Please note: Novels will be placed on reserve in the library for students; additional readings will be made available electronically or in paper form.

1) Conversations in Sicily, Elio Vittorini

2) The Day of the Owl, Leonardo Sciascia

3) The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, Giorgio Bassani

4) Survival in Auschwitz, Primo Levi

5) The Path to the Spiders' Nests, Italo Calvino

6) Pereira Declares, Antonio Tabucchi

7) History: A Novel, Elsa Morante

8) The Silent Duchess, Dacia Maraini

Upon completion of this course, students will gain knowledge of:

- The above novels and their authors

- 20^th-century Italian socio-political history within the scope of this course

- Contemporary Italian society and culture within the scope of this course

- The role of the intellectual in Italian society and intellectual debate in Italy in the 20^th century

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

- Unexcused absences will lower the final grade by 5% for each absence over 2; excused absences must include a physician's certificate.

- Essays not presented in paper form on their due date will lose 10 points per class meeting until handed in. Please do not send documents as attachments unless specifically authorized to do so.