ENGLISH /.06 READINGS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

Transcription

1 ENGLISH /.06 READINGS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE DR. REED Fall, 2015 Meeting Time: :25-10:40 Arts and Humanities Bdlg Room 253; :50-12:05 Arts and Humanities Bldg Room 253. OFFICE: 222 Arts and Humanities Bldg HOURS: 8:00-9:00 TR WORLD WIDE WEB ADDRESS: ADDRESS: TEXTS: Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology: American Literature, Vols C, D and E. 8th edition. All three volumes and the 8th edition are required. Older editions or the Shorter Edition are not acceptable. All texts are available at the University Bookstore, Course Description and Prerequisites A study of several masterpieces of American Literature, with emphasis on careful reading and on writing critical essays about individual works. Prerequisite: Minimum grade of "C" in 06 semester hours of required freshman English. Core objectives for Language Philosophy and Culture Critical Thinking Students will engage in close reading and explication of cultural and literary artifacts (poetry, novels, short stories, drama, essay, film). Students will discover and analyze the cultural elements and forces shaping and transforming a specific culture through their close reading of cultural and literary artifacts. The class discussion, group activities, assignments, and lectures will focus on developing critical thinking skills to analyze the intersection of literature and culture. Communication Students will demonstrate an effective use of language through different modes of expression. Social Responsibility Students will engage in activities or group projects that will foster an ethical relationship between a person and a larger society that involves intercultural competency, civic knowledge, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities. Social Responsibility will be a central topic of discussion and analysis in classroom discussions, presentations, and lectures. Students may be asked to understand the culture through the literature and present their knowledge of the community in a public forum and/or attend public readings. For instance, classes have used a service learning component, presented the class projects to the public during FESTIBA, and attended author readings and lectures.

2 Personal Responsibility Literature provides a unique way to see the world from a different perspective and to solve ethical and moral problems through the actions taken and not taken by the main characters inhabiting the world of a literary text. Scholar Wayne Booth suggests that the unique value of fiction is its relatively cost-free offer of trial runs, which allows readers to parse ethical decisions. Students respond to a central character or speaker s actions or dilemma in a literary text in order to understand how their own actions and judgments shape their character and relationships within a specific cultural context. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: SLO 1 Students will analyze and interpret a variety of texts and patterns of language, using a range of theoretical approaches and disciplinary modes of inquiry. SLO 2 Students will demonstrate a broad and foundational knowledge of the traditions of American, British, Ethnic, and/or World literatures by critically situating specific works of literature within these traditions. SLO 3 Students will write coherently and demonstrate a consistent use of the conventions of a variety of genres, including, but not limited to, the academic essay. SLO 4 Students will apply appropriate research methodologies, including appropriate use of electronic media, to understand and/or illuminate specific questions about language and literature. SLO 5 Students in certification tracks will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of writing, literature, reading, oral communication, media literacy, and English language arts pedagogy. Core Curriculum Requirements This course will fulfill the three hours of the General Education Core requirements. Grading Policies This class will have three essay exams. Each exam will count for one third of the student's final grade. Exams will be graded on the basis of content (it should be clear to the reader that the student has read the material), organization, critical thinking and analysis and basic writing skills. All exams will be written in bluebooks. Students must turn the bluebooks in at least one day before the exam. Those who show up on exam day with their bluebooks will be be permitted to take the exam. ADDITIONAL CLASS POLICIES Excused absences will not be counted against a student. For an absence to be excused, the student must present proof for the absence (e.g. a doctor's excuse or other documentation).

3 Unexcused absences will be counted against the student, and a student will be dropped after three unexcused absences. Students will be on time for the start of the class; this means in your seats and ready to begin. If the classroom door is closed, the student may not enter. All assignments must be completed by the date they are on the syllabus. You can expect a quiz from time to time, and if quizzes are given, they will count 10% of your final grade. All cellular phones and other telephonic devices will be turned off before the student enters class. Students should not receive or make calls or text messages during class. September 01 Introduction Short Stories 03 The Luck of Roaring Camp 351C. Bret Harte. Editha, 347C. William Dean Howells 08 Editha 10 Desiree's Baby 551C. Kate Chopin. Wife of His Youth 706C. Charles Chesnutt 15 Wife 17 A Rose for Emily, 794D, William Faulkner 22 Rose 24 The Snows of Kilimanjaro, 824D. Ernest Hemingway 29 From Bless Me Ultima, 713. Rudolfo Anaya October 01 All Selections from Gloria Anzuldua, 837E. 06 Anzuldua 08 Anzuldua 13 Woman Hollering Creek, 1130E. Sandra Cisneros The Novel 15 Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 943C. Stephen Crane 20 Maggie 22 First Examination Poetry 27 I never lost as much but twice, 93C, Success is counted Sweetest, 94C, The Soul select her own Society, 101C, This is my letter to the World, 103C. Emily Dickinson 29 War is Kind, 1007C. Stephen Crane. Margaret Fuller Slack, 38D, Lucinda Matlock, 39D. Edgar Lee Masters. Richard Cory, 40D, Mr Flood's Party, 43D. Edwin Arlington Robinson. The Road Not Taken, 241D, Birches, 243D, "Out, Out---", 244D. Robert Frost

4 November 01 Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, 245D. Robert Frost. Chicago, 278D, Fog 280D, Cool Tombs, 280D, Grass, 281D. Carl Sandburg O sweet spontaneous, 639D, Buffalo Bill's, 640D, the Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls, 640D, "next to of course god america I, 641D. ee cummings. The Negro Speaks of Rivers, 871D, I, Too, 872D. Langston Hughes 05 Words Like Freedom, 877D, Theme for English B, 850D. Langston Hughes. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner, 177E. Randall Jarrell 10 We Real Cool, 326E, The Last Quatrain of the Ballad of Emmett Till, 330E. Gwendolyn Brooks. In Mind, 420E, What Were They Like?, 422E, Denise Levertov 12 A Supermarket in California, 500E. Allen Ginsberg 17 Daddy, 629E. Sylvia Plath, Homage to my hips, 707E. Lucille Clifton, American History, 776E. Michael S. Harper. Passing Through Little Rock, 824E. Simon Ortiz 18 Last day to drop courses. 19 Earth and Rain, The Plants & Sum, 825E, Vision Shadows, 826E, From From Sand Creek, 828E. Simon Ortiz, All selections from Alberto Rios, 1113E. All selections from Lorna Dee Cervantes 1152E. 24 Second Examination 26 Thanksgiving December Drama 01 Death of a Salesman, 236E. Arthur Miller 03 Salesman 08 Salesman 10 Study Days Final Exams :00-09: :15-12:00 Students with Disabilities If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) (Voice), (956) (Fax), or via at accessibility@utrgv.edu.

5 Mandatory Course Evaluation Period Mandatory Course Evaluations period (April 9 April 30): Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTPA account ( ); you will be contacted through with further instructions. The evaluation window closes at 11:59 pm on April 30th, the last day of spring classes. Students who complete their evaluations by April 30 th will have priority access to their grades. Attendance Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive absences (more than three unexcused absences). UTRGV attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations. In addition, students may be excused if they bring a doctor's excuse or similar proof of their absence. Scholastic Integrity As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students. Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Violence In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. Course Drops According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the 3-peat rule and the 6-drop rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that

6 undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time.