Women and Literature
I. Course Prefix/Number: EGL 225
Course Name: Women and Literature
Credits: 3 (3 lecture; 0 lab)
III. Course (Catalog) Description
IV. Learning Objectives
A. Identify some of the major works and periods in Women’s literature.
B. Explain the complexities of race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and class in Women’s literature.
C. Delineate the social, intellectual, and historical influences specific to the development of Women’s literary traditions in various eras and regions.
D. Interpret the formal elements of these works, using appropriate terminology, such as theme, conflict, figurative language, etc.
E. Analyze works in the context of their literary, cultural, and historical backgrounds.
F. Synthesize knowledge of genre, formal elements, and background material.
G. Incorporate secondary sources in the analysis and interpretation of literary texts.
V. Academic Integrity
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.
There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
VI. Sequence of Topics
Sample outline by chronology:
Introduction to women’s literature.
Early women writers: Bradstreet, Wollstonecraft, Wheatley
Weeks #3 through #6:
Women writers of the nineteenth century: Austen, Bronte, Browning
Weeks #7 through #10:
Turn of the century and modern women writers: Chopin, Gilman, Woolf,
Weeks #11 through #16:
Contemporary women writers: Silko, Cisneros, Bishop, Sexton, Plath, Gwendolyn Brooks, Morrion, Walker, Wasserstein, Ensler
Sample outline by themes:
Introduction to course and course objectives
Week 2-7 Gender and Race
Phyllis Wheatley, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Toni Morrison
Weeks 8-11 Gender and Women’s Rights
Wollstonecraft, Sojourner Truth, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Meridel Le Sueur, Sexton, Adrienne Rich
Week 12-16 Multiculturalism and Immigrant Experience
Mourning Dove, Yesierska, Silko, Erdrich, Maxine Hong Kingston
VII. Methods of Instruction
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.
VIII. Course Practices Required
IX. Instructional Materials
Novels, short stories, poetry and/or drama by women writers. Films, audiovisual materials and/or guest lectures may be used when appropriate.
Suggested anthology: The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
XI. Other Course Information
For whatever information/procedures the instructor holds the student accountable.
If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the Access and Disability Resource Center at the Des Plaines or Skokie campus. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.