Course Overview

This class provides students with an introduction to some of the most influential authors in the American literary tradition. To gain better strategies for interpreting their works, students will learn some of the basic elements of literary analysis.

Objectives

This class will support the Liberal Education Programs Student Learning Outcomes for Humanities in the following manner:

• Students will apply humanistic methods of inquiry and interpretation to the products/processes of human thought and culture.

  —Class discussions, small-group activities, a paper and examinations will all require students to ask key questions guiding them toward persuasive interpretations of literary texts.

• Students will analyze products/processes of human thought and culture.

  —The reading list for this class includes a rich variety of literary texts from diverse genres, time periods and cultural perspectives. Assignments will require students to read them carefully and analyze them.

• Students will explain how the products/processes of human thought and culture relate to cultural/social/historical context(s).

  —The character analysis paper will require students to adapt ideas from class discussions and activities into more complete arguments that relate these texts to the cultural and historical contexts of their authors and of their readers.

Expectations

In order to accomplish these outcomes, students must

• Read the required books carefully.

• Attend classÑshow up on time and prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. Students have a responsibility to plan their schedules to avoid excessive conflicts with course requirements. Excessive absences will have a negative impact on students' grades that in this course. Excusable absences include "subpoenas, jury duty, military duty, religious observances, illness, bereavement for immediate family and NCAA varsity college athletics." Please contact instructors about anticipated absences in order to minimize their influence on your coursework. For more information on excused absences, see "http://d.umn.edu/academic-affairs/academic-policies/classroom-policies/excused-absences".

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of these works in quizzes, three exams and the character analysis assignment. For UMD policy governing final exams, you may look here: "http://d.umn.edu/academic-affairs/academic-policies/examination-policies/final-examinations".

• Respect fellow students and refrain from behavior that might impair their learning opportunities. Any behavior that substantially and repeatedly interrupts the instructor's ability to teach or the students' ability to learn will result in appropriate penalties. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of communications technology in the classroom, such as ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, checking e-mail, or surfing the Internet on one's computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities. For further clarification of UMD policies in this regard, consult UMD's Student Conduct Code at "https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf".

• UMD instructors and students have a responsibility to maintain a learning environment that is, as stated in the Teaching and Learning Policy, "respectful of the rights and freedoms of all members, and promotes a civil and open exchange of ideas." The full policy is available at "http://d.umn.edu/academic-affairs/academic-policies/classroom-policies/instructor-and-student-responsibilities".

  Grade Breakdown:

  Exam One	20%
  Exam Two	20%
  Exam Three (cumulative)	30%
  Character Analysis	20%
  Quizzes	5%
  Participation	5%

  Your grade will depend primarily on your written work and the understanding of the material that you convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of your grade.

  Late assignments will receive a deduction of 1/3 of a letter grade for each business day that they are late. Students who miss exams may not make them up without a valid excuse for the absence. Valid excuses include health emergencies and family crises. If students anticipate missing an exam or a paper deadline for a valid reason and consult with me in advance, I can consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

  Academic dishonesty tarnishes the reputation of the University of Minnesota Duluth and discredits the accomplishments of its students. Because the university is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit, it must insist on an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. Consequently, all members of the academic community must regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which is available online at "http://www.d.umn.edu/academic-affairs/academic-policies/classroom-policies/student-academic-integrity". This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

  Writers' Workshop UMD offers free writing support from graduate student or faculty writing consultants to all members of the campus community at the Writers' Workshop. The consultants will work with you on any writing project at any stage in the writing process. To make an appointment, visit "http://www.d.umn.edu/writwork/"Êor stop by the Learning Commons on the second floor of the Kathryn A. Martin Library. Look for the Workshop's trademark wall mural covered with quotations about writing.

  Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, should inform me at the start of the semester. I can make special adaptations of teaching methods, assignments, materials, or testing as required to provide for equitable participation in the course. The Disability Resources Center is also available to assist students with disabilities. It is located in 258 Kirby Student Center, by phone at (218) 726-6130, and on the web at "https://umd-general.umn.edu/disability-resources".

  Required Texts

  Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1937. HarperCollins, 2006.

  Mamet, David. Glengarry Glen Ross. Grove Atlantic, 1994.

  McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. Knopf, Doubleday, 2007.

  McClatchy, J. D. The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry. Knopf, Doubleday, 2003.

  Wharton, Edith. The Custom of the Country. 1920. Penguin, 2006.

  Whitehead, Colson. The Underground Railroad. Knopf, Doubleday, 2017.