ENGL 2023: American Literature II
Instructor: Laine Perez
Office: M154A
Class Time and Place: TR (11-12:20); M140
E-mail: lperez@northark.edu
Office hours: MWF (8-10, 11-12); TR (8-9:30)
Course Description:
This course provides a survey of the chief literary works produced in America from 1900 (or
thereabouts) to the modern day. In this course, students will explore the major literary
movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries (realism, naturalism, regionalism, modernism, and
post-modernism) by reading and discussing representative essays, short stories, and poems. By
exploring and analyzing these works, students will develop reading, writing, and critical thinking
skills. At the end of the semester, students will be asked to prepare and write an essay over one
or more of the literary movements examined this semester.
The classes will be conducted primarily in a discussion-type format in which I will introduce the
work, its history, and its central themes and then ask for your impressions and ideas on particular
topics. As this class will be primarily in discussion format, I will expect you to be tolerant and
respectful of others’ opinions. I will also expect you to participate in class discussion to the best
of your ability.
Prerequisite:
To enroll in this course, students must have previous taken English 1023 and passed with a “C”
or higher or permission of instructor. English 2013 is NOT a prerequisite for English 2023.
Required Texts:
1. The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Shorter Eighth Edition. Ed. Nina Baym,
et.al.
2. Other handouts and readings (provided by the instructor)
Required and Recommended Course Resources:
Required: You must always bring your book(s) to class. You also must have access to a
computer and the internet since the final essay will be turned in electronically. I will also inform
you of any changes to the schedule through Portal.
Recommended: If you have difficulty with the course, please go to the Writing Center for free
tutoring. Please go to the Writing Center when you are beginning to have problems. The earlier
you go, the easier it will be to help you.
Coursework
Course Requirements:
To pass this course you must complete every reading assignment on time. You will also be
required to complete homework assignments for the stories that we read in this class. I will
provide you with questions regarding the plot, settings, and characters (and occasionally a
question or two to get you thinking about what we will be discussing in class). Reading quizzes
will be given occasionally throughout the semester so make sure that you complete your reading
assignments on time.
You will also take two exams in which you will be asked questions about the works that we have
read and discussed in class. These exams may include any of the following: matching,
definitions, short answer questions, and/or in-class essays. You will also be asked to write one
essay at the end of the semester in which you will explore any work (or works) of your choosing.
We will discuss this assignment in more detail when we reach the end of the semester.
Grading Policy
Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on completion of reading and writing assignments (including essays
and journal entries), quizzes, and classroom attendance:





Two exams (100 points each)
Quizzes, readings, homework assignments
Final essay
Attendance
Participation
50%
20%
20%
5%
5%
All assignments are due by the beginning of class whether turned in electronically (see below) or
otherwise. If you will not be in class the day an exam is given or an assignment is due, you must
contact me ahead of time to make alternate arrangements. I reserve the right to penalize late
work. A late homework assignment will result in no credit for the given assignment. You will
not be allowed to make up reading quizzes.
Letter Grade Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 and below
Attendance/Participation
Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Do not forget that absences can affect your
grade! If you miss more than 15% of the class, the instructor has the prerogative to assign an F
for the course. If you must withdraw from the course, you are responsible for doing so. I am not
permitted to drop you from the class.
Tardiness can also affect your grade. Two tardies will count as one absence. You will be
considered tardy if you are not in class when I call roll. If you are more than 15 minutes late for
class, you will be counted absent for the day. Also, if you sleep in class, you will be counted
absent for that day.
Make sure that your cell phone is off before class begins. I do not want to see your phone during
class. I do not want to hear your phone during class. I do not want to see you texting during
class. If I catch you texting, I will count you absent for that day and will drop your participation
grade.
If I catch you talking in class, you will be given one warning before I ask you to leave the class.
I will count you absent for the day, regardless of how much time you have actually spent in the
class.
The English faculty makes no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence. It is
your responsibility to find out what you missed in the event of an absence; the fact that you
missed the previous class is not an excuse for showing up unprepared for the next class.
Academic Integrity
North Arkansas College has a strong commitment to academic achievement which is supported
by a strict but fair policy to protect academic integrity. This policy regards academic fraud and
dishonesty and disciplinary offenses requiring disciplinary actions. Any student who engages in
such offenses (as here defined) will be subject to one or more courses of action as determined by
the instructor, and in some cases, by the Division Chairperson or Program Director, and Vice
President of Learning, and the Institutional Standards and Appeals Committee as well.
Academic fraud and dishonesty are defined as follows:
Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study
aids in any academic exercise.
Test-Tampering: Intentionally gaining access to restricted test booklets, banks, questions, or
answers before a test is given, or tampering with questions or answers after a test is taken
Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words and ideas of another as one’s own
in any academic exercise. If you use materials from a secondary source—even when you
paraphrase from a secondary source—make sure that you give the author credit and use
quotation marks to indicate a direct quotation.
Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help
another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Disability Services
North Arkansas College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need special
accommodations should make their requests in the following way: (1) talk to the instructor after
class or during office hours about their disability or special need related to classroom work;
and/or (2) contact Special Services in Room M149 and ask to speak to Kim Brecklein.
Student Responsibilities
1. Read the college catalog and all materials you receive during registration. These
materials will tell you what the college expects from you
2. Read the daily schedule for each class. You are responsible for completing all essays and
readings BEFORE coming to class so that you can understand the lecture and participate
in discussions.
3. Please check your Northark email daily. I will use email to notify you of significant
changes to the schedule.
4. Attend all class meetings. If you must miss a class, make an appointment to meet with
me and discuss what you should do.
