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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 399 H"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in English Literature: Literature and the Environment - HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Lewis Samuel Klausner
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An in-depth treatment of a current area of special concern within the field of English Literature. Courses offered previously include: Dickens and Englishness; Race, Class, Gender, Culture: The American Dream in Literature; The Innocents Abroad: Perceptions of Italy in American, European and British Writing; Topics in World Literature: Masterpieces in Western Fiction. This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 300-level literature classes are required to produce 5-6,000 words of critical writing. May be taken more than once for credit with different topics.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

In “The American Novel Since 1945” students will read novels from 1945 to the present. The course traces the formal and thematic developments of the novel in this period, focusing on the relationship between writers and readers, the conditions of publishing, innovations in the novel’s form, fiction’s engagement with history, and the changing place of literature in American culture. The reading list will be chosen writers such as  Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, J.D. Salinger, Vladimir Nabokov, Thomas Pynchon, Bernard Malamud, Saul Bellow, Philip Roth, Edward P. Jones, Tim O'Brien, Louise Erdrich, Maxine Hong Kingston, Marilyn Robinson, Toni Morrison, Flannery O'Connor, Jack Kerouac, Ursula Leguin, Octavia Butler, and Don Delillo, 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
In “The American Novel Since 1945” students will study a wide range of works from 1945 to the present. The course traces the formal and thematic developments of the novel in this period, focusing on the relationship between writers and readers, the conditions of publishing, innovations in the novel’s form, fiction’s engagement with history, and the changing place of literature in American culture. The reading list includes works by Richard Wright, Flannery O’Connor, Vladimir Nabokov, Jack Kerouac, J. D. Salinger, Thomas Pynchon, John Barth, Maxine Hong Kingston, Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, Cormac McCarthy, Philip Roth and Edward P. Jones. The course concludes with a contemporary novel chosen by the students in the class.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Paper One A paper of at least 5 pages analyzing a novel. 20
Paper 2 A 5 page paper analyzing a novel. 20
Midterm Exam An exam in two parts that has an ID component as well as an essay writing component. 25
Final Exam An exam that has an ID component and an essay writing component. 25
Class participation Active participation in class discussion. 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
An in-depth treatment of a current area of special concern within the field of English Literature. Courses offered previously include: Dickens and Englishness; Race, Class, Gender, Culture: The American Dream in Literature; The Innocents Abroad: Perceptions of Italy in American, European and British Writing; Topics in World Literature: Masterpieces in Western Fiction. This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 300-level literature classes are required to produce 5-6,000 words of critical writing. May be taken more than once for credit with different topics.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

The novels will be chosen from the authors named in the course description, but the novels have yet to be determined. 

Weeks 1-3

First Novel

Weeks 3-6

Second Novel 

Week 7-9 

Midterm Exam 

Third Novel 

Week 10-12

Fourth Novel

Week 13-14

Fifth Novel or short fiction

Review