AMERICAN LITERATURE II
ENGLISH 3220; MWF 2-3, BC 202
JAMES M. ATON, Instructor
INSTRUCTOR’S WEBSITE: www.suu.edu/faculty/aton
OFFICE: BC 304B
HRS: MWF 10-11; T-TH 8-12
PH: 586-7838; FAX 865-8169 aton@suu.edu

TEXTS: Norton Anthology of American Literature, 6th ed., Vols. C & D; The Sun Also Rises; The Great Gatsby

REQUIREMENTS: Attendance--6 absences will lower your grade; 10=failure
Participation; readings as assigned; also read authors’ biographies and introductions to the periods.
3 take-home essays (33% each); possible in-class response papers.

DESCRIPTION: Through reading, discussion, and written study you will survey both major and minor writers in the American literary tradition from 1865 (Civil War) to the 1945 (World War II). Emphasis will be given to understanding the authors in their respective historical contexts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: To further understand the development of our literary tradition; to learn how to read a text closely; to see how authors are products of their times and how they were part of the discussion of contemporaneous ideas; to develop your skills of literary interpretation through writing.

CELL PHONES and LAPTOPS:Cell phones seriously disrupt class. If yours goes off, I will immediately dismiss you that day and count you as absent. “Off” means ringing, beeping, buzzing, vibrating, singing, or making any noise whatsoever. Second and succeeding offenses will result in a lowered grade. Text-messaging on your cell phone or web-surfing/chatting on your laptop during class will result in your dismissal from class that day—with an absence. In the event of said offense, you may not return to class until you see me personally. Second offenses—texting or laptop surfing/chatting--will result in your automatic failure of the class.

JAN 7-11         Introduction, (Vol. C): Huckleberry Finn (Twain)

JAN 14-18       Huck Finn,  “F. Cooper’s Literary Offenses” (Twain)

JAN 21-25       21-HOLIDAY; Daisy Miller (James)

JAN 28-FEB 1  The Awakening (Chopin)

FEB 4-8          “W. Heron,” “Open Boat,” “Blue Hotel,” “Law of Life”

FEB 11-15       11-Essay Due; Washington (746-768), DuBois (884-893), Zitkala Sa (1008-1035), Adams (1038-1052, 1062-1069)

FEB 18-22         18-HOLIDAY (Vol. D): Modernism, Pound, Eliot, Frost poems

FEB 25-29          Stevens, Williams, H.D. poems

MAR 3-7             Moore, Jeffers Selections; 5-7-Lost Generation Tape

MAR 10-14         10-Essay Due, Moore, Jeffers

MAR 17-21         SPRING BREAK

MAR 24-28         24-HOLIDAY; The Sun Also Rises

MAR 31-APR4   The Sun Also Rises, As I Lay Dying

APR 7-11            As I Lay Dying, The Great Gatsby

APR 14-18          Gatsby, Harlem Renaissance; Z. N. Hurston-all

APR 21-25          L. Hughes—all, plus ELEC RES: “The Negro Artist…”

FINAL ESSAY DUE: FRIDAY, APRIL 25

GRADING POLICY: ESSAYS: 33%@ FOR SAMPLES FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS, SEE ELECTRONIC RESERVE

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You must read and understand the current issue of the student handbook regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.

ADA STATEMENT: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in room 205D of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone 435-865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.