Last Updated 11-26-01 [printable version]

Basic Information

Course: EN140.1
Location: Carney 102
Time: MWF, 3:00 p.m.

Instructor Information

Tim Lindgren
Office Hours: Mon. 1:30-2:30, 4:00-4:30; Friday 1:30-2:30, 4:00-4:30, and by appointment.
Office: McGuin 529C
E-mail:
Home page: http://www2.bc.edu/~lindgret/

Required Texts

Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 10
Fanny Fern, Ruth Hall (Rutgers)

Course Description

This course is meant as an introduction to a wide variety of works written between the first English settlements in America and the Civil War. No prior knowledge of the literature in this period is assumed, and English majors, American studies minors, and non-majors are all welcome.

As we read, we will pay attention to the roles metaphor, symbol, language, theme, structure, style, and world view play in literary texts, and will examine the way American writers use various literary forms (history, journal, narrative, sermon, essay, letter, poetry, short story, novel) to achieve their particular purposes and effects. We also will attempt to read literary works as social texts embedded in particular cultural, political, religious, and environmental contexts.

Requirements

Participation	10%	• 3 allowed unexcused absences • One required online response per week • regular in-class participation
Presentation	15%	By sign-up
Mid-Term	15%	October 5
Essay #1	15%	Due Thursday, October 11
Essay #2	20%	Due December 11 by noon
Final Exam	25%	December 17

1. Participation
Participation in this course involves attending class regularly, arriving on time, contributing to class discussion, and submitting at least one online reading response per week.

Your response should show your engagement with the readings for the day. They need not be long--250-300 words--but they should be focused and thoughtful, reflecting the particular insights and questions you will be bringing to class. I won't grade individual responses--you'll receive full credit if you keep up throughout the semester (you are allowed one miss).

The online response is due by 12:00 noon on your assigned day so that I will have a chance to read them before class. Late entries will received only half credit.

If for some reason you cannot access this page, e-mail me your response and I will post it to the discussion board later. You may want to write your response in Word and then paste it into the message field so you don't lose your work if something goes wrong.

Response schedule:

Monday Kari Russ Mike Cahir Kevin Schwartz Dave Capozza Krystal Mims Jared Treiber Tim Wientzen

Wednesday Steve Andon Chrissy Linnemeier Thomas Duncan Youssef Rizk Linsey McCombs Patrick Mooney Erin Murray Sonya Petri

Friday Naveen Ganesh Jason Youmatz Brendan Rourke Sungnam Yi Kevin Donovan Beth Bowers Pete Schruth Jason Ciccone

 

2. Presentation
This small research assignment requires you research an extra-literary topic and present your findings to the class through an oral presentation and a short online bibliography. Aim to make your presentation provocative and brief. Leave us with some questions to ponder and some insights that open up the text in new ways.

The assignment as three components:
• Individual Meeting: talk with me at least a week before your presentation to discuss your research topic
• Presentation: present your findings for an 8-9 minute presentation on your assigned day. I won't allow you to go longer than the allotted time, so please plan accordingly.

Note: It's crucial that you give your presentation on the day you've signed up for since your topic will be linked to a particular text or author. If you miss, it is unlikely there will be another time to make it up on the same topic and you will probably have to find another one.

3. Mid-Term Exam
This will cover the literature of colonial America and will involved passage identification and short essays. (Description).

4. Essay #1
A 4-5 page close reading. (Description).

5. Essay #2
A 7 page essay on a topic of your choosing from the 19th century.

6. Final Exam
The final will cover the 19th century and likely involve a take-home essay component and an in-class objective section.

Grading Policies

Absences and late assignments will be penalized when there seem to be no extraodinary circumstances barring you from showing up or finishing work on time.

What are valid excuses? Illness, a death in the family, or other extraordinary circumstances, not getting a flat tire, oversleeping, or going home early for Thanksgiving.

1. Late papers without a valid excuse will be docked 5% points per day.

2. Missed exams without a valid excuse will be docked 5% if made up later.

3. After three unexcused absences, your participation grade will decrease one percentage point per day missed. After six unexcused absences, you will fail the course automatically.