EVANGEL UNIVERSITY Fall
2008 Humanities Department
ENGLISH 271 - 3 credit hours
- American Literature Before the Civil War
Meeting
time: M W -- 3:00-4:15 p.m. – Zimmerman
214
Instructor:
SC Vekasy Voice Mail: x 8647 Office Hours: Posted (Trask 312A)
E-mail: vekasys@evangel.edu Personal web page: www.wordtinker.com
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A study of American writing with emphasis on
social and
intellectual backgrounds from the Puritans through Transcendentalism.
Offered fall
semester. THIS COURSE IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FRESHMEN (See
instructor).
COURSE PURPOSE: To provide a comprehensive view of the
literature of the period before
the American Civil War by surveying significant writers of the period
with attention to
historical, social, and intellectual contexts.
TEXTBOOKS:
o
Hawthorne. The Scarlet Letter. (Purchased
separately)
o
Perkins. The American Tradition in Literature. Shorter Edition in One Volume.
11th
Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007.
o
Thoreau. Walden. (Purchased separately)
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To
survey representative pieces of American writing before the Civil War which
display
both the range and
the power of American literature as a whole
2.
To survey the stature and variety of major American authors
3. To
survey less well-known American writers whose works have endured over time,
including women and minority writers
4. To
emphasize the relations between literary works and general movements in
American
civilization in a
developmental context
5. To
underscore the relationships between literary works and American intellectual
history
6. To
show the representation of American literature regarding regional and ethnic
influences, social forces, dominant ideas,
historical events, and aesthetic values
7. To
make students aware and appreciative of social levels of language usage and
dialectic
differences within American culture
8.
To help sharpen students' critical reading skills
9.
To acquaint students with important literary critical theory
10. To provide experience with primary
literary forms: non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and
drama
11. To provide experience with literary
subjects via non-print media (video presentation,
etc.) when
appropriate
12. To help students recognize and
appreciate the distinctiveness of American cultural and
physical diversity
as portrayed in its native literature
13. To provide opportunity for students
to respond individually and collectively to literary
works
14. To help students to both enjoy and
appreciate written works of art
15. To help students understand the
antecedents of contemporary American issues
16. To help demystify the process of
reading literature by offering effective strategies for
unlocking meaning
and by providing tools for understanding
METHODS AND PROCEDURES:
Classes will consist of lectures, in-class quizzes, group discussion,
reader-response criticism, unit exams, audio-visual materials, and extra-credit
activities (when applicable).
UNITS:
1. American Puritan and Colonial writers
2. Eighteenth-century writers
3. Early Romantic writers
4. Major Romantic writers
5. Major Transcendental writers
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Completion
of reading schedule (See attached sheet.) Daily reading assignments
must be completed before each class period.
2. Because
classes supplement reading assignments rather than duplicate them,
regular attendance is assumed.
3. Reader-response
criticism is required for each author assignment and must be
submitted to TurnItIn.com before the start of each class period. If
a student is
absent, the notes must still be submitted on time to receive credit. See
"Reader Response Criticism” section of syllabus. It
is helpful to have a copy of your
criticism in class for discussion purposes.
4. An
essay exam will be written at the completion of each major unit.
5. Plagiarism
or cheating on any assignment will result in a failing grade and
possible
disciplinary measures.
6. “Ritual Purification”: Please turn off all electronic devices
during class time.
7. On the 8th absence, a student
is dropped from the course with an F. This includes
school-sponsored and sports responsibilities.
Keep a record of your absences.
Also,
arriving late to class reflects a lack of consideration for others and a
careless
attitude toward one’s work. Do not report to work late!
EVALUATION:
1.
Reader-response notes will be evaluated
regularly and assigned point values,
which count as 25% of the final course
grade. Each assignment must be a
minimum of 300 words (not counting any
quoted material from the readings).
Fewer words will result in a points
reduction. No late notes are accepted.
No exceptions! In case of massive computer
failure on campus, grace may be
manifest.
