美國文學

In this survey of American literature from colonial times through the present, we will read and discuss poetry, fiction, drama, and essays. The course explores literature in part in terms of how it provides a genealogy of thought, an intellectual history of one of the most influential democracies, inspiring revolutions around the world (including non-democratic ones). However, America also is one of the most regressive countries in terms of how racializations have been mapped to pigmentation and bodily features so as to create a race-based classism in society, affecting equal access to jobs, healthcare, housing, and education. American thought and literature reflect this legacy of slavery, and yet in America, there is resistance, especially among the non-progressive populations of European descent (especially in the South) to own up to the history of slavery and how after slavery African Americans have been continuously denied equal access to the benefits of the system of extreme capitalism and individualism that defines America. Thus, many of the works included in this survey course speak to political questions that help one better understand why America is what it is today, with special attention to questions of social injustices against minorities including African Americans, Asian Americans, GLBTQs, differently-abled persons, the poor and disenfranchised, and even drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, trafficking victims, and homeless people—all reflecting issues facing America (and often the world) today.

Course open only to DFLL students (majors and minors) or by special permission (limited). Students should have advanced proficiency in reading, writing, and oral communication in English.

1. Plagiarism—copying (copying and pasting) the words or paraphrasing of others without putting them in quotations or acknowledging the source—will result in a zero grade. (This is true even on exams, if information has been memorized with minimal comprehension of the materials.) Be original by referring to multiple sources and synthesizing materials in ways that you devise. 2. Skipping class for 3 or more times with no official approval or proof from a hospital will result in failure of this course. All absences are subject to a -2 deduction from the final grade. Excused absences may be made up by writing an original essay on a topic arranged with the consent of the professor. 3. At the beginning of each class, students will turn in a response to the week's readings. The response must be thoughtful, original writing, typed and printed out on a full sheet of paper (A4). Late responses will not be accepted (6 minutes after class starts is considered late). Minimum length: 150 words. Be sure to include your English and Chinese names and student number. Since some weeks have multiple readings, I leave it to students to decide how to organize their responses. 4. Midterm and final exams include vocabulary (from the readings); identification (title and author); analysis and interpretation of imagery and structures, metaphors and allusions; essay questions (primarily on issues raised in class); and definition of technical terminology (literary terms and interdisciplinary borrowings). 5. Students will present individually (10 minutes maximum per student) and are graded individually; however, the work is divided within groups (one group for each day, usually). Presentation must focus on close reading of texts, only providing minimal necessary background information on authors and contexts.

Grading Marked absent for day: --Reading texts on computers and cell phones is not acceptable. --If using a computer in class (besides during breaks announced by the TA or professor); note that we do not always follow the clock and bells. 1. Class participation in dialogue (answering questions), and possible pop quizzes: 25% (graded on a point system of subtraction for non-presence when called upon to ask a question, or being unable to answer questions due to lack of preparation). I may call on anyone at any time. 2. Individual presentations (arranged in groups) (10%) and individual weekly responses to readings (15%): 25% 3. Midterm exam: 25% 4. Final exam: 25% 5. Attendance (absences subtracted from final grade: -2/absence). More than three absences automatically results in failing grade. Even excused absences must be made up by extra assignments (see professor for details if you find yourself in this situation). 6. Students not bringing a text to class will simply be marked by the TA as absent that day. You cannot study literature by listening to a lecture; you must engage the texts. 7, Students found reading non-class-related texts or computers or cell phones, will have points deducted from the final grade. Students can make up these lost points by answering questions in class. Handwritten notetaking in books and paper notebooks is required. This is for everyone, since in past classes I was too lax, and too many students failed the course.

Required: The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Beginnings to 1865 and 1865 to the Present. Shorter Tenth Edition. (Print edition.) Students not bringing a text to class will simply be marked by the TA as absent for that day. You cannot study literature by listening to a lecture; you must engage the texts and have your own text to annotate during class. Reading texts on computers and cell phones is not acceptable. Computers are banned in class. Handwritten notetaking in books and paper notebooks is required. This is for everyone, since in past classes I was too lax, and too many students failed the course.

地點

HC415

時間

Wed (3) EFG, by appointment.

聯絡方式

interpoetics@gmail.com brink@nycu.edu.tw x58115