Slideshow for introductory lecture in my summer course, English 10, "Introduction to Literary Studies: Deception, Dishonesty, Bullshit." http://patrickbrianmooney.nfshost.com/~patrick/ta/m15/

1. Lecture 1:
Introduction(s)
PATRICK MOONEY, M.A.
ENGLISH 10, SUMMER SESSION A
22 JUNE 2105

2. Syllabus and grading structure
●
Syllabus is online from the course website:
http://is.gd/bullshit_course
●
Grading consists of multiple low-stakes assignments:
– 10-12 quizzes: 20% total (lowest two dropped)
– Final exam, final paper: 20% each
– Three short writing assignments: 10% each
– Attendance/participation: 10%
●
Neither attendance nor participation is “free points.” Both
are real evaluative categories.

3. Philip Larkin, “This Be the Verse”
They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself
● Alternating unstressed-
stressed syllables: iambic.
● Four metrical feet per line:
pentameter.
● Rhyme scheme: abab cdcd
efef (alternating lines rhyme
within each stanza).

4. Byron, “Stanzas”
When a man hath no freedom to fight for at home,
Let him combat for that of his neighbours;
Let him think of the glories of Greece and of Rome,
And get knock'd on the head for his labours.
To do good to mankind is the chivalrous plan,
And, is always as nobly requited;
Then battle for freedom wherever you can,
And, if not shot or hang'd, you'll get knighted.