Literatures of the United States from the
mid-20th century to the present include the work of Nobel Prize
winners and writers who have been influential around the world. It has also
been an extremely exciting time in terms of innovations to genre, the evolution
of ideas about identity, gender, nation, culture, political life, and other
social issues. THE HEATH ANTHOLOGY, the text for this class, includes diverse
fiction writers, poets, and essayists, writing about watershed moments in
United States culture and letters. Lyrical, sometimes polemical, always
compelling, these writers depict and critique profound changes in the U. S. of
the past 60 years. Our engagement with the literature will be focused on the
following thematic clusters: 1) Aesthetics and Politics of the 1960s and 1970s:
Black, Brown, Yellow, Red; 2) Landmark Legislation; 3) Nature and Spirituality;
4) America in the World/ The World in America: Globalization and Post-9/11
American Culture.
This class is writing intensive. Be ready
to do a substantial amount of formal and informal writing. Class discussions
emphasize collaboration; this is a group-directed reading and not primarily a
lecture class. You will benefit most from the course if you engage with the
wide variety of literature by paying close attention to the ways that authors
convey emotions and ideas. We’ll use a common literary vocabulary that is not,
however, to be considered the only way to talk about literature. Among your
goals in this class should be the development of independent, analytical,
interpretative and research skills.
Student Learning Outcomes
include 1) The ability to identify the major literary themes, authors and texts
of the period; 2) The ability to use, in class discussions and written
assignments, literary terms and concepts appropriate to a 300-level course; 3)
To begin to acquire strategies for connecting texts to a broader cultural and
historical context.
Requirements include: Two essays (minimum of 6 pages, double-spaced, typed, 1-inch margins);
four response papers (at least 2, double-spaced pages); an individual class
presentation of 5 to 10 minutes, accompanied by a 2-page, double-spaced paper;
final take-home, essay exam.
Required Text:
THE HEATH ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE: CONTEMPORARY PERIOD (1945 TO THE
PRESENT), VOLUM E, 6TH EDITION BY LAUTER, ET AL.
(ONLINE, DOWNLOADABLE EDITION)