Dear students:
While I am away, I would like you to concentrate on the topics of American literature that you would like to research and to finally publish your research on your group web site. I wouldn't mind if you chose to work on any topic from Prof. Volkova's list or her suggested typology topics. You can also have a look at the list of my suggested topics.
1. Shine Your Shoes for the Fat Lady, or Spiritual Quest in J.D.Salinger’s Novels “Franny" and "Zooey”
2. J.D.Salinger’s concept of raising children (The Glass Family as his idea of New Age people)
3. Eastern Philosophy in Salinger’s Writings (stories “Teddy”, “Franny”, “Zooey”)
4. Zen Buddhism and the Beat Generation
5. Flapper Culture in “The Great Gatsby”.
6. Modern American Authors on the Art of Writing
7. Josef Brodsky’s Writings in English
8. American Dream in “The Great Gatsby”.
9. Post-War American Society in the novel “The Winter of our Discontent”.
10. The search for American Identity in J. Steinbeck’s novels.
11. F.S. Fitzgerald as a Chronicler of the Jazz Age (stories “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”, “Winter Dreams”, “The Rich Boy”, “The Diamond as Big as the Ritz”).
12. Saul Bellow: a great fantasist (“Henderson the Rain King”).
13. Herzog by Saul Bellow: a novel of redemption
14. The Story of Failure and Success in “Humboldt’s Gift” by Saul Bellow
15. Searching for the Sense of Life: Walker Percy’s “ The Moviegoer”.
16. Fitting in the “middle America”: Rabbit’s trilogy (Rabbit, Run, Rabbit Redux, Rabbit is Rich) 17. William Burroughs and postmodernism in AmLit.
18. Nabokov’s “Pnin”: triumphs and its failures of Russian émigré experience in the United States.
19. Nabokov on the nature of time (Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle and Transparent Things) 20. Experience of a Prisoner of War in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five”.
21. Ezra Pound as an Architect of English and American Literary Modernism.
22. Robert Frost, a homespun Yankee sage
23. American Writers: Nobel Prize Laureates
24. The Beatnik Philosophy in the works of Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac
25. Tennessee Williams’ plays (The Streetcar Named Desire & The Glass Menagerie)
26. What does McMurphy represent in Ken Kesey’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest"
27. Female Images in Toni Morrison's Sula and Beloved.
Your site will focus on one or two of the authors and it has to include the following literary elements or techniques you are familiar with:analysis of the text;historical, biographical, cultural contextual information;online versions of literary works (as links).This project will give you the opportunity to consolidate and expand upon the work you’ve done this semester. You will have to conduct research in relation to your author/s: their literary works; some biographical information; socio-historical context; related criticism and specific references to the text you choose to include just as you’ve been doing in discussions in class. My advice is to take a topic you are really interested in. It can deal either with the authors we'll be discussing in class, or with works of literature which we won't be able to tackle this semester.
By Oct. 11, I expect you to find partners (a group may consist of 2-4 students) who you would like to work on the project with, to choose a topic of your collaborative project and to explain the reasons for choosing it by leaving a comment on my weblog and reporting who you have teamed up with.
Best of luck,
Anna Vladimirovna
вторник, 18 сентября 2007 г.
Assignment for Oct.11
Washington Irving (1783-1859)
1. Read W.Irving’s short biography
2. Read "Rip Van Winkle" , SAL pp.43-44 (basic stylistic devices)
суббота, 8 сентября 2007 г.
Assignment for Sept.13
Colonial Beginnings + Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)1. Read Ch. 1, 2 from "An Outline of AmLit" by Peter High
2. Listen to Lecture 2 to by Prof. Arnold Weinstein and be ready to
compare and contrast Franklin's philosophy with that of his counterpart, Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan philosopher.
3. Read selections from "Authobiography" (you were given the handouts).
4. Watch the video below and write down 3 quotes by B.Franklin that you liked best.
пятница, 7 сентября 2007 г.
Fall Semester Syllabus
Week 1 - Sep. 6
Introduction to the course.
Week 2 – Sep. 13
National Beginnings
Read: Benjamin Franklin HAL p.10-15
Week 3- Sep. 20
Washington Irwing “Rip Van Winkle”
Read: SAL p.9-10 W.Irving’s short biography (http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/wirwing.htm)
Week 4 – Sep.27 Washington Irwing, “The Devil and Tom Walker”
Read: “The Devil and Tom Walker” http://www.ffl.msu.ru/staff/stitova/amlit/tom%20walker.html
Week 5 – Oct.4 Nathaniel Hawthorne , “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” Read: HAL p.44, SAL p.10-11 “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/sid.6/bookid.196/
A Short Biography of N. Hawthorne: http://www.ffl.msu.ru/staff/stitova/amlit/NathanielHawthorne.doc
Week 6- Oct.11
Edgar Allen Poe – “The cask of Amontillado”
Read: HAL p.119, HAL p.135-139 “The cask of Amontillado”
Poe’s Chronology: http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poechron.htm
Short biography: http://poesss.narod.ru/
“The influence and reputation of Edgar Allan Poe in Europe”
Week 7 – Oct. 18 Edgar Allen Poe – “The Purloined Letter”
Read: “The Purloined Letter”
SAL p.13-14
Poe's Method of Narration
Week 8 – Oct. 25
Midterm test
Week 9 – Nov.1
H.Longfellow – “Hymn to the Night” and “The Secret of the Sea”
Read: HAL p.77-81, SAL p.35, p.53-56.
