NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 文學作品讀法(1515)
	(Eng.) Approaches to Literature
Offering Dept	Continuing Bachelor Program in Foreign Languages and Literatures
Course Type	Required	Credits	2	Teacher	CHEN YOU-TING
Department	Continuing Bachelor Program in Foreign Languages and Literatures(N)Undergraduate	Language	中/英文	Semester	2026-FALL
Course Description	This semester focuses exclusively on fiction, utilizing short stories to illustrate the essential elements of plot, point of view, character, setting, symbol, and theme. You will read these selected stories closely to analyze how they convey complex meanings and demonstrate the defining literary features of their respective historical eras. To ensure direct engagement with the most authentic versions of the texts, all primary reading materials are provided strictly in English. However, to facilitate deep critical analysis and nuanced literary discussion, class lectures and discussions are conducted in Mandarin. This bilingual framework allows you to tackle complex theoretical concepts with absolute precision while steadily building your proficiency and comfort with English academic texts.
Prerequisites				self-directed learning in the course	Y

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
This one-year required course introduces you to the major genres of fiction, poetry, and drama. It is designed to help you acquire the critical skills necessary to engage with, understand, and analyze representative works from each genre. Throughout the year, you are expected to familiarize yourself thoroughly with the essential formal elements of these genres. By immersing yourself in these texts, you will develop rigorous analytical approaches to textual interpretation and cultivate the critical thinking skills required to evaluate the complex relationship between literature and reality. Ultimately, this course aims to transform you from a passive reader into an active critic capable of articulating sophisticated insights about literary art.			Discussion Lecturing	Attendance Quiz
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 9/7 Introduction Elements of Fiction I: Plot (pp. 46-53) Week 2 9/14 Elements of Fiction I: Narration and Point of View (pp. 71-74) Character (pp. 96-103) Week 3 9/21 Elements of Fiction II: Setting (pp. 130-133) Symbol and Figurative Language (pp. 151-156) Theme (pp. 200-204) Week 4 9/28 No class (Teacher's Day) Week 5 10/5 Edgar Allan Poe, “The Black Cat” (pp. 75-81) Week 6 10/12 Edgar Allan Poe, “The Black Cat” (pp. 75-81) Week 7 10/19 Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” (pp. 300-302) Week 8 10/26 No class (bridge holiday) Week 9 11/2 Midterm exam Week 10 11/9 James Joyce, “Araby” (pp. 134-138) Week 11 11/16 James Joyce, “Araby” (pp. 134-138) Week 12 11/23 Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants” (pp. 320-324) Week 13 11/30 Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants” (pp. 320-324) Week 14 12/7 William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (pp. 302-309) * Self-directed learning quiz Week 15 12/14 William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (pp. 302-309) Week 16 12/21 Final exam self-directed learning Raymond Carver, “Cathedral” (pp. 289-299)
Evaluation
15% Attendance 10% Self-directed learning 35% Midterm exam 40% Final exam 1. Attendance is mandatory and will be tracked through unannounced roll calls throughout the semester. You will receive full credit for this 15% category if you are registered as present during every roll call. If you miss the initial call due to tardiness, you must check in with the instructor before that specific class period ends to secure your attendance; no makeup requests or adjustments will be accepted after class concludes. Points will be deducted for all unresolved missed calls, regardless of official leaves or advance notices. Please note that absences will also heavily jeopardize your exam performance, as test questions are drawn directly from in-class readings and close textual analysis. 2. Self-directed learning will be evaluated through a single, in-class quiz consisting of multiple-choice questions. The specific date for this quiz is noted in the weekly schedule. This assessment must be completed in person during the designated class period. Except for verified, documented emergencies approved by the instructor, no makeup quizzes or extensions will be permitted. Failure to take this quiz without prior approval will result in a score of zero for this category. 3. Since this required, introductory course aims to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills for reading literature, two formal written exams—rather than group projects or personal assignments—are utilized to ensure you meet these foundational requirements. Both the midterm and final exams will consist of two parts: multiple-choice questions and analytical essay questions. You must take both exams in person during the designated class periods. Because these assessments are critical to the course milestones, absolutely no makeup exams or scheduling adjustments will be provided under any circumstances. These evaluations measure your ability to closely read assigned works and apply your knowledge of the literary features introduced in class. To succeed, you must demonstrate critical thinking by writing analytical essays that interpret specific story passages.
Textbook & other References
The Norton Introduction to Literature (Portable 15th Edition), edited by Kelly J. Mays, published by W. W. Norton & Company (New York and London, 2026). A copy of the required textbook is placed on reserve under this specific course title at the campus library. You must contact the library’s circulation desk to borrow the text, which is restricted to in-library use within a limited checkout window.
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
Other course materials will be prepared by the instructor and uploaded unto iLearning.
Office Hours
Thursday, 15:00-17:00 (by appointment)
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs(Link URL)
include experience courses：N

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/06/17 11:39:10	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 6 / 19
The second-hand book website：http://www.myub.com.tw/