Houston Community College
ENGLISH 2328 (CRN 76288), Spring 2012
MW 11:30-1 PM (FAC 315)
Wood’s office: FAC 318: 713-718-6247
Wood’s office hours: MW 1-2 pm; TT 2:30-3:30 pm
Department of English, Central College
American Literature Since the Civil War
Professor: Roger Wood, Ph.D.
Dept. office: FAC 319: 713-718-6671
email: roger.wood@hccs.edu
Overview: A chronological survey of selected works of late-19th and 20th century American literature.
Student Learning Outcomes include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) Explain and illustrate
stylistic characteristics of representative works of major Americans writers from 1865 to the present
(since the Civil War); (2) connect those works to human and individual values in historical and social
contexts; (3) demonstrate knowledge of those works and writers; (4) analyze critical texts relating to those
works and writers; (5) critique and interpret those works and writers.
Textbook: Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. II (Vols. C-E), 7th ed. Ed. Nina Baym, 2007.
Grading: Unless the instructor makes changes and announces otherwise, the overall breakdown of graded
assignments and their corresponding values will be calculated as follows:
In-class literary analysis essay #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Midterm examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
In-class literary analysis essay #2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Research paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 20%
Final examination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Attendance and participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Absences/Withdrawals: You will earn an attendance grade based on the following scale: 0 absences = 100
(A+); 1 absence = 90 (A-); 2 absences = 85 (B); 3 absences = 75 (C); 4 absences = 70 (C-); 5 absences =
65 (D); 6 absences = 55 (F); 7 or more absences = 50 or less (F). NOTE: If you wish to withdraw from
this course, you must formally initiate the withdrawal process yourself and/or communicate that request
directly to your professor--sufficiently in advance of the deadline for the current HCC term. (Any student
who ceases attending without formally withdrawing may receive a grade of F or FX by default.)
Free tutoring: In FAC 321B; check for hours of operation. (Wood is there on MW 8 – 11 AM this term.)
Open Computer Labs: Computers are available for word processing in FAC 302, JDB 203-204, the
library, and elsewhere. Check for hours of operation.
Late Papers: The research paper should be submitted by the start of the class session on the designated
deadline date. All papers must be submitted directly to the instructor. Do not leave papers with
secretaries, in mailboxes, under office doors, etc. If a paper is not to be submitted on time, you must
formally request an extension, approval of which is subject to the instructor’s discretion.
Plagiarism: You are responsible for understanding and avoiding plagiarism in your writing. Should you
have any questions about how to handle source material, consult the MLA guidelines, your instructor, or a
tutor in FAC 321B. Evidence of plagiarism results in a grade of F.
Special Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric,
vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability
Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. If you have any
questions, please contact the disability counselor at your college or Donna Price at 713-718-5165.
ENGLISH 2328 Course Calendar (CRN 76288) MW 11:30-1 pm, Spring 2012
Prof. Wood
Read the pages (in the designated edition of The Norton Anthology) by class time on the corresponding date.
The professor may find it necessary to announce changes in this assignment calendar, at his discretion.
1/18: Introduction to the course.
1/23: Walt Whitman (17-21, 30-45): intro and “Song of Myself,” parts 1-21.
1/25: Walt Whitman (45-74): “Song of Myself,” parts 22-52.
1/30: Emily Dickinson (74-84): intro and selected poems.
2/1: Emily Dickinson (84-91): additional selected poems. Preparation for in-class essay #1.
2/6: In-class literary analysis essay #1.
2/8: Mark Twain (100-104, 108-117, 156-160, 243-249): intro, Huck Finn Chaps. I-III, XV, XXXI.
2/13: Henry James (388-429): intro and “Daisy Miller.”
2/15: Kate Chopin (529- 531, 535-580): intro and The Awakening Chaps. I-XIX.
2/20: School holiday: no class session.
2/22: Kate Chopin (580-625): The Awakening Chaps. XX – the end.
2/27: Stephen Crane (954-956, 1000-1016): intro and “The Open Boat.”
2/29: Edgar Lee Masters (1206-1209) and Edwin Arlington Robinson (1209-1214): selected poems.
3/5: Susan Glaspell (1411-1421): intro and Trifles. Review for midterm examination.
3/7: Mid-term examination.
Note: HCC Spring Break holiday, March 12-18: no class sessions.
3/19: Robert Frost (1388-1408): intro and selected poems.
3/21: Sherwood Anderson (1421-1426, 1431-1436): intro and selections: “Hands” and “Adventure.”
3/26: Wallace Stevens (1439-1450) and William Carlos Williams (1462-1469): intro and selected poems.
3/28: T. S. Eliot (1574-1580): intro, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (also see “The Waste Land”).
4/2: William Faulkner (1858-1860, 1955-1967): intro and “Barn Burning.”
4/4: Ernest Hemingway (1980-1999): intro and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Prep. for in-class essay #2.
4/9: In-class literary analysis essay #2.
4/11: Sterling Brown (2020-2026) and Langston Hughes (2026-2037): intro and selected poems.
4/16: Arthur Miller (2325-2357): intro and Death of a Salesman, Act One.
4/18: Arthur Miller (2357-2392): Death of a Salesman, Act Two - end.
4/23: Ralph Ellison (2297-2314): intro and Invisible Man, Prologue and Chap. I.
4/25: Flannery O’Connor (2521-2529): intro and “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”
4/30: Raymond Carver (2827-2838): intro and “Cathedral.” Research paper final draft due.
5/2: Review for final examination.
5/7: Final examination.