English 377-01: 20th Century American Fiction
Hunter College, Fall 2006
Tuesdays and Fridays, 3:45-5:00, room 117 HW
Instructor: Jaime Cleland
Office #: 1432 HW
Office hours: Tuesdays 5:00-6:00, Fridays 10:00-11:00, and by appointment
Web site: http://wfs.gc.cuny.edu/JCleland/www
E-mail: jaime.cleland@gmail.com
Phone: 212-772-5112
Note: It’s much easier to reach me by e-mail than by telephone. I generally respond to e-mails within 24 hours. I am not a reliable voice mail checker, but you may catch me on the phone on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10-3.

Goals:
This semester we will read and enjoy seven fascinating novels produced during the course of the twentieth century, considering both their formal properties and their relationship to common American themes and preoccupations (for instance, road trips, race relations, the American dream). Additionally, we will locate these works in their critical context, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to this scholarly discussion by writing a prospectus and extended essay on one or more of the novels we discuss.

Texts:
Willa Cather, My Antonia (Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003, ISBN 1-59308-202-9)
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (Scribner, 1995, ISBN 0-684-80152-3)
William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury (Vintage, 1990, ISBN 0-679-73224-1)
Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (Vintage, 1995, ISBN 0-679-73276-4)
Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (Vintage, 1997, ISBN 0-679-72316-1)
Truman Capote, In Cold Blood (Vintage, 1994, ISBN 0-679-74558-0)
Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye (Plume, 1994, ISBN 0-452-28219-5)

Texts have been ordered from Shakespeare & Company and are on reserve at the library. You are of course free to try to locate inexpensive used copies from other sources (online, the Strand, etc.) but if possible, buy the editions indicated – class discussions are easier when we’re all literally on the same page.

Grading:
Term paper: 20%
As the culmination of this course, you will write a 10-page essay focusing on one of the texts we read this semester, or on one theme that emerges in multiple texts. I’m glad to discuss your project, drafts, etc. before the due date; please plan ahead so that you have time to revise based on what we talk about in the meeting. Finally and importantly, I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS. They are due in class on the due date. Please keep this in mind when you are tempted to procrastinate – inevitably, something will come up, your printer will break, etc. If for some reason you will not be in class on the due date, make arrangements with me beforehand.
Prospectus & Annotated Bibliography: 10%
In the prospectus and annotated bibliography, you will outline the term paper project you intend to write, indicating its focus and overall argument. The bibliography should include at least three critical sources that you plan to incorporate in the term paper, with brief annotations summarizing the source and indicating its relevance to your own work. Your thinking on the subject may, of course, continue to evolve as you work on the project, but the prospectus should get you oriented toward an interesting issue and a manageable writing project. The prospectus and annotated bibliography will be due around midterm.
Presentation: 10%
In the presentation, you will summarize an interesting critical source on the text we are reading, evaluate its quality and relevance, and fit it into the context of our course (for example, how does it tie in to themes we’ve been discussing, and what new issues does it bring to the foreground)? Please consult with me about the source you wish to use, so that you and a classmate don’t end up trying to give the same presentation. The specific format of your presentation may vary (be as creative or as straightforward as you like), but expect to talk for about 10 minutes. Also, you will be required to prepare a one-page handout giving the bibliographic reference for the source and what you see as its most important features. In this way, we will develop a working bibliography for the whole class, and you can point each other toward interesting sources which you may incorporate into the term paper. So be sure to bring enough copies of your handout for everyone. Presentation slots will be assigned the second day of class; be prepared with a few days on which you would prefer to present. You may ultimately wish to write your term paper on the same text as your presentation, but this is not required.
Paragraph responses: 15%
In addition to more formal essays, you will write a number of smaller responses to the reading assignments. (Expect to write at least one per week.) These should generally be from one paragraph to a page in length, typed if possible. These responses let me know that you’ve read and given serious thought to the material for the day, and give us a jumping-off point for class discussion. They may also form the basis for formal writing and exam questions. The responses will be graded on a check, check-plus, check-minus scheme, and they don’t have to be perfect; I just want to see you thinking.
Midterm and final: 20% each
The midterm and final will include both objective and essay sections. Objective sections will focus largely on quotation identification and discussion. The midterm may include a take-home essay component. The final will be cumulative, but will focus more on the works we cover in the second part of the class.
Class participation: 5%
Class participation encompasses prompt, prepared, regular attendance. Be here, have the texts and all other necessary materials, and have something to say. Attendance is mandatory; when you’re not here, you miss out, and you will be responsible for the work you miss. However, you have up to three “free” absences which I hope you will not feel compelled to take except in emergency circumstances. Subsequent absences will affect your grade. I don’t mind if you eat or drink in class, if you can do it discreetly (nothing too noisy or fragrant), but ringing cell phones are strictly prohibited.

