American Literature

Tentative Syllabus

Spring 2006

 Dr. Diane Drake

Office:  218

Office hours:  7-8 am, 9-10 am MWF; by arrangement

Text:  The American Tradition in Literature, Eds. George Perkins and Barbara Perkins, 10th ed. Shorter edition

Mon., Jan. 9—Introduction to the course and post-Civil War American literature.
Wed., Jan. 11—"Realists and Regionalists," pp. 989-91.  Sample response papers.
Fri., Jan. 13—Twain,  "The War Prayer," handout.

Mon., Jan. 16—MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S DAY.  NO CLASSES.
Wed., Jan. 18—Twain, “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," 992-95. Twain study questions.
Fri.,  Jan. 20—Howells, “Editha,” 1022-31.  Howells study questions.

Mon., Jan. 23—James, “The Real Thing,” 1073-89.  James study questions.
Wed., Jan. 25—Hopkins, from Life Among the Piutes, 1140-44. Hopkins study questions.
Fri., Jan. 27— Harte, “The Outcasts of Poker Flats,” 1132-39.  Harte study questions.

Mon., Jan. 30—Harte, “The Lucky of Roaring Camp.”  Sample long paper.
Wed., Feb.1—Jewett, “A White Heron,” 1162-68.  Jewett study questions.
Fri., Feb. 3—Chopin, “A Pair of Silk Stockings.”  Chopin, "Story of an Hour."    Chopin study questions.

Mon., Feb. 6—Freeman, “The Revolt of ‘Mother,’” 1255-65.  Freeman study questions.
Wed., Feb. 8— Chesnutt, “The Passing of Grandison,” 1266-77.  Chesnutt study questions.
Fri., Feb. 10—Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” 1204-14.  Gilman study questions.

Mon., Feb. 13—Wharton, “Roman Fever,” 1217-25.  Wharton study questions.
Wed., Feb. 15—Test 1.  First response paper due
Fri., Feb. 17—Test 1.

Mon., Feb. 20—PRESIDENT'S DAY. NO CLASSES.
Wed., Feb. 22— Dreiser, “The Second Choice,” 1325-37. Dreiser study questions.
Fri., Feb. 24— Crane, “The Open Boat,” 1308-23. Crane study questions.

Mon., Feb. 27— London, “To Build a Fire,” 1339-48. London study questions.
Wed., Mar. 1—“Literary Renaissance,” 1349-55.
Fri., Mar. 3—Cather, “Neighbour Rosicky,” 1367-86.Cather study questions.

Mon., Mar. 6—Anderson, "The Book of the Grotesque,” 1418-19; “Adventure,” 1419-23. Anderson study questions.
Wed., Mar. 8—Robinson, “Richard Cory,” 1359; “Miniver Cheevy,” 1359-60; “Mr. Flood’s Party,” 1361-63; “New England,” 1364. Robinson study questions.
Fri., Mar. 10—Frost , “Mending Wall,” 1390-91; “Home Burial,” 1391-93; “The Road Not Taken,” 1395-96; “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening,” 1407. Frost study questions. 

SPRING BREAK MARCH 13-17

Mon., Mar. 20—Sandburg, all poems, 1335-37. Sandburg and Pound study questions. Pound, “In a Station of the Metro,” 1350. 
Wed., Mar. 22—Stevens, “Sunday Morning,” 1497-99; "The Anecdote of the Jar," 1500; "The Snow Man," 1500. Stevens and Williams study questions.  Williams, “The Young Housewife,” 1434; “The Red Wheelbarrow,” 1439. 
Fri., Mar. 31—Cummings, “When God Lets My Body Be” 1506, "Buffalo Bill," 1507, “When Serpents Bargain for the Right to Squirm” 1515. Cummings study questions.

Mon., Apr. 3—Test 2, Dreiser through Williams.
Wed., Apr. 5—Test 2, Dreiser through Williams. Second response paper due. First draft of paper due.
Fri., Apr. 7—Fitzgerald, “Babylon Revisited,” 1517-1530. Fitzgerald study questions.

