TEXTS: The Norton Anthology of American Literature Vols. C and D.
F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby
Norton volumes and Fitzgerald available in Campus Bookstore.
OFFICE HOURS: My office is McIver 124, phone 334-5650. My email address is g_mcdona@uncg.edu. I will keep regular office hours from 11-12 and from 2-3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am also happy to see you by appointment.
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS:
? Identify and understand elements of the novel, short fiction, poetry, and
drama.
? Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts.
? Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing.
? Become familiar with major American writers from the period 1914-1945.
? Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in
which twentieth-century American literature has been written and interpreted.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
? Prepare for each class. To be adequately prepared, always read the entire
assignment before class begins. I have attempted to stagger longer and shorter
reading assignments to make the reading load manageable. When questions are
assigned to consider prior to a class, write out your responses so that you
are prepared for discussion in class. Quizzes may occur from time to time
as a spur to careful preparation.
? Participate in discussion. I expect and value regular attendance and participation,
promptness of arrival, and engaged listening. This expectation will be reflected
in final grades. I reserve the right to drop a student from class if he or
she is frequently absent without a valid reason.
? Complete writing assignments on time. Much of the writing in the class will
be informal, brief responses of about one page. There will be one formal essay
of four pages. My policy is to mark a paper down 1/3 grade when it is late,
more when it is outrageously late. See me in advance if you have a serious
problem meeting a deadline.
? Adhere to the Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code are not tolerated.
If you do not understand what plagiarism is, read about it today in your Student
Handbook. Consult me if you have a question about documentation of sources.
Use web resources with special care, taking note of their origins and upkeep.
I will treat any form of cheating seriously, at minimum assigning a grade of “F” for
the work in question and reserving the right to refer the case to the Honor
Board for disciplinary action.
BASIS FOR GRADES: Total for writing assignments 40%
Total for examinations 40%
Total for other factors (attendance, participation,
daily work) 20%
CLASS CALENDAR
Aug. 16 Introduction to the course
18 Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
23 Twain
25 Twain
30 Twain
Sept. 1 Henry James Daisy Miller
6 James
8 Booker T. Washington Up From Slavery
13 W. E. B. DuBois Souls of Black Folk
15 Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper”
20 Stephen Crane “The Blue Hotel”
22 Willa Cather “Neighbour Rosicky”
27 What was modernism? Slide lecture
29 Poems as assigned; practice in reading modern poetry
Oct. 4 Poems as assigned
6 Midterm examination
Oct. 11 Fall Break
13 Robert Frost, poems on pages 1175-1190
18 Frost, poems on pages 1191-1200
20 T. S. Eliot, The Waste Land
25 Eliot
27 Eliot
Nov. 1 William Carlos Williams and Marianne Moore, poems as assigned
3 No class: instructor attending conference
8 F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
10 Fitzgerald
17 Fitzgerald
22 Formal essay due in my office between 9 a.m.and noon.
24 Thanksgiving
29 Catch-up and clean-up as needed.
Portfolio of informal work due.
Dec. 1 Review for final examination
Final examination: December 8, noon.