Disclaimer: Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor. In the event that there are changes to the syllabus, I will notify you both in-person and electronically.
Course Schedule:
Text 1: Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”
Week 1
W 9/2
Introductions and Course Overview
F 9/4
Read: Whitman, “Song of Myself,” sections 1–8
Close Reading Lab
Week 2
M 9/7 – No Class, Labor Day
W 9/9
Read: “Song of Myself,” sections 9–24
F 9/11
Close Reading Lab
Read: “Song of Myself,” sections 25–33
Week 3
M 9/14
Read: “Song of Myself,” sections 34–43
W 9/16
Read: “Song of Myself,” sections 44–52
F 9/18
Close Reading Lab
Text 2: Moby-Dick
Week 4
M 9/21
Due: “Song of Myself” draft paper
Read: Melville, Moby-Dick, Etymology, Extracts, ch. 1–9
W 9/23
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 10–22
F 9/25
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 23–35
Close Reading Lab
Week 5
M 9/28
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 36–47
W 9/30
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 48–60
F 10/2
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 61–73
Close Reading Lab
Week 6
M 10/5
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 74–86
W 10/7
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 87–98
F 10/9
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 99–110
Close Reading Lab
Week 7
M 10/12
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 111–124
W10/14
Read: Moby-Dick, ch. 25–135 + Epilogue
F 10/16
Close Reading Lab
Text 3: Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Week 8
M 10/19 – Fall Break ,No class
W 10/21
Due: Moby-Dick draft paper
Read: Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 1–7
F 10/23
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 8–14
Close Reading Lab
Week 9
M 10/26
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 15–21
W 10/28
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 22–28
F 10/30
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 29–33
Close Reading Lab
Week 10
M 11/2
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 34–40
W 11/4
Read: Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. 41–45 + Concluding Remarks
F 11/6
Close Reading Lab
Week 11
M 11/9
Due: Uncle Tom’s Cabin draft paper
Selecting your paper; peer review of all three drafts in groups
W 11/11
Finding sources: databases, MLA Bibliography, following citation trails
F 11/13
How to read scholarly articles
Week 12
M 11/16
Due: Annotated Bibliography and Outline
W 11/18
Draft workshop and Presentation Guidelines
F 11/20
First-five minutes of presentations (in groups)
Week 13 – Thanksgiving Break – No Classes
Week 14
M 11/30
Paper presentations
W 12/2
Paper presentations
F 12/4
Paper presentations
Week 15
M 12/7
Paper presentations
W 12/9
Paper presentations
F 12/11 – Last Day of Class
Paper presentations
Final Exam:
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 11:00 am - 12:50 pm (overflow presentations, if needed)
Final Polished Paper Due