Procedure

Learning objectives

The second part of the course aims at teaching students to:

· approach a literary text, understand and appreciate it;

· operate with the major notions important for literary analysis such as forms of presentation and tone;

· summarize, generalize and evaluate main points and implications of the text;

· comment on events and characters of a literary work, discovering the author’s ideas and the means of conveying them.

Student Activity

The course presupposes thorough and conscientious independent and class work on behalf of the student. The course offers you different types of work:

— classroom activities (including discussions on difficult interpretation points);

— learning independently using recommended books (that includes homework);

— class test.

Content

During the 6th term students are expected to read 8 short stories by British and American authors.

For more detailed information, see Course Map II.

Course Map II (Class Work)

Course examination

At the end of the summer term you will have to write the final test, which will check the progress of your independent work. Besides, to get your credit in the discipline, you are expected to read the 8 short stories for students’ independent reading.

Essential Study Materials

For your independent and class work during the 6th term you will need the course book Reading and Appreciation of the Short Story by E. Kireichuk and T. Vassilyeva (borrowed from the MSLU library) or Attractively Short by T. Kurs, N. Zhlobo, E. Kireichuk and E. Makoutsa (available at the Lexis book-shop, MSLU)

The books contain original and unabridged short stories followed by sections of questions to help students to appreciate the text and organize discussions in class. The texts are preceded by a necessary minimum of information, which will allow the student to answer the After You Read questions and accomplish the Before You Read tasks.

Procedure

Working independently in February-May, you are supposed to read the information about the main points of analysis of the short story (the forms of presentation, the tone).

Also, read the 8 short stories for students’ independent reading. Accomplish all necessary vocabulary work, sum up the stories and answer the After You Read questions for each short story (See Course Map II, Independent work).

For better time management and effective learning, we suggest a weekly scheme of independent work with the indication of the necessary study materials.