|
Dr.
Tom Shields GCB
1031 |
Class Hours: Office Hours: |
W 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Bate 2024) Tu/Th 10:00-10:45 a.m. |
ENGL 6250 (sect. 001)
American Realism
Fall 2003
In this course, we will examine texts written
between approximately 1865 and 1920. Questions will be raised about the tension
between writers of the day concerning realism and romance; about regionalism;
about the connection between the modes of production—especially periodical and
book production—and the works produced; about ways that the realist aesthetic
did and did not work for writers from various backgrounds; etc.
The course on ECU’s Blackboard system. (The
Blackboard Gateway <http://ecu.blackboard.com/>
is also available through the Quicklinks dropdown list on the ECU homepage <http://www.ecu.edu/>.) Updates to the syllabus can be also be found
at the class web site, <http://core.ecu.edu/engl/shieldse/engl6250/home.html>.
TEXTS:
The following are the required texts for the
course:
Cather, Willa. O Pioneers! New York: Dover
1993.
Dreiser, Theodore. Sister Carrie : An
Authoritative Text, Backgrounds, and Sources Criticism. 2nd ed. Ed. Donald
Pizer. New York: Norton, 1991.
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Selected Poems.
Mineola, NY: Dover, 1997.
Norris, Frank. McTeague. Intro. Eric Solomon. New York: Signet,
2003.
Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:
An Authoritative Text, Contexts and Sources, Criticism. 3rd ed. Ed.
Thomas Cooley. New York: Norton, 1999.
Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York:
Dover, 1991.
Zitkala-Ša (Gertrude Bonnin). American Indian
Stories. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 1985.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
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Date |
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Assignment |
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August |
27 |
Introduction |
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September |
3 |
Twain, Huck Finn |
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10 |
Twain, Huck Finn |
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17 |
CLASS CANCELLED—Hurricane Isabel |
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24 |
Dreiser, Sister Carrie |
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October |
1 |
Dreiser, Sister Carrie |
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8 |
Dunbar, Selected Poems Paper #1 Due (Find a Periodical Piece) |
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15 |
NO CLASS (Monday Classes Meet) |
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22 |
Wharton, Ethan Frome |
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29 |
Stephen Crane, “The Open Boat” (Online) Jack London, “To Build a Fire” (Online) Edward Ingle, “Roanoke: A Tale of Raleigh’s
Colony” (Online) Kelley Griffith, “The Genteel Heroine: Virginia
Dare One-Hundred Years Ago” (Online through Blackboard) |
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November |
5 |
Norris, McTeague |
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12 |
Norris, McTeague and Erich von Stroheim,
dir., Greed |
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19 |
Zitkala-Ša, American Indian Stories |
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26 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK |
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December |
3 |
Cather, O Pioneers! |
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10 |
Cather, O Pioneers! Research Paper Due |
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17 |
Final Exam (7:30-10:00 pm) |
Grades:
Grades will be determined by a periodical Project, a research paper, class
participation, and a final essay exam. The breakdown of the final grade is as
follows:
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Periodical Project |
25% |
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Research Paper |
40% |
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Class Participation |
20% |
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Final Examination |
15% |
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100% |
Periodical Project:
Each student will find a periodical piece from the period under study
(approximately 1865-1920) and write a paper that analyzes the article in the context
of the periodical as a whole. The piece may be almost anything—an essay on
aesthetics, a short story or poem, a book review, a scientific article, a
travel narrative, and editorial, etc. The analysis will focus on the piece
chosen, but will examine that piece in the context of the journal in which it
appeared and in context of the time when it was produced. The final product
will be a 4-5-page, typed paper.
Research Paper:
Each student will do a 10-15 page typed research paper on one or more works of
American literature from the period being studied, approximately 1865-1920.
Works not on the syllabus may be used, but check with the professor beforehand
to get approval. Any theoretical approach may be used. It is a good idea to
discuss your paper with the professor as you formulate your ideas. Papers must
use MLA documentation format.
Class Participation:
The main portion of the class participation grade will be several short (1-2
paragraph), unannounced essay responses to reading assignments done throughout
the semester. These are open-book and require students to analyze materials
assigned for that particular class period (and, sometimes, earlier
assignments). In addition, attendance and participation in class discussion
will be considered; not talking in class will not be counted again a student,
but contributing to class discussion in a useful manner will be noted.
Examination:
The final exam will be an in-class essay treating four of the works of the
student's choice on the syllabus using a single theme topic of the student’s
choice. The class will decide whether this will be an in-class or take-home
examination.