ENGL 2329: American Literature
Course Information:
ENGL 2329-001
Summer I 2011
M-TH 10:30-12:30
PKH 107
Instructor Information:
Matthew Lerberg
mlerberg@uta.edu
No office phone. Contact via e-mail.
Preston Hall Rm. 205
Office Hours: TIME and by appointment.
Texts and Materials:
 Writing About Literature: A Portable Guide. Janet E. Gardner.
 Weeks Two through Four course readings will be available online at http://www.onlineliterature.com/ unless otherwise noted.
 Week Five course readings will be handed out in class no later than Week Two.
Course Description:
Consideration of significant American works with a focus on ideas and the ways in which they
reflect cultural and aesthetic values; emphasis on critical methods of reading, writing, and
thinking; at least three genres and six authors considered.
Course Goals:
 To encourage students to see that literary studies matter and to foster enjoyment of literature,
as students engage with ideas and beliefs in ways that extend beyond English classes.
 To help students recognize that literature does not occur as isolated literary events, but as
complex dialogue within cultural and historical contexts.
 To develop students' ability to read critically by studying a variety of literary elements.
Student Learning Outcomes:
 Students should be able to demonstrate their understanding of and their ability to analyze
literary texts both in writing and in online written discussion.
 Students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge of a variety of literary terms,
elements, and movements.
 Students should be able to identify a variety of literary elements within literary texts.
 Students should be able to conduct research using the internet and UTA Library resources.
Major Assignments:
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ENGL 2329: American Literature
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Essay One. Compare Contrast Essay. 3 pages 12pt. Times New Roman. MLA Formatting.
This essay will compare and contrast a theme within Hawthorne and Irving. A clear and
arguable thesis is required. This is a formal academic essay and follows academic
conventions.
Exam One. Covers literary terms, stories, and Romanticism and Transcendentalism.
Questions are multiple choice and short answer.
Essay Two. Applies a theme from Realism or Naturalism to at least two stories. 3 pages.
Times New Roman. MLA Formatting. This essay will take one of the tenants of Realism
or Naturalism and identify moments in at least two of the stories that demonstrate the
theme. Essays must also answer the So What question. That is, why is the stories use of
this theme worth considering. A clear and arguable thesis is required. This is a formal
academic essay and follows academic conventions.
Exam Two. Covers stories, and Naturalism, Realism, and Modernism. Follows the same
format as Exam One.
Essay Three. Literary Criticism and Theory Essay. Choose a critical or theoretical
approach discussed in Gardner. Choose two stories that demonstrate the approach. 4 pages.
12pt. Times New Roman. MLA Formatting. This essay also requires ONE SCHOLARLY
source that discusses or employs the critical or theoretical approach selected. This is a
formal academic essay and follows academic conventions.
Exam Three. Comprehensive Exam. Follows the same format as Exam One and Two.
Grade Weight:
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Essay One:
Exam One:
Essay Two:
Exam Two:
Essay Three:
Exam Three:
Homework/Quiz:
15%
10%
20%
10%
25%
15%
5%
Scale for final course grades:
90 to 100 percent
A
80 to 89 percent
B
70 to 79 percent
C
60 to 69 percent
D
0 to 59 percent
F
Course Policies:
You must complete all assignments and quizzes by the due dates. No late work is accepted without
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ENGL 2329: American Literature
instructor approval. Approval solely on instructor’s discretion. Late work that is approved is
subject to a 10% penalty. All due dates for the assignments and quizzes are listed in the course
schedule. College students are expected to work independently and to complete assignments on
time. It is important to look ahead in order to understand when major assignments are due. Most
successful students mark due dates on a planner or calendar.
Participation:
You should read all assigned material and complete all assignments carefully and thoughtfully. As
you read, think critically about the material in order to generate ideas and questions from your
analysis. It is expected that students in this course will actively and appropriately engage in
discussions and participate in collaborative learning situations.
