SYLLABUS
ENG20226: WRITERS IN AMERICA: 1600-1865
Fall, 2008
COURSE DESCRIPTION from the Roxbury Community College Catalog:
This course presents a chronological survey of American literature from the Colonial period through the Civil War. It explores the relationship between literature and American life of authors from all segments of society. Prerequisite: ENG101; 3 credits.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Nancy A. Teel
301F Academic Building
617 427-0060 X5177
nteel@rcc.mass.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays before class or by appointment.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this course are:
· To selectively survey American literature from the Colonial Period through the Civil War;
· To understand the relationship of literature to its historical context;
· To understand the difference between Renaissance, Neoclassical and Romantic styles and periods;
· To appreciate differences in writing by writers of different genders and social groups;
· To carry out literary analysis in four essays based on course readings;
· To make a presentation exploring the connections between selected literary works and their historical contexts;
· To continue to develop college-level reading, writing and critical thinking skills.
OUTCOMES:
· Understand the relationship of literature to its historical context;
· Understand the difference between Renaissance, Neoclassical and Romantic styles and periods;
· Write successful critical essays based on course readings;
· Connect particular literary works and their historical and social contexts
· Appreciate differences in writing by writers of different genders and social groups;
· Demonstrate improved college-level reading, writing and critical thinking skills.
TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
Students should purchase the main text:
The Bedford Anthology of American Literature: Volume One: Beginnings to 1865 by Susan Belasco and Linck Johnson. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2008. This book is now available in the RCC bookstore.
These books are on reserve in the Library:
The American Pageant: Vol. 1 to 1877 by Thomas A. Bailey et al. This is a standard American history text that can be used for reference.
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. This history is written from the point of view of those Americans who have been excluded from the mainstream; it provides another point of reference.
The Bedford Anthology of American Literature: Volume One: Beginnings to 1865. One copy of the main course text is on reserve.
TEACHING PROCEDURES: Each class will involve a lecture or presentation by the instructor as well as discussion of the assigned reading. Student presentations will take up at least one class near the end of the course. Two field trips are planned if students’ schedules permit. One or more classes will be online.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are required to attend class on time and to participate. One class may be missed without negative consequences. For absences beyond this, the student's grade for class work may be affected. Beyond three absences, a student risks failing the course. Any student with excessive absences should contact the instructor. Students who have missed too much to make up will be counseled to withdraw. In all cases of absence, it is the responsibility of the student to make up the work missed.
OTHER POLICIES:
· Students in need of accommodation for any disability are welcome to discuss this with the instructor or with Ms. Linda O’Connor, Disabilities Counselor, Rm. 3-207, telephone extension 5006.
· Students are expected to uphold a professional standard of behavior in class and treat everyone with respect. This includes helping to maintain an atmosphere appropriate for learning by arriving and leaving on time, and not disturbing others with cell phones or other devices. In turn, students can expect to be treated with full respect and attention by the instructor.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
· Three graded essays analyzing course readings. Two of these will be written in class.
· A graded presentation based on the student’s research on an author or major literary work.
· Short, informal responses to discussions and the readings, written in class. These are required, but not graded. There are no make-ups on these in-class writings.
GRADING POLICY:
· The three essays will each count 20%, for a total of 60% of the final grade.
· The presentation will count 25% of the final grade.
· Non-graded in-class writing, taken as a whole, will count 15% of the final grade.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION:
These are the general criteria that I will use to grade your essays:
I. A paper which receives an "A"
· Shows a clear purpose and addresses the essay question.
· Shows clear understanding of the literary and other texts referred to in the essay.
· Uses correct literary vocabulary.
· Summarizes, paraphrases and quotes accurately and in correct form.
· Shows unity by sticking to the main point.
· Develops the main idea logically and coherently, using sufficient examples, facts, and details to make it clear.
· Demonstrates correct paragraphing, grammar, spelling, punctuation and word usage.
· Uses MLA documentation correctly.
II. A paper which receives a "B"
· Shows a clear purpose and addresses the essay question.
· Shows clear understanding of the literary and other texts referred to in the essay.
· Summarizes, paraphrases and quotes accurately and in correct form.
· Shows weakness in regard to one or two of the other criteria listed above.
III. A paper which receives a "C"
· Shows a clear purpose and addresses the essay question.
· Shows clear understanding of the literary and other texts referred to in the essay.
· Shows weaknesses in regard to two or three of the other criteria mentioned above.
IV. A paper that receives the comment "Rewrite" does not meet the minimum requirements for this course. A paper marked "Rewrite" must be rewritten within two weeks of the day it is returned in order to receive more than 50% credit. Papers fall into this category if they do not address the essay question, if they contain no clear main idea, if they do not show a good understanding of the texts they refer to, or if they are in rough draft form.
