American Literature 171/1

Time: 10:00-10:50 a.m. / Classroom # 208 

Off. Hours: S/T/THU 11:00-11:50 a.m.

Course Description

Required Texts:

1. Baym, Nina, Ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. NY: W. W. Norton, 2003. [5 Volumes]
2. Hacker, Diana. A Pocket Style Manual. NY: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2004. (K.D. 6.000), no need to buy it if you have the MLA Guidelines for Research.




Optional Text:

Harmon, William. A Handbook to Literature. NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. (K.D 6,500)


Course Description:

A general survey of the history and development of American Literature in its historical, social, and cultural context, from the Puritan beginnings to the late 20th century. Emphasis to be given on the manner in which the texts reflect currents of social and cultural change in the United States.


Course’s Objectives:

1. To develop knowledge of history and development of American Literature and culture.
2. To analyze literary texts in historical/cultural contexts
3.  To develop awareness of literature as cultural product

4. To write critically

5. To develop reading and analytical skills



Grading Policy & Course Requirements:


1. Attendance & Participation: 10%

Roll call taken promptly at beginning of class. Every student is expected to attend on time every lecture. Absence and tardiness cannot be made up. No exceptions. Attendance and participation are inseparable, which means if you have many unexcused absences, the logical consequence would be losing 10% of your total grade. I need each one of you to do the reading assignment and to participate in class discussion. You'll be graded for your effort in joining the discussion and will not be criticized for your views.



2. Presentations: 15%

You are responsible for a total of 3 presentations for this course. Be creative in your presentations. You need to reserve a topic from the syllabus for your presentation ASAP.


3. Critical Responses: 15%

Critical responses will be one of the assignments you will complete for this course. The response will be especially useful because it will help you develop and catalog ideas that you will be able to use in your exams and final paper. A useful source of information and discussion will be dialoguing with one another. You are responsible for a total of 3 , 1-2pages, typed critical responses on the material covered during the semester. In such an assignment you will merely formulate your critical opinion about a certain text in a good thesis which you’ll defend in the body of your essay and in the end restate. The topic for the response would be any of the texts covered before the assigned deadline. You need to follow the MLA guidelines in formatting your document. These guidelines are available in Diana Hacker’s A Pocket Style Manual listed above and can also be accessed on-line via the following link: http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_o.html. You will need to register first as a student to be able to access it. No research is necessary for such an assignment. The due dates for journals are marked in your syllabus. Zeroes are registered for assignments submitted late or copied. If the problem with the work is cleared up within the week, the paper will be graded but a letter grade lower will be the consequence of tardiness in completing assigned work.



 5. Mid-Term Exam 30%


Your Mid-Term exam will be on Sunday, November 6. It will include the following: an essay question, a comprehension question, and an identification of the quotation part. The best way to prepare for this exam and the final is to read on time, to attend classes, and to join in the discussion as well. The Mid-Term will cover up to the point reached in the syllabus by the exam’s date.


6. Final Exam  30%


Your Final is scheduled on Thursday, January 12th., at 8 a.m. A revision session will be held before the final exams. This session will allow you to pose any question you have in mind, providing that you have already revised the covered material. The Final Exam will be divided into two parts. The first will include comprehension questions and excerpts from the assigned material. The second section will be in the form of essay. You should be able to organize your ideas clearly in a coherently organized essay.

Important dates:

	Sun. 6^th. November	Mid-Term Exam
	Wed. 4^th. January	Classes End
	Thursday,12^th. January	Final Exam 8-10 a.m. (Good luck )