E-Culture Policy:
The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the University email address as an official
means of communication with students. Through the use of email, UT-Arlington is able to provide
students with relevant and timely information, designed to facilitate student success. In particular,
important information concerning registration, financial aid, payment of bills, and graduation may
be sent to students through email. All students are assigned an email account and information
about activating and using it is available at www.uta.edu/email. New students (first semester at
UTA) are able to activate their email account 24 hours after registering for courses. There is no
additional charge to students for using this account, and it remains active as long as a student is
enrolled at UT-Arlington. Students are responsible for checking their email regularly. Keep in
mind that tone is often lost in an email. Please be professional and courteous in all correspondence
and in all discussions.
Student Support Services Available: The University of Texas at Arlington provides a variety of
resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills, deal with personal
situations, and better understand concepts and information related to their courses. These resources
include tutoring, major-based learning centers, developmental education, advising and mentoring,
personal counseling, and federally funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for
any reason, students may contact the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or
visit www.uta.edu/resources for more information.
Academic Integrity:
Your work is to be your own, and it is to be prepared originally for this course. It is considered
academic dishonesty to present work done by someone else and to claim it as your own. It is also
inappropriate to hand in a paper or portions of a paper written for another class--including high
school and college courses you have taken or in which you are currently enrolled. Any borrowed
information (from books, websites, and other sources) should include the correct documentation to
identify it as originating elsewhere. Academic dishonesty of any type (plagiarism, cheating,
preparing work for others, someone else doing your work, etc.) is unacceptable even if you do it
accidentally. All instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to UTA policy and
procedures, and I will send a copy of questionable work to the Office of Student Conduct to be
kept on file. I also reserve the right to award zeros on assignments and/or an F in the entire course
to any student who engages in any type of academic dishonesty.
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ENGL 2329: American Literature
It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a
completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons
involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and
procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University.
"Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the
submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another
person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a
student or the attempt to commit such acts." (Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Series 50101,
Section 2.2)
Americans with Disabilities Act:
The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter
of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 92-112 - The Rehabilitation Act of
1973 as amended. With the passage of federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this
population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students
with disabilities so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility
primarily rests with informing faculty of their need for accommodation and in providing
authorized documentation through designated administrative channels. Information regarding
specific diagnostic criteria and policies for obtaining academic accommodations can be found at
www.uta.edu/disability. Also, you may visit the Office for Students with Disabilities in Room
102 of University Hall, or call them at (817) 272-3364.
The Writing Center:
The Writing Center, Room 411 in the Central Library, offers tutoring for any writing you are
assigned while a student at UT-Arlington. You may schedule appointments online by following
directions available at www.uta.edu/owl/appointments, by calling 817 272-2601, or by visiting the
Writing Center. If you come to the Writing Center without an appointment, you will be helped on
a first-come, first-served basis as tutors become available. Writing Center tutors are carefully
chosen and trained, and they can assist you with any aspect of your writing, from understanding an
assignment to revising an early draft to polishing a final draft. However, the Writing Center is not
an editing service; tutors will not correct your grammar or rewrite your assignment for you, but
they will help you become a better editor of your own writing. I encourage each of you to use the
Writing Center. www.uta.edu/owl
Drop Policy:
If you choose to withdraw from the course for any reason, you must follow University
procedures. I cannot and will not drop anyone for any reason from this course. However, I may
strongly recommend that you drop if you are significantly behind on completing the required
assignments.
Course Changes:
I reserve the right to make changes to course assignments and due dates. I will notify students in
class and via e-mail of any changes during the semester.
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ENGL 2329: American Literature
Course Calendar:
June 6th:
June 7th:
June 8th:
June 9th:
June 13th:
June 14th:
June 15th:
June 16th:
June 20th:
June 21st:
June 22nd:
Introduction to the course.
Critical reading exercise.
Literary Terms.
Chapter One in Gardner. pgs. 1-13.
Ben Johnson Poem. p. 8 Gardner.