V. Some essays will be written in class. These will be announced well in advance and everyone should write the essay in class that day. Make-ups will be given only in cases of documented emergencies.
VI. Any paper may be rewritten to improve the grade. The new grade and the previous grade will be averaged.
VII. During class time students will be asked to write one-minute papers, brief comments on the reading, responses to discussion, etc. These are not graded and everyone receives full credit for just doing the assignment. There are no make-ups for these non-graded in-class writing assignments.
VIII. Criteria for the presentation are:
· Shows a clear purpose and addresses the assignment.
· Shows clear understanding of the literary text that is the topic.
· Shows logical development and relevant examples.
· Provides an easy-to-read and attractive visual format.
· Provides sources in MLA style.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Each week lists a number of pages of reading for discussion. Please read these assigned pages before the class so that you can participate fully. Remember to use an efficient college reading method.
COURSE OUTLINE:
9/3 Introduction and overview of the course and the historical periods; Native American oral tradition; creation narratives and a modern view. Pages 20-59. Also read pages 2-13 in the Introduction. (Note that all page numbers are from the Bedford Anthology of American Literature.)
9/10 Review of the elements of literature; the arrival of the European explorers and settlers; Introductions pages 13-18 and 61-66. Christopher Columbus pages 66-73; Samuel de Champlain pages 86-91.
9/ 17 Using the Writing Center; The Puritans and the colonial period: Introductions pages 18-23 and 93-106. James Wamsutta pages 147-152; John Winthrop pages 153-154 and 164-166; Anne Bradstreet pages 167-189; First essay assigned.
9/24 The Enlightenment and Neoclassical style. Introductions pages 19-27 and 276-278; Jonathan Edwards; 291-305
10/1 Field trip to Boston Public Library, 4-5 PM Online description: www.bpl.org/research/rb/resources.htm; www.bpl.org/research/rb/collections.htm
Class will continue from 6-7 PM at RCC.
Read pages 312-333 Introduction to American Literature 1750-1830; begin reading Ben Franklin (see 10/8) First essay due.
10/8 Lives of the mid-18th Century: Benjamin Franklin pages 344-375;
10/15 Lives of the mid-18th century : Elizabeth Ashbridge pages 376-389; Samson Occam pages 402-413; Olaudah Equiano pages 414-426
10/22 The American Revolution: pages 427-465.
Second essay in class;
10/29 Phillis Wheatley pages 503-519; Washington Irving pages 520-523 and 530-542. Mid-term grades. Topic for presentation due.
11/5 The Romantic revolution; Ralph Waldo Emerson pages 653-662; Henry David Thoreau pages 793-793 and 809-836; transcendentalism; field trip to Walden Pond and Thoreau’s cabin.
11//12 Frederick Douglass: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas pages 855-874; Harriet Jacobs: from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl page 763- 791the slave narratives and the abolitionists.
11/ 19 Nathaniel Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown,” pages 987-997; looking back at the seventeenth century.
Emily Dickinson, the Belle of Amherst p. 1314-1317 and selected poems. Outline of presentation due.
11/25 Holiday Thanksgiving eve. Read “The Era of Reform” pages 617-638. Prepare presentations.
12/3 Student presentations in class.
12/10 Student presentations; review of the course
12/17 Final essay due
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS CLASS
· Organize your time: plan several hours of reading and study time per week for this class.
· Organize your materials: keep your syllabus, all course materials and all your papers in a folder. Keep back-up computer files.
· Find a quiet, pleasant place to read.
· If you have any difficulty with written assignments, seek help from the Writing Center. (Room 3-203.)
· Use an efficient college reading method: preview the assignment; read and underline or take notes; skim later.
· Stick to a schedule to complete your presentation project. Ask for help from the reference librarians so that you work with good sources.
· Attend class regularly. This is tough material to handle on your own.
PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT:
First select a longer work from the list at the end of the syllabus. You will read the work and study its context. Use reliable sources to learn more about the historical period, the specific history of the work and the author’s life. Then prepare a presentation or paper for the class which shows the connection of the work you have chosen to its historical context and to the identity of its author. Have your topic approved by 10/29. You will need to choose a topic before midterm so that you can have ample time to read and take notes. You should have an outline by 11/19. The final draft is due 12/3. The final product that you hand in will either be a PowerPoint presentation with notes or a short paper (5-7 pages). In either case you will share your findings with the class.
Notes:
There may be some changes in this syllabus due to unforeseen changes in circumstances.
Students may miss class without penalty for religious holidays. Please notify the instructor in advance.