The Novel: American Classics
English 4340.001
W 7-9:30 Fall 2007
Welcome to our survey of American novels. The purpose of this course is to help you develop a sound understanding of some major works of American fiction and the themes of some important American novelists from the early Federal period to about 1940.
Your course grade will be achieved by regular attendance and active class participation (10% of the course grade, based on my subjective judgement, your attendance, and your completion of reaction papers) and by accomplishing satisfactory work on three examinations (30% of the course grade each). One exam may be replaced by a research paper on a subject approved by the instructor. [A documented paper must be at least 6 pages in length (typed, double spaced, one-inch margins), and the instructor must approve the essay topic in advance and arrange a due date.]
The examinations will be a combination of in-class multiple-choice questions and take-home essays.
I also require that you write a one-page paper about each novel and turn
this paper in on the day we begin discussion of that novel; you may write in
response to any aspect of the book; just have a reaction and write it down.
[The purpose of the reaction paper assignment is to encourage you to read the
novels in advance of class discussion, and to interact with the story in some
way.] Late work will not be accepted unless arrangements have been made
in advance. You may withdraw with a
My office is FC 288, and my office phone number is 825-2360. I will be in and around the office MWF 11a.m. - noon, 9-10:30 on TTH, and from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Please come then, or make an appointment. I have voice mail, so you may leave a message if I'm not in when you call.
Our texts this term are C.B. Brown, Wieland; J.F. Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans; N. Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter; H. Melville, Moby Dick; L.M. Alcott, Little Women; Mark Twain and C.D. Warner, The Gilded Age; E. Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises; William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury; Edith Wharton The Age of Innocence; Richard Wright, Native Son..
Special Notices: 1) The Americans with Diabilities Act (ADA)
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning
environment that provides for reasonable accomodation of their
disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accomodation, please contact the Disability Services Office at (361) 825-5816
or visit the office in Driftwood 101. 2)
If you are majoring, or planning to major, in an field taught in the
Expectations for Student Behavior:
This class will begin promptly at 7 p.m. You are expected to be in your seat when class begins. If you enter late, enter quietly. The class lasts until it is dismissed; wait for it. Students are expected to come to class and stay for the full period; if you must leave early, please tell the professor before class begins. Do not schedule work or other activities which conflict with our meetings. If you must be absent on some University-related activity, such as a sports competition, please consult with the Professor before that absence. Absences for sports and campus activities are not "excused", so assignments should be turned in before an absence takes place.
Please respect the rights of your fellow students and professor to learn and teach in a positive environment. Don’t chat with your neighbors while others are addressing the class. Disruptive behavior is not appropriate and may be sanctioned; courteous treatment of others is required and the TAMU-CC Student Code of Conduct will be observed. Cell phones, pagers, etc. must be turned off or set to silent signal during class. If you must take a call, take it outside.
I look forward to an interesting and productive term with you.
P.S. please read your assignments in advance of class discussion; you wont learn much from our discussions if you haven't read your books.
David Mead
Professor of English
Rev. 8/20/07
Provisional Schedule
Aug 22 Introduction to Course. Read Wieland for the next class meeting.
29 Brown, Wieland. Read The Last of the Mohicans by Cooper
Sep 5 Cooper The Last of the Mohicans. Read
12
19 Melville, Moby Dick
26 Melville Moby Dick
October 3 Examination #1 Read Alcott Little Women
10 Alcott Little Women Read Twain/Warner, The Gilded Age.
17 Twain/Warner, The
Gilded Age. Read Wharton, The Age of Innocence
24 Wharton, The Age of Innocence
31 Examination #2 Read Read Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
Nov 07 Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises Read Wright, Native Son
14 Wright, Native Son Read Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury
21 TBA
28 Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury Last class meeting before final exam.
Dec 12 Final Examination Period – Exam may begin at 7:15