Course Description
American Novels
Christine Tutlewski
350-263-001
Office: Curtin 408
MWF 9:30
Phone: 229-6442
Course Syllabus
Required Material:
James Fenimore Cooper, Last of the Mohicans (1826)
Rebecca Harding Davis, Life in the Iron-Mills (1861)
Kate Chopin, The Awakening (1899)
Theodore Dreiser, Jennie Gerhardt (1911)
William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury (1929)
Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)
John Irving, The World According to Garp (1978)
Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)
Course reader that will provide an historical/cultural context for
the novels
Course Description:
In this course, we will be reading, discussing, and writing about a
wide range of American novels. More specifically, we will look at the
ways in which these novels support and/or challenge democratic ideals
of freedom, equality and individualism. In turn, we will consider how
the novels' treatment of these ideals might influence the ways in
which we think about cultural issues, in particular, issues of gender,
race, sex, and class.
Assignments:
Weekly Written Responses to Readings (1-2 typed pages)
Two papers (5-7 pages) One due at midterm, one at the end of the
semester Participation in class discussion and activities
Grades:
25% for Weekly Responses
25% for Midterm essay
25% for Final essay
25% for Participation
Attendance: Three absences are permitted
Late Papers: One late Weekly Response is permitted
No late Midterm or Final papers permitted.
Incompletes: None permitted
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