Survey of American Literature I

Tentative Syllabus and Course Description

Text

Baym et al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Vol 1 5th. ed.

Statement of Purpose

This course is designed to survey major American authors and their works from the early explorers' narratives to those written during the Civil War. To further your understanding, we will discuss the major historical, cultural, intellectual, and political events which occasioned the writings we examine. As you read, as you listen in class, as you discuss your thoughts, and as you write, remember to ask yourself what it is about these texts we call "American Literature" that makes them distinctly "American."

Course Requirements

        · Quizzes
        · Papers (3)
        · Exams (3)
        · Class Participation

Reading Schedule

Exploration, Colonization, and the Puritans

Aug      26        Introduction to the Class; discussion of Terra Incognita" and "The Idea of
                        America."
            28        Native American Myth, 52-7.
            30        Columbus, 11-15. De las Casas, 15-19.
Sep        2        Smith, 102-120.
              4        Bradford, 164-84.
              6        Bradstreet, 246-8, 270-83.
              9        Taylor, 330-340.
            11        Rowlandson, 297-330.
            13        Mather, 373-385.
            16        Edwards, 440-1, 474-85.

You Say You Want a Revolution? Well, You Know . . .

            18      Franklin, 491-2, 523-45.
            20      Franklin 546-569.
            23      Crevecoeur, 640-650. Paine, 691-2, 699-705.   Paper #1 due.
            25      Wheatley, 824-40.
            27      Jefferson, 712-20. A. Adams, 675-691. (Just read Abigail's letters)
            30      Tyler, biographical materials, The Contrast, Act I, Hand out.
Oct        2      Finish Tyler.
              4      Examination #1

The Growth of Fiction

              7      Brown, Hand Out
              9      Cooper, 980-96. Annotated bibliography due.
            11      Irving, 934-48.
            14      Irving, 948-69.
            16      Poe, 1480-3,1508-22,
            18      Poe, 1542-46, 1550-63.

American Renaissance I: The Transcendentals

           21   Emerson, 1069-72, 1126-44.
           23   Emerson, 1101-14.
           25   Thoreau, 1749-68. Paper #2 due.
           28   Thoreau,   1796-1810.
           30   Whitman, 2076-80, 2156-61
Nov      1   Homecoming. No Classes Scheduled.
             4   Whitman, 2182-9.
             6    Examination #2.

American Renaissance II: The Fruition of American Fiction

           8   Hawthorne, 1220-3, 1236-45.
         11   Hawthorne, Scarlet Letter, Ch. I-VII.
         13   Hawthorne, Scarlet Letter, Ch. VII-XIII.
         15   Hawthorne, Scarlet Letter, Ch. XIV-XXI.
         18   Hawthorne, Finish Scarlet Letter.
         20   Melville, 2256-61, 2432-2459. Paper #3 Due.
         22   Melville, 2459-2487.

American Renaissance III: The Movements for Social Change

         25    Cherokee Memorials, 996-1005.
         27-9 Thanksgiving.   Try and figure out what the traditional Puritan Thanksgiving
                    meal would have been. (Hint: not turkey)
Dec   2    Stowe, 1642-4, 1648-69.
         4    Jacobs, 1717-39.
         6    Lincoln, 1580-9
         9    Douglass, 1990-2, 2026-53.

The final examination will be on Friday, December 13, at 8 a.m.

Quizzes

Our major business in this class is to read. In order to encourage you to do so and in order to reward your diligence, we will have an objective quiz virtually every class period. If you have done the reading, these quizzes will seem very easy. If you have not, not only will you do poorly, you will have to suffer through one of the most boring things possible--a lengthy discussion of something you haven't read. At the end of the semester, all of these will be averaged together to form a major grade. I will drop your three lowest performances. If you miss class due to illness, personal emergency, or university business, you may make up the quiz. If you miss the quiz because you are late, you will not be allowed to make it up.

Essays

Paper #1 will be a short (3-5) page critical analysis over some aspect of one of the Puritan or Revolutionary works we have read for class, or it may be a comparison of a number of works we have read. These papers may be discussions of theme, a character analysis, or discussions of how differing works contain similar elements. These possible topics are starting points, not strict guidelines. If you have an idea, try it out on me. Paper #2 will be a short (4-7 page) research essay over one of the authors in your text. As the time for these nears, I'll pass out some specific guidelines. Paper #3 will be a short (3-5) page critical analysis over some aspect of one of the fiction works we have read for class. Your papers should be typed, should use the current MLA format for citation, and should contain a "Works Cited" page. Work is due at the beginning of class on the day it is supposed to come in. I reserve the right to penalize the grade of any paper that is late.

Exams

You will have three examinations. They will be in two parts, an objective portion, which will ask you to identify the key terms or significant ideas associated with key literary figures, and an essay portion, which will ask you to demonstrate how important ideas are dealt with in individual literary works. About a week before each exam, I will provide detailed review sheets designed to help you prepare. I do not "do" make up exams except in the highly unusual event of an excused absence on the day of the exam.

Attendance and Tardy Policy

You need to make every reasonable effort to attend every class. I realize this will not always be possible. Three types of absences may be excused: illness, personal emergency, and school business. If you are ill enough to miss class, you are ill enough to seek medical attention, and your illness will be excused when I receive some sort of medical documentation. If you have some sort of personal emergency, such as an illness or death in the family, please notify student affairs and they will arrange for you to make up any missed work. If you miss because of school business (band trip, athletic event, etc.), please let me know before you leave so that you will not return from your trip behind in your school work.

NOTE: If you accumulate more than two absences that are unexcused, I reserve the right to penalize your grade up to and including failure of the course. If you miss five or more classes for any reason, I will ask you to drop.

Tardies If I can get myself and two small children to school on time, you can get here by nine. Expect little sympathy; "my alarm didn't go off" will elicit laughter but little else. If you come after your name is called on the roll, you will be considered tardy. Two tardies count as an unexcused absence.

Electronics Policies

Cell phones and beepers must be turned off and put away during class time. While we're on the subject of technology, note that you may not "record" any class, either in an audio or visual format, without the instructor's permission.

In Conclusion

This should be a worthwhile and even enjoyable class. You can count on me to do three things. I will read everything you have to, so depending on the author, we will either enjoy or suffer together. I will endeavor to make class as interesting and as stimulating as possible. Finally, I am here to help you, but I cannot do so unless you let me know when you need help.

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