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Fall 1999
 Photograph from William P. Gottlieb Collection, American Memory project, Library of Congress.
Dr. Matthew G.
Kirschenbaum
1319 Patterson Office Tower 257-6985 | mgk@pop.uky.edu
Office Hours:
This
course will focus on works in American literature from the Civil War to the
present (with an emphasis on the twentieth century). We will mainly be reading
novel-length prose fiction, though some attention will be given to poetry,
short stories, and possibly a film. You will learn techniques for close
reading, critical thinking, and effective writing in the context of American
literary themes. Required Texts These
are available at the UK and Kennedy bookstores. You may obtain used or new
copies of these texts from any source you like, including online vendors – but
please be sure that you buy only the editions specified below. Mark
Twain (Samuel Clemens) Pudd'nhead Wilson Oxford
UP (World's Classics); ISBN: 0192818066 Edith
Wharton The Age of Innocence Penguin
USA (Paper); ISBN: 014018970X F.
Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Scribner;
ISBN: 0684801523 William
Faulkner As I Lay Dying Vintage
International; ISBN: 0-679-73225-X Zora
Neale Hurston Their Eyes Were Watching God Harper
Perennial; ISBN 0-06-091650-8 or 0-06-093141-8 Robert
Penn Warren All the King's Men Harcourt
Brace; ISBN: 0156004801 Toni
Morrison Jazz Plume;
ISBN: 0452269652 Assignments There
will be two (2) papers, each about 1500 words, plus a midterm and
a final exam. All papers must be word processed (use double-spacing),
stapled (not clipped), and clearly marked with your name and email address. Please be certain you have familiarized
yourself with the University’s strictures regarding plagiarism (SRR
84-5). Throughout
the semester I will give in-class quizzes. These quizzes will not be
announced beforehand. Missed quizzes during unexcused absences cannot be made
up and will receive a grade of E – however, I will drop your lowest quiz grade
at the end of the semester. Grades Papers (2): 10% (each) Midterm exam: 15% Final exam: 25% Quizzes: 20% Participation: 20%
Plus/minus
grading will be used. A
note on participation: this class is also a community, and you are all
expected to contribute to that community. Thoughtful and consistent
participation throughout the course of the semester will garner the highest
grades. Students who are never or only very rarely productive participants in
class meetings will receive an E for their 20% participation grade. (Thus, a
student who never participated during class meetings could earn, at best, a B
for the course – assuming all other course work had been completed at the A
level.) Absences and Late Work I
will take attendance every class. You will be allowed three unexcused
absences for the semester -- no questions asked. After those three absences,
each
additional unexcused absence will lower your final course grade by 1/3 of
a letter. For example, four unexcused absences would drop a B to a B-;
five unexcused
absences would drop a B to a C+. For a list of excused absences, see SRR
45-6. Habitual lateness to class will be treated as an unexcused absence. Needless
to say, it is your responsibility to catch up on the material and assignments from
classes you miss. Assignments
will be collected at the beginning of class meetings. If you are absent you
must still arrange to have your work delivered to class or it will be
considered late. Late assignments will be docked a full letter grade for each
class meeting that they are overdue. Even if turned in on the day
immediately following their assigned due date, they will still be docked at
least one full letter grade. Exceptions will be granted only for those who have
made prior arrangements with me and who can demonstrate a legitimate need for
an extension. Course Calendar Monday, September 6: No Class (Labor Day) Monday, September 27: First Paper Friday, October 1: No Class (Fall Break) Monday, October 18: Midterm Exam Monday, November 15: Second Paper Friday, November 26: No Class (Thanksgiving)The date of the Final Exam will be announced in class. |