LAW 444 - Law & Literature

“Law & Literature” will be coordinated by Jim Heller and Chris Byrne. There will be up to 18 students enrolled in the class, which will focus on how legal issues and themes are developed in works of literature. The class will meet four times during the semester, in the homes of participating faculty members. All those participating in the class are expected to bring food and/or drink each month to share as we dine together. The class will meet on the following days, from 6:00-8:30 PM Tuesday, January 15 Tuesday, February 12 Tuesday, March 12 Tuesday, April 2 The faculty will select four books that the students must read and write papers on. The books will be available to purchase in the bookstore, but you may use any edition you already have or purchase/borrow elsewhere. No later than the Thursday prior to each meeting, students must send via email to Jim Heller and Chris Byrne a 3-5 page paper responding to at least one of the questions previously given out by the faculty member responsible for each book. These papers will be distributed electronically ahead of time to other students in the class and to the faculty, and will be graded on a pass/fail basis. Students are required to prepare papers for all four books and attend all four sessions, unless their absence is excused in advance. Students will participate in discussion sessions with five or six students and one or two faculty members in each group, lasting for approximately one hour. Then, for the second hour the entire class will discuss the book. Students may also be asked to draft discussion questions for the books. There will be an organizational meeting the first week of the Spring 2013 semester. Students must attend this session in order to enroll in the course.