

1. Students will read and examine a wide range of traditional and modern poems. 2. Students will aim to define literature, particularly poetry, and learn to identify its features. 3. Students will be introduced to different aspects of poetry including sound, rhythm, meter, language, tone, figures of speech, symbolism, etc. and will learn to critically analyze these aspects using the proper terminology. 4. Students will write regular journals in which they reflect critically on their reading of poetry. 5. Students will analyze a poem and will demonstrate their understanding of poetry by presenting aspects of the poem to the class. 6. Students will strengthen their overall skills in reading, analyzing and discussing poetry.

Gwynn, R. S. and Steven J. Zani (eds.) (2007) Inside Literature. Reading, Responding, Arguing, New York, NY: Longman.