Engl 2110 American Literature
to 1865, O'Donnell, ETSU, Fall 2025
[ Policies
] [ Calendar ]
Policies
last update: August 24, 2025
Engl
2110 American Literature to 1865, MWF from 10:30 to 11:25am in Gilbreath 313.
Dr.
Kevin O'Donnell, instructor; odonnell@etsu.edu faculty.etsu.edu/odonnell/
East
Tennessee State University, Department of Literature and Language
Office:
Burleson Hall 214
Office
Hours: MWF 12:45-2:45pm, on even numbered weeks (for example, week 2 of the
semester is Sep 1-5; week 4 is sept 15-19; etc). Email me for appointments
at other times.
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.
-
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.
-
Two exams: 50% (25% each)
-
Four reading quizzes: 20% (5% each)
-
Four reading responses, at least 500 words each, posted to a D2L discussion
board: 20% (5% each)
-
Participation -- including having the course textbook with you in class and
being prepared to discuss the readings assigned for the day: 10%
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 8
- Fall Break – Mon Oct 13
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 26 and 28
Week
14-15 – Emily Dickinson
- Exam 2 during final exam period – Weds,
Dec 10, 8-10am
The
official Department
of Lit and Language attendance policy is that, if you have more than 9
unexcused absences, 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, reading responses, and exams.
Missed
reading quizzes cannot be made up.
New
research suggests that using AI to do your writing for you can actually
rewire your brain in a way that diminishes your capacity to think. Do not
surrender your brain capacity to soul-less digital
overlords. Please do not use artificial intelligence to write your reading
responses. I have no desire to be the AI police. Nor do I have any fool-proof
way of detecting your AI use. However, if I do detect that you have used it to
produce an assignment without disclosing that fact, then your score for that
assignment will be zero.