(24676) Intr H499, (01)1 cr. (pass-fail), 4:00 – 5:00 p.m., T, Prof. Stephan Flores, Fall 2002, Room 327 Idaho Commons
Honors Vacation Reading: The Law in Question.
This class explores the judgments of criminals and the law, including such questions
as "who are criminals" and "what is the law," represented
through four novels and a work of nonfiction. Two of the works present epic
and comic accounts of protracted litigation--portraits of America through its
lawsuits. The other three works present compelling, intimate narratives of complex
worlds, lives, and relationships, where ostensible crimes of the heart become
understood through public forums, politics, history, and the media. The coursework
includes five focused journal entries (250 words each) and four critical responses
(450-500 words each).
Students wishing to earn one-credit pass/fail in Honors Vacation Reading should read the following books, preferably during the summer, and keep a journal of their reading to prepare for class discussion and for the required short writing assignments. The group will then meet with Dr. Flores once a week during the fall semester for discussion. Limit 12.
Required texts:
Böll,
Heinrich. The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, Or: How Violence
Develops and Where It Can Lead. Trans. Leila Vennewitz. (Penguin, 1975).
Faulkner, William. Requiem for a Nun. (Vintage, 1975)
Gaddis, William. A Frolic of His Own. (Scribner, 1994)
Harr, Jonathan. A Civil Action (Vintage, 1996)
Schlink, Bernhard. The Reader. Trans. Carol B. Janeway (Vintage, 1998)
Hodgepodge of additional/optional reading, reference sources:
J.Nelson's Guide/Question's on The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum
Baader-meinhof.com site, related to The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum
Faulkner's Requiem for a Nun site
Gaddis Annotations site
Publisher's Reading and Discussion Guide to Harr's A Civil Action
Brandeis University Libraries Guide/Resources on Harr's A Civil Action
Publisher's Reading and Discussion Guide to Schlink's The Reader
Famous Trials website
S. Mermi, Law & the Legal System (UI Reserve KF380.M47 1982)
K. Llewellyn, The Bramble bush (Reserve KF273.L56)
O.W.Holmes, "The path of the law" in The Holmes Reader (Reserve KF8745.H6A4 1955)
S.Turow, One L (Reserve KF373.T88A33 1988
G. Munneke, How to Succeed in Law School (Reserve kF283.M86 1994)
R. Pound, An introduction to the philosophy of law (Reserve KF380.P67)
B. Cardozo, The nature of the judicial process (Reserve KF8700.C3)
L.Fuller, The morality of the law (Reserve KF380.F82)
A. Bickel, The least dangerous branch (Reserve KF8748.B5)
John Makdisi, Introduction to the study of law: cases and materials (Reserve KF385A4M35 1990)
Sunstein, Cass. Legal Reasoning and Political Conflict
Vandevelde, Thinking Like a Lawyer(Westview P)
Knight, Alfred. The Life of the Law(1997?)
Posner, Richard. Frontiers of legal theory(2001)
Murphy and Coleman, Philosophy of Law: An Introduction to Jurisprudencerev.
ed.
Requirements:
1. Five focused journal entries, one on each novel (250 words, single-spaced,
titled)—select a passage or issue (character, relationship, problem) and
begin to explore its importance/significance and your sense of the effects of
your reading and interpretation. You might begin by writing a thesis-driven
statement (one sentence) or perspective that is understood to be posed in response
to an interpretative question or problem, or a question of law and judgment
or ethical choice, that is either stated explicitly or clearly implied.
2. Four critical responses (separate responses on four of the five major works,
each response 450-500 words, single-spaced, titled, on one page) that prompt
you to identify and to address interpretive and critical issues that these texts
present. Your observations and analyses should be succinct and sharply focused,
with potential for substantial further development. On days that these are due,
please bring an extra copy to class, one for me and one that you might read
aloud.
3. Participation in class discussion (including informal weekly writing). Please
take advantage of the opportunity our small class provides to discuss your reactions,
share your insights and research, and to listen and reply to others' ideas.
I shall call regularly upon individuals to facilitate class discussion, with
each person leading off discussion (10 minutes) on specific texts in rotation
over the semester. On these days I expect the person scheduled for that day
to be prepared to lead off our discussion by presenting his or her position
on the material (with some brief summary, focus on key points in the reading,
perhaps some incorporation of secondary criticism or historical research), and
by suggesting further issues the class might consider. I hope this strategy
will enable you to move the class in directions you find most useful, give you
opportunities to develop critical skills through collaboration, and help to
establish a mutual responsibility to engage productively with the class texts
and with one another while also enabling me to share my perspectives with you.
4. Due dates: All required work is due at the beginning of class on the due
date. Work more than a week late will not be accepted. I will grant short extensions
for medical and family emergencies--but talk with me as soon as possible to
request an extension. ALWAYS KEEP EXTRA COPIES OF YOUR WORK.
5. Attendance is required)—your participation is a crucial part of a collective
learning experience. Because we meet once a week, your ability to pass the class
will be jeopardized if you miss more than two class meetings. Almost all absences
will be counted)—excused or not)—if something extraordinary occurs,
talk to me.
6. Office hours. I encourage you to confer with me)—especially before assignments
are due)—to talk about your interests, intentions, and writing strategies.
If you cannot make my regular hours, we can usually arrange another time. I
also welcome communicating with you by e-mail (sflores@uidaho.edu).
SYLLABUS
Note that though five critical responses are listed as due, only four of five
are required.
8/27 Introductions
9/3 Böll, The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum Journal entry due
9/10 The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum; Critical Response due
9/18 Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun; Journal entry due
9/24 Requiem for a Nun
10/1 Requiem for a Nun; Critical Response due
10/8 Gaddis, A Frolic of His Own; Journal entry due
10/15 A Frolic of His Own
10/22 A Frolic of His Own; Critical Response due
10/29 Harr, A Civil Action; Journal entry due
11/5 A Civil Action
11/12 A Civil Action; Critical Response due
11/19 Schlink, The Reader; Journal entry due
11/26 The Reader
12/3 The Reader; Critical Response due
12/10 Final meeting