Karlstad University
Department of English
British and American History
& Literature History
(4,5 hp)
ENGLISH II
Campus
Åke Bergvall
Revised Feb. 2011
CONTENTS
Aims
3
Working Language
3
Methods
3
Assignments
3
Guidelines for references
4
Assessment and Criteria
6
Schedule (with Reading List)
7
2
Aims
This course is intended to provide examples of British and American history and literary
history up to 1939.
After finishing the course, you should be able to
•
independently reflect on and synthesize major developments within British and
American history and literary history
•
contextualize literary, historical and cultural texts and events from different British
and American time periods
•
use basic terms and concepts within history and literary history
Working Language
We read, write and discuss in English, including lectures and all assignments.
Methods
You will read the designated materials, listen to two series of lectures (history and literary
history), and turn in seven assignments.
Assignments
•
•
•
All assignments should be sent as Word-files to Åke Bergvall’s email address
([email protected]) on or before the deadline (Friday the week after each
module).
Name the attached file with your first name, the initial of your last name and an
abbreviation of the name of the module: JennyBMO2 (if your name is Jenny Blad
and you are sending in your keywords for Module 2). Also add your identification
at the top of each assignment, i.e., both as name of file and within the file.
Proofread all assignments carefully before you submit them.
The course includes seven modules that cover British and American history and literary
history. For each of the seven modules you will write one keyword, but with the restriction
that at least three should be on history and three on literary history.
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When you have read the section in Text and Events, the Intros in The Norton or The Heath,
and any additional information found for example on the Internet, choose a keyword (an
event, a movement, a concept, etc.), either dealing with history or with literary history (or
combining the two). In your explanation, compare at least two accounts, two sources (for
instance, Text and Events and An Outline of American History): Do they supplement each
other or can you find different opinions or statements? Moreover, include some personal
analysis: for example, “I think this is a key word or phrase because …” Remember to use
your own words. (If you copy a phrase or sentence from a text you should always put
quotation marks around it and provide a page reference.) Moreover, list the texts you have
looked at. See also “A Note on Plagiarism” below. It is important that the analysis is
yours and not copied directly from other sources such as the Internet. The length of each
assignment should not exceed one page (single space).
Guidelines for References
The assignment should be in the form of a running text, not a list of events, persons or
books, and must be written IN YOUR OWN WORDS. When you refer to, quote or
summarize a source of information, you should refer to this source at the end of the
sentence or paragraph with the writer’s last name and the pages of the original text in
parentheses.
For example, referring to a statistic in Britain in Close Up:
The Queen reduced the cost of the monarchy by 38% over seven years (McDowell
39). However, some people still think that the British taxpayer contributes too much
to the royal household.
At the end of your assignment always list your sources like this:
Internet sites:
Author(s) (or editor[s]). “Title.” Date of posting. Date of access. Complete web address.
Cert, Keda Cowling, and Harry Cowling. “Toe By Toe: A Highly Structured Multi-Sensory
Reading Manual for Teachers and Parents.” 1999. 14 June 2000. http://www.toe-bytoe.co.uk/
If the Internet site is maintained by an organisation, put the name of the organisation after
the title.
Books:
Author(s) (or editor[s]). Title. Place of publication (the town): Publisher, year.
Fiedler, Eckhard, Reimer Jansen, and Mil Norman-Risch. America in Close-Up. Harlow:
Longman, 1990.
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Lauter, Paul, et al., eds. The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Concise Ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Source references in your text:
(Author[s]) and page number[s] [if there are any])
(Cert and Cowling), or (first substantial word(s) of title) – if there is no mention of author
or editor.
(Fiedler, Jansen and Norman-Risch 89)
(Lauter et al. 29-30).
Put the reference at the end of the sentence or paragraph in which you use a source. If you
use the same source for two (or more) paragraphs following each other, remember to put a
source reference at the end of each and every paragraph.
Please note that these are just examples for the most typical types of sources. For
more information see The MLA Handbook.
A Note on Plagiarism
If you borrow a sentence or a phrase from another text, you must put quotation marks
around it, and indicate where it comes from. Failure to do this is called “plagiarism” and it
is both unethical and illegal.
Be careful with your sources of information, especially from the Internet. If you use
statistics, try to use well-known and reputable sources. It is a good idea to check different
sources against each other.
If you are insecure about what is considered plagiarism, we recommend pp. 66-73 in Joseph
Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed, New York: MLA, 2003.
You are of course welcome to ask us, if you have any questions about how to use secondary
sources.
Please observe: a signed copy of the “Plagiarism Disclaimer” must be submitted,
electronically if possible, by each student (one for the whole course is sufficient). The
course will not be graded without a submitted Disclaimer.
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Assessment and Criteria
The assignments will be graded according to the following criteria, with a maximum of 5
points for each keyword.
Keywords
Points
Criteria
5
4
Based on a chosen keyword the student shows independence of thought, and
the ability to critically compare, evaluate and reflect on chosen aspects of
the source materials.
Using correct English, the student produces a well-organized and wellformulated text.
3
2
Based on the chosen keyword the student presents, compares and reflects on
chosen aspects of the source materials.
The produced text is coherent and with no major language issues.
The sources are documented and cited correctly.
1
0
No, or a very incoherent and brief assignment is turned in.
Beside the maximum of 35 points that can be acquired based on the CONTENT of the
assignments, up to an additional 5 points can be acquired based on the quality of the
physical PRESENTATION, i.e., things like layout, the use of illustrations etc. This means a
spotless collection of assignments can generate a maximum of 40 points.
The grade for the course is then based on the following point system:
VG = 30 or more points.
G = 20 or more points.
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Schedule (with Reading List)
Module 1: Britain: Renaissance (1485-1660).
• Reading: T&E 39-75 + Compendiums.
Module 2: Britain: Restoration and 18th Century (1660-1789).
• Reading: T&E 76-107 + Compendiums.
Module 3: Britain: Revolution & Repression (Romanticism) (1789-1837).
• Reading: T&E 109-31 + Compendiums.
Module 4: America: Colony and New Nation (to 1850).
• Reading: T&E 279-317; Heath 1-16, 117-18, 136-39, 261-74, 605-37, 937-40 +
Compendiums.
Module 5: America: Civil War and Consolidation (1850-1914).
• Reading: T&E 319-56; Heath 841-42, 866-67, 1209-11, 1295-97, 1323-49, 1619 +
Compendiums.
Module 6: Britain: Victorian and Edwardian (1832-1914).
• Readings: T&E 133-53 + Compendiums.
Module 7: Britain & America: 20th Century (1914-1939).
• Reading: T&E 155-78 & 357-83; Heath 1713-36 + Compendiums.
—T&E: Texts and Events (Henry & Walker Bergström)
—Heath: The Heath Anthology of American Literature: Concise Edition
—Compendiums: “History” and “Lit. Hist.” (Pdf-files).
Additional Internet sources: see end of each chapter in Texts and Events, as well as:
For British history and literature, background information can be found at
Norton Topics Online: http://www.wwnorton.com/nael/
You choose a period at the top. For Module 1 read the sections found under ”16th Century”
and ”Early 17th Century,” for Module 2 read ”Restoration and 18th Century,” for Module 3
”Romantic Period,” for Module 6,”Victorian Age,” and for Module 7 read relevant parts of
”20th Century.” You also find a short but useful section on Irish history at the end of the
section ”Twentieth-Century Irish Writers” found under ”20th Century.”
For American history and literature, you may also use the Internet Outline of
American History: http://www.america.gov/publications/books/outline-of-americanliterature.html
and Outline of American Literature:
http://www.america.gov/publications/books/history-outline.html
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