當代英美流行小說

臺北科技大學 115-1 學期課程，課號 363118。

課程大綱

This course explores contemporary popular fiction through close reading of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, student-led genre showcases, and attention to publishing and reading communities. Students develop interpretations in discussion, attend a literary event, and make a publishing pitch for a work of fiction. Shorter readings remain provisional. Course learning objectives By the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. Articulate how fiction creates pleasure or emotional attachment, using specific textual details. 2. Develop interpretations of fiction supported by specific passages and attention to narrative choices. 3. Contribute to literary discussions by offering evidence-based interpretations, asking questions, and responding to other readers. 4. Explain how genre conventions shape narrative choices and reader expectations. 5. Explain how specific publishing practices and reading communities shape a work’s reception. 6. Analyze how a work of popular fiction engages with contemporary desires, anxieties, or social tensions, using textual and contextual evidence.

課程進度

Week 1: Introduction to Contemporary Popular Fiction Week 2: Ways of Reading; Normal People, opening–February 2011 Week 3: Normal People Part 1, PDF pp. 17–49; dialogue, narration and point of view Week 4: Normal People Part 2, pp. 50–102; chronology and structure Week 5: Normal People Part 3, pp. 103–145; writing style and genre comparison Week 6: No Wednesday class; Literature, Material Culture, and Pedagogy workshop. Thursday: Normal People Part 4, pp. 146–193; character development and coming of age Week 7: Asynchronous work; no class meetings Week 8: Adaptation; Thursday: critical reception and legacy Week 9: Genre Festival Workshop (Wednesday and Thursday) Week 10: Wednesday: Showcases 1–2; Thursday: Showcase 3 Week 11: Wednesday: Showcases 4–5; Thursday: Showcase 6 Week 12: Wednesday: Showcases 7–8; Thursday: Genre Festival Synthesis Week 13: Publishing, Markets, and Translation Week 14: How to Pitch a Work of Fiction Week 15: Pitches Week 16: Wednesday: Pitches; Thursday: course reflection Complete readings before Wednesday’s class. Shorter readings and calendar adjustments will be announced in advance.

評量方式

Class Notebook Portfolio: 20% Completion and thoughtfulness of classwork interpretations and reflections, including development of ideas across the semester. Participation: 20% Individual participation 15% (attendance, effort in group work and discussion, asking or answering questions). Spider web discussion 5% (average shared class grade for formal discussions using the discussion rubric). Student-Led Genre Showcase: 20% Groups of 3–4 lead a 30–40-minute session including a short text or excerpt readable in about 8 minutes. Each member facilitates part of the session. Event Fieldnote: 15% Attend one live literary event between Weeks 2 and 15. Submit a 250–500-word English fieldnote within one week, describing the event’s presentation of a book or author and connecting observations to the course. Give a 1–2-minute informal report-back. Full points for completing these requirements. A bookstore visit or browsing a book fair alone does not qualify. Publishing Pitch: 25% Choose fiction not studied in class, research an appropriate Anglophone publisher or imprint, write a brief pitch and deliver a short oral pitch. Support the case for its readership and publisher fit with specific details from the work. Fiction originally written in any language is eligible. Follow AI guidelines for each task. If none are given, assume AI use will negatively impact evaluation. Read each week and prepare specific passages for discussion; listen and respond to classmates.

教材

【遵守智慧財產權觀念，請使用正版教科書，不得使用非法影印教科書】 使用外文原文書：是 Sally Rooney, Normal People; instructor-provided shorter readings and course notebook. Shorter reading selections remain provisional.