Week 10 – Nov.8
Transcendentalism
Week 11-Nov.15
Walt Whitman – “There was a Child” and “I hear America Singing”
Read: HAL p.82-86, SAL p.36
Whitman’s biography by E.Folsom and K.Price
Week 12 – Nov. 22
Walt Whitman – “Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun”
Read: HAL 85-86, 87. SAL p.55-59
Week 13- Nov.29
Emily Dickinson – “Success”, “I taste a liquor never brewed”, “Much Madness is divinest sense” Read: HAL p.90-92, SAL p.37-38
“Emily Dickinson’s Life” by Paul Crumbley
Week 14 – Dec. 6 Cumulative Vocabulary test
Week 15 – Dec.13 Web Projects Presentation
Week 16 – Dec. 20 Presentation of the collaborative project proposal
Introduction to the course.
Week 2 – Sep. 13
National Beginnings
Read: Benjamin Franklin HAL p.10-15
Week 3- Sep. 20
Washington Irwing “Rip Van Winkle”
Read: SAL p.9-10 W.Irving’s short biography (http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/wirwing.htm)
Week 4 – Sep.27 Washington Irwing, “The Devil and Tom Walker”
Read: “The Devil and Tom Walker” http://www.ffl.msu.ru/staff/stitova/amlit/tom%20walker.html
Week 5 – Oct.4 Nathaniel Hawthorne , “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” Read: HAL p.44, SAL p.10-11 “Dr.Heidegger’s Experiment” http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/sid.6/bookid.196/
A Short Biography of N. Hawthorne: http://www.ffl.msu.ru/staff/stitova/amlit/NathanielHawthorne.doc
Week 6- Oct.11
Edgar Allen Poe – “The cask of Amontillado”
Read: HAL p.119, HAL p.135-139 “The cask of Amontillado”
Poe’s Chronology: http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poechron.htm
Short biography: http://poesss.narod.ru/
“The influence and reputation of Edgar Allan Poe in Europe”
Week 7 – Oct. 18 Edgar Allen Poe – “The Purloined Letter”
Read: “The Purloined Letter”
SAL p.13-14
Poe's Method of Narration
Week 8 – Oct. 25
Midterm test
Week 9 – Nov.1
H.Longfellow – “Hymn to the Night” and “The Secret of the Sea”
Read: HAL p.77-81, SAL p.35, p.53-56.
Week 10 – Nov.8
Transcendentalism
Week 11-Nov.15
Walt Whitman – “There was a Child” and “I hear America Singing”
Read: HAL p.82-86, SAL p.36
Whitman’s biography by E.Folsom and K.Price
Week 12 – Nov. 22
Walt Whitman – “Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun”
Read: HAL 85-86, 87. SAL p.55-59
Week 13- Nov.29
Emily Dickinson – “Success”, “I taste a liquor never brewed”, “Much Madness is divinest sense” Read: HAL p.90-92, SAL p.37-38
“Emily Dickinson’s Life” by Paul Crumbley
Week 14 – Dec. 6 Cumulative Vocabulary test
Week 15 – Dec.13 Web Projects Presentation
Week 16 – Dec. 20 Presentation of the collaborative project proposal
Fall 2007 Course Information
American Literature, 1800-1915
Instructor: Anna Vladimirovna Filatova
E-mail: filatowa@mail.ru
1. Course Description: This course explores a diverse body of nineteen-century literature, including fiction, poetry, and essays, and will help you to understand the texts through close reading and through analysis of the historical, cultural, and artistic value of the text.
2. Course Objectives:
This course has been designated to supplement a lecture course by Prof. E.I.Volkova to deeply and critically read complex literary texts and to delve into basic literary theory.
Your objectives for this course are to
1. Demonstrate familiarity with the social and political forces shaping American culture during the time period;
2. Use textual evidence to support your claims in oral and informal written discussion of assigned texts, without dismissing or oversimplifying views which differ from yours;
3. Organize and develop your initial reactions to assigned texts, through informal writing, peer critiques, and discussion;
4. Work on a collaborative web project that appropriately uses primary and secondary sources (including basic literary theory); Use online tools and resources;
5. Contribute actively to a positive learning environment.
To that end, you will:
read all assigned texts and reflect on them before class,
complete quizzes and exercises to ensure that you are keeping up with the readings and to evaluate your progress,
participate regularly in classroom and web-based discussions, and
do creative writing tasks.
The class format will be a seminar, with lots of discussion. You will be asked to develop the capacity to present and defend your own original thoughts about the assigned readings.
That being the case, it goes without saying that students are expected to keep up with the readings, to reflect on them before coming to class, and to contribute actively to creating an active, positive learning environment. We will make an ample use of the Web and we will end up creating our own web sites where you are expected to demonstrate critical thinking, your skills in creative writing, and your abilities to work in a team
4. Attendance.
Students are expected to attend every class. Because a large percentage of your course grade depends on your familiarity with the assigned readings, falling behind or procrastinating can lead to big trouble.
