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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 223"
COURSE NAME: "American Literature"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Lewis Samuel Klausner
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 9:00AM 10:45AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course deals with a chronological historical coverage of the development of American literature from the 17th century until modern times. Attention is given to the major historical, philosophical and literary movements that shaped American literature such as Puritanism, Transcendentalism, and American realism. Major canon American writers will be studied and analyzed.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
We will be reading from documents and works of literature that will help us think about some major ideas and attitudes in the history of American thought and imagination. We will be looking especially at works and statements that make large claims about America, how we define the land, what it means to live on or in it, what it means to be American.  We will be reading Puritan, Enlightenment, Transcendentalist, Romantic, and Modern writers
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be able to read American texts closely and insightfully, seeing them more carefully as texts, also placing them within their historical contexts. Students will learn to explain their insights into the works we read.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
First paper  20
Midterm Exam  20
Second Paper  20
Third Paper  20
Final Exam  20

-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:
A deduction from the final grade will commence after the third absence.
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

This schedule is subject to change. I will keep you updated by way of messages on My JCU.

 

Week One:

Puritanism to The American Revolution: Bradstreet, Franklin, Jefferson

Monday, May 23: Puritans: Winnebago Trickster Tale, John Winthrop, Columbus Anne Bradstreet

Tuesday, May 24: Puritan Beliefs: TULIP,  Anne Bradstreet: Contemplations. Cotton Mather (from Magnalia Christi Americana); Jonathan Edwards:

Wednesday, May 25: Benjamin Franklin: from the Authobiography;  Thomas Jefferson. (from the Autobiography: “The Declaration of Independence”).

Thursday, May 26:  Washington Irving: Rip Van Winkle.

Week Two

Transcendentalism: Emerson and Thoreau

Monday, May 30 Ralph Waldo Emerson: Nature, The Divinity School Address,

Tuesday, May 31  Emerson History, Poetry,  Thoreau, Walden

Wednesday, June 1 Thoreau: Walden

Thursday, June 2: HOLIDAY

 

Week Three

Tellers of Dark Tales: Hawthorne, Melville, Poe

Monday, June 6 Hawthorne: My Kinsman, Major Molineaux

Tuesday, June 7 Hawthorne: The Minister’s Black Veil

Wednesday, June 8 Mellville: Benito Cereno

Thursday, June 9 Melville: Bartelby the Scrivener

Friday, June 10 (make-up class) Edgar Allen Poe: The Black Cat, Fall of the House of Usher

 

 

American Poetry of the 19th Century? (Longfellow, Whiteman, Dickinson)

Monday, June 13: Whitman,

Tuesday, June 14 Walt Whitman: From Song of Myself (refers back to Emerson’s The Poet.  Dickinson

Wednesday, June 15 Emily Dickinson

Thursday, June 16 Mark Twain (Excerpts from Huckleberry Finn and Life on the Mississippi)

 

Some 20th Century (Re)Considerations:

Monday, June 20 Robert Frost: Puritanism, Emerson, and Thoreau revisited

Tuesday, June 21 Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdritch: Native American Literature today

Wednesday, June 22 Edward Abbey: The Serpents of Paradise (Walden Two)

Thursday, June 23  Gwendolyn Brooks, Langston Hughes

Final Exam: