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Syllabus--English 252W-01 Dr. Ferguson

Major American Authors Spring 2014

Students will read closely and write imaginatively about selected multi-cultural, multi-ethnic writings from the late-nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries, whose literary contributions have helped develop modern American thought. They will also:

read and write about different American literary genres and theories,

develop an awareness of critical literary analysis and theory,

discover historical and philosophical roots of American writing, and

further sharpen writing skills.

Students are also required to lead class discussions, write and revise two course papers of at least 3 pages each, and take midterm and final exams.

Required Texts

The Concise Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume 2, 2ndEd.

Paul Lauter et al, Eds. Houghton Mifflin, 2014

No-No Boy. John Okada. 1957

Tentative Course Reading Schedule

Jan. 14 Introduction

16 Emily Dickinson: Selected poems: J.# 67, 211, 324, 501, 732, 1129; HANDOUT

21 John Milton Oskison: “The Problem of Old Harjo,” pp.275-282

23 Paul Laurence Dunbar: "We Wear the Mask," pp. 462-465; Charles W. Chesnutt: pp. 354-355; "Baxter's Procrustes" BLACKBOARD

28 Mark Twain: “A True Story,” pp. 53-55 and 66-69

30 Corridos, pp.255-270

Feb. 4 Harriet Prescott Spofford: "Circumstance," pp., 42-53;FIRST DRAFT OF FIRST ESSAY DUE

6 Henry James: Daisy Miller: A Study, 90-137

11 Gertrude Bonin (Zitkala-Sa):School Days of an Indian Girl, pp. 152-165;

SECOND DRAFT OF FIRST ESSAY DUE

13 Standing Bear: “What I Am Going to Tell You Here Will Take Me Until Dark,” pp. 238-242; Sarah Winnemucca; Life among the Piutes, pp.242-255

18 Charlotte Perkins Gilman: "The Yellow Wallpaper," pp. 424-438

20 "Ghost Dance Songs," pp. 140-143;Charles Alexander Eastman: From the Deep Woods to Civilization, pp. 143-152; FINAL DRAFT OF FIRST COURSE ESSAY DUE

25 Booker T. Washington: “The Atlanta Exposition Address,” pp. 506-508, 516-

520;United States Supreme Court: Plessy v. Ferguson, pp. 296-300

27 W. E. B. Du Bois: Soul of Black Folk, pp. 524-541

Mar. 4 Zora Neale Hurston: “The Gilded Six-Bits,” pp. 818-828

6 MIDTERM EXAM

11 SPRING BREAK

18 Robert Frost: “Out-Out,” pp. 608-609

20 Ezra Pound: "In a Station in the Metro, etc.," pp. 622-626

25T. S. Eliot: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," pp. 691-695;Wallace Stevens: “Sunday Morning," pp. 748-752

27 Langston Hughes: “The Weary Blues," "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” pp. 805-813

Apr. 1 F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Babylon Revisited,”pp. pp 710-727

3 William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily,” BLACKBOARD; FIRST DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE

8 Ernest Hemingway: “Hills Like White Elephants,” pp. 742-748;Gwendolyn Brooks: “the mother,” pp. 1044-1046, 1050

10 Mitsuye Yamada: "Evacuation, etc.," pp. 1056-1062; Gary Soto: “Black Hair,” pp. 1384-1385, 1388-1389

15John Okada: No-No Boy;SECOND DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE

17 John Okada continued

22 John Okada continued; FINAL DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE

24 Allen Ginsberg: “America,” pp. 1124-11-25, 1135-1138;Percival Everett: "The Appropriation of Cultures," pp.1591-1599

29 Toni Morrison: A Mercy BLACKBOARD

May 1 FINAL EXAM: 12 NOON-3:00 PM

Evaluation:

The final course grade is determined by assigned committee report/class presentations that count for 15%. About four times during the semester, each student will bring informal written analyses (no less than three single-spaced pages) to in-person or online committee discussions,during which the groupdecideshow to lead class discussion of specificcourse readings. The committee chair will collect and turn in all reports (including the final outline for the actual class discussion--about one page) after the committee has reported in class. Students will also write two three-page course essays that count for 20% each or 40%; a midterm exam that counts for 20%, and a final exam that counts for 25%. The course papers must have a clear thesis that addresses a specific issue relevant to the essay prompt. Students will write non-graded and graded drafts of the required course papers. If after all graded drafts the essay receives less than “C,” it must be revised; the final gradewill be the highest of all drafts. While the topics of the course papers are assigned, you may suggest a subject for the essay, which could be approved. ALL COURSE WORK MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME. Late papers are dropped one whole letter grade. Make-up exams are rare, except for medical emergency, for which the student must provide acceptable written documentation. Grades are the following: A= 4.00; A-= 3.7; B+= 3.3; B= 3.00; B-= 2.7; C+= 2.3; C= 2.0; C-= 1.7; D+= 1.3; D= 1.0; D-= .7; F= 0; WF= 0.

Attendance:

Students with more than two unexcused absences (one week) are urged to drop the class. Tardiness will not be tolerated, and the classroom door will be closed promptly at 11AM. Except for emergencies, please do not disturb the class after this time.

Plagiarism and Cheating:

Copying the work of others and cheating on course assignments will also not betolerated. If you do this, you will receive a "F" for the work, get reported to the Dean of Students and risk expulsion from UNCG. (See the UNCG Honor Code). If you need help documenting your work, I will be glad to help

Computers and Other Technology in the Classroom:

1. Turn off all cell phones before coming into the classroom.

2. Computers may be used during class (especially by students signed up at Disability Services) but sparingly (if at all) by everyone else. Download BLACKBOARD assignments before coming to class.

3. No recording devices may be used during classes.

Office: 3117 MHRA.

Office Hours: T: 12:30 PM–1:30 PM and by appointment

Phone: 336-334-5484

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