Required Materials:
Baym, Nina, et. al., Eds. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Shorter Fourth Edition. Norton.

Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Plume.

Yamanaka, Lois-Ann. Saturday Night at the Pahala Theatre.

Bamboo Ridge.

an active UH e-mail account

Reading Schedule

Course Description

This class will focus on literary works produced during three dynamic periods in the development of American culture and society: the period of European exploration and early colonization from the fifteenth to the seventeenth centuries, the Civil War period in the nineteenth century, and the late twentieth century in which we are now living. One of the central aims of our reading is to understand how language represents and shapes our experience of the social world. The writing assignments and exams are designed to help you gain skills in analysis, interpretation, and argumentation as well as to introduce you to fundamental methods and terms used in literary scholarship.

Classes will meet in the assigned classrooms unless otherwise announced. Some classes will be scheduled in the Critique Lab in KUY 411, and some assignments may require access to a computer outside of class.

One mid-term examination, one final examination covering material from the whole semester, two papers of 5-7 pages, and daily in-class written responses to the assigned reading. I reserve the right to give unannounced, graded quizzes if I feel that students are not completing the reading. Students are also expected to participate actively in both our in-class and online discussions.

For each paper, you will submit a draft which will be reviewed by the instructor and by your peers. You will be graded only on the revised version of this draft.

Written assignments, including drafts, are to be turned in at the beginning of the class period on the due date. Grades for late assignments will be lowered by one letter grade for every day after the due date.

Each paper will make up 20% of your final grade, each exam will count 20%, and in-class written responses will constitute 20%. Please review the sheet on grades carefully and become familiar with the criteria.

Final grades will be calculated with the following values:

A+ 98% B+ 88% C+ 78% D+ 68% F 55%

A 95% B 85% C 75% D 65% assignment not turned in = 0

A- 92% B- 82% C- 72% D- 62%

Incompletes will be given only in emergencies.

Regular attendance is mandatory and will be recorded. Absences due to illness or a family emergency will be excused as long as you provide adequate documentation, such as a note from the Student Health Center. More than six (6) unexcused absences will be considered grounds for a failing grade in the course. You are expected to arrive on time. If you come in after roll has been called, you must report to me at the end of class to ensure that your presence is been recorded.

Please speak with me immediately if any circumstances arise that make it difficult for you to attend class or to complete assignments on time. It is often possible to work out solutions to such problems, but you are responsible for keeping me informed about your situation. Don’t wait until the end of the semester.

The University of Hawai‘i regulations strictly forbid plagiarism and collusion. In this class, all material turned in for a grade must be your own original work. Submitting someone else's writing as your own, arranging for someone else to do your writing for you, or purchasing papers will earn you a failing grade for the assignment and may result in a failing grade for the course. Please read the handout on plagiarism and ask about any issues that you do not understand.

Reading Schedule