English 109—Introduction to American Literature and Culture
(24546/22523)
MWF 11-11:50 am.
203 SH
Instructor: John Casey
Office: 1833 University Hall
Phone #: 312-413-2214 (no voicemail)
E-mail: jcasey3@uic.edu
Office Hours: MWF 9-10:30 am and 3-5 pm.
Required Texts:
Cather, Wila. O, Pioneers! New York: Penguin, 1994. ISBN-13: 9780140187755.
Grey, Zane. Riders of the Purple Sage. New York: Penguin, 1990. ISBN-13: 9780140184402.
Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Penguin, 2002. ISBN-13: 9780142437254
McMurtry, Larry. Lonesome Dove. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010. ISBN-13:
9781439195260.
Proulx, Annie. Brokeback Mountain. New York: Scribner, 2005. ISBN-13: 9780743271325.
Steinbeck, John. Tortilla Flat. New York: Penguin, 1997. ISBN-13: 9780140187403.
Welch, James. Winter in the Blood. New York: Penguin, 2008. ISBN-13: 9780143105220.
Wister, Owen. The Virginian. New York: Penguin, 1988. ISBN-13: 9780140390650.
ALL TEXTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE UIC BOOKSTORE, LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE
STUDENT CENTER EAST. (312) 413-5500.
Course Description:
Since what defines “American” culture is still a matter of considerable debate, this class will
explore one aspect of it: the concept of the frontier and the literary genre of the Western. The
frontier ideal emerged from the early Colonists’ belief that America represented a “new world,”
a place where the mistakes of past societies could be left behind in the pursuit of individual
success. The land was viewed as an empty space free to receive any meaning or meet any
purpose that the settlers chose. In the last thirty years, historians have pointed out that the
frontier ideal depended upon the European settlers ignoring the presence of Native Americans.
They have also shown the violence embedded within the concept. Yet the fact remains that
American culture is still closely tied to the frontier. The literary genre of the Western and its
defining hero, the Cowboy, holds a central role in our national imagination in part because of
their origins in the frontier ideal. Living in an age dominated by technology as well as complex
governmental and economic systems, the Cowboy offers us an image of purity and simplicity
that most of our lives do not possess. He embodies the hope, held by our nations’ early settlers,
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that an individual might retain control over their destiny and shape the world to fit their desires.
We will examine in this class both the good and bad aspects of the frontier ideal as it is
represented in the figure of the Cowboy. Additionally, we will explore how the critical
understanding of the Western genre has evolved over time to include the road trip narrative
and has shifted to a more self-conscious consideration of issues of gender and ethnicity. Course
assignments will include weekly response papers (posted on the Blackboard site for the class), a
final paper, a mid-term, and a final exam. See Appendices A-C for specifics.
Grading:
Reaction Papers: 20%
Course Paper: 20%
Mid-term Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Class Participation: 20%
(Note: Participation involves more than just showing up. It also means taking part in classroom
discussions and activities, listening, and being respectful of others in the class).
Attendance policy
Attendance is marked at the beginning of class. You are allowed four absences without penalty.
After four absences, I will deduct five points from your final grade for each additional absence.
Please show up to class on time. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked
absent.
Late work
Late work will not be accepted without official documentation of a medical or personal
emergency.
Electronic communication
If you need to contact me outside of class, please stop by my office or telephone me during my
office hours. Outside of those hours, e-mail is the best way to reach me. I will reply to all e-mails
within 24 hours. I will not accept work that is e-mailed to me. If you have a documented
emergency, bring the official documentation to class along with a printed copy of your late
assignment.
Plagiarism
Maintain your integrity when completing assignments and be overzealous to give credit where it
is due. If you ever are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, ask me. Students who are
found to have plagiarized work may be subject to various disciplinary actions, including a failing
grade on a particular assignment, failure of the entire course, and possible expulsion from the
university.
