Literatures in English II: 1700-1900
Class Information
Instructor: Ziser, Michael
CRN: 42135
Time: TR 10:30-11:50am
Location: 250 Olson
GE Areas: Writing Experience
Description
English 10B is the second segment in the required three-part Literatures in English sequence. As in all 10-series courses, our collective goal will be to lay down a solid foundation of historical, terminological, methodological, and pragmatic knowledge in preparation for more advanced study at the upper division. Our focus in this class will be on prose and poetry produced between 1700 and 1900 in England and the United States, with emphasis on the major transitions in English literary history. This is a reading- and writing-intensive course, designed to improve your skills in close reading within a historical context, guide you towards fruitful research strategies, and encourage your curiosity about the vast (if intangible) riches available through literary study.
*Note on texts*: The main texts for this course are previous editions of Norton anthologies. While the current editions of the Norton are extremely expensive, these slightly older editions are practically identical and can be purchased online very cheaply, often for $5-10 shipped if you act in time. Please carefully note the specified editions and ISBN numbers below, and try to avoid purchasing the texts from the UCD Bookstore, which will likely insist on ordering only the most recent editions. If you have trouble locating the editions listed below, the 9th (2012) or 10th (2018) editions of the three British anthologies are also acceptable; for the American anthology, the 8th (2011), or 9th (2017) will work as well. While we won't come close to covering all the material included in these volumes, they will serve you well in years to come as valuable resources and references, and for English majors they are well worth the modest investment. The remaining two texts have been ordered in their cheapest current editions.
Grading
Section participation: 10%
Blog posts: 15%
Short Exercises: (5 x 3%): 15%
Paper 1: 20%
Paper 2: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Texts
Norton Anthology of American Literature, volume B: 1820-1865, 7th edition, ISBN: 0393927407
Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume E: The Victorian Age, 8th edition, ISBN: 0393927210
Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume D: The Romantic Period, 8th edition, ISBN: 0393927202
Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume C: The Restoration and 18th Century, 8th edition, ISBN: 0393927199
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
Autobiography and Other Writings, Benjamin Franklin