Students who miss a class period for any reason are still responsible for the material covered that day. An excused absence does not automatically grant an extension for any work collected or assigned that day. Please be prepared to take all the quizzes and tests, write an essay and have a one-on-one discussion with the instructor.
5. Class Participation
Students are expected to contribute actively to a positive classroom environment, both in person and online. Students who dislike public speaking may wish to invest more effort in their online writing, and vice-versa. Common sense and common courtesy dictate that absences, late arrivals and early departures, use of telephones or headphones, lack of preparation, and inattentiveness will impact your grade.
6. Required Books (please download them now for future use):
1. Titova.S. Studies in American Literature. MSU. 1999.
2. Reuben P. Halleck. History of American Literature.
3. William Lawton. Introduction to the Study of American Literature.Yonkers-on-Hudson, N.Y.; World Book Co. 1914.
4. Peter High. An Outline of American Literature. Longman. 1986
5. Monolingual English Dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary or Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.
In addition to the texts listed above, readings also include handouts and online texts. When we are scheduled to discuss an online text, bring a complete printout to class with you.
7. Grading
To succeed in the course, you will need to read assignments carefully (that is, more than once), and be prepared ro discuss the readings in-depth when you come to class. You will also be required to work on a web project and learn vocabulary.
Grading will be based on the following:
Attendance, Participation, and Quizzes 30%
Web Project 30%
Vocabulary Test 20%
Exam 20%
Instructor: Anna Vladimirovna Filatova
E-mail: filatowa@mail.ru
1. Course Description: This course explores a diverse body of nineteen-century literature, including fiction, poetry, and essays, and will help you to understand the texts through close reading and through analysis of the historical, cultural, and artistic value of the text.
2. Course Objectives:
This course has been designated to supplement a lecture course by Prof. E.I.Volkova to deeply and critically read complex literary texts and to delve into basic literary theory.
Your objectives for this course are to
1. Demonstrate familiarity with the social and political forces shaping American culture during the time period;
2. Use textual evidence to support your claims in oral and informal written discussion of assigned texts, without dismissing or oversimplifying views which differ from yours;
3. Organize and develop your initial reactions to assigned texts, through informal writing, peer critiques, and discussion;
4. Work on a collaborative web project that appropriately uses primary and secondary sources (including basic literary theory); Use online tools and resources;
5. Contribute actively to a positive learning environment.
To that end, you will:
read all assigned texts and reflect on them before class,
complete quizzes and exercises to ensure that you are keeping up with the readings and to evaluate your progress,
participate regularly in classroom and web-based discussions, and
do creative writing tasks.
At the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate
1. Competence in the critical reading of complex literary texts;
2. Intellectual engagement with your peers (in person and online);
3. Awarness of the historical, cultural, and formal issues that influence your developing responses to texts on the syllabus;
4. Ability to plan, draft, revise, and polish high-quality research in the form of a web site.
The class format will be a seminar, with lots of discussion. You will be asked to develop the capacity to present and defend your own original thoughts about the assigned readings.
That being the case, it goes without saying that students are expected to keep up with the readings, to reflect on them before coming to class, and to contribute actively to creating an active, positive learning environment. We will make an ample use of the Web and we will end up creating our own web sites where you are expected to demonstrate critical thinking, your skills in creative writing, and your abilities to work in a team
4. Attendance.
Students are expected to attend every class. Because a large percentage of your course grade depends on your familiarity with the assigned readings, falling behind or procrastinating can lead to big trouble.
Students who miss a class period for any reason are still responsible for the material covered that day. An excused absence does not automatically grant an extension for any work collected or assigned that day. Please be prepared to take all the quizzes and tests, write an essay and have a one-on-one discussion with the instructor.
5. Class Participation
Students are expected to contribute actively to a positive classroom environment, both in person and online. Students who dislike public speaking may wish to invest more effort in their online writing, and vice-versa. Common sense and common courtesy dictate that absences, late arrivals and early departures, use of telephones or headphones, lack of preparation, and inattentiveness will impact your grade.
6. Required Books (please download them now for future use):
1. Titova.S. Studies in American Literature. MSU. 1999.
2. Reuben P. Halleck. History of American Literature.
3. William Lawton. Introduction to the Study of American Literature.Yonkers-on-Hudson, N.Y.; World Book Co. 1914.
4. Peter High. An Outline of American Literature. Longman. 1986
5. Monolingual English Dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary or Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.
In addition to the texts listed above, readings also include handouts and online texts. When we are scheduled to discuss an online text, bring a complete printout to class with you.
7. Grading
To succeed in the course, you will need to read assignments carefully (that is, more than once), and be prepared ro discuss the readings in-depth when you come to class. You will also be required to work on a web project and learn vocabulary.
Grading will be based on the following:
Attendance, Participation, and Quizzes 30%
Web Project 30%
Vocabulary Test 20%
Exam 20%
Подписаться на:
Сообщения (Atom)
