American Writers, American Experiences
ENGL 114L, Spring 2013
MWF 9-9:50am (CRN: 24054)
Instructor: Amanda David, M. A.
Office: BAL 5023
E-mail: adavid@odu.edu
Office hours: MWF 9:50-10:50am and 11:50am-12:50pm and by appointment.
Required Texts & Materials
• The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Shorter Seventh Edition) Vol. 2 ISBN: 978-0393-93055-9
• Access to Blackboard for discussion board and to submit assignments. I do not accept
assignments via email.
• Active ODU email. Be sure to check your email and Blackboard daily to ensure you do not miss
important messages regarding the class.
Course Description and Objectives
The literature of the United States encompasses many ways of imagining experience; our literary
diversity is a treasure. The key purpose of this course in literary traditions and literary diversity is to
explore the text rather than to situate it – to help us to talk about voice, style, poetics, and rhetorical
strategy, and understand how community affiliation, minority status, and other pressures on a given
artist affect the choice of words on the page. Works include women and minority writers and illustrate
individual and social experiences of different places and times. The range of voices in the works that
we will read do more than allow us to map out an array of divergent political and moral decisions. They
enrich, complicate, and expand our collective power to imagine and tell. Central questions for this
course include:
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•
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How might differences in gender, in ethnicity, in social power, and in historical circumstances
affect literary imagination and style?
Where and how do we see minority or marginalized voices challenging or complicating the
prevailing aesthetic values of their own time and the literary legacy they inherit?
In terms of style, structure, and imaginative possibilities, how do these works extend or resist
the idea of an American literary tradition?
Assignments and Grades
1. Quizzes (50%)
2. Discussion Board (10%)
3. Prezi Presentations (5%)
4. Midterm Essay (10%)
5. Final Presentations with essay (15%)
6. Attendance and participation (10%)
The criteria for successful college writing include the following:
1. Scope and Focus: clarity and communication of central purpose and main ideas, limitation of
topic, use of pertinent material and avoidance of irrelevant material.
2. Organization: form, coherence, orderly progression of sentences and paragraphs reflecting
sound planning.
3. Development: adequate support and elaboration of thesis and main ideas by use of definition,
illustration, specific references, examples, concrete details and/or evidence.
4. Perspective: soundness of knowledge and judgment; ability to develop mature, thoughtful
connections; avoidance of second-hand opinions and third-hand facts.
5. Rhetorical awareness: effectiveness of the text for a particular situation and audience.
6. Expressiveness: control and variety of sentences; precise, appropriate, and vigorous use of
words; resourcefulness and flexibility of idiom.
7. Mechanics: correctness; observance of standard usage, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Assignments
Quizzes: Throughout the semester I will randomly give comprehension quizzes of the assigned reading
material. These quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class. It is important to attend class
and be on time; quizzes can not be made up.
Short Presentations: At the beginning of the semester everyone will sign up to present the class with a
3-5 minute presentation on the assigned reading for the day using Prezi. Detailed requirements will be
discussed in class.
Discussion Board: Once a week students are required to post to the discussion board. All posts are due
before class on Friday. The post should include a three sentence summary of the readings for that day,
list two thoughtful discussion questions, and one reaction sentence describing how you felt/related to
the readings. There are 13 weeks of this class; students are only required to submit 10 posts throughout
the semester.
Essays: Specific requirements for each essay will be posted under the assignments tab on BB. All
essays must be completed in order to pass the class.
Final Presentations: Detailed requirements will be posted under the assignments tab on BB.
GRADING
Assignment guidelines are posted on Blackboard, detailing the objectives, expectations, and criteria for
each project.
Explanation of Grading Scale
A = 100-94% -- Excellent: you have met and exceeded the expectations of all categories. Your work
serves as a model for your peers.
A- = 93-90% -- Good: You have met all of the requirements of the assignment and have exceeded
the requirements of the assignment in some areas. Other areas, however, need more
development.
B+ = 89-87%; B = 86-83%; B- = 82-80% -- Average: You have met all the requirements of the
assignment, but have exceeded none. You have accomplished average work for your class and
skill level.
C+ = 79-77%; C = 76-73%; C- = 72-70% -- Marginal: You have fulfilled some requirements of
the assignment, but other requirements remain unfulfilled.
D= 69-60 – Poor: You have fulfilled few of the requirements for the assignment. You should consult
the instructor as soon as possible.
F = 59% or below -- Failing: you have fulfilled few, if any, requirements of the assignment. You
should consult the instructors as soon as possible.
POLICIES
Attendance: You must prepare for, attend, and participate in all scheduled class sessions. In-class
assignments, such as quizzes and in-class writing cannot be made up, so absences will affect your final
grade. Attendance will be taken for every class. Being late two times will count as one absence.
