GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

COURSE INFORMATION OUTLINE

 

COURSE NO.:  LIT 216                     TITLE:  American Literature: Post-Civil War to Present

 

CREDIT HOURS:  3                           CONTACT HOURS:  3

 

FULL CATALOG DESCRIPTION: 

 

Examines American literature from the post-Civil War era (1865) to present day. Looks at the American tradition/culture and how each artist fits within his or her historical context through the literary periods of realism, naturalism, modernism, and post-modernism. Explores how students fit into the American tradition/culture. Teaching methods may include small group discussions, lectures, independent study, and the use of computer labs. Prerequisite: ENG 101.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES (STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES):

 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

  1. Complete exams on four literary periods, to demonstrate knowledge of the historical and social context of literary works and their appropriate periods, with a minimum average competency of 70%;
  2. List four main American literary periods after 1865, in order to demonstrate ability to differentiate among period characteristics, in order to demonstrate ability to differentiate among period characteristics;
  3. Identify in writing a minimum of five influential writers of each period, in order to demonstrate familiarity with early American writers;
  4. Describe in writing a minimum of three characteristics and two to three literary themes (connected to social and historical context)  for each literary period;
  5. Write a minimum of four standard response papers (two to five pages), to demonstrate familiarity with reader and text relationships as a method for defining American literary tradition;
  6. Write a standard composition (two to five pages) identifying and discussing at least one female or minority writer from each literary period, to demonstrate comprehension of how women and minorities influenced, were viewed within, and viewed themselves.
  7. *Complete a 1600-2000 word MLA-style research paper demonstrating an ability to apply one literary critical method to a piece of literature as evidence of the student’s appreciation for literature and its traditions.

 

* This course objective has been identified as a student learning outcome that must be formally assessed as part of the College’s Comprehensive Assessment Plan. All faculty teaching this course must collect the required data (see Assessing Student Learning Outcomes form) and submit the required analysis and documentation at the conclusion of the semester to the Office of Assessment and Special Projects.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:

 

Readings, videos/films, lectures, group discussions, writing assignments, library research, and exams.

 

CRITERIA FOR GRADING:

 

A student’s final grade is determined on the basis of successful completion of all assigned essays, readings, exams, quizzes, journal writing, attendance, or participation.

 

REQUIRED TEXT(S):

 

Discretion of the instructor. Anthology and/or individual works.

 

SUPPLEMENTARY READING/PRINCIPAL REFERENCES:

 

Discretion of the instructor.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT

 

COURSE NO.: LIT 216              TITLE: American Literature: Post-Civil War to Present

 

I.      Introduction to literary genres

 

II.     Realism

 

III.   Naturalism

 

IV.   Modernism

 

V.    Post-modernism

 

Description Revised:  Spring 2004

Dated:  Fall 2002