American Literature
Tentative Syllabus
Spring 2002
Office: 451
Office hours: 11-12 MWF, 10-12 TTH
Text: The American Tradition in Literature, Eds. George Perkins and Barbara Perkins, 9th ed.
Mon, Jan. 14—Introduction to the course and post-Civil
War American literature.
Wed., Jan. 16—Romanticism and realism, pp. 990-92. Sample
response papers.
Fri., Jan. 18—Twain, “The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg,” 1016-44. Twain
study questions.
Mon, Jan. 21—MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S DAY.
NO CLASSES.
Wed., Jan. 23—Howells, “Editha,” 1046-55. Howells
study questions.
Fri., Jan. 25—James, “The Real Thing,” 1096-1110. James
study questions.
Mon., Jan. 28—Davis, “Anne,”
handout. Davis study
questions.
Wed., Jan. 30— Harte, “The Outcasts of Poker Flats,” 1152-59. Harte
study questions.
Fri., Feb. 1—Harte, “The Lucky of Roaring Camp.” Sample
long paper.
Mon., Feb.4—Jewett, “A White Heron,” 1170-76. Jewett
study questions.
Wed., Feb. 6—Chopin, “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” 1178-80. Chopin
handout. Chopin study questions.
Fri., Feb. 8—Freeman, “The Revolt of ‘Mother,’” 1182-91. Freeman
study questions.
Mon., Feb. 11— Chesnutt, “The Passing of Grandison,”
1192-1202. Chesnutt study
questions.
Wed., Feb. 13—Test 1. First
response paper due.
Fri., Feb. 15—Test 1.
Mon., Feb. 18— PRESIDENTS’ DAY. NO CLASS.
Wed., Feb. 20— Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” 1204-14. Gilman
study questions.
Fri., Feb. 22—Wharton, “Roman Fever,” 1217-25. Wharton
study questions.
Mon., Feb. 25— Dreiser, “The Second Choice,” 1247-58.
Dreiser study questions.
Wed., Feb. 27— Crane, “The Open Boat,” 1229-44. Crane
study questions.
Fri., Mar. 1— London, “To Build a Fire,” 1260-69. London
study questions.
Mon., Mar. 4—“Modern American Literature,” 1271-78.
Mon., Mar. 25—Robinson, “Richard Cory,” 182; “Miniver Cheevy,” 1282-83;
“Mr. Flood’s Party,” 1284-86; “New England,” 1287. Robinson
study questions.
Wed., Mar. 27—Cather, “Neighbour Rosicky,” 1290-1308.
“On the
Divide,” handout. Cather
study questions.
Fri., Mar. 29—Frost, “Mending Wall,” 1312-13; “Home
Burial,” 1313-15; “The Road Not Taken,” 1317-18; “Stopping By Woods on a
Snowy Evening,” 1329-30. Frost study
questions.
Mon., Apr. 1— Sandburg, all poems, 1335-37. Sandburg
study questions.
Wed., Apr. 3— Pound, “In a Station of the Metro,” 1350.
Pound study questions.
Anderson, “The Book of the Grotesque,” 1339-40;
“Adventure,” 41-44. Anderson
study questions.
Fri., Apr. 5— Test 2, Robinson through Anderson.
Second response paper due.
Mon., Apr. 8—Finish test 2.
Wed., Apr. 10—Stevens, “Sunday Morning,” 1420-22; “Not Ideas about
the Thing but the Thing Itself,” 1431. Stevens
study questions. Williams, “The Young Housewife,” 1434; “The Red Wheelbarrow,” 1439;
Williams
study questions.
Fri., Apr. 12—Fitzgerald, “Babylon Revisited,” 1517-1530. Fitzgerald
study questions
Mon., Apr. 15— Faulkner, “Barn Burning,” 1571-82. Faulkner
study questions
Wed., Apr. 17— Porter, “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” 1597-1603.
Porter study questions
Fri., Apr., 26— Hughes, “Feet Live Their Own Life,” 1608-09.Wright, "Black Boy,"
1611-17. Hughes
and Wright study questions. PAPER DUE.
Mon., Apr. 29—Walker, “Everyday Use,” 1967-72. Walker
study questions
Wed., May 1—Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues,” 1747-68.
Baldwin study questions.
Fri., May 3—Malamud, “The Mourners,” 1743-47. Malamud
study questions
Mon., May 6—O’Connor, “Good Country People,” 1770-82. O'Connor
study questions
Wed., May 8—Erdrich, “The Red Convertible,” 1994-2000. Erdrich
study questions
Fri., May 10—O’Brien, Going After Cacciato,” 1974-79. 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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