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BOSTON COLLEGE - WOODS COLLEGE OF ADVANCING STUDIES<br />
COURSE SYLLABUS<br />
ANDREW S. McALEER, J.D.<br />
E-MAIL: asmcaleer@aol.com<br />
339-223-1561<br />
EN 26401 -- 4 CREDITS<br />
SPRING, 2013<br />
TUESDAY 6:30-9:00 P.M.<br />
JANUARY 15 – MAY 7, 2013<br />
CLASSROOM: STOKES HALL – 115N<br />
COURSE DESCRIPTION:<br />
<strong>Master</strong> <strong>Sleuths</strong><br />
Igniting our sense of intrigue and imagination, master detectives like, Sherlock Holmes,<br />
Spenser, Fr. Brown, and their illustrious colleagues, Poirot, Miss Marple, Inspector<br />
Maigret and the usual suspects elevate crime literature to a true art form. Through reading<br />
assignments, guest appearances by experts in the field, classroom discussions, classic<br />
films, and creative writing, students will become familiar with most forms of the mystery<br />
novel like malice domestic, the modern suspense novel, English cozy, amateur sleuth,<br />
hard-boiled, and police procedural.<br />
ASSIGNED MYSTERY NOVELS:<br />
The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle<br />
The Body in the Belfry, Katherine Hall Page<br />
Fatal Deeds, Andrew McAleer<br />
Class handouts provided by instructor: “The Green Harbor Friends of George V.<br />
Higgins”; “The Lizzie Borden Grand Jury”; “The Law in a Tuttshell”; United States of<br />
America v. Stephen J. Flemmi . Lectures and class discussions will correspond with<br />
assigned reading.<br />
ESTIMATED BOOK COSTS: $26.00<br />
FINAL EXAM POLICY:<br />
Final exam administered on the last evening of class, May 7 at 6:30 p.m.<br />
FINAL GRADE:<br />
Attendance 20%; Quiz 20%; Short Essay 20%; Final Examination 40%<br />
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CALENDAR:<br />
January 15 Introduction. The origin of crime fiction. The Case of Erle Stanley<br />
Gardner/Perry Mason. Assignment: begin Hound.<br />
22 Elements of burglary. Edgar Allan Poe. Various mystery/suspense<br />
genres. Rex Stout footage. Assignment: Hound.<br />
29 Elements of larceny. Hound update Dr. Watson’s POV (point of view).<br />
US v. Flemmi. Raymond Chandler. Assignment: Hound.<br />
February 5<br />
Elements of robbery. Discuss Flemmi; George V. Higgins, Esquire. The<br />
hard-boiled sleuth. Assignment: complete Hound.<br />
12 NO CLASS<br />
19 QUIZ. Elements of a tort. <strong>Boston</strong> dialect. Agatha Christie. Miss Marple.<br />
Cozy vs. Hardboiled sleuth The importance of dialogue to character<br />
development. Assignment: begin Belfry.<br />
26 Assault and battery. How to use familiar venues to strengthen story.<br />
Wire taps. Guest lecturer Leonard J. Henson, Esq. former A.D.A. major<br />
crimes division Suffolk County. Assignment: Belfry.<br />
March 5 NO CLASS<br />
12 Discuss essay options. Mr. Tutt and the legal sleuth. Perry Mason. How<br />
might Gardner’s Perry Mason differ if he were a modern sleuth? Film:<br />
Mystic River. Assignment: Belfry.<br />
19 Wrap up Belfry discussion. Urban vs. Suburban setting. The clerical<br />
sleuth, Father Brown. The amateur sleuth. Police procedural. HW<br />
complete Belfry.<br />
26 Discuss Belfry. Lizzie Borden: a century plus of murder and intrigue.<br />
How the grand jury system was used against Lizzie. Film: Lizzie Borden.<br />
HW begin Fatal Deeds.<br />
April 2 <strong>Boston</strong> sleuths. Georges Simenon. HW Deeds.<br />
9 Mystery writing tips. Webster - Parkman Murder in Harvard Square.<br />
Myth vs. fact. Assignment Deeds.<br />
16 NO CLASS<br />
23 Webster and Parkman discussion. Complete Deeds.<br />
30 Short Essay due. Final discussion Deeds. Wrap up for final examination.<br />
May 7 FINAL EXAM begins at 6:30 p.m.<br />
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