American Literature II (English 320)

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Schedule of Assignments

Poems:
Randall Jarrell
e. e.  cummings
Robert Lowell

Study Guide for 
A Farewell to Arms

Study Guide for 
A Long Day's Journey Into Night

Study Guide: Tragic Conventions

Study Guide for 
The Waste Land

Study Guide for Test I

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


Course Description: "History and interpretation of American literature from Emily Dickinson to the early twentieth century. 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.

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.

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; each one is 1/3 of your of your grade. Do not wait until the last minute to catch up on your reading.

Papers: A ten‑page, critically‑informed treatment of a topic of special interest to you, but subject to my recommendations and approval, due on the date listed in the syllabus.

Grading: The major portion of your grade will depend on upon your performance on the two exams and the paper, each of which comprises approximately one third of your grade.  However, the student who is exceptionally responsive in class may earn enough extra credit to raise a borderline grade to the next higher level. Conversely, an apathetic student may be penalized a grade for his or her failure to contribute to  class discussion. An outstanding student may earn up to three percentage points that will be added to his or her final grade; a poor student may lose this many points from the final average.

Standard Reference Works in American Literature

Bibliography: Blanck, Jacob. Bibliography of American Literature.  

Biography: Jackson, Allen, and Dumas Malone (ed.s), The Dictionary of American Biography

Histories: Spiller, Robert E. (ed.) et al. Literary History of the United States; Culiffe, Marcus. The Literature of the United States.

Bibliographical and Research Guides: Gohdes, Clarence. Bibliographical Guide to the Study of the Literature of the U.S.A.; Woodress, James (ed.) Eight American Authors; Bateson, F.W., and Harrison Meserole, A Guide to English and American Literature; Hart, James D. The Oxford Companion to American Literature; Schewick, Robert C., and Dieter Riesner. Reference Sources in English and American Literature.