* Prospective NCAA Division I and II student-athletes should visit the NCAA Eligibility Center website (www.eligibilitycenter.org) and seek the NCAA's acceptance of a particular Education Provider's virtual course prior to registration.
Want to know what your ESP ability is? Want to really find out what's behind the story about that haunted house in your neighborhood? Curious about parapsychology ? Do you think you may have been visited by aliens, or do you know someone who thinks they have been abducted? If so, this course may be for you!
This English course will explore common elements in the literature of mythology, historical and current folklore, and literature involving magic and the mystical. Students will read selections from Arthurian legend, Stephen King, Robert Cormier, and Toni Morrison among others. Students will research and analyze the phenomena described in the literature.
Students will investigate and contribute legends/scare stories from their locales as the class conducts its investigation into the social purposes served by such modern folklore. The current obsession with the paranormal and alien visitation as it applies to modern myth and folklore will also be explored.
Learning Objectives:
Students will:
1. Conduct primary research through interviews and investigation of local folklore and phenomena.
2. Learn to work collaboratively on projects.
3. Develop critical reading and thinking skills.
4. Develop skills as a self-starter and a team member.
5. Learn what constitutes modern folklore in an Information Age.
6. Read 4 - 5 novels throughout the semester in addition to their weekly assignments.
7. Recognize connections between subjects studied in the class and society.
8. Use traditional and electronic sources for research in support of a thesis.
9. Learn time management skills.
10. Learn to participate in a seminar-environment, taking responsibility for their own learning.
Academic Content:
This is an elective English course with emphasis on reading, discussion, writing and small group work.
Kinds of Assignments:
Readings from MediaCeneter on selected topics, weekly discussions, web and primary research on related topics, essays.
Projects Required:
A term research project on an aspect of comparative folklore, a group project on Firestarter.
***Please note: The emphasis of this course is on modern folklore which, in an Information Age, is significantly different from historical folklore. It should also be noted that this is an Honors level English course. Be prepared to read, to write, and to discuss!***