2. Extra
credit for attendance at campus cultural events can be added to the daily
average (one percent of daily average per event for up to five events).
Print out a
copy of the Cultural Events Form from www.wordtinker.com,
Helpful Sites, fill it
out, and submit it to the instructor for
each event attended.
3. In-class quiz points over the supplemental
readings (in quotations) are added to
the daily average points.
4. Unit examinations will total 75% of the
final course grade.
5. Taking an examination either early or late is
not be permitted except in extreme
circumstances.
a) Early or late exams require a permission slip
signed by the instructor and
presented
to the Humanities Office (AB2-312) 24 hours prior to the exam time.
b) A $5.00 fee is paid
before taking the exam.
c)
Exams may be taken only at the convenience of the Humanities Office
staff and must be taken within a week of the
original exam time.
d) If the student does not take the test at the
scheduled time, he/she forfeits the
opportunity to take it.
English 271 – American Literature Before Civil War – Fall 2008 –
Vekasy
All author
assignments (excluding readings in quotations) require reader responses
submitted to TurnItIn.com by the start of each day’s class. No late work
is accepted, and missing class does not excuse this component. Bring a copy of your day’s notes to class
for discussion. This is a vital part of your course work (25%). NOTE: Expect an in-class quiz on the material in
“quotes” each day such an assignment occurs. These points cannot be made up if
you are absent.
|
Aug 27 |
W |
Introduction
to the course – American Cycles |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 1 |
M |
Labor Day - No class meeting Recommended: View Arthur Miller’s The Crucible |
|
Sept 3 |
W |
Introduction
to Puritanism |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 8 |
M |
“Puritanism”
67-69 Quiz /
Bradford 42-58 / |
|
Sept 10 |
W |
Bradstreet
69-80 / Taylor 105-111 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 15 |
M |
Mather
113-114, 117-124 / Edwards 160-188 / Woolman 131-144 |
|
Sept 17 |
W |
“Reason and
Revolution” 155-159 Quiz / Crevecoeur
144-154 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 22 |
M |
Franklin
188-232 |
|
Sept 24 |
W |
Franklin [video] |
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 29 |
M |
Paine
240-257 / Jefferson 257-270 [video] |
|
Oct 1 |
W |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 6 |
M |
MAJOR EXAM (Puritanism
/ 18th Century) [Bring Blue Book] |
|
Oct 8 |
W |
“The Romantic
Temper. . .” 293-300 Quiz
/ |
|
|
|
* [Begin reading The Scarlet Letter – Purchased
separately] |
|
Oct 13 |
M |
Cooper
333-346 / Bryant 346-358 |
|
Oct 15 |
W |
“The Humanitarian . . .” 779-786 Quiz / Jacobs 860-874 /
Douglass 874-887 [video] |
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 20 |
M |
Fall Break – No class
meeting |
|
Oct 22 |
W |
“Romanticism”
561-562 Quiz /
Poe 563-620 |
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 27 |
M |
|
|
Oct 29 |
W |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 3 |
M |
Melville
697-778 |
|
Nov 5 |
W |
MAJOR EXAM (Romanticism) [Bring
Blue Book] |
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 10 |
M |
“Transcendentalism” 362-364 Quiz [video] |
|
Nov 12 |
W |
Emerson
365-395 |
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 17 |
M |
Emerson
395-419 |
|
Nov 19 |
W |
Emerson
419-436, 446-453 |
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 24 |
M |
Thoreau
478-480, 545-560 [Walden video] |
|
Nov 26 |
W |
Thanksgiving Break – No
class meeting |
|
|
|
* [Begin reading Walden – Purchased separately] |
|
Dec 1 |
M |
Walden – Sections 1-4 |
|
Dec 3 |
W |
Walden – Sections 5-9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 8 |
M |
Walden – Sections 10-14 |
|
Dec 10 |
W |
Walden – Sections 15-18 |
|
Dec 12 |
F |
FINAL EXAM –
3:00-5:00 Zimmerman 214 [Bring Blue Book(s)] |