Twentieth-Century American Literature
Spring 2012
Lecture: M/W 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Girvetz 1119
Teaching Associate: Patrick Mooney
Office Hours: Mondays 1-2 p.m. and Wednesdays 3:30-4:30 p.m. in South Hall 2432K, or by appointment.
Mailbox: English Department mail room, South Hall 3421.
E-mail: patrickmooney AT umail DOT ucsb DOT edu
Voicemail: (805) 272-0069
This course is a survey of 20th-century American literature and focuses on changes in notions of the nature of identity and social relationships between Americans during that time. We will be taking the small community as a primary lens through which to examine these ideas. We will be examining social/historical and individual/existential issues and concerns such as the bureaucratization of American thought (Babbitt); group identity and shared history in their positive and negative aspects (The Town); alienation (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter); urbanization, aesthetics, and technological change (You Can’t Go Home Again); changing notions of identity at the close of the twentieth century (The Human Stain); and banality, stodginess, disengagement, and evil (’Salem’s Lot, which also has fun bits about vampire hunting). Continuing course themes will include the development of American political concepts and identities, the implications of group membership and exclusion, the relationships between people and the places where they live, how small- to medium-sized town relationships map onto both larger communities (the nation, the state, the city, the world) and smaller groupings (friendships, social cliques, families, office power structures), and the shifting, competing definitions of humanity, citizenship, and identity in America during this period.
- Intermittent reading quizzes: 20% of final grade. Reading quizzes occur at the beginning of lecture and, if missed, cannot be made up. I will drop your two lowest quiz scores from inclusion in your final grade.
- Final exam, Monday, June 11, 4-7 p.m.: 30% of final grade.
- One four- to six-page paper, due on May 2: 25% of final grade.
- One four- to six-page paper, due on June 6: 25% of final grade.
- All course assignments must be completed, and at least five reading quizzes must be taken, in order to receive a grade above D+ for the course.
It is not important to me which version of the assigned texts you obtain. One of the unfortunate implications of dealing with the twentieth century is that many of the books we will be reading are still under copyright, and (in some cases) only currently being printed in a single edition by a single publisher. However, many of them have been produced in less expensive editions in the past, and you are welcome to obtain these editions, if you wish. I will try to cite by both page number and chapter numbers in lecture so that those of you using alternate versions of the texts can also benefit from references. I do expect that you will properly indicate the edition you are using in your papers, according to established academic standards.
You should always prepare for lecture by reading the assigned texts carefully and critically. Printing out the online readings (rather than reading them on your computer screen) will be helpful, because engaging directly with the text (writing in the margins, underlining, having something to throw physically across the room when you are frustrated or in violent disagreement) promotes comprehension and retention. It is also a good way to stay prepared for the final exam and to be ready to write when paper topics are assigned.
Our reading list is moderately heavy this term in comparison to some other junior-level English classes that you can take. You should ensure at the beginning of the quarter that you will be able to keep up with the reading, and that you will have the time to complete it attentively and critically. You should always have completed the assigned readings by the date indicated on this syllabus. Reading quizzes — which I am giving in lieu of a midterm exam — will be easy for those who have paid attention to the reading, and difficult for those who have not. Quizzes cannot be made up if missed (although I will drop your two lowest quiz scores), so be sure that you arrive in class on time and prepared.
You should always bring the week's readings with you to lecture.
Although this course is organized as a lecture, I welcome thoughtful, informed student participation in class. If you have questions or want additional information on a topic, or want to discuss additional implications of the texts and topics with which we are dealing, please let me know. Even more welcome is student participation in the form of dissent, disagreement, (appropriate) redirection of focus, the expression of alternative viewpoints, and relevant discussions between students on course topics. I have only three basic expectations related to discussion: that everyone contribute meaningfully to the group's discourse at some point in the quarter; that you arrive promptly, having read the assigned texts in a nuanced and engaged manner; and that everyone in class treat each other respectfully during discussions, even (especially!) when disagreements arise.
Incident
The Rose,
The Red Wheelbarrow,
The Pot of Flowers. Suggested: On GauchoSpace: William Blake,
The Sick Rose(only 8 lines).
i sing of Olaf glad and bigand
next to of course god america i.