Those missing more than three classes will have ten points subtracted from their class participation
grade for each additional absence. Those missing more than six classes will fail the class regardless of
their performance.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate to review the material you
missed. Find at least two classmates that you trust to give you accurate information and notes. Do not
contact me to simply find out what you missed in class. I will direct you to the schedule and
Blackboard and tell you to contact me once you’ve reviewed the material. If you review the
material and have specific questions, I will be happy to discuss them with you.
Drop Policy: Please check the University Catalog for official policy. Briefly: you can withdraw from
the class without my signature until mid-term; a “W” will appear on your transcript. After midterm,
only extreme extenuating circumstances will allow you to drop the course.
Essays: Please type final copies of each essay, double-spaced, with margins of 1 inch on all sides. Put
your last name and a page number on each page. Submit assignments via Blackboard. For your own
protection, keep photocopies and a back-up copy of all submitted work.
Late and incomplete papers: Speak to me in advance if you will be unable to complete an assignment
on time. Generally, I will not accept late papers. If you know ahead of time you will miss a class, you
must submit the paper in advance.
Blackboard: All assignments and the syllabus will be posted on Blackboard. Announcements, class
cancellations, and in other relevant changes will also be posted. Please check Blackboard regularly for
any relevant updates. Our class will be available on Blackboard no later than one week from the first
day of class.
Honor System: You are responsible for obtaining a copy of the Student Handbook and informing
yourself about student conduct regulations. You may visit the Honor Council office in Webb Center,
Room 2129 or at http://www.odu.edu/AO/student_serv/hc/.
Plagiarism: Writers who use the words or ideas of others are obligated to give credit through proper
acknowledgment and documentation. Failure to give credit is plagiarism, a violation of the ODU Honor
Code that can lead to expulsion from the University. If the quality of your in class and out-of class
writing varies dramatically, I reserve the right to ask you to write under supervision. If you have
questions about how and when to acknowledge sources, please refer to your textbook, visit the Writing
Center, or see me for advice. Any student caught plagiarizing will fail the assignment. Depending
on the severity and intention of the action you may fail the course.
ODU Honor Code
We, the students of Old Dominion University, aspire to be honest and forthright in our
academic endeavors. Therefore, we will practice honesty and integrity and be guided
by the tenets of the Monarch Creed. We will meet the challenges to be beyond reproach
in our actions and our words. We will conduct ourselves in a manner that commands
the dignity and respect that we also give to others.
The Writing Center: Consider bringing drafts to the trained tutors at the Writing Center located on
the first floor of the library. This is a free service to all ODU students. Appointments are required.
They hold workshops every Tuesday at 2pm. The hours of operation for this semester are MondayThursday 8am-8pm and Friday 8am-4pm. You may contact the Writing Center at 757-683-4013 or
http://web.odu.edu/AL/wts/wts.htm.
Disability Services: Students who have a documented disability should register with Disability
Services (757-683-4655 or http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/disabilityservices/). Once you do so, feel
free to talk to me about any special accommodations that you may need to succeed in this course.
Course Evaluation
During the last two weeks of class, please complete your evaluation of this course by going to the ODU
webpage, then click on “Current Students” and “Course Evaluations.”
Weekly Schedule (tentative)
American Writers, American Experiences
ENGL 114L, Spring 2013
Prof. David
Week 1
Jan 14: Orientation to the class; review of syllabus; Prezi sign-up; expectations: yours /mine
Jan 16: Native Traditions: http://www.diigo.com/item/image/10ctf/i5pe?size=o
Jan 18: Columbus and De Las Casas
Columbus: pick any five journal entries to read from the link
[http://www.historyguide.org/earlymod/columbus.html]
de Las Casas: [http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/bdorsey1/41docs/02-las.html]
Week 2
Jan 21: No class (MLK Day)
Jan 23: Harriet Jacobs, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/jacobs/hj-site-index.htm :
chapters 1, 5, 6 and 10.
Jan 25: Frederick Douglass, http://www.onlineliterature.com/frederick_douglass/frederick_douglass_narrative/: both prefaces and chapters 1-4.
