English 204: American Literature: Civil War to the present

Catalogue:
4-4-0 (Lecture/Discussion) This course is a survey of American literature from the Civil War to the present. Students will read, discuss, and write about a variety of American literature, focusing on major movements, themes, and styles as they appear in the works of major authors during this period. Prerequisites: ENG 110

The American experience (experiment?) continues in this second-semester course in which we will read, write about, and discuss American literature from the Civil War to the  “Modern period,” roughly 1880 – 1939.  (Due to pedagogical decisions and time constraints we will not be reading American literature after 1945, a period that has been described as “Postmodern.”  My hope is that some of you will read American literature of the postmodern period on your own and/or in formal, academic courses.  I highly recommend both.)

Beyond our study of American literature we will also examine, through your research and presentations, the “Culture”—defined for our purposes as the attitudes, beliefs, customs, arts, entertainment, figures, and politics—of America during this period.

What we’re reading:

American Literature (vol. 2). William E. Cain.  Penguin Academics;

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Mark Twain.  Ed. Graff and Phelan.  Bedford/St. Martin’s.

(As Hemingway said, “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.”)

What we will be doing:

 

The course will be discussion based—both small group and the entire class; it is not a lecture course.  Your reading of the texts and your written work to the readings will drive discussions and learning—the comments you make, the questions you raise, the ideas you express. That is, our exploration of American literature will be driven by our thoughtful engagement of the readings and each other's ideas during class discussions.

It is important, even vital, then, that you come to each class prepared. There really is no such thing as "being a little behind in the reading."  You have either done the reading or you haven't.  You have written a response to the reading or you haven't.  Woody Allen was wrong: 95% of success is not simply showing up.  He should have added 95% of success is showing up prepared and engaged! (See “Attendance Policy” below.)

If you are really shy make it your personal course goal to actively participate in class discussions.  (Since I will learn your names, and since we will mostly sit in a circle, you really have no choice.)

The purpose of the course is to get you reading, thinking, talking, and writing about American literature.

(Any “glitches” in the course format will be discussed amongst us, and all “fixes” will come out of class consensus.)

What we’re doing:

 

Written work:  As I mentioned above, the foundation of the course is your written work—responses to our readings in American Literatureand Huck Finn. There will be at least one written assignment due (almost) every class meeting.  (Expect to read about 900 pages and to write about thirty-five to forty pages, roughly 8,750 – 10,000 words, during the course.  These numbers are not set in stone.)

 

Responses to readings must meet the following criteria (developed in English 203) in order to receive credit:

? (1) Include specific quotes from the reading(s) (“textual evidence”) to support ideas, to offer examples;

? (2) Coherent; clear expression of ideas;

? (3) Writer establishes her or his authority (i.e., reader gets the sense that the writer knows what she or he is writing about);

? (4) Raises questions about the reading (i.e., ideas in the reading);

? (5) Format:

                  FLength: TBA per assignment/response;

                  F Typed, double or single-spaced;

F Include a semi-colon ( ;), colon ( : ), dash (--), and double dashes.

? (6) Strong conclusion: leaves the reader with the writer’s key idea and/or “brings it all together”;

? (7) Causes reader to think; engagement with the reader;

? (8) Humorous (optional—after all it is American literature);

? (9) Offers a new perspective, or at least the writer’s perspective; in other words, the response does not merely summarize the reading(s).

In addition, written responses will continue to develop through class discussion, and at times we will end class with a concluding question that we will answer to "finish" our response.

Written work will be assessed credit (points) or no credit (no points) based on meeting the stated criteria (see above). (60%)

In responding to a written (assigned) response, students will do the following to facilitate discussion:

(1)  “Here’s what I hear you saying.”

(2)  “Here’s what I think….”

Active/critical/reflective reading: For every reading assignment I want you to active/critically/reflectively read the text.  That is, I want you to "hold a conversation" (in the margin) with the reading—ask questions, summarize, make comments, evaluate, ponder.

Active/critical/reflective reading will be assessed based on quantitative evidence of active/critical/reflective reading in the margins for the assigned reading.  (5%)

Presentations:  Each student will provide one or two (formal) class presentations on a particular cultural topic/subject, for example, Dred Scott, John Brown, related to the historical period in which we are reading. (15%)

Assessment will be based on a developed criteria and 4.00 – 0.00 scale.

Final Exam.  An “objective, short-answer, and essay exam analyzing and synthesizing our readings, discussions, films, and your written work for the course.  (20%)  (Per college policy, a student must take the final exam in order to receive a grade in the course other than “W” or 0.00.)  Final exam date: Monday, April 30, 2012.  9:00am – 10:50am.  (No early or late final exams.  Set your calendar now!)

You wouldn't show up for accordion lessons without your accordion.  A word or two about late work.

There isn't any! (If you miss a class for an excused absence— verified medical reason or family bereavement—you may submit an assignment for credit for the class period you missed.)

In order to receive credit, an assignment must be submitted in class on the day it is due by the writer/student who remains in class to read and/or discuss the response and readings/work for that class.

An assignment will not receive credit if

-turned in to the faculty receptionist;
-put in my mailbox;
-e-mailed to me;
-turned in by someone other than the student/writer;
-turned in early;
-turned in late.

In addition, college policy requires that a student complete a minimum of 66 1/3% of the course work and take the final exam in order to receive a grade other than a 0.0. or a “W.”

Attendance Policy: This policy is intended for those students who may need a bit of an "extra incentive" with respect to class attendance.  That is, it's a non-factor for students who attend class, just as it tends to be for a student not engaged.

1. Four (4) unexcused absences results in a 0.00 in the course.

2. Failing to adhere to established “Discussion Guidelines” may lead to an official withdrawal.

Finally, keep in mind that not all class periods are created equal.

No kidnapping allowed: 

 See “Student Academic Dishonest” handout explaining the college’s policy on plagiarism.

Questions, comments, concerns, observations…?  Talk with me during office hours:

I keep regular office hours where I sit all alone in my office just waiting to talk with students and/or anybody else that might wander by my door. I don’t do anything else much in my office except talk with students, so you will never be bothering me, you will never be bothering me, you'll never be bothering me.    When you have a question about your performance in the course, for example, "What's my grade?" ask me during office hours or make an appointment.

Student performance in English 203 Fall Semester 2011:
                  -43 enrolled (5 never attended)
                   -28 completed course (Ave. = 3.01)
                   -  6 officially withdrew from course (“W”)
                   -  4 never officially withdrew from course (0.00)

Keith Kroll, PhD
Office: 7434 TTC
Office number: 488-4350
e-mail: ekroll@kvcc.edu
web: kkroll.com

Office hours: TBA