Mysteries have been present in literature for centuries, but they emerged as a genre of great popularity in the late nineteenth century. Changes in the mystery formula and expansion of it into films came in the twentieth century. What does this popular form bring to and take from its surrounding cultural context? How can we account for its appeal? What does it tell us about our world? Your reading and viewing for this course will acquaint you with the formulas and the significance of the mystery in fiction and film and will give you a chance to consider the answers you would give to these questions.

Prerequisite : ENG 112 or ENG 125 or division approval.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• Acquire a general knowledge of the history of the mystery genre in fiction and film.
• Explain various formulas for mystery in fiction, especially classical and hard-boiled detective.
• Explain various formulas for mystery in film, especially film noir and Alfred Hitchcock's works.
• Apply your understanding of mysteries through analysis of individual mystery novels and/or films.
• Apply your understanding of mysteries through analysis of the relationship of the mystery genre to its cultural context.
• Apply and enjoy your understanding of mysteries in a project of your design.

Required Texts
The required textbook for this course is:

• Barr, Nevada. Firestorm
• Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep
• Doyle, Arthur Conan. Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories. Dover Thrift edition, 1992
• Poe, Edgar Allan. The Gold-Bug and Other Tales. Dover Thrift edition, 1991
• Poe, Edgar Allan. Tales of Terror and Detection. Dover Thrift edition, 1995
• Sayers, Dorothy. Strong Poison

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Call before going to a campus bookstore to make sure the materials are in stock. If you don't see what you need, ask for assistance. Each bookstore has a separate section for ELI courses. Print this page and take it with you to avoid confusion.

Additional Materials
The following materials are also required for this course:

• Mysteries in Literature and Film Instructional Video Series (Judy Riggin) - Available Online, CD, Broadcast, and in Campus Libraries.

  The following required feature films are available at local video rental stores and at all NVCC campus Learning Resource Centers (LRC):

  • The Big Sleep (dir. Howard Hawks, 1946)
  • North by Northwest (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1959)
  • Strangers on a Train (dir. Alfred Hitchcock, 1951)
  • The Thin Man (dir. W.S. Van Dyke, 1934

Your course grade will be determined by the introductory letter, reading activities, viewing activities, project, and 2 exams, according to the following points:

You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. Testing Centers will NOT let you take an exam if you bring your children.  This is an issue of liability.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

At all Testing Centers, you will be required to show photo identification to take your examination. This may be an official driver's license, a DMV ID, or a military ID. You will also be required to provide the appropriate Exam Pass found on your course web site or in the Syllabus, and your NovaConnect ID (also called your Student Number and EmplID). To look up your NovaConnect ID before you go to the testing center, go to http://www.nvcc.edu/novaconnect /.

If you have received a W grade, you must have written permission from your instructor to take exams. Be sure to take this permission with you to the Testing Center to take the exam.

Proctor Request Form

Campus Learning Resource Centers

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

BY EMAIL: jriggin@nvcc.edu
BY CAMPUS PHONE: (703) 323-3357
BY ELI PHONE: (703) 323-3347

1. Use your web browser to connect to www. nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Log on to your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to your Blackboard account.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.