Racial Formation.
America.
This Is Just To Say; Kenneth Koch,
Variations on a Theme By William Carlos Williams.
Introduction: Bill Moore's Bodyand
The Possessive Investment in Whiteness.
No-Name Woman
Isla Grande
The Occidental Tourist.
Daddyand
Lady Lazarus.
Interlude: Slavery andAmericanness.
Papers are due according to the schedule on this syllabus. Failure to turn in your paper on time will result in a reduction of ⅓ letter grade per day (e.g., an A- paper receives a B+ if turned in up to one day late) unless you have either made arrangements with me (at least 24 hours in advance) or have a genuinely serious and unavoidable emergency (family death, serious injury, natural disaster, etc.). If you turn in a late paper, you should put it in my box in the English Department's mail room (South Hall 3421) and must e-mail me before 5pm that day to be sure that I notice it and give you credit for turning it in on the proper day. If you must be absent from class on the day that your paper is due, you may leave your paper in my box before lecture begins.
Papers must be formatted according to the MLA standard. Among other things, this means that you should use one-inch margins, that your paper should be double-spaced, that there should be no extra spacing between paragraphs or other layout elements, that you should use a standard 12-point font, that you should have a standard list of works cited and use standard citation methodology for phrases and ideas originating elsewhere, etc. If your word processor does not conform to the MLA standard by default, it is your job to figure out how to override the defaults and produce an acceptably formatted paper. Any deviations from MLA standard (unless they are very, very small) will negatively impact your paper grade. Moreover, as this is a junior-level English class, you are expected to use the standard conventions of formal writing (including appropriate grammar, punctuation, and mechanics), and any substantial problems with these matters will also negatively impact your grade. If you have questions, please consult a writing handbook, or see me during my office hours. We will discuss expectations regarding papers at greater length before your first paper is due. You may also take a look at my grading rubric, if you like.
Your paper grade is not based on whether or not you agree with me. You are welcome to disagree in whole or part with the opinions and positions I express in lecture, in my office hours, or in other places, and this will not hurt your grade — what I expect from all students is that they will have a well thought-out argument that is closely tied to the text(s) with which they engage. Expressing a different opinion will not hurt you, provided that you can instantiate a logical reasoning process for that opinion, and provided that you can tie it closely to your textual materials. Contrapositively, agreeing with me will not necessarily benefit you: I will still expect you to instantiate a logical argument that is closely tied to the text. I do not grade you on your politics, religion, or other opinions: I grade you on your writing.
If you wish to dispute a grade you have received on a paper, you should provide a written statement indicating specific reasons why your grade should be different, and should take my comments on your paper into account. This statement should be delivered to me in person, dropped off in my box in the Sankey Room, or sent to me by e-mail. You must also provide me with a copy of your paper that has my comments on it. I do not re-evaluate papers based on general claims such as I just think I did better.
I am available during lecture, after lecture (most days), during my office hours, and by e-mail. If you need to see me but cannot come into my office during office hours, let me know and we will arrange another time to meet. I take my pedagogical responsibilities seriously, and want to help each and every one of you to be successful. Although I am willing to answer questions by e-mail, substantial and/or complex discussions about course material are more likely to be beneficial to both of us if they occur in person instead of electronically.
I try to respond to e-mail in a timely fashion, although you should understand that it may take me a day or two during busy parts of the quarter to answer messages. E-mailing me with an urgent question the night before a paper is due or a test is scheduled, therefore, is a bad idea. Please schedule your writing and studying so that any questions arise sufficiently far in advance of the due date and you are not left without feedback at the last minute. Please also note that my daytime responsibilities on campus may mean that I do not check my e-mail the last few hours before a paper is due or a test is scheduled.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you can receive e-mail at your U-Mail address, and that you check your U-Mail address regularly. Although I do not often contact students by e-mail (except to respond to e-mails that you send me), I may occasionally make general announcements in this way, or contact you personally about important issues. E-mails that I send out are considered to be course material for which you are responsible, and failure to notice an e-mail, or having a full e-mail box, does not exempt you from your responsibility to be aware of these announcements.