Week 3
Jan 28: Fern and Stanton
Fern: bio of Fern: http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/fernhp.html
"Self Conquest" http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/snesffa4t.html
"How Husbands May Rule" http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/snesffa12t.html
"Aunt Hetty on Matrimony" http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/sentimnt/snesffa36t.html
Stanton: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/senecafalls.asp
Jan 30: Lincoln and the Grimke Sisters Lincoln: http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html;
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gettysburgaddress.htm;
Grimke: http://www.wwhp.org/Resources/Slavery/grimkesisters.html;
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/9915/pg9915.html
Feb 1: Winnemucca 403-409 (Ch. 1 “First Meeting of Piutes and Whites”) &
Intro to the “Age of Emerson” http://www.age-of-thesage.org/transcendentalism/emerson/ralph_waldo_emerson.html
Week 4
Feb 4: Whitman, 64-77 (“Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” & “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard
Bloom'd” & “The Wound-Dresser”)
Feb 6: Dickinson, 82 (“207”), 82 (“236”), 83 (“269”), 83 (“260”), 85 (“340”), 87 (“411”), 88
(“479”), 89 (“591”), 92 (“1096”)
Feb 8: Twain 93-101 (“The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”)
Week 5
Feb 11: James 315-345 (“Daisy Miller: A Study” Ch.1-3)
Feb 13: Chopin, 426-428; 435-439; 439-443 (“The Storm” & “Desiree's Baby”)
Feb 15: Gilman, 508-519 (“The Yellow Wallpaper”)
Week 6
Feb 18: Washington and DuBois
Washington: 452-462 (“Up From Slavery Chapter XIV. The Atlanta Exposition Address”
http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/92/up-from-slavery/1632/chapter-14-the-atlanta-exposition-address/ );
DuBois: 551-558 [at top] (From the Souls of Black Folk I. Of Our Spiritual Strivings)
Feb 20: Zitkala Sa, 661-674 (“Impressions of an Indian Childhood 1, 2, 4, & 7” & “The SoftHearted Sioux 1-5”) Midterm Proposal Due
Feb 22: Frost and Sandburg
Frost: 775-776; 777 (“Mending Wall”); 784 (“The Road Not Taken”); 787 (“Fire and Ice” &
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”)
Sandburg: 811-813 (“Chicago” &”Fog”)
Week 7
Feb 25: T. S. Eliot, 861-868, 881-884 (“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” “Gerontion,” &
“The Hollow Men”)
Feb 27: Hurston, 982-993 (“How It Feels to be Colored Me” & “The Gilded Six-Bits”)
Mar 1: Cummings and McKay
Cummings: 996-1000; (“in Just,” “O sweet spontaneous” “next to of course god America I”);
McKay: 970-971 (“The Lynching”, “If We Must Die”, “Africa” & “America”)
Week 8
Mar 4: Hughes, 1089 (“The Negro Speaks of Rivers”), 1089 (“Mother to Son”), 1090 (“I,
Too”), 1090 (“The Weary Blues”), 1091 (“Mulatto”), 1093 (“Visitors to the Black Belt”), 1094
(“Theme for English B”)
Mar 6: Fitzgerald, 1025-1039 (“Babylon Revisited” Ch.1-5)
Mar 8: Cahan, 485-494 (“A Sweat Shop Romance”)
MIDTERM DUE
Week 9
Mar 11-16 NO CLASS Spring Break
Week 10
Mar 18: Hemingway, 1067-1083 (“The Snows of Kilimanjaro”)
Mar 20: Faulkner and Bulosan
Faulkner: 1042-1048 (“A Rose for Emily”)
Bulosan, 1121-1127 (“Be American”)
Mar 22: Cheever, 1233-1241 (“The Swimmer”)
Week 11
Mar 25: O’Connor 1393-1407 (“Good Country People”)
Mar 27: James Wright and Morrison
Wright 1437-1438 (“Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio” & “A Blessing”)
Morrison, 1461-1475 (“Recitatif”)
Mar 29: Ginsberg and Rich
Ginsberg: 1414-1416, 1425(“A Supermarket in California”)
Rich: 1443-1445, 1450 (“Diving into the Wreck”), 1456 (“Shattered Head”)
Week 12
April 1: Sexton and Plath
Sexton 1438-1441 (“The Starry Night” & Sylvia's Death”)
Plath 1475-1480 (“Morning Song” & “Lady Lazarus”)
April 3: Kingston, 1567-1576 (“No Name Woman”)
April 5: Alvarez, 1615-1624 (From Yo! 'The Mother'”)
Week 13
April 8: Alexie, 1675-1678 (“At Navajo Monument Valley Tribal School,” “Pawn Shop”, &
Crow Testament”)
April 10: Lahiri, 1681-1698 (“Sexy”)
April 12: No class (work on projects)
Week 14
April 15: Final Projects due and presented
April 17: Final Projects due and presented
April 19: Final Projects due and presented
Week 15
April 22: Final Projects due and presented
April 24: Final Projects due and presented
April 26: Last class; semester review.
*I reserve the right to adjust the syllabus as the needs of the class become apparent.