Engl 2110 American Lit
1, O'Donnell, ETSU, Fall 2023
[ Policies ] [ Calendar ]
Policies
last update: August 25, 2023
Engl
2110 American Literature to 1865, MWF from 10:30 to 11:25am in Burleson 302.
Dr.
Kevin O'Donnell, instructor; odonnell@etsu.edu faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/
East
Tennessee State University, Department of Literature and Language
Office:
Burleson 313. Fall '23 office hours: MW 12:40-1:40pm
This
semester, we will read broadly from the early American literary canon, mostly
from the first half of the 19th century. We will discuss major authors, texts,
and themes. We will read some remarkable works. You will learn strategies for
reading unfamiliar texts, and you will learn about American history and
historical contexts.
-
The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 10th edition -- Package 1:
Beginnings to 1865 (includes Volume A, "Beginnings to 1820" and
Volume B "1820-1865"). ISBN: 978-0-393-88442-5. List price $101.55.
Available for less from various online sources.
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Two exams (25% each): 50% total
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Four reading quizzes: 20%
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Five reading responses, 1-2 typed pages (300-500 words each): 25%
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Participation: 5%
Calendar
Overview
Note: Class is cancelled on Fridays Sep 1;
Sep 15; Oct 13; and Oct 27.
Weeks
1-2; Aug 28-Sep 8 – Romantic short stories
Weeks
3-4; Sep 11-22 – Slavery in nonfiction and fiction
Week
5; Sep 25-29 – Documents related to Cherokee Removal
Week
6; Oct 2-6 – Transcendentalism
Weeks
7-8; Oct 9-20 – The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850)
- Exam 1 – Weds Oct 11
- Fall Break – Mon Oct 16
Week
9; Oct 23-27 – Walt Whitman
Week
10; Oct 30-Nov 3 – Abe Lincoln; and related poems
Week
11; Nov 6-10 – Emily Dickinson
Week
12; Nov 13-17 – Anne Bradstreet
Weeks
13-15; Nov 20-Dec 8 – The Enlightenment and the Revolution
- Thanksgiving holiday – Nov 22 and 24
- Exam 2 during final exam period – Weds
Dec 13, 8-10am
If you ever have covid-related symptoms,
please do not attend class. Instead, email me and let me know what's going on.
That having been said, if you miss more than 3 class meetings, I reserve the
right to lower your grade up to one full letter grade.
The official Department of Lit
and Language attendance policy is that, if you miss more than 9 class
meetings, you fail the course.
I strongly encourage you to attend class
meetings when you can. In my experience, students who miss class tend to be
lost, and do poorly on quizzes and exams.
Missed reading quizzes cannot be made
up.