Please turn off your cell phone and any other electronic communications device(s) during lecture and exams. If you have a compelling reason for needing to be available in these ways during class (for instance, if you are an emergency responder, or there is a family emergency, or you need to be available to your childcare provider during class in case of emergency), please set your device to vibrate instead of making an audible tone. If you have a legitimate need to take a phone call during class, please leave the room if it becomes necessary to do so in order to minimize disruption for other students.
Anything and everything you turn in for class must represent your own original work. Although it is possible that your papers may build on existing research, it must always be clear which words and ideas in your paper are yours and which originate elsewhere. Your ultimate guide to all questions about plagiarism should be the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, which has a fairly comprehensive discussion of the subject in section two.
If you have questions about plagiarism or how to properly attribute the language and ideas of others, please see me after class or during my office hours.
Exams (including reading quizzes) must be completed based on knowledge that you carry in your own head. You are not allowed to consult notes or texts during exams, and must not look at anyone else's work during the course of the exam. It is your job to avoid even the appearance of cheating. Glancing at someone else's test during an exam — or at your cell phone — is cause for disciplinary action even if you do not use what you see in order to construct your answer.
Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in (at a bare minimum) removal from the course and will be referred to the University's student conduct committee. It is the University's policy (and mine, as well) that cheating in any form is antithetical to the basic goals of education, and I take all incidents, no matter how small, seriously. The maximum penalty possible for cheating or plagiarism is expulsion from the University.
If you are a student with a disability and require special accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible and apply for services with the Disabled Students Program (http://dsp.sa.ucsb.edu/).
University policy and Federal and state law require that all students be provided fair and equal access to educational services, regardless of race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or economic background. All students in this class are expected to treat each other with respect, and prejudicial or hate speech will not be tolerated. Professional speech and demeanor is expected from everyone in class at all times. Behavior and/or language that intimidate or negatively impact the attendance or performance of another student constitutes harassment and is unacceptable. This includes unwelcome sexual advances.
More broadly, we should be discussing texts and ideas, not attacking each other personally. Focusing on discussions of course material and related topics not only keeps us on task, but will ensure that everyone is able to participate effectively and gain as much as possible from the course.
If you have questions or concerns about university policies on equal access, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you do not feel comfortable speaking with me for any reason, you may contact UCSB's Title IX Compliance Office (http://www.oeosh.ucsb.edu/SexualHarssment/SexualHarassment.html), the Multicultural Center (http://mcc.sa.ucsb.edu/), the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/sgd/), or the Women's Center (http://www.sa.ucsb.edu/women/).
A collection of course materials can be found online at http://is.gd/ucihok (or, if you're fond of additional typing, at http://patrickbrianmooney.nfshost.com/~patrick/ta/s12/index.html). At a bare minimum, that site will have electronic copies of all handouts that I distribute during class. There is also a Twitter stream for the course, accessible from the same location, providing reminders about upcoming events and additional course-related information.
I expect that you will put in the necessary work to be prepared for lecture, that you will engage with the course material, that you will turn in your work on time, and that you will treat everyone else in class with respect. I want everyone to benefit from and to succeed in this course, and would be happy to hear input from you about how I can help you to do so. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know in my office hours, after lecture, or by e-mail.
I try very hard to be available to, supportive of, and understanding toward my students. If you are having difficulties with the course material, please come talk to me. If you have unusual, stressful, or bizarre things happen during the quarter that make it difficult for you to perform up to your potential in the course, please come talk to me. If you just can't seem to get started writing your paper, please come talk to me. If I can help you to be successful in any reasonable way, please let me know. If I'm not aware of what's going on in your life, however, it's difficult for me to assist you.
Policies and reading schedule are subject to change as the quarter progresses, and the most up-to-date copy of this syllabus is always available on the Web at http://is.gd/pubofe (or, equivalently, at http://patrickbrianmooney.nfshost.com/~patrick/ta/s12/eng104a/syllabus.html). However, please bring your hard copy of these guidelines with you to each lecture so you can keep notes on any changes that I may find it necessary to make.