Academic Honesty:
Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

Class essays must be submitted electronically to Turnitin.com as well as in hard copy to me in class.

In this course, the MINIMUM result of plagiarism or other academic dishonesty is an F for the assignment and 10 additional points off your final course grade, plus a report to the Academic Integrity Official.

Disabilities:
If you have a documented disability which may interfere with your ability to complete the requirements for this course, please talk to me as soon as possible so that we can plan accommodations.

Sept. 1: Introduction to course.

Sept. 5: My Antonia, pp 3-86 (Introduction, Book I)
Sept. 8: My Antonia, pp 89-151 (Book II)

Sept. 12: My Antonia, pp 155-222 (Books III-V)
Sept. 15: The Great Gatsby, pp 5-102 (Chapters I-V)

Sept. 19: The Great Gatsby, pp 103-189 (Chapters VI-IX)
Sept. 22: NO CLASS (Rosh Hashanah)

Sept. 26: The Sound and the Fury, pp 3-75 (“April Seventh, 1928”)
Sept. 29: The Sound and the Fury, pp 76-179 (“June Second, 1910”)

Oct. 3: NO CLASS (Monday schedule)
Oct. 6: The Sound and the Fury, pp 180-264 (“April Sixth, 1928”)

Oct. 10: The Sound and the Fury, pp 265-321 (“April Eighth, 1928”)
Oct. 13: Invisible Man, pp 3-97 (Prologue, Chapters 1-3)

Oct. 17: Invisible Man, pp 98-195 (Chapters 4-9)
Oct. 20: Invisible Man, pp 196-295 (Chapters 10-13)

Oct. 24: Invisible Man, pp 296-382 (Chapters 14-17)
Oct. 27: Invisible Man, pp 383-478 (Chapters 18-22)

Oct. 31: Invisible Man, pp 479-581 (Chapters 23-25, Epilogue)
Nov. 3: MIDTERM

Nov. 7: Lolita, pp 3-74 (Foreword; Part One, chapters 1-17)
Nov. 10: Lolita, pp 74-142 (Part One, chapters 18-33)

Nov. 14: Lolita, pp 145-229 (Part Two, chapters 1-19)
Nov. 17: Lolita, pp 229-309 (Part Two, chapters 20-36)

Nov. 21: In Cold Blood, pp 3-74 (“I: The Last to See Them Alive”)
Nov. 22: viewing of Capote. NB: Friday classes are meeting on Wednesday this week
Nov. 24: NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)

Nov. 28: In Cold Blood, pp 77-155 (“II: Persons Unknown”)
Dec. 1: In Cold Blood, pp 159-248 (“III: Answer”)

Dec. 5: In Cold Blood, pp 251-343 (“IV: The Corner”)
Dec. 8: The Bluest Eye, pp 3-93 (prefatory material, “Autumn,” “Winter”)

Dec. 12: The Bluest Eye, pp 97-206 (“Spring,” “Summer”)

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 1:45-3:45