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Honors Seminar – Horror Fiction
Instructor: Terry Wright
Fall 2008
Office: Thompson 316
Office Phone: 450-5108
Email: terryw@uca.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.uca.edu/~terryw/
Office Hours :
M: 11:00-12:00, 2:00-3:00
TU: 2:30-3:30
W: 11:00-12:00, 2:00-3:00
TH: 2:30-3:30
F: 11:00-12:00
Other times are available by appointment.
Course Description:
This course will focus on exploring, discussing, and analyzing selected novels, stories, essays, and films that cover the scope and breadth of the horror genre. The course will range from classical examples to emerging trends. Collectively, we will struggle with definitions, boundaries, themes, movements, and conventions. Moreover, we will explore the ties horror has to visual art, fashion, history, psychology, sociology, entertainment, popular culture, and other areas.
Course Materials:
The texts for the course are: At the Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft, The Shining by Stephen King, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, The Damnation Game by Clive Barker, and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. Other texts will be in the form of hand-outs. I also suggest you buy and maintain a pocket folder and keep all essays, hand-outs, rough drafts, and other course materials in this folder.
Course Policies:
Several written response papers will determine most of your grade. 10% of your grade will be factored by daily reading quizzes.
Your regular class attendance and reasonable class participation are both non-negotiable criteria for successfully completing the course.
Other Expectations and Qualifiers:
It should go without saying that all work must be completed to successfully pass the course, and that assigned papers must be turned in on time.
Please turn off all cell phones, beepers, iPods, and other electronic devices during class. Do not bring pets to class. You may bring well-behaved children to class, as long as you remember the course content is geared for adults.
When typing assigned papers, please double-space and leave adequate margins. These considerations leave ample room for your last-minute revisions and for my comments.
The reading demands for this class are fairly exacting but not unreasonable for Honors students. I do expect you to do the reading and to show up for class prepared to discuss, analyze, praise, swoon over, rebuke, trash, or otherwise confront the material at hand. I strongly encourage you to actively participate in class discussions. The course functions best as an open forum, and the more ideas we can generate, the more alternatives and strategies we can use when contemplating and composing writing assignments. I prefer not to be merely a television set designed for passive amusement.
Since the written work we do will be in essay form, I cannot grade and return your papers as quickly as I could if they were “objective” tests, if they were computer-gradable, or if I had an assistant to do the grading. I personally read each paper that you write, and I work steadily to grade and return papers within a reasonable amount of time.
Inclement Weather Policy:
It is the policy of the University of Central Arkansas to usually not close because of bad weather. However, if getting to class involves a reasonable risk of personal injury or damage to property, you should use your own discretion about the feasibility of attending classes under such conditions. I commute to class; therefore, if the roads are not passable, you can generally assume that I will not be having class.
Sexual Harassment Policy:
Sexual harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both law and University policy and will not be tolerated. Please read the pages in your Student Handbook for the policy, definition, and procedures concerning sexual harassment.
Disability Policy:
The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.
Other Policies :
You should familiarize yourself with all academic policies in your Student Handbook , including policies on plagiarism/academic dishonesty.
Special Problems:
If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your course work, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Contact the University Counseling Center (Bernard Hall 313) at 450-3138.
