English 254: American Literature II

Syllabus: Winter, 2013

Professor Curt Yehnert website: www.wou.edu/~yehnerc/

Office: 315 Bellamy Hall 503-838-8362 e-mail: yehnerc@wou.edu

Office Hours: MW 11:30-12, T 10-12 and by appointment

I make every effort to be available to students. You are welcome to drop by during office hours if you have questions or need to talk with me, or we can make an appointment at a mutually convenient time. Please let me know if you’re having difficulties with the class and I’ll work with you to overcome them.

REQUIRED TEXT: Baym, et al, The Norton Anthology of American Lit, shorter seventh ed.

ABOUT THE COURSE:

English 254, the second half of the American literature survey, covers the wide range of literature from the Civil War to the present age, focusing on the fiction and poetry of naturalism, modernism, and postmodernism. Classes will be primarily discussion, so it is important for you to come to class ready to discuss, argue, question, express bewilderment, shock, pleasure or outrage at the day’s reading.

Institutional Aspirations for Learning:

Students will:

1) Develop refined analytical or reasoning skills, including logical reasoning and problem solving.

2) Develop effective communication abilities, including listening, observing, speaking, and writing.

3) Become active readers.

4) Understand disciplinary modes of intellectual inquiry.

Objectives for American Lit Surveys. Eng 253, 254

Students will be able to:

1) Develop an understanding of and appreciation for writings by peoples connected to the lands

and cultures in the United States.

2) Provide descriptive, interpretive and critical analyses of the literature studied.

3) Recognize the relationships between American literature and the history and cultures in the

territorial and political United States, from pre-settlement to the twenty-first century

Course Specific Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

1) Identify the formal elements of poems and stories, and analyze the relationship between the

elements.

2) Reflect on the relationship between formal elements to read more actively and analytically.

3) Use analytical and reasoning skills to produce meaning from stories and to develop oral and

written arguments using specific evidence.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Midterm and Final 40% (20% each)

Papers #1 & #2 40% (3-5 pages each, 20% each)

Class Participation 20% (Attendance is required. Participation grade includes

attendance plus your engagement with the class and course material.)

Resources

The Academic Advising and Learning Center offers academic tutoring and study skills assistance. The Academic Advising and Learning Center is located in APS 401, 503-838-8428 phone/TTY or 503-838-8501, www.wou.edu/provost/aalc/learning

The Technology Resource Center provides technology support and resources to faculty, staff and students. The Technology Resource Center is located in ITC 204, 503-838-8965, www.wou.edu/trc

Students with a documented disability that may require assistance should contact the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Office of Disability Services is located in APS 405, phone/TTY is 503-838-8721, www.wou.edu/student/disability

Library and Media services offers assistance with research and information retrieval. Ask for assistance at the reference desk in Hamersly Library, phone/TTY 503-838-8418.

University Mission:

Western Oregon University is a comprehensive university that creates personalized learning opportunities, supports the advancement of knowledge for the public good and maximizes individual and professional development. Our environment is open to the exchange of ideas, where discovery, creativity and critical thinking flourish, and students succeed.

Daily Syllabus

Jan

Mon 7 Introduction to course.

Wed 9 Chopin, “The Storm” (1611); “The Story of an Hour” (handout)

Mon 14 Crane, “Blue Hotel” (1795)

Wed 16 Frost, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” (1963);

“Stopping by Woods” (1963); “Mending Wall” (1953)

Mon 21 Martin Luther King Holiday

Wed 23 Chesnutt, “The Goophered Grapevine” (handout)

Mon 28 James, “Daisy Miller” (1495) parts I & II

Wed 30 James, “Daisy Miller” (1512) parts III & IV

Feb

Mon 4 Williams, “Red Wheelbarrow” (2014) "Just to Say," (2015)

"The Young Housewife" (2009)

Wed 6 PAPER #1 DUE; Cummings, “Buffalo Bill’s” (2175) // Stevens, "The Emperor

of Ice Cream" (1993); “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” (1997)

Mon 11 Stevens, “The Snow Man” (1992) // Faulkner, “Barn Burning”

(handout); Prep for Midterm Exam

Wed 13 MIDTERM EXAM

Mon 18 Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (2160)// Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants”

(handout)

Wed 20 Roethke, "My Papa's Waltz” (2321)// Bishop, “The Fish” (2399);

“One Art” (2407)

Mon 25 O'Connor, "Good Country People" (2569)// Plath, “Daddy” (2656)

Wed 27 O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (handout)

March

Mon 4 Carver, "Cathedral" (2733)

Wed 6 Erdrich, "Fleur" (2831); Boyle, “Chicxulub” (handout)

Mon 11 Chavez, "The Last of the Menu Girls" (handout)

PAPER #2 DUE

Wed 13 Carver, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” (handout)

Preparation for Final Exam

Fri 22 Final Exam 12-2