Course Outline for English 35
Modern and Contemporary U.S. Literature

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 12/15/2016
Catalog Description:

ENGL 35 - Modern and Contemporary U.S. Literature

3.00 Units

U.S. literature from the second half of the 19th Century to the present, including poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays. This class explores each work in relation to its social, cultural and historical contexts, and emphasizes the analysis of defining moments of the times as they are reflected in literature. The content of course closely examines distinctive literary movements and chronology of American literature since the mid-19th century: including Realism, Modernism, Harlem Renaissance, and Contemporary Literature, reflecting the diversity of American voices.
Prerequisite: Eligibility for ENGL 1 as determined by multiple measures or other appropriate method or, ENGL 102 or ENGL 101B Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1 or ENGL 1A.
1501.00 - English
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. demonstrate familiarity with and have developed a critical perspective on the varied achievements in literature by American writers since the mid-19th Century;
  2. analyze literary works in relation to their historical, social and cultural contexts;
  3. demonstrate knowledge of the structure of the works studied and analyze their literary components, including plot, character, tone, style, and figurative uses of language (such as metaphor, irony, symbol, paradox);
  4. contrast the diversity of the works while comparing their treatment of common themes, especially in response to social and political changes;
  5. critically evaluate distinctive eras and chronology of American literature since the mid-19th Century: Realism, Modernism, Harlem Renaissance, Contemporary Literature.
  6. demonstrate knowledge of how cultural/historical lenses have shaped what is or is not considered “literature” or worthy of study, with particular attention to the late 20th century opening of the canon to reflect multi-cultural voices.
  7. demonstrate understanding of how literature both reflects and helps create history and culture;
  8. prepare a research-based project on a genre, a theme, or a school of thought in American literature.
Course Content:
  1. Influential and significant, as well as diverse and under-represented, texts and authors
    1. Use both traditional texts and non-traditional, non-canonized texts
    2. Incorporate texts from underrepresented groups: i.e. Native American, African American, Hispanic American, Arab American, Asian American.
  2. Representative sample of literary works, including but not limited to poetry, drama, prose fiction and nonfiction.
    1. Plays
    2. Novels
    3. Short stories
    4. Non-fiction 
    5. Graphic novels
  3. Connections between different historical literary traditions, contexts, and genres
  4. Contexts of American literature:  
    1. Historical
    2. Philosophical
    3. Social
    4. Political
    5. Aesthetic
  5. Reading, analyzing, interpreting and writing about American literature from the second half of the 19th century to the present, including diverse voices from a variety of ethnic and cultural groups
  6. Media relevant to the historical, social, and critical contexts for the works studied
    1. Films
    2. Videos
    3. Music
    4. Blogs
    5. Websites
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Presentation
  3. Oral and Written Analysis
  4. Group Activities
  5. Research project
  6. Guest speakers
  7. Field Trips
  8. Activity play
  9. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write an essay analyzing the experimental style of Kingston’s The Woman Warrior in terms of its specific contribution to American postmodernism
  2. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the revolutionary mid-19th Century visions of Whitman’s Leaves of Grass and Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
  3. Write a research paper involving a critical analysis of thematic or structural aspects of the works considered
  4. Give an oral presentation with a group of students on a scholarly article The Bluest Eye.
  1. Class Work
  2. Group Projects
  3. Papers
  4. Oral Presentation
  5. Quizzes
  6. Attendance
  7. Research Projects
  8. Final Examination
  9. Journals
  10. Homework
  11. Midterm Examination
  12. Class Participation
  13. ATI exams
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate familiarity with the self-expressed perspectives of the represented groups.
  2. Demonstrate familiarity with the structure and literary devices of the works studied
  3. Read and appreciate the diversity of the literature while identifying some common themes
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. O"Neill, Eugene (2002). Long Day's Journey Into Night Yale UP.
  2. Douglass, Frederick (2005). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Barnes and Noble Publishing.
  3. Whitman, Walt (2012). Leaves of Grass Simon & Brown.
  4. Faulkner, William (2009). As I Lay Dying Norton Critical Edition.
  5. Hurston, Zora Neale (2006). Their Eyes Were Watching God Harper & Row.
  6. Anzaldua, Gloria (2012). La frontera/Borderlands Aunt Lute Books.
  7. Morrison, Toni (2004). Beloved Vintage .
  8. Kingston, Maxine Hong (2015). The Woman Warrior Picador.
  9. O'Brien, Tim (2009). The Things They Carried Mariner.
  10. Diaz, Junot (2008). The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Riverhead books.
  11. Choi, Susan (2003). American Woman Perennial.
  12. Brady, Pat (2009). Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume E, 1945-Present Cengage.
  13. Curnutt, Kirk (2009). Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume D (1910-1945) Cengage.
  14. Lauter, Paul (2009). Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume C (1865-1910) Cengage.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
U.S. literature from the second half of the 19th Century to the present, including poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays.
Prerequisite: Eligibility for ENGL 1 as determined by multiple measures or other appropriate method or, ENGL 102 or ENGL 101B Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1 or ENGL 1A.
Discipline:
English*