Students will read closely and write imaginatively about selected multi-cultural, multi-ethnic writings from the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries, whose literary contributions have helped develop modern American thought. They will also:
write about different literary genres and theories,
develop an awareness of literary critical analysis and techniques,
discover historical and philosophical roots of American writing,
further sharpen writing skills.
Students are also required to write and revise one course paper of at least 5 pages and take midterm and final exams.
Required Texts
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Concise Ed.
Paul Lauter et al, Eds. Houghton Mifflin, 2004
Parable of the Sower. Octavia E. Butler, Four Walls Eight Windows
Press, 1993
Tentative Course Reading Schedule
Aug. 15 Introduction
17 Emily Dickinson: Selected poems, pp. 1298-
19 Dickinson continued
22 John Milton Oskinson: “The Problem of Old Harjo,” pp. 1430-1435
24 Charles W. Chesnutt: “Po’ Sandy,” pp. 1415-1422
26 Chesnutt continued
29 Mark Twain: “The War Prayer,” pp. 1399-1401
31 William Dean Howells, “Editha,” pp. 1445-1454
Sept 2 Howells continued
5 LABOR DAY
7 Corridos, pp. 1435-1443
9 Corridos continued
12 Henry James: “Daisy Miller: A Study,” pp. 1456-1495
14 James continued FIRST DRAFT OF COURSE ESSAY DUE
16 Frances Watkins Harper, pp. 931-933: “The Two Offers,” HANDOUT
19 Harper continued; SECOND DRAFT OF COURSE ESSAY DUE
21 Standing Bear: “What I Am Going to Tell You Here Will Take Me Until
Dark,”
pp. 15941596
23 Mary E. Wilkins: “The Revolt of Mother,” pp. 1644-1655
26 Wilkins continued; Robert Frost: “Mending Wall,” pp. 1800-1801
28 Frost continued; Wallace Stevens: “Sunday Morning,” pp. 1955-1958
30 Stevens continued
Oct. 3 T. S. Eliot: “The Burial of the Dead ” (from The Wasteland),
pp. 1906-1909
5 Eliot continued; William Carlos Williams: “Danse Russe,” p. 1852
7 MIDTERM EXAM.
FALL BREAK
12 Langston Hughes: “The Weary Blues,” pp. 2008-2009
14 F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Babylon Revisited,” pp. 1431-1457;
THIRD DRAFT OF COURSE ESSAY DUE
17 Fitzgerald continued
19 William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily,” HANDOUT
21 Faulkner continued; FINAL DRAFT OF COURSE ESSAY DUE
24 Ernest Hemingway: “Hills Like White Elephants,” pp. 1950-1954
26 Gwendolyn Brooks: “The Mother,” pp. 2313-2314
28 Brooks continued
31 Carlos Bulosan: America Is in The Heart, pp. 2191-2194; REVISION
OF COURSE ESSAY DUE
Nov. 2 Anzia Yezierska: “America and I,” pp. 2066-2073
4 Allen Ginsberg: “America,” pp. 2375-2377
7 Gary Soto: “Braly Street,” pp. 2660
9 Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” pp. 2242-2252
11 O’Connor continued
14 Eudora Welty: “Why I Live at the P. O.,” pp. 2175-2183
16 Welty continued
18 Toni Morrison: “Recitatif,” pp. 2395- 2408
21 Morrison continued
THANKSGIVING BREAK
28 Octavia Butler: Parable of the Sower
30 Butler continued
Dec. 2 Butler continued
5 Butler continued
9 FINAL EXAM, 8:00 AM- 11:00 AM
Evaluation
The final course grade is determined by one five-page essay that counts for
50%; a midterm exam that counts for 20%, and a final exam that counts for 30%.
Students will prepare five non-graded and graded drafts of this paper throughout
the semester, with each draft reflecting a certain level of competence (and
grading) at each stage. If after all these drafts, the essay receives less
than “C,” it must be revised and the final grade will be the highest
of all drafts. While the topic of the course paper is assigned, you may suggest
a subject for the essay, which must be approved. The course paper must have
a clear thesis that addresses a specific issue such as character, organization,
or theme.
ALL COURSE WORK MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME. Late papers are dropped one whole
letter grade. Make-up exams are rare, except for medical emergency, for which
the student must provide acceptable written documentation. Grades are the following:
A= 4.00; A-= 3.7; B+= 3.3; B= 3.00; B-= 2.7; C+= 2.3; C= 2.0; C-= 1.7; D+=
1.3; D= 1.0; D-= .7; F= 0; WF= 0; S=Satisfactory; U=Unsatisfactory.
Attendance
Students with more than five unexcused absences are urged to drop the class. Tardiness will not be tolerated, and the classroom door will be closed promptly at 9:00 AM. Except for emergencies, please do not disturb the class after this time.