Dr. Martin 3 credits

In this course, which serves general education and English major requirements, we will survey American literature since 1865, reading selections from The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter Seventh Edition, Volume 2. Our selections, taken from stories, novels, plays, poems, essays, and autobiographies, will reflect the cultural and historical variety of the times with emphasis upon the relationships between Realism and Naturalism and their bearing upon Modernism. We will read the texts carefully—in the process cultivating the analytical skills needed for academic writing—and discover not only what they seem to mean but also how they mean. Our readings will be supplemented by the often contradictory interpretations of critics, which will encourage independent thinking and deepen our understanding of American writing, ideas, values, and cultures. Reading quizzes will help keep everyone honest and introduce questions to enrich our discussions. Two exams will be followed by the drafting of a final thesis-driven research paper documented according to the conventions of MLA citation.

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