ENGL 2202 Modern American Literature

Description

Modern American Literature introduces prominent American writers and influential literary works that have shaped American cultural identity from 1865 through the present. Modern American Literature takes a broad view of the traditional canon to include writers and works from many areas of America’s past.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Instructors recommend that students complete ENGL 1105 or an advanced high school literature class before registering for this course

Topics to be Covered

1. Major forms of American writing and writers from 1865 through the present.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate knowledge of canonical works of American literature, such as recognizing the names of major American writers and associating each writer with their works.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of major genres and styles in American literature, such as identifying and analyzing the roles of character, metaphor, plot, setting and structure in all literature; and understanding major themes of American writing.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of major periods and historical developments in American literature, such as analyzing the major influences (ethnicity, race, religion, war, environment, historical events, philosophy) on American writing.

4. Explain the development of (and changing meanings of) group identities in the United States’ history and culture related to American Literature from 1865 through the present.

5. Explain how individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society shaped American cultural identity from 1865 through the present.

6. Compare and contrast present day attitudes, behaviors, concepts, and beliefs (regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry) with those in America living from 1865 through the present.

7. Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups (1865 through the present) that shaped American society and culture, in particular, focusing on those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.

Credit Details

Lecture: 3

Lab: 0

OJT: 0

MnTC Goal Area(s): Goal Area 06 - The Humanities and Fine Arts, Goal Area 07 - Human Diversity

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum Goal Area(s) and Competencies

Goal Area 06: The Humanities and Fine Arts

1. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.

2. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.

3. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.

4. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Goal Area 07: Human Diversity

1. Understand the development of and the changing meanings of group identities in the United States’ history and culture.

2. Demonstrate an awareness of the individual and institutional dynamics of unequal power relations between groups in contemporary society..

3. Analyze their attitudes, behaviors, concepts, and beliefs regarding diversity, racism, and bigotry.

4. Describe and discuss the experience and contributions (political, social, economic, etc.) of the many groups that shape American society and culture, in particular those groups that have suffered discrimination and exclusion.

Transfer Pathway Competencies

ENGLISH TRANSFER PATHWAY:

Content Area 2 - A Literature Survey Course (Any Period or Combination of American and/or British Literature)

1. Demonstrate knowledge of canonical works of British/American literature

2. Demonstrate knowledge of major genres and styles in British/American literature

3. Demonstrate knowledge of major periods and historical developments in British/American literature