ENG 254 Survey of American Literature

This course acquaints students with representative works of important American writers, literary forms, and significant currents of thought. Primary emphasis is on reading and engaging with the literary materials, with an introduction to practices of literary interpretation. Questions of genre, authorship, aesthetics, and literary movements may be examined in their relationships to social, political, and intellectual movements of the United States. The course will draw on material produced after the American Civil War period.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Read and comprehend a variety of genres from diverse American literary traditions created during and after the Civil War
2. Use close reading and interpretive frameworks to examine relationships between texts and their social, historical, cultural and literary contexts
3. Explore how literature reflects and shapes perceptions of critical social issues such as racism, attitudes toward immigrants, and the rights of women
4. Demonstrate awareness of the power and nuance of language: distinguish between denotative and connotative meanings in texts
5. Contribute to collaborative learning through formal and informal writing and discussion forums and/or creative projects. Use textual evidence to support interpretive claims about literary works