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Welcome to ENGL 242 B. In this course we will read five novels from five different periods of literature plus a variety of short readings that will help us understand the novels better. One goal of the course is to familiarize you with different periods of literature, the aesthetic tendencies that typify these periods, and the dominant modes of thought that have influenced fiction writers at various historical junctures. By the time you finish the course you should be able to write and speak confidently about what makes a particular work of fiction "Romantic" or "Modern" or "Postmodern" in nature. (You will also have read five of the best novels ever written.) As a "W" course, another goal is to improve your academic writing skills so that you can succeed in your other UW coursework.

Required materials include the five novels and the MLA Handbook (now available at U bookstore), and a Course Reader (available soon at Ave. Copy Center, 4141 University Way). The syllabus and course calendar are available now (links at left).

Early Preparation: Before the quarter starts, take some time to review the syllabus, course calendar, and other class materials available here, just to make sure that this is the class for you. If you decide that this class is not the right fit, it's always better to drop and find a different class before the first week of classes (when everyone is scrambling to change their schedules).

Once you've decided to stay in the class, skim the Wikipedia and other articles under the "Helpful Links" section in the left column of this page. This will provide you with a basic understanding and a working vocabulary that will be useful during the quarter. If you have some downtime before the start of class, it is also recommended that you start reading one or more of the novels. Once the quarter starts we will be facing a heavy reading load, so the more prep you can do the better.

Questions or concerns about the course may be sent to me at the email address at the bottom of this page. I look forward to meeting you and having a productive quarter!