Course Overview

In this course, students will study literature written in English between 1945 and the present day. The course reading list includes novels, short stories, a drama and poetry. When studying our own time period, we benefit from a close familiarity with the material, but we also lack perspective on where we are within a larger historical narrative. This semester, we will grapple with that problem of excessive familiarity as we attempt to place contemporary literary works alongside earlier texts that make up our literary history.

Objectives

Over the semester, I expect students to achieve the following goals:

• Understand and interpret texts by influential authors from a variety of literary genres and cultural origins from the past 50 years.

• Discuss these texts in the context of a classroom discussion or smaller group discussions.

• Write convincing arguments about the meanings of these texts in examinations, papers and the online discussion forum.

• Recall key facts about the works in question including but not limited to the year of publication, the author, the title, and general topics pertaining to the story the author tells.

Expectations

In order to accomplish this goal, students must

• Read the required books carefully and take notes during lectures. (And, remember that there are rules against disseminating these notes beyond the classroom community, which you can find at "http://www.duluth.umn.edu/vcaa/ClassNotesAppropriateUseof.html".)

• Attend class. I expect students to show up on time and prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. Students have a responsibility to plan their schedules to avoid excessive conflicts with course requirements. Excessive absences will have a negative impact on the grade that you receive in this course. Excusable absences include "subpoenas, jury duty, military duty, religious observances, illness, bereavement for immediate family and NCAA varsity college athletics." Please contact the instructor about anticipated absences in order to minimize their influence on your coursework. For more information on excused absences, see "http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/ExcusedAbsence.html"

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of assigned works in two exams, in two short papers, and through participation in an on-line discussion group. For additional information about policies governing final exams, see "http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/FinalExams.html".

• Respect fellow students and refrain from behavior that might impair their learning opportunities. Any behavior that substantially and repeatedly interrupts the instructor's ability to teach or the students' ability to learn will result in appropriate penalties. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of communications technology in the classroom, such as ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, doing email, or surfing the Internet on one's computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities. For further clarification of UMD policies in this regard, consult the Board of Regents Policy at "http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf ".

• Treat instructors and fellow students with civility. UMD instructors and students have a responsibility to maintain a learning environment that is, as stated in the Teaching and Learning Policy, "respectful of the rights and freedoms of all members, and promotes a civil and open exchange of ideas." The full policy is available at "http://www.d.umn.edu/vcaa/TeachingLearning.html".

