Instr:                  Stephen Powers
Office:                CRT 527,   229-2971
e-mail:                powers@uwm.edu
web page:         http://www.uwm.edu/~powers
Office hours:    M-Th 2:00-3:00, and by appointment

Course Information:                     MWF    10:30-11:20        CRT 124
 
 

Course Description

This course is a survey of American short stories from the nineteenth century to the present.  We will read the stories in chronological order and examine what makes them uniquely American in regards to theme, content, narrative strategies relevant to author and/or time period, and historical, political, and emotional contexts.  In this broad chronological reading, to quote Joyce Carol Oates in the introduction of our course anthology, "A [larger] tale will unfold, by way of numerous tales, that is...wonderfully American."  Some class time will be devoted to discussing the craft of the short story in particular.  For example, why do writers write short stories?  What exactly is a short story?  What are the benefits of the short story when compared to, say, the novel? What are the drawbacks?  We will read and discuss approximately two or three stories per week, but these won't be stories you'd typically
encounter in a literature class or find in an anthology.  Canonical writers such as Melville, Twain, and Hawthorne will be covered, but the stories we'll consider will be the ones that often have been overlooked by teachers of literature and editors of anthologies.  For example, many of us might have read Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," but how many of us have ever even heard of "Cannibalism in the Cars"?  As we approach the contemporary writers, feminist and minority voices will be emphasized in order to consider why and how, as reflected in the texts, the political, social, and literary climate of America has changed since the early days of American short stories.

Texts for course:
-- The Oxford Book of American Short Stories, edited by Joyce Carol Oates.
-- Brief course packet of critical essays and stories.
 

Grading:
10 short response papers (1 1/2 pages each): 25%
Mid-term exam: 25%
Final paper (5 pages): 25%
Short presentation: 15%
Participation and attendance: 10%

Attendance:
Attendance is required.  Three classes can be missed without penalty.  4-6 absences will result in a one-third reduction of the final course grade (A- to a B+, for example).  The final course grade will continue to be reduced by one-third for each absence beyond six.

Late work:
Late work will not be accepted.  No exceptions.  Students must make arrangements to turn in work or take the mid-term exam early if they know
they will be absent on due dates.