ENGL 4355 – “20th Century American Literature” Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:50 BUS 260 Instructor: Michael Cerliano Email: mcerliano@uttyler.edu Office hours by appointment Required Texts: Written texts: The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter 8th Edition, Vol. 2 Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon Films: Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles Vertigo, directed by Alfred Hitchcock The Apartment, directed by Billy Wilder Course Objectives: This course surveys major American writers and literary trends during the 20th century. Over the course of the semester, we will look at: The distinctive contributions of various writers and filmmakers to American culture The interaction of a particular artist’s imagination with his or her historical moment The relationship of our own historical moment to our interpretations of 20th century texts The ability of experiments in form and style to create provocative answers to what Roland Barthes called the question par excellence: “Why the world? What is the meaning of things?” Course Requirements/Percentages of Grade*: Quizzes/Discussion Board** Papers (two literary analyses) Exams (a midterm and a comprehensive final) 30% 30% 40% I reserve the right to revise grading criteria so that excessive absence or demonstrated lack of interest in the course becomes a significant factor in a student’s final grade. **Discussion Board grade: A = 5 or more substantive contributions to D.B. per week for 14 weeks. B = 3-4 substantive contributions to D.B. per week for 14 weeks. C = 1-2 substantive contributions to D.B. per week for 14 weeks. D = > 20 substantive contributions to D.B. throughout the semester. F = > 10 substantive contributions to D.B. throughout the semester. Grade Representations: A (90-100) demonstrates exceptional competence B (80-89) demonstrates competence C (70-79) demonstrates promise of competence D (60-69) demonstrates probability of incompetence F (59 or below) demonstrates incompetence General Guidelines: • My baseline expectations of college students include regular attendance, class preparedness, verbal contributions (oral and written), self-initiative, and academic rigor. Consistent failure to fulfill one or more of these expectations may override your numerical average and negatively affect your final grade in the course. Conversely, exceptional performance in one or more of these areas may positively affect your final grade. • You are responsible to follow the tentative class schedule and stay abreast of announced changes. If you miss a class, please contact a fellow student or me for an update. • If you must miss class, I strongly prefer that you not discuss the reason for your absence (unless university policy dictates otherwise). I understand that many of you have responsibilities and obligations which may conflict with the requirements of this course. I can sympathize personally, but I cannot in good conscience alter my professional standards because of life’s exigencies. • I strongly advise you not to get behind on assignments. Late assignments generally receive a significant grade reduction. One week (the third class period past the due date) is the latest I will accept any past-due assignment. Students are responsible for making certain that assignments have reached me. When approved religious holidays, university-related duties, or legally recognized disabilities conflict with the course schedule, students must make arrangements with the instructor prior to the due date of the assignment(s). • Be prepared for a short quiz on any class day. Quizzes may cover assigned readings, class handouts, and/or class discussions (including those posted on Discussion Board). I do not give make-up quizzes; please do not request them. • Please turn off all beepers and audible cell phone signals before entering the classroom — such technologies are highly intrusive to the educational process. Under no circumstances should you answer your cell phone during class. • Expect to participate in discussions. The success of this course depends largely on our ability to establish (quickly) a community of scholars with mutual respect, trust, and commitment to intellectual curiosity. I encourage differences of opinion as long as they are grounded in textual evidence and reflective of disciplined study. • I integrate an Intranet program called Blackboard into this course. At this site you will find, among other features, a copy of the course syllabus; special announcements; copies of handouts; supplemental reading assignments; links to pertinent web sites; and a Discussion Board. I expect you to participate regularly in the Discussion Threads posted on the Discussion Board. For those of you who are hesitant to talk in class, this format provides an excellent opportunity to share your insights and to demonstrate your critical thinking skills. NOTE: Discussion Board is reserved for electronic conversations about the texts we are reading. If you have problems or concerns regarding any other aspect of the course, you should use the appropriate means of communication (telephone, office appointment, email). • Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, may earn students a variety of instructor imposed sanctions. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the online “Statement on Academic Honesty” provided by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences: http://www.uttyler.edu/arts/dickerson/Statement.htm Disability Statement If you have disability, including a learning disability, for which you request an accommodation, please contact Ida MacDonald in the Disability Support Services offices so that the appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodation must provide documentation of his/her disability to the Disability Support Services counselor. For more information, call or visit the Student Services Center located in the University Center, Room 111. The telephone number is 566-7079 (TDD 565-5579). Tentative Schedule in Outline Week 1 Winesburg, Ohio Week 2 Winesburg, Ohio Week 3 Modernist poetry: Eliot, Pound, Frost, H.D., Williams Experiments in prose: Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. Week 4 The Great Gatsby Week 5 The Great Gatsby The development of Modernism: Wallace Stevens, Langston Hughes Week 6 Citizen Kane Wise Blood Week 7 Nine Stories Week 8 Nine Stories Midterm Week 9 Lolita Week 10 Lolita Vertigo Week 11 Postwar poetry and short fiction Week 12 The Crying of Lot 49 Week 13 The Crying of Lot 49 Week 14 The Apartment Week 15 Final Paper Due. Final Exam