Shepherd University
Survey of American Literature, section 10, CRN 40570 (English 204) Spring, 2009
T/R 3:15-4:30 p.m., Knutti 202
Instructor:
Office Phone:
E-Mail:
Office Hours:
Dr. Helen Becker
(English Department office 876-5220)
HBecker@Shepherd.edu
(Knutti G-06) T and R: 12:00-1:00 p.m. and by appointment
Goals for this course In this course, we will read and study representative works of American
literature from Native American beginnings to the present time. Our goals are to determine if
and why these works are important as literature; how they may have reflected and advised the
period in which they were written; and how they may be instructive to us as citizens of the 21st
century.
Essential skills and outcomes The student will demonstrate ability to do the following:
render close textual analysis;
synthesize information from multiple texts;
generate clear, cogent ideas;
structure well-developed essays with thesis, textual support, and analysis;
employ standard written and spoken English correctly;
express an understanding of and respect for cultural diversity;
express an aesthetic and critical judgment for literature;
express an understanding of the chronology associated with literary periods;
express an understanding of the inter-relationship of the arts, history, and philosophy
through the study of literature.
Required texts
Baym, Nina, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter seventh edition.
New York: W. W. Norton, 2008.
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.
McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. ISBN: 978-0-307-27792-3. 2006.
Required materials
A recent college level dictionary
A Shepherd University computer account
Notebook, 3x5 cards, pens, a few rubber bands, a stapler, other materials as you wish
A Shepherd University theme folder
Course requirements and evaluation
We will be reading a lot, and I urge you to come to class with the assigned readings prepared.
My suggestion is that you read each assignment (other, perhaps, than the novel) twice. There
will be three essays, a mid-term and a final exam.
Essay One: 750 words
Essay Two: 750-1000 words
The research paper: 1000 words
The mid-term and the final exam will be composed of essay questions requiring one to
three paragraph responses
Each of these assignments is worth 20 % of the grade in English 204. Participation in class
discussion and in small group/peer response activities, quizzes, home assignments, and written
exercises will account for up to 50% of the grade for Essay One, Essay Two, the mid-term and
the final exam.
Grading scale
A 90-100% B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
Attendance
Attendance is important and it is required. Your presence and active participation in each class
session is your best opportunity to learn and rehearse the skills which are essential for success in
this course.
Policy for Late Papers
Unless you have an excuse from a doctor or from the health clinic on campus, there will be no
make-up opportunity for work assigned in class, including the mid-term and the final exam, or
for home assignments checked in your absence. For the three essays, your grade will drop one
letter grade for each day that the essay is late. All papers and assignments are due at the
beginning of the class session for which they are assigned. Papers submitted after the class
begins are one day late.
Extra Credit
I love it. It’s the perfect opportunity to pursue your interests and talents. I assign extra credit
and I’m interested in your ideas for earning extra credit, BUT please don’t rely on extra credit to
pass this course. There will never be enough of it.
Plagiarism is unacceptable. Consequences for plagiarism are stated in the Shepherd University
Student Handbook and I adhere to them.
Theme Folders
Humor me here. Submit each paper in a Shepherd University theme folder. Use the same folder
for each paper. Papers submitted without a folder will not be accepted.
The Academic Support Center
Peer tutors are available by appointment at The Academic Support Center, Knutti 114.
Course of Study
(Please note that the syllabus is subject to change.)
Week One
January 13
Introductions, syllabus,
January 15
Randall Jarrell
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”/
Directions for the research paper/MLA style
Week Two
January 20
Cormac McCarthy, The Road
January 22
Cormac McCarthy, The Road/
Prompt and prospectus for Essay One
Week Three
January 27
T. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”
January 29
Robert Frost, “Out, Out--,” “Fire and Ice”
Week Four
February 3
Conferences for Essay One/
Class does not meet
February 5
Essay One is due/
Jack London, “To Build a Fire”
Week Five
February 10
Stephen Crane, “The Open Boat”
February 12
Edgar Allan Poe, “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Week Six
February 17
Nathaniel Hawthorne,
“Young Goodman Brown”
Choice for research paper is due.
Week Seven
February 24
The mid-term exam.
February 19
Thomas Paine, “The Crisis, No. 1”/
Preparation for the mid-term exam
February 26
Research methods/ Scarborough Library
Week Eight
March 3
Maxine Hong Kingston,
“No Name Woman”/
MLA documentation
March 5
Cynthia Ozick, “The Shawl”
(text will be provided)
Week Nine
March 10
N. Scott Momaday,
“From The Way to Rainy Mountain”
March 12
Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People”
Spring break is March 15-22.
Week Ten
March 24
Gwendolyn Brooks, “To the Diaspora”/
Adrienne Rich, “Storm Warnings”
March 26
William Faulkner, “Barn Burning”/
The research paper is due/
Prompt and Prospectus for Essay Two
Week Eleven
March 31
Rebecca Harding Davis,
“Life in the Iron-Mills”
April 2
Henry David Thoreau,
“Resistance to Civil Government”
Week Twelve
April 7
Harriet Jacobs, “From Incidents in the
Life of a Slave Girl”
April 9
Class does not meet/
Prepare “Song of Myself” OYO
Please note: Conferences for Essay Two will be Wednesday, April 8
Week Thirteen
April 14
Emily Dickinson,
“Safe in their Alabaster Chambers-”
“There’s a certain Slant of light”
“Because I could not stop for Death-”
Week Fourteen
April 21
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
Week Fifteen
April 28
Cotton Mather,
“[The Trial of Martha Carrier]”
April 16
Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”/
Essay Two is due
April 23
Spring recess unless classes have been
cancelled for bad weather.
April 30
Stories of the Beginning of the World/
Preparation for the final exam