5. Treat others with respect. Part of the college experience is being exposed to people with
ideas different from yours. Listen to others’ ideas, do not interrupt their comments, and
evaluate their ideas on their own merit.
6. Make sure that you have all the materials you need for class including pen/pencil, paper,
books, etc.
7. Learn to take good notes. Write down ideas rather than word-for-word statements by the
instructor.
Schedule of Readings and Major Assignments
Notes: The following calendar may change depending on class needs. I will inform you of any
changes in class.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR READING THE AUTHOR HEADNOTES!!!!
Week One
1/14 Introduction and Class Overview, Syllabus
Lecture: Introduction to Realism/Naturalism
1/16
Read: William Dean Howells, “Novel-Writing and Novel-Reading: An Impersonal
Explanation” (1735-1738) AND “Editha” (1491-1501)
Class Activities: Discuss Howells Essay and Short Story
Week Two
1/21 Read: Frank Norris, “A Plea for Romantic Fiction” (1743-1746) AND Jack London
“What Life Means to Me” (1746-1748)
Class Activities: Discuss Norris and London Essays
1/23
Read: Jack London, “To Build a Fire” (1812-1823)
Class Activities: Discuss London Short Story
Week Three
1/28 Read: Booker T. Washington, “The Atlanta Exposition Address” (1633-1641)
Lecture: Washington/DuBois Debate
Class Activity: Discuss Washington Essay
1/30
Read: W.E.B. DuBois, “The Souls of Black Folk” (1722-1731)
Class Activity: Discuss DuBois Essay
Week Four
2/4
Read: Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, “A New England Nun” (1623-1631)
Lecture: Women Writers of the 19th Century
Class Activity: Discuss Freeman Short Story
2/6
Read: Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” (1609-1611)
Class Activity: Discuss Chopin Short Story
Week Five
2/11 Read: Sui Sin Far “Mrs. Spring Fragrance” (1706-1714)
Lecture: Americanization, Immigrants, and Assimilation
Class Activity: Discuss Sui Sin Far Short Story
2/13
Read: Abraham Cahan, “A Sweat Shop Romance” (1659-1667)
Class Activity: Discuss Cahan Short Story
Week Six
2/18 Read: Zitkala-Sa, “Impressions of an Indian Childhood” (1825-1830) AND “The SoftHearted Sioux” (1831-1835)
Class Activity: Discuss Zitkala-Sa Autobiography and Short Story
Review for Exam
2/20
EXAM ONE
Week Seven
2/25 Read: T.S. Eliot, “Tradition and the Individual Talent” (handout)
Lecture: American Modernism
Class Activity: Discuss Eliot Essay
2/27
Read: T.S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (2006-2009)
Class Activity: Discuss Eliot Poem
Week Eight
3/4
Read: F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Babylon Revisited” (2164-2178)
Class Activity: Discuss Fitzgerald Short Story
3/6
Read: Katherine Anne Porter, “Flowering Judas” (2114-2122)
Class Activity: Discuss Porter Short Story
Week Nine
3/11 Read: Langston Hughes “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain” (1990-1992)
Zora Neale Hurston, “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” (2124-2127)
Lecture: The Harlem Renaissance
Class Activity: Discuss Hughes Essay and Hurston Essay
3/13
Read: Claude McKay, “The Harlem Shadow” (2111)
Countee Cullen, “Yet Do I Marvel” (2240)
Class Activity: Discuss McKay and Cullen Poems
Week Ten
3/18 Read: Richard Wright, “The Man Who Was Almost a Man” (2245-2253)
Class Activity: Discuss Wright Short Story
Review for Exam
3/20
EXAM TWO
Week Eleven
***SPRING BREAK!!!***
Week Twelve
4/1
Read: Allen Ginsberg, “A Supermarket in California” (2548-2549)
Lecture: Post-Modernism in America
Class Activity: Discuss Ginsberg Poem
4/3
Read: Sylvia Plath, “Daddy” (2605-2607)
Class Activity: Discuss Plath Poem
Week Thirteen
4/8
Read: Billy Collins, “Forgetfulness” (2701) AND “I Chop Some Parsley…” (2702-2703)
Class Activity: Discuss Collins Poems
4/10
Read: Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People” (2524-2537)
Lecture: Southern Gothic and Flannery O’Connor
Class Activity: Discuss O’Connor Short Story
Week Fourteen
4/15 Read: Gwendolyn Brooks, “A Street in Bronzeville” (2494-2496) AND “We Real Cool”
Class Activity: Discuss Brooks Poem
4/17
Read: Alice Walker, “Everyday Use” (2715-2720)
Class Activity: Discuss Walker Short Story
Week Fifteen
4/22 Read: Toni Morrison, “Recitatif” (2587-2600)
Class Activity: Discuss Morrison Short Story
4/24
Read: Louise Erdrich, “Dear John Wayne” (2781-2782)
Sherman Alexie, “Dear John Wayne” (handout)
Class Activity: Discuss Erdrich Poem and Alexie Short Story
Week Sixteen
4/29 Read: Sandra Cisneros, “Woman Hollering Creek” (2772-2779)
Class Activity: Discuss Cisneros Short Story
5/1
Read: Junot Diaz, “Drown” (2850-2857)
Class Activity: Discuss Diaz Short Story
Week Seventeen
5/6
Class Activity: Final Paper Workday
5/8
Class Activity: Editing and Revision Workshop for Final Paper
***FINAL PAPER WILL BE DUE BY 9PM FRIDAY. NO LATE PAPERS WILL
BE ACCEPTED.***