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.

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.

3.Course Requirements:
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%