Answer one question provided in the following sections.
Questions about the Text. p. 9. Gardner
Questions about the Author. pgs. 10-11. Gardner
Questions about the Cultural Context. pgs. 11-12. Gardner.
Questions about the Reader. pgs. 12-13. Gardner.
Chapter Four. Gardner. pgs. 54-74 (including both short stories).
Generate two critical questions for each story. Submit at the end of class.
Sample Paper at the end of Chapter Four. pgs. 75-77.
Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown.
Irving (Washington): Devil and Tom Walker.
Chapter Two. Gardner.
Chapter Three. pgs. 38-40. Gardner. Read Compare and Contrast Carefully.
Generate Compare and Contrast questions for Hawthorne and Irving.
Compare Contrast Essay Due.
Read about Romanticism and Transcendentalism at:
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/table.html
Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart.
Douglass. Chapter One from A Narrative on the Life of Fredrick Douglass…
Quiz on Romanticism and Transcendentalism.
Generate a Compare Contrast between all four authors and Romanticism as a
movement. Turn in after class.
Review for First Exam.
Exam One.
Over literary terms, stories, and overview of Romanticism and Transcendentalism.
Multiple choice and short answer.
Realism: http://www.ncteamericancollection.org/amer_realism.htm
Naturalism: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap6/6intro.html
Quiz: Naturalism and Realism.
Bring at least two critical reading questions for discussion. Turn in after class.
Bierce: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.
Crane: The Open Boat.
Jewett: The White Heron. http://www.public.coe.edu/~theller/soj/awh/heron.htm
London: To Build a Fire.
Twain: The Celebrated Jumping Frog…
Bring at least two critical reading questions for discussion. Turn in after class.
Continue Bierce, Crane, Jewett, London, and Twain.
Naturalism and Realism Theme Essay discussion.
Choose (in class) a theme within N or R.
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ENGL 2329: American Literature
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June 23 :
Apply theme (in class) to at least TWO readings.
In Class Writing Workshop: Bring Two copies of each (one you will turn in).
 revised theme that is directly related to the readings you chose.
 draft of thesis. Revisit thesis in Gardner if necessary.
 at least four quotations you plan to use in your essay with rational
(why you will use them).
June 27th:
N and R Theme Essay Due.
Modernism: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap7/7intro.html
Anderson: Hands from Winesburg, Ohio.
Cather: Paul’s Case.
Bring at least two critical reading questions. Turn in after class.
June 28th:
Faulkner: A Rose for Emily.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/litweb05/workshops/fiction/faulkner1.asp
Hemingway: Hills Like White Elephants.
http://www.gummyprint.com/blog/archives/hills-like-white-elephants-complete-story/
Steinbeck: The Chrysanthemums:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16596322/The-Chrysanthemums-by-John-Steinbeck
Bring at least two critical reading questions. Turn in after class.
June 29th:
Continue Faulkner, Hemingway, and Steinbeck discussion.
Review for second Exam.
June 30th:
Exam Two.
Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism and the stories.
Multiple choice and short answer.
July 4th:
July 5th:
July 7th:
July 8th:
July 11th:
NO CLASS
Postmodernism: http://vc.ws.edu/engl2265/unit4/Modernism/all.htm
Quiz on Modernism and Postmodernism.
Literary Criticism and Literary Theory. Gardner. pgs. 40-50.
Readings from handouts.
Bring two critical reading questions. Turn in after class.
Readings from handouts.
Bring two critical reading questions. Turn in after class.
Applying Literary Criticism and Theory to readings.
Choose a theory (Except Reader-Response) from Gardner.
Choose two readings that you could apply it to.
Bring a rational for why you chose the readings. Turn in all three items at the end
of class.
Final paper prep.
Bring Thesis, at least four quotes, and an introduction to the final paper.
Review for final Exam.
Comprehensive. Same format as other exams.
Final Paper Due. E-mail as attachment.
NO CLASS.
Final Exam date TBA.
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