Disability accommodation
Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access to and/or participation in this
course must be registered with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). You may contact DRC at
312-413-2183 (v) or 312-413-0123 (TTY).
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Other policies:
Cell phones and other electronic devices: Cell phones and other electronic devices must be
turned off during class time. Use of laptops is only permitted for note taking and accessing
course readings on the Blackboard Site. If I see you accessing internet sites not related to class
activities, I will ask you to turn off your computer.
Food and beverages: You are welcome to bring coffee, water, or soda to class, but eating is not
permitted in the classroom. Please remember to pick up any trash and dispose of it properly at
the end of the class period.
UIC RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS
Please be aware that as a student at UIC a number of services are available to you. Here are
just a few:
The Writing Center, located in 105 Grant Hall, offers one-on-one consultation with student
writers who need help developing ideas, or need advice, guidance or additional instruction on
any aspects of writing. The Writing Center serves all student writers, not just students in the
First-Year Writing Program. Tutors are prepared to spend fifty minutes per appointment, and
there is no limit to the number of tutoring sessions you can have each semester. Make an
appointment and be on time! Bring the paper on which you're working, as well as any related
drafts or notes, and information about the assignment. For an appointment, call the Writing
Center at (312) 413-2206, or stop by.
Public Computer Labs are available throughout campus where you may write and/or print out
your work. For a list of labs and the hours they’re open, go to (www.accc.uic.edu/pclabs).
The Academic Center for Excellence can help if you feel you need more individualized
instruction in reading and/or writing; phone (312) 413-0031.
Counseling Services are available for all UIC students. You may seek free and confidential
services from the Counseling Center <www.counseling.uic.edu>. The Counseling Center is
located in the Student Services Building; you may contact them at (312) 996-3490. In addition to
offering counseling services, the Counseling Center also operates the InTouch Crisis Hotline from
6:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. They offer support and referrals to callers, as well as telephone crisis
interventions; please call (312) 996-5535.
Other sources of support: LARES (Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services
Program), SSB 2640, 312.996.3356; African American Academic Network, SSB 2800,
312.996.5040; Native American Support Program, 2700 SSB, 312.996.4515.
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Daily Schedule
Part I: The Closing of the American Frontier and the Birth of the Western
Week 1—Frederick Jackson Turner
Monday, January 10
Introduction to the class. Review syllabus. Discuss the concept of the “frontier” as both an idea
and a place. How does it relate to the literary genre of the Western?
Wednesday, January 12
Frederick Jackson Turner. “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” rpt. in
Rereading Frederick Jackson Turner. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1994. 31-60. [Available on
the course Blackboard Site.]
Friday, January 14
Jane Tompkins. “Introduction.” West of Everything: The Inner Life of Westerns. New York: Oxford
UP, 1993. 3-19. [Available on the course Blackboard Site.]
Week 2—Owen Wister
Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King Day. NO CLASS.
Wednesday, January 19
The Virginian, pgs. xxxi-68.
Friday, January 21
The Virginian, pgs. 69-130.
Week 3—Owen Wister (cont.)
Monday, January 24
The Virginian, pgs. 131-192.
Wednesday, January 26
The Virginian, pgs. 193-259.
Friday, January 28
The Virginian, pgs. 260-323.
Part II: Creating the Cowboy
Week 4—Zane Grey
Monday, January 31
The Riders of the Purple Sage, pgs. 3-91.
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Wednesday, February 2
The Riders of the Purple Sage, pgs. 92-158.
Friday, February 4
The Riders of the Purple Sage, pgs. 159-209
Week 5—John Wayne
Monday, February 7
The Riders of the Purple Sage, pgs. 210-280.
Begin watching the film True Grit (1969).
Wednesday, February 9
Continue watching True Grit (1969).
Friday, February 11
Finish watching True Grit (1969).
Week 6—Larry McMurtry
Monday, February 14
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 13-100.
Wednesday, February 16
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 101-175.
Friday, February 18
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 176-248.
