College American Literature 1
Fall 2011
Instructor:
Andrew Warner
Contact:
[email protected]
Room:
HS 309
Section:
7th
Course Description: In this American literature survey course, students will study a variety of works
and authors from the American Colonization to around the end of the nineteenth century. Various critical
theories and lenses will be studied and used to examine the various methods used for literary analysis. An
emphasis will be placed on writing and discussion as necessary modes for greater insight and reflection.
Course Texts:
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. 1845. New
York: Signet, 2005.
London, Jack. The Call of the Wild. 1903. Lodi, NJ: Everbind, 2003.
----. White Fang. 1906.
Twain, Mark. Pudd'nhead Wilson. 1894. New York: Signet, 1964.
Course packet.
Breakdown of Final Grade:
Paper 1
15%
Paper 2
15%
Journals and other assignments
40%
Tests (3) and Reading Quizzes
30%
Total:
100%
Description of Major Assignments:
Paper 1: In this 750-1200 word analysis, you are to take at least one of the works we have read in class
and apply one of the key critical theories to focus your interpretation. Your paper should be a wellconstructed argument that has a professional tone. Avoiding summarizing the text, and use clear textual
evidence to support your claim.
Paper 2: In this 1000-1500 word analysis, you are to take at least one of the works we have in read and
class and apply one of the key critical theories to focus your interpretation. In addition, you are to help
support your argument by providing secondary and primary research to support your claim. For in stance,
a historical analysis may require you to use excerpts from a period magazine or a collection of the
authors' letters to support your point. Some arguments may require you to find academic articles to
provide critical evidence. Cite every piece of information using the MLA style guide. Your paper should
be a well-constructed argument that has a professional tone. Avoid summarizing the text, and use clear
textual evidence to support your claim.
Journals: By the last day we meet every week, unless another assignment is due, you are expected to
write a one-page, single-spaced, typed journal entry in response to the week's readings. The journals are
due on dates marked with an asterisk. The responses should focus on your understanding of the readings
in light of the critical theories we've studied. Be sure to include specific textual references to fully
explain and defend your ideas. Do not provide a plot summary. Generally, journals will not be accepted
late. Do not throw your journals away until after the semester is over.
Reading: You are expected to complete all of the courses readings before their date listed on the
syllabus. Due to the emphasis on discussion and analytical writing in the course, it is imperative that
complete the reading in a careful and timely manner. If I get the sense that the readings are not being
completed, reading quizzes will be given.
Tests: There will be three tests given over the course of the semester. Each test will cover everything
that has been covered in the course up to that point, including: all the primary and supplemental readings,
discussions, films, and student presentations. The format of the tests will typically be a combination of
passage identification—brief analysis of passages selected from the course texts—and essay questions.
Occasionally, multiple choice and matching will be used.
Reading quizzes will be given randomly throughout the semester and count toward the test portion of the
grade.
Book check out: The novels read in class will be checked out to students shortly before their assigned
dates. Due to the number of sections and books available, students will have a limited amount of time to
read the text before and after the assigned dates. The student will be held entirely responsible for the
upkeep of their courses texts, and will not be issued new course texts until all previous ones are returned.
The students will also be expected to purchase a course packet to have access to many of the shorter and
supplemental course texts.
Late work: Typically, I will not accept late work. I provide the syllabus in advance to give you the
chance to get your work done according to your own schedule. If you have questions, or an emergency
arises, please let me know. Snow days will not affect due dates.
Academic Honesty: You are expected to produce your own work in the course, and this includes all
journals, papers, and tests. Failure to cite sources and plagiarism can result in failing the assignment, and
potential loss of credit. Other disciplinary procedures may be used.
Tentative Schedule:
8/17
Bradstreet: Selected Poems
8/18
Bradstreet: Selected Poems
8/18
Introduction to Reader Response
8/22
Short Stories
8/24
Short Stories
8/25
East Central College Registration
8/26
Short Stories*
8/29
Call of the Wild Ch. 1-3/White Fang Parts 1-2
8/31
Call of the Wild Ch. 4-5/White Fang Parts 3-4
9/2
Call of the Wild Ch. 6-end/White Fang Part 5*
9/5:
No School
9/6
TBA
9/8
Introduction to New Criticism; Dickinson: Selected Poems
9/9
Dickinson: Selected Poems*
9/12
Dickinson: Selected Poems
9/14
Longfellow: Selected Poems
9/16
Irving: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”*
9/19
Twain: Puddn’head Wilson Ch. I-VII
9/21
Twain: Puddn’head Wilson Ch. VIII-IX
9/23
Twain: Puddn’head Wilson Ch. X-XII*
9/26
Twain: Puddn’head Wilson Finish Novel
9/27
The Fountain (Film)
9/28
The Fountain (Film)
9/29
The Fountain (Film)
9/30
The Fountain (Film); Paper #1 Due
10/4
Test 1 Part 1
10/5
Test 1 Part II
10/7
Introduction to Structuralism; African American Folktales
10/10 No School
10/11 Folk tales cont.
10/13 Native American Myths
10/14 Native American Myths*
10//17 Irving: “Devil and Tom Walker”
10/19 Benet: “Devil and Daniel Webster”
10/21 Hawthorne:“Young Goodman Brown”*
10/25 Hawthorne: “Feathertop”
10/27 Missouri Folklore*
10/28 No School
10/31 Poe: “Black Cat”; “Tell-Tale Heart”
11/2
TBA
11/4
Hawthorne: “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”*
11/7
Modern Times (Film)
11/8
Modern Times (Film)
11/9
Modern Times (Film)
11/10 Modern Times (Film)
11/11 Paper #2 Due
11/14 Test 2 Part 1
11/15 Test 2 Part 2
11/16 Introduction to New Historicism: Whitman: Poems
11/18 Whitman: Poems
11/21 Franklin: “Rules by Which…”*
11/22: Franklin: “Remarks Concerning…”; Douglass: “What to the Slave…”
11/23 No School
11/24 No School
11/25 No School
11/28 Slave Narratives
11/29 Slave Narratives
11/30 Slave Narratives
12/1
Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Preface-Ch. 2
12/2
Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Ch. 3-7*
12/5
Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Ch. 8-11
12/7
Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Finish Novel
12/9
Dickens: excerpt from American Notes*
12/12 TBA
12/14 TBA
12/16 TBA*
12/19 Finals
12/20 Finals
12/21 Finals
12/22 Finals; Test 3 during final exam period