Engl 2110 American Lit 1, O'Donnell, ETSU, Fall 2024
[ Policies
] [ Calendar ]
Policies
last update: October 22, 2024
Engl 2110 American Literature to 1865,
MWF from 10:30 to 11:25am in Wharf-Pickel 517.
Dr.
Kevin O'Donnell, instructor; odonnell@etsu.edu faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/
East
Tennessee State University, Department of Literature and Language
Office:
Burleson Hall, which is usually home to the Department of Literature and
Language, is being renovated this semester. So the
Department offices are temporarily located in the Center for Physical Activity,
room 213. I will not keep regular office hours there, so please talk to me or
email me to arrange a meeting.
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
literary history.
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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%
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Four reading quizzes (5% each): 20%
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Four reading responses, at least 500 words each (5% each): 20%
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Participation -- including having your text in class and being prepared to
discuss the readings assigned for the day: 10%
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Extra credit: You can earn up to 5 points for each extra credit activity. Click
here for instructions.
Calendar
Overview
Weeks
1-2 – Romantic short stories
Weeks
3-4 – Slavery
in nonfiction and fiction
Week
5 – Documents related to Cherokee Removal
Week
6 – Transcendentalism
- Exam 1 – Weds Oct 9
- Fall Break – Mon Oct 14
Weeks
7-9 – The Scarlet Letter: A Romance (1850)
Week
10 – Abe Lincoln; and related poems
Week
11 – Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley
Week
12-13 – The Enlightenment and the Revolution
- Thanksgiving holiday – Weds and Fri,
Nov 27 and 29
Week
14-15
– Emily Dickinson
- Exam 2 – Fri Dec 6
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 4 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 during discussion when they do show up, and they tend to do poorly on
quizzes and exams.
Missed reading quizzes cannot be made
up.
Learning
Objectives
This course generally aims to foster
critical thinking, analytical skills, and an appreciation for the diverse
voices in early American literature. More specifically, after finishing this
course students will be able to:
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Understand and articulate the historical, social, and cultural contexts that
shaped American literature from its beginnings to 1865.
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Examine how literature reflects and shapes American
identity, especially regarding issues of race, class, and regional differences.
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Explore major themes in early American literature, such as identity,
nationalism, race, gender, and the relationship between humans and nature.
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Develop skills in close reading and literary analysis to interpret a variety of
texts, including poetry, prose, and drama.
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Identify and analyze different literary genres and movements, including Native
American oral traditions, Enlightenment literature and Romanticism.