82229 ENGL 3132

82230 AMST 3132

American Literature II

1. To provide you with a survey of some of the major works of American literature from the Civil War to the present, as well as with some of the works traditionally excluded from the canon. Because this is a survey course for majors, I hope to combine the breadth of a survey course with the depth of an advanced course for English majors.

2. To help you learn to read these works in social, political, and historical context, in addition to honing your skills as close readers.

3. To help you increase and develop your skills as attentive and thoughtful readers of literary texts through close attention to individual texts as well as the relationships between texts and the political, social, authorial, and historical "texts" that go into their creation.

4. To help prepare you for further literary study, engaging your abilities as critical readers and thinkers.

Course Requirements: Regular attendance and participation; regular preparation of reading (possibly tested by unannounced quizzes and/or informal reaction papers); a midterm, which will include objective and essay questions; 2 papers, one 4-5 pp. and one 6-8 pp.; final exam.

Grading Policy: Participation (including active discussion) and preparation: 15%

Midterm: 25%

Paper 1: 15%

Paper 2: 20%

Final: 25%

The drop date is Oct. 14--you will have received grades for the midterm by then.

No more than 3 absences (equivalent to a week and a half of class)are permitted; more than three will affect your participation grade adversely; more than 6 absences(equivalent to 3 weeks of class) will result in your failing the course.

For documented instances of major illness or for documented travel on official University business, I may grant excused absences at my discretion.

Absence for religious holidays will be excused. Please see the policy on page 42 of the University Catalogue.

The portion of your final grade based on participation and preparation is based on just that. If you come to every class, but do not talk or never do the reading on time, do not expect to get 100% just for being in class. The University Catalogue (2003-2004), page 42, states that Georgia Southern professors are responsible for setting specific attendance policies.

Finally, you are expected to be on time for class and to stay for the duration of class. This means you should refrain from engaging in distracting activities, such as reading newspapers, eating meals, getting up in the middle of class to use the facilities, and other forms of rude and distracting behavior.

Check here from time to time for modifications to the syllabus, additional links, paper assignments, etc.

N.B. I reserve the right to make changes, including additions to or deletions from the syllabus. You are responsible for these changes.

Norton Websource for American Literature

PAL: Perspectives in American Literature: A Research and Reference Guide

Voice of the Shuttle Resources in American Literature

American Literature on the Web (Japan)

The American Literature Archive (U. of Texas)

Literary Resources-American, by Jack Lynch

U.S. Information Agency's Key Sites on American Literature

American Cultural History: The Twentieth Century

Outline of American Literature

The Modern Word (Postmodern Fiction Page)