English 261.001
Dr. Snelson
MWF, 1:00 – 1:50 DH 139
Office Hours: M, W: 10:00 - 11:00; T, R: 12: - 2:00, and by appointment
Dept. Phone: 4221
Office Phone: 4316
Catalog Description
A survey of American literature from colonial times to the present. Includes works from each period to provide historical perspective. Designed for English majors and minors. Prerequisite: ENGLISH 101 or 111.
Outcomes:
The student will
* acquire a knowledge of the historical periods of American literature.
* acquire an awareness of how a work of literature reflects its own time in
substance and style.
* acquire a knowledge of significant individual writers.
* develop an appreciation of and ability to analyze and discuss literature as an art, including a knowledge of the major genres.
* continue development of writing.
Class Activities
Classes will include the following activities: discussions of works undergoing scrutiny and related works, quizzes covering material read and discussed, and consideration of your papers. Classes are devoted mainly to close explication of the assigned reading, with some attention to background material, and with frequent questions directed to you. You are responsible for full daily preparation for analysis of the works read. You are also expected to assimilate the literary history presented in introductory material.
Assignments
* Quizzes will be given as indicated on the class schedule.
* A thematic final exam will be comprehensive.
* Two major papers will be assigned. Their due dates are also indicated on the class schedule. Each paper should be presented in typed or word-processed form. Each should be 800-900 words in length. The topic for each paper will stem from assigned readings and class discussion.
* A brief critical review (approximately 200 words) of each of the University Theatre’s two productions is required.
Grading
Your grade will reflect your performance on quizzes, on papers, and in class. Listed below are the available grades.
50%: quizzes 0-59: F
15%: 1st paper 60-69: D
15%: 2nd paper 70-79: C
10%: Final exam 80-89: B
10%: participation and reviews 90-100: A
100%
Resources:
· H. Abrams, The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter Fifth Edition.
· Tickets to each of University Theatre’s two productions
Attendance
You are expected to attend every class meeting. You may accumulate up to three emergency absences, but be sure to save your allotment for real emergencies. You are, needless to say, responsible for all material covered and assignments made and due during all classes. Quizzes missed on emergency days may not, except in rare circumstances, be made up. If you arrive for class after attendance is taken, you will be considered tardy (but check with me to be sure you were not marked absent). Three tardies count as one absence. Each additional absence after the three will lower your grade for the course by 3%. If you exceed six absences for the semester, you will be dropped from the course (FX) in recognition of the fact that you are not really taking the course as taught. Exceptions for co- or extra-curricular activities must be negotiated in advance of the activity.
Late Paper Policy
Late papers are penalized at the rate of 5% per day late. Papers are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date. No written component of the course may be omitted: papers, reviews, quizzes, and the exam must be submitted.
Academic Dishonesty
See Pathfinder for full text. For this class, the most relevant part of the statement concerns plagiarism, “the presentation of written or oral material in a manner which conceals the true source of documentary material; or the presentation of material which uses hypotheses, conclusions, evidence, data, or the like, in a way that the student appears to have done the work which he/she did not, in fact, do.” This form of cheating or any other (emphasis added), is considered “impermissible and subject to disciplinary action.”
Note: Do not, under any circumstances, give the only copy of a project to anyone.
