Prof. Eric Murphy Selinger
Winter, 2005: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:10-11:40, McGaw 310
Office: McGaw 217; Office Hours: Tuesday, 3-4, and by appointment
Mailbox: McGaw 255; email: eselinge@depaul.edu

Course Description: English 286 (Romance) will introduce you to the history of the "romance novel," to some of its major 20th and 21st century subgenres and authors, and to the critical debates that have surrounded this most popular of popular literatures. We will pay particular attention to feminist debates over the worth, appeal, and effects of romance fiction on women readers, and to alternative approaches—structural, psychological, and aesthetic—which may bring nonpolitical, non-sociological insights into play.

Course Assignments, with Approximate Weights

1. Discussion-promoting "RP" posts to the class Blackboard site (http://oll.depaul.edu). You must post at least once on each novel, contributing 1 or more short paragraphs of response and / or discussion-prompting questions. Your response must go beyond simple "I liked it / I didn’t like it" gut reactions; instead, please talk about characters, thematic material, recurrent motifs, patterns you spot, etc. Quote from the text and / or cite particular passages by page number to support and flesh out your ideas!

Feel free to bring up ideas from other classes, if they are relevant; feel free to respond to other people's posts and questions as you make your observations and arguments.

Each of these posts will earn from 1-4 points. I reserve "4" for truly exceptional efforts.

In addition to this one Required Post—add a little "RP" to the subject line, if you like, so that I know which is which—you can earn extra points by posting additional times. These additional posts can be short—a sentence or so—or long, serious or playful, etc. They are the place to weigh in about likes and dislikes, to make suggestions to your classmates for future reading, and the like. Each of these can also earn from 1-3 points, although a mere "you go, girl!" will probably not earn you even a full point. (It's nice to hear, though.)

No personal attacks, no flames. Clear?

Each of these posts-for-points must be in your own name. You may also post anonymously to Blackboard in order to pose questions or address issues you feel uncomfortable raising otherwise. However, you cannot earn points for anonymous posts.

These posts will count for 40% of your grade. I will report to you several times through the quarter to tell you how many points you have earned so far.

2. Two short papers (5 pp.), each of which will analyze one of our assigned novels based on critical terms and concepts discussed in class and imported from your other learning. You must write one paper on either The Sheik, The Grand Sophy, Madam, Will You Talk? or The Flame and the Flower. If you wish, you may write on two of these, and finish this assignment early in the quarter. Assignment sheets will be distributed in advance. Each paper will be worth 20% of your grade. No revisions are allowed once a grade is received; however, if you get a failing grade on any paper, you may write an additional paper to replace it.

3. Brief in-Class Quizzes will be given throughout the quarter, to make sure that you have done the required reading and that you understand (and are retaining) the core ideas of the course. These will add up to 20% of your grade.

THREATS AND PROMISES

I expect you to attend all classes. If you miss 4 classes, your final grade will suffer. If you miss 6 or more meetings, you should drop the class to avoid an F. All assignments must be turned in on time. If they are late, except by prior arrangement, you will be penalized 1/3 grade (i.e., a + or -) per day. To pass the course you must turn in all assignments, and no incompletes will be granted after the last class meeting.

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES, TOPICS, AND READINGS
(NOTE: Except where page numbers are given,
please have the entire novel read for the first day of discussion)

Foundations of the Genre

Tuesday, 1-3: Introduction to the Class and to each other. Introduction to the popularity of “romance,” and to some reasons and methods for reading it in an academic context.
Thursday, 1-5: E. M. Hull, The Sheik, pp. 1-142 (chapters 1-5)

Tuesday, 1-10: The Sheik, chapters 6-end.
Thursday, 1-12: Georgette Heyer, The Grand Sophy, chapters 1-5

Tuesday, 1-17: The Grand Sophy, chapters 6-end
Thursday, 1-19: Mary Stewart, Madam, Will You Talk?

Tuesday, 1-24: Mary Stewart, Madam, Will You Talk? Sheik papers due
Thursday, 1-26: Katherine Woodiwiss, The Flame and the Flower (ch. 1-6)

Tuesday, 1-31: Katherine Woodiwiss, The Flame and the Flower (ch. 7-9) Sophie papers due
Thursday, 2-2: The Flame and the Flower (ch. 10-end)

A Midterm Intermezzo: Concerning Romance, Fairy Tales, and “Fate”

Tuesday, 2-7: Sarah Bird, The Boyfriend School Madam papers due
Thursday, 2-9: The Boyfriend School.

Tuesday, 2-14: Jennifer Crusie, Bet Me Flame papers due
Thursday, 2-16: Bet Me

The Contemporary Scene (in Glimpses and Genres)

Tuesday, 2-21: Julia Quinn, The Viscount Who Loved Me Boyfriend papers due
Thursday, 2-23: Finish Viscount, begin Beverly Jenkins, Something Like Love

Tuesday, 2-28: Finish Something Like Love Bet Me papers due
Thursday, 3-2: ; begin Linda Howard, Mr. Perfect

Tuesday, 3-7: Finish Mr. Perfect, begin Emma Holly, Hunting Midnight
Thursday, 3-9: Emma Holly, Hunting Midnight

Thursday, 3-16: Hunting / Something / Perfect papers due