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American Literature I ~ Spring 2007English 245: 006HL & 007HLProfessors Calendar & AlvarezENGL 245HL: Intro, Objectives, Requirements REQUIRED TEXT:

The Norton Anthology of American Literature, vol. 1, 6

ed., Vol. A & B.

Introduction

This is an Honors Section of ENGL 245, a course that qualifies as a General Education credit in Humanitiesand is a preferred class for Education Majors. The class is team taught by two instructors whoseundergraduate and graduate work are more than three decades apart, a time span that has seen a major shiftin the focus of English Education. While one aspect of this course will try to blend the approach andscholarship of two different eras, the major focus will be on what constitutes the readings in a survey courselike American Literature I.The writings of American Authors from the 16

to the 19

centuries haven’t changed in the past 50 years, but the texts read by students have changed radically. Why? Who makes the decision? Should studentstoday read what current scholars think is important or what educated readers read at the time it was written?When does American Literature really begin? What is really “literature” and what is just a written historical“artifact.”The point of an Honors Class is for you to study these questions, both alone and with your colleagues and professors, and to come up with your own answers of what makes the “canon” on American Literature I. Inthe middle of the course, the Chief Editor of

The Norton Anthology of American Literature

will be comingto the class to talk about how she put together the 7

Edition of the text and to answer your questions abouthow such a text evolves.Good luck, have fun, and stay in touch with your instructors on Web-Ct, on the phone, and in person.

Course Description

This course will place a particular emphasis on contemporary critical approaches to the study of EarlyAmerican Literature, focusing on cultural praxis, historical contestations, and the problematics of canonformation in and of the early American literary “tradition”. Through the performance and application of avariety of critical approaches and methodologies, the class will work to interrogate and explore thedynamics, fissures, and competing visions for and of “America” and “American Literature”. Concurrently,we will explore and consider the relationship between American national and textual identity formations and

consider how the relationship and intersections between them shape and our shaped by our present and pastideas about, among other concerns, the notion of a national literary tradition and canonicity. What are themajor conflicts in the development of the American Literary canon? What cultural and historical factorshave influenced these shifts? What is

our

role in the construction and understanding of what “AmericanLiterature” means? These are only some of the guiding questions that will help propel the course through itsinquiry and assessment of the

dynamic

nature of the American literary tradition(s). Ultimately, our goal is toweave a collective text of questioning, analyses, and assertions toward a diverse understanding andarticulation of American Literature in relation to our experiences today.

Course Objectives

Students will be directly and explicitly engaged in every aspect of their learning process. As the very premise of the course is the

interrogation

of the foundations of the course itself, students will learn to think critically about key academic and pedagogical concerns, and in turn, work toward building and maintaininga proactive and invested learning community. By the end of the course, students will have becomeaquatinted with and practiced in major representative critical discourses; concurrently, they will be able todemonstrate fluency in utilizing these approaches in questioning, discussing, and assessing establishedliterary movements, authors and texts, both occluded and promoted, throughout the history of the ever-changing American Literary canon. A strong focus on current technologies, specifically hypertexts, onlinecollections and scholarly projects, and American Literature and/on the World Wide Web will further enhanceand enrich the students’ experiences in the course.

Course Requirements



Secretary Notes = 15% (of final grade)



Response Essays = 20%



Mid & Final Exams = 30%



Final Project = 25%



WebCT Discussions = 10%

Course Requirements in Detail

Secretary Notes (15% of Final Grade)

Each week, two or more students will be assigned to be "class secretary" for the duration of the class. Assecretary, you will be the official "note-taker" for the class. Afterwards, you will compile your notes in the

manner you choose

(be as creative as you'd like) and present them at the next class meeting. In the past,students have created songs, performances, artistic renditions, outlines, short stories, web pages, and variousother creative and risk taking endeavors. Take a risk and enjoy your “vision” and compilation of the

experience

of the class; however, please be aware that notes cannot exceed 2 pages (this is part of thechallenge, of course). You will be asked to read and/or perform your notes at the start of the next class. Youwill need to make enough copies for every class member. Additionally, secretaries must post their notes ontoour WebCT Notes thread no later than 2 days after presenting them to class in order to receive full credit.Ultimately, we will have created a collective "narrative" we can look back on and read in our notes.

Students who are absent on their secretary notes presentation date without electronically(or physically) submitting their notes prior to the class will lose half of the credit percentage for the assignment; this will adversely affect your final grade.

Response Essays (20% of Final Grade)

Approx. every three weeks, you will work on a 2-3 page "micro" essay based on a reading or readings fromthe previous weeks, and unless directed otherwise, the topic of your choice. These are analytical "responses"to what you've been reading and what you are thinking about. You should feel free to take risks and becreative with these essays; the goal is to question and create meaning. At times, you may wish to take a risk that finds your working outside of the traditional essay format. This is acceptable; however, your work should be clear, rigorous, articulate, and insightful. These are not summaries of the readings; they are criticalanalyses that stem from questions and ideas you have about a particular text, theme, discussion, or group of texts. You will be expected to include passages from the text(s) you are examining in order to support your assertions and provide depth to your analyses. Response essays will be graded on content (depth of analyses,quotation discussion, assertions and questions, etc.) and form (clarity, cohesion, grammar, etc.)

Mid-Term & Final Exams (Mid = 15% + Final=15% Total= 30% of Final Grade)

Mid and final exams will be both in class short essay and take home.

Final Project (25% of Final Grade)

The final project will include the major research component of the course. Here, you will articulate your own conclusions on a particular theme of the course related to the question of the American literary canon.The shape, scope and focus of the final project will be developed by you in conference with your professorsand will be discussed in depth throughout the semester. The final project must include:



Formal Proposal



Annotated Bibliography



WebCT “Presentation”/discussion postOptions and possibilities for the final project will be discussed in class and on WebCT; however, some possibilities may include:



Student created electronic “anthology”



Research paper on an excluded author



Hypertext essay and/or web page devoted to the canon debate in American literature

WebCT Discussions (10% of Final Grade)

Without your input, like Melville's "dead letters," this would be a "dead" class. 10% of your grade dependson you

actively

participating both on our WebCT discussion threads and in class. In order to fulfill your WebCT participation, you must post at least 10 times to a minimum of 8 different threads and reply to aminimum of 5 posts throughout the semester. In order to receive credit for a post, you must have postedyour discussion while the thread was ACTIVE (threads will be locked after two weeks). “Fun" posts (likemovie reviews, music reviews, etc.) only count for TWO of the 10 required posts. Posts should reflectengagement with the subject matter, question at hand, etc. “Me Too!” replies are not acceptable for credit.

Attendance, Grading and Other Class Policies

Attendance

Attendance is MANDATORY. Because most of what matters happens in our classroom, it is imperative thatyou try to attend each class. If, however, you anticipate an absence, please notify us in advance via WebCTmail or voicemail. Overall, students are allowed THREE excused OR unexcused absences. Students who