Welcome
Welcome to English 2400. We are living through a challenging time in our city, country, and world, and trying to adapt. In our class, we will prioritize intellectual nourishment, community, and humanity. If you have any concerns about the course or college, or if there is any situation preventing you from participating, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Know that I am here to work with you.
Course Description
In English 2400, we will analyze historical and contemporary literary texts alongside cinematic adaptations. In some cases we will be reading a text and viewing its film adaptation; in others we will be looking at how similar ideas and themes are captured, and stories told, through the different media of literature and film. As a class, we will examine the relationship between written and visual expression, with specific focus on storytelling techniques in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and film.
Tools: OpenLab (course site for discussion); Vimeo (posted lectures); Zoom (office hours and conferences); Old-fashioned phone calls (conversation!)
Objectives:
- Recognize literary devices.
- Understand forms and techniques of cinematic narratives.
- Investigate technical, cultural, political, historical, and economic contexts that shape the construction of films based on published works.
- Develop communication skills by discussing and writing about literature-based motion pictures employing analysis and comparison/ contrast.
- Improve reading/viewing skills that enhance appreciation of the relationship between literature and film.
- Enhance critical thinking skills.
Grading Breakdown
Project #1 (3-4 pages) 25%
Project #2/ Final Reflection (OpenLab post) 25%
Participation (Weekly OpenLab Posts) 50%
Each week, I will post new material Monday morning; you will have until Friday to complete that week’s assignment. Your mission will be to post twice: once in the Comment section below my discussion question, and once in response to a classmate’s comment. All posts must be your own ideas, unless you credit a source (newspaper article, for example).
Course Materials
NOTE: All texts and two films are free; two films need to be purchased (total cost for both=$8). If you find either of the films online for free, please let me know so I can share with all.
Texts:
- James Baldwin, “Letter to My Nephew”
- Ta-Nehisi Coates, “Between the World and Me”
- Warsan Shire, “Home”
- John Cheever, “The Swimmer”
- Lorraine Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun
Films:
Raoul Peck, I Am Not Your Negro (Kanopy; free)
Charlie Chaplin, The Immigrant (youtube; free)
Frank Perry, The Swimmer (watch online; $3.99)
Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun
Policies and Procedures
Participation We will be discussing present and past United States history, which is to say that we will be covering sensitive topics with regard to race, class, gender, and sexuality. Respect for everyone in the class (not just the professor) is crucial on our OpenLab site and in any online group sessions.
Accessibility Statement
City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility at 300 Jay Street, Library Building 237 (L-237), phone 718-260-5143 or http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/.
New York City College of Technology Policy on Academic Integrity
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Films from Literature — ENG 2400
ENG 2400 Fulfills Creative Expression Category for Pathways
3 credits, 3 hours
Prerequisite or Co-requisite: ENG 1101
Course Description
This course will allow students to examine the relationship between film and their literary sources. Through classroom discussions and out-of-class assignments, students will analyze classic and contemporary literary texts and their cinematic versions. Students will examine the relationship between film and literature, with specific focus on the techniques used in fiction, drama and film and the influences of censorship and society. Students will focus on the similarities and differences of literary works adapted into films.
General Education Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to
Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of view.
Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically.
Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions.
Pathways Learning Outcomes
Creative Expression
A course in this area must meet at least three of the following additional learning outcomes. A
student will:
• Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a discipline or interdisciplinary field exploring creative expression, including, but not limited to, arts, communications, creative writing, media arts, music, and theater.
• Analyze how arts from diverse cultures of the past serve as a foundation for those of the present, and describe the significance of works of art in the societies that created them.
• Articulate how meaning is created in the arts or communications and how experience is interpreted and conveyed.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the skills involved in the creative process.
• Use appropriate technologies to conduct research and to communicate.
Course – Specific Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to
explicate texts as individual works of film and literary art; compare and contrast literary works and their film versions.
examine variations in storytelling techniques between literary works and motion pictures.
summarize the main ideas and themes of literary works assigned.
refer to specific passages in the text to support interpretation of the main idea and themes and explain why these passages are important to an understanding of the work.
trace the relationship between/among works of various cultures, periods, and genres in themes and techniques.
discuss character development, human values and character conflicts, and the development of the great ideas in the literary works and film versions.
identify literary terms, figures of speech, and tone when discussing literature; identify cinematic strategies and genres when discussing film.
employ appropriate terminology when discussing literary works and motion pictures.
use the standards of good writing taught in ENG 1101; use MLA New Style format for documentation, works cited, and punctuation, to document sources used in analytical writing on film and literature.
Assessment Methods
● Reading and discussion will be measured through grading of discussion question responses and oral participation.
● Written analysis of texts will be measured through grading of essays.
● Knowledge of texts will be measured through quizzes and exams.
