American Literature I (English 318)

On-line Textbook

Schedule of Assignments

Bibliography 

Selected Websites

Notes on Deism, etc.

Study Guide (Mid-term)

Study Guide (Final)

Dr. John Todd Coke
Office: Pawling Hall 114 (ex. 8127)
Hours: 12-1 MWF or by appointment

Course Description:
(As printed in the catalog): "History and interpretation of American literature from John Smith to Walt Whitman. Prerequisite: ENG 211 or 213."

Policies and Requirements:

Attendance: You will be allowed to miss a maximum of four classes during the semester, no explanations required. I have also built into the schedule several Mandatory Attendance days (see schedule). These are classes during which we will cover crucial material. Missing any one of these days will affect your grade adversely. Missing more than one will result in your being dropped from the class.

Reading Assignments: The material listed in the syllabus should be considered a minimum, mandatory requirement. In order to excel, the ambitious student should expect to spend extra time gaining familiarity with the standard works of criticism and reference in the field of American Literature. All reading assignments are posted in the English 318 On-Line Textbook.

Quizzes: During the course of the semester I will give approximately ten brief (5-10 min.) quizzes on the assigned reading for the day. You should arrive at every class period under the assumption that a quiz will occur on that day.

Exams: I will give only two major exams during the semester. Both tests will include essay and objective questions, and both will include at least one question on each item from the reading list for the testing period. These exams are IMPORTANT; they are one third of your grade. Do not wait until the last minute to catch up on your reading. The study guides for both exams are available on-line: Study Guide 1 and Study Guide 2.

Papers: A ten-page, critically-informed treatment of a topic of special interest to you, but subject to my recommendations and approval, due on a yet-to-be-determined date.

Grading: One third of your grade will be based on your paper, one third will depend upon your performance on the mid-term and final, and a final third will be the product of your performance in the classroom. This last category includes daily preparation, quizzes, and discussion.