Mon., Apr.10—Hughes, “Feet Live Their Own Life,” 1608-09. Wright, "Black Boy," 1611-17. Hughes and Wright study questions.
Wed., Apr. 12—Wilder, The Skin of Our Teeth. Wilder study questions.
Fri., Apr. 14—Wilder, The Skin of Our Teeth.

Mon., Apr. 17—Wilder, The Skin of Our Teeth.
Wed., Apr. 19—Faulkner, “Barn Burning,” 1655-67. Faulkner study questions.
Fri., Apr. 20—O’Connor, “Good Country People,” 1842-55.O'Connor study questions. 

Mon., Apr. 24—Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues,” 1821-41. Baldwin's study questions.
Wed., Apr. 26—Walker, “Everyday Use,” 2077-83. Walker study questions.  PAPER DUE.
Fri., Apr. 28—Morrison, from Sula, 1983-91. Morrison study questions.

Mon., May 1—Updike, "Separating," 1992-99. Updike study questions.
Wed., May 3—Mason, "Shiloh," 2067-76. Mason study questions.
Fri., May 5—Erdrich, “The Red Convertible,” 2111-17.  Erdrich study questions. Third response paper due.

 

The course will consist of a discussion of the material read; 3 tests, including the final; and 3 response papers.

The response papers are 2-page, typed papers that are your response to the material you have read or to the class discussions.  You may respond to only one author or piece, or you may respond to the entire unit that the paper covers.  You may do further research on a topic or read unassigned material by an author and respond to that material.  You may also do creative work utilizing a particular author's style or a particular topic.  For example, you may want to write a defense of slavery from a slave owner's point of view, or you may want to write an answer to Fuller.  The content of the papers is open, but it must connect with the material covered.   You may redo the first paper if you are not satisfied with the grade.  See sample response papers.

As an option to the shorter response papers, you may do a longer, 5-7 page paper that would be a critical analysis of one of the works listed below.  Read the work and write a paper that analyzes the work.  You may compare the work to the assigned readings, you may explain how the work is related to the author, or you may write on the social context for the work.  However, this paper cannot be a simple book report or biography.  If you want to write on an author, you must write on how the author writes or how she or he treats a particular theme.  If you use any source outside your text, you must document your source.   If you want to redo this paper, you must turn in the paper by October 26.  See sample paper.

Your papers should be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, on one side of the paper only, with margins of one inch at top and bottom, and one inch on each side. Please use a ribbon in your typewriter or printer that produces copy dark enough to be easily legible. No odd fonts, please. No separate title page should be used. Place your name, the date, and the instructor's name in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Place your title above the text on page one and double space beneath it. The title should not be underlined. Page one need not be numbered; all subsequent pages should be headed with your last name and the page number in the upper right-hand corner. Fasten the pages with a paper clip or a staple in the upper left-hand corner (No plastic binders, please.)

If you misplace your syllabus or need handouts, consult the website.  Whenever possible, I will try to transfer handouts to the website so that you can print them off.  If you miss class, consult the website for handouts and references to missed assignments.

Roll will be taken at each class.  No make-up will be allowed for work missed for unexcused absences. 

Grade breakdown:  Tests 50%, response papers 25%, and discussion/class participation 25%.

 Criteria for papers:

 A  The paper is a well-written response to the topic discussed.   The paper makes a point that is discussed in a logical, well-organized manner.  There are accurate references to the works discussed, and they are cited correctly.  There are few or no mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  If a creative work, the paper is original, clever, and accurate.

B  The paper represents the writer’s feelings about the material covered.  Although a point is never clearly established, the discussion focuses on a general point.  There are some references to the works being discussed.  The citation format is correct.  There are some mistakes in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  If a creative work, the paper is original, but lacks artistic touch.

C  The paper is an adequate representation of the writer’s thoughts on the material.  There is no clear point established, and the discussion is general.  There are limited references to the material discussed, and the citation format is inaccurate or missing.  There are errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar, although they are not numerous.  If a creative work, the paper lacks originality, but reflects an attempt at the genre.

D  The paper lacks thought, detail, and organization.  It is a vague discussion of the material.  There are no references to the material discussed, and the citation format is inaccurate or missing.  There are numerous errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.  If a creative work, the creative work is clearly a rough draft and lacks any kind of finished quality.

F  The paper falls short of what is acceptable in college writing.

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