Course Overview

This class will give students a solid grounding in American literature from the Civil War up to the present day. The goal of this class is to provide students with coverage of a wide range of literary works, along with the rich and various viewpoints and writing styles therein. In addition, we will discuss the historical circumstances that provided the background for literary production of the past 150 years.

We will begin with the poetry of Walt Whitman and the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. In their different ways, both works contend with the legacy of romanticism and set the stage for newer literary movements: realism and naturalism. The advent of the twentieth century coincides with emergence of modernism and its heir postmodernism. As literary styles change, critical approaches to literature must adapt, and we will examine various developments in the area of criticism along with the literature.

Objectives

Over the semester, I expect students to achieve the following goals:

• To read and understand texts from earlier historical and cultural contexts.

• To discuss these texts in an analytical and engaging manner.

• To write convincing arguments about the meanings of these texts.

• To recall key facts about the works in question including but not limited to the date of publication, the author, the title and general meaning.

• To produce papers about literature that are interesting, well organized and consistent with the standard conventions governing analytical writing.

• To revise drafts of such papers before turning them in as finished products.

• To proofread papers effectively.

• To complete papers according to the MLA format and to the conventions of college academic work.

• To discuss strengths and weaknesses of classmates' drafts as a means of helping them produce better final papers.

To reach these goals, students will need to do the following:

• Write an analysis of a brief passage from the assigned works. 3-5 typed pages. DUE ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH, 2011.

• Write an essay interpreting a longer text. DUE ON FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH, 2011.

• Complete a mid-term examination including short-answer, identification, and longer essay questions. ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, 2011.

• Complete a final examination covering the material from the entire semester and following a similar format. For additional information about policies governing final exams, see "http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/FinalExams.html". THE EXAM TAKES PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH FROM 10:00AM TO 11:55AM.

• Bring a typed, completed draft to class on peer-editing days, and provide classmates with carefully considered comments on their own drafts on those days (working drafts are due in class one week before the final draft is due).

• Attend class regularly and contribute to class discussion and group activities.

Grade Breakdown

NOTES ABOUT THE CLASS:

• Written Work. 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.

• 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/conduct/integrity/". This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

• Disability Accommodations. 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. The Office of Disability Resources writes that "[i]t is the policy and practice of the University of Minnesota Duluth to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including students with disabilities.Ê If there are aspects of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or your ability to meet course requirements—such as time limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos—please notify the instructor as soon as possible." You can contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss and arrange reasonable accommodations by calling 218-726-6130 or by visiting the Disability Resources website at "http://www.d.umn.edu/access/".

• Notetaking. Remember that there are rules against disseminating these notes beyond the classroom community, which you can find at "http://www.duluth.umn.edu/vcaa/ClassNotesAppropriateUseof.html".

• Attendance. I expect students to show up on time and prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. Students have a responsibility to plan their schedules to avoid conflicts with course requirements. Excessive absences will have a negative impact on the grade that you receive 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 the instructor about anticipated absences in order to minimize their influence on your coursework. For more information on excused absences, see "http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/ExcusedAbsence.html"

• Student Conduct. 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, doing email, 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 the Board of Regents Policy at "http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf ".

• Civility. 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://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/TeachingLearning.html".

Required Texts

Baym, Nina, et. al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vols. C, D, and E. Seventh Edition. New York: Norton, 2007. Print.

Faulkner, William. Light in August. 1932. New York: Vintage, 1985. Print.