English 224-001
American Writers: 1900 to Present
Instr: Strauss, Erica
Office: CRT 525; 229-4243
e-mail: estrauss@uwm.edu
Office hours:
Course Information: M&W; 2:00-3:15pm; BOL 294
Course Description
In this course, we will read selected literary works, including creative nonfiction, written in America during the century just ended. Works will span the diversity of genres and traditions that arose during the century, from fiction to poetry, drama, and memoir, from realism and regionalism to modernism and postmodernism. In this reading, we will encounter a wide variety of voices converging, in a multicultural America, at different historical and geographical intersections and making different-sometimes competing, sometimes complementary-kinds of meaning of their particular cultural locations.
We will be attentive for strands of commonality as well as difference among the works we read, for signs of ongoing conversation or debate, for influences and resistances in themes, characterization, styles, narrative strategies etc., and we will consider ways in which these connections are marked and complicated by issues of gender, race, and ethnicity as these are understood and negotiated across the century's span. By the end of the semester, you will have read a significant selection of American literature written, roughly, in the twentieth century, developed your ability to read them both closely and broadly in relation to relevant contexts, and, I hope, found unexpected angles of understanding and enjoyment in the reading we have done.
Expectations and Policies
Response Papers: You will write a two-page response paper each week (Monday or Wednesday, as assigned) after the first and excluding the last class period. These must be typed in 12-point Times font with one-inch margins all around and must include an MLA-style heading with date and course number. All response papers should be carefully edited and proofread. Your response paper should focus closely on something quite specific in a specific area-theme, form, characterization, etc.-that you find striking or significant or even confusing in the assigned readings for that day. You might concentrate on just one reading, or you might discuss some connection you see either among the readings for that day or between one or more of them and one or previous readings. End your paper with a question to contribute to class discussion. Two response papers will be read aloud at each class period. For the days you do not write a response paper, formulate a question (an open-ended questions designed to stimulate discussion) and bring it to class. You will turn these in also.
Presentations: You will be responsible for one oral presentation (there will be a sign-up period during our next class) over the course of the semester. Presentations will be short (eight to ten minutes, but not less than eight) and will provide context from outside sources for one or more of the readings we discuss that day. Presentations will either explore an author's background in relation to his or her writing (no straight bios) or will summarize and respond to a critical article related either to the story or to its author. Along with your presentation, you are expected to submit a Works Cited page in MLA format. You may use online sources, but you are expected to synthesize the information from these sources and to include your own reflection on what you have discovered. All presentation topics have to be cleared through me in advance.
Mid-term exam: You will take a midterm exam on Wednesday, March 16. For this exam you will respond to two essay questions selected from a list of four questions I will give you about two weeks before the exam. You will have seventy-five minutes to respond to both questions. The essay will be open-book, but you may not consult any notes or other materials while composing your essays. You are encouraged, however, to investigate and work toward formulating a response to your chosen question during the preceding two weeks and to develop outlines of responses to the other three questions. The exam must be taken during class time unless you have made specific arrangements with me to take it in advance of the exam date. Only documented emergencies (doctor's note, for instance, with phone number for verification) will be accepted as a reason for absence. Otherwise, a missed exam may not be made up.
Final Paper: Your final paper will analyze one or more of our readings, relating it (or them) to themes we uncover in our discussion and any supplementary readings. Your paper will be at least six pages long and will show evidence of outside reading and research, documented in MLA format (see Plagiarism, below). No Internet sites may be used as sources for this paper. I will provide some suggested topics, but you are free to choose your own as long as you discuss it with me and have my approval.
You will do this project in stages. On April 11, you will turn in a written proposal specifying a topic and the course readings you will use, as well as providing a rough outline of your paper's main points. After I have reviewed and returned your proposals, we will devote some class time to sharing and group discussion of paper topics and ideas. The final paper will be due at noon on Monday, May 16.
Participation: Your participation will be essential to this discussion-based course. I expect everyone to contribute in a meaningful way to our daily discussion of the stories and supplemental materials. This means you must arrive on time, keep up with the readings, show evidence of attentive reading and thoughtful response, reply to others' observations or questions in class discussion, and submit your response papers on time.
Absences and tardiness: You are allowed to miss three classes without penalty, as long as you turn in your response papers or other required work on time (via email is okay). For every absence after three, your grade will be reduced by one-third (for example, from a B to a B-).
Latecomers and early goers disturb the class for others, miss out on class discussion, and reduce the quality of that discussion by depriving it of their voices. To reduce the disturbance, I will take attendance only at the beginning of class. If you come in late, it is your responsibility to see me afterwards and let me know you were in class. Any pattern of tardiness will be reflected in your participation grade (meaning it could cost you as much as a letter grade). Tardiness in excess of 20 minutes will be considered an absence. Also-and important-do not start packing up until the class is officially over (3:15). This distracts the class and really riles me. In exchange for your courtesy, I will always let you go right on time. Anyone who violates this rule may be counted tardy at my discretion.
Late work: I do not accept late work. If you know you will be gone on a day an assignment is due, you must let me know in advance and make arrangements with me to turn in your work ahead of time.
Incompletes: Will only be given in the event of documented emergencies.
Classroom courtesy: Much of this class will consist of discussion, which a little care will help us keep productive. First, please listen carefully and actively to what your fellow classmates have to contribute and do not interrupt. Secondly, while we are free to disagree with each other's opinions and perspectives, how we disagree is critical. Please respond with respect to opinions you do not share.
Plagiarism: Please see the university's policy on plagiarism (Student Guide). Anyone caught plagiarizing will be subject to disciplinary action from the university and will receive an automatic F. Be sure that you cite all outside work correctly-this means every quotation, every paraphrase, and every idea you pick up from an outside source-and do not even think about cribbing a paper from the internet or another student. You should know that instructors often pass around suspicious papers (or suspicious passages from papers).
Grading
| Response papers | 25 percent |
| Presentation | 15 percent |
| Mid-term exam | 25 percent |
| Final paper | 25 percent |
| Participation | 10 percent |