Week 7—Larry McMurtry (cont.)
Monday, February 21
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 248-331.
Wednesday, February 23
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 331-418.
Watch an episode of the TV series Lonesome Dove.
Friday, February 25
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 419-494.
Continue watching episode of the TV series Lonesome Dove.
Week 8—Larry McMurtry (cont.)
Monday, February 28
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 494-57.
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Wednesday, March 2
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 572-642.
Watch an episode of the TV series Lonesome Dove.
Friday, March 4
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 642-710.
Continue watching an episode of the TV series Lonesome Dove.
Week 9—Larry McMurtry (cont.)
Monday, March 7
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 710-785.
Wednesday, March 9
Lonesome Dove, pgs. 785-858.
Friday, March 11
MID-TERM EXAM
Part III: Alternate Wests
Week 10—Annie Proulx
Monday, March 14
Brokeback Mountain, pgs. 3-55.
Begin watching the film Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Wednesday, March 16
Continue watching the film Brokeback Mountain (2005).
Friday, March 18
Finish watching the film Brokeback Mountain (2005).
SPRING BREAK (March 21-25). NO CLASS
Week 11—Willa Cather
Monday, March 28
O, Pioneers!, pgs. 3-47.
Wednesday, March 30
O, Pioneers!, pgs. 51-137.
PAPER PROPOSAL DUE.
Friday, April 1
O, Pioneers!, pgs. 141-210.
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Week 12—James Welch
Monday, April 4
Winter in the Blood, pgs. 1-47.
Wednesday, April 6
Winter in the Blood, pgs. 49-86.
Friday, April 8
Winter in the Blood, pgs. 87-138.
Week 13—John Steinbeck
Monday, April 11
Tortilla Flat, pgs. 1-63.
Wednesday, April 13
Tortilla Flat, pgs. 64-118.
Friday, April 15
Tortilla Flat, pgs. 119-174.
Week 14—Jack Kerouac
Monday, April 18
On the Road, pgs. 1-79.
PAPER DRAFT DUE.
Wednesday, April 20
On the Road, pgs. 80-148.
Friday, April 22
On the Road, pgs. 149-206.
Week 15—Jack Kerouac (cont.)
Monday, April 25
On the Road, pgs. 207-248.
Begin watching the film Easy Rider (1969).
Wednesday, April 27
On the Road, pgs. 248-307.
Continue watching the film Easy Rider (1969).
Friday, April 29
Finish watching the film Easy Rider (1969).
FINAL EXAM: Date and time t.b.a. Course paper is due on the date of the final exam.
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Appendix A: Reaction Papers.
At the end of each week, you will be expected to post on the course Blackboard site a short (1-2
pages single spaced) response paper about the readings. Your response papers should address
some aspect of the readings for that week that you found interesting (i.e. a character, theme,
action in the story, or aspect of the setting). These response papers are intended as a way to
help you generate ideas for your course paper, so once you’ve developed an idea for your
paper, further responses will be considered drafts of that project. Response papers must be
posted each week by 5pm on Saturday in order to receive credit.
Appendix B: Course Paper.
Your course paper should address a specific book, author, or theme covered in our class
discussions and offer your interpretation and evaluation of it. One possibility would be to
examine how the Cowboy is created as a character type in a specific book or film. Another
possibility would be a compare/contrast project between two works. For example, is the image
of the Cowboy in modern film the same as it is in books like those written by Wister?
Papers should be 8-10 pages double spaced and follow MLA citation style. While extensive
research is not required, you will need to know background information on the author and the
book in order to craft a persuasive argument for your paper. Any information taken from other
sources must be properly documented.
Appendix C: Mid-term and Final Exam.
The mid-term will cover material from weeks one through nine. The final exam will cover
material from weeks ten through fifteen. Material from movies watched in class will also be
included in these exams. Exams will consist of four sections: matching, short answer, passage
identification, and your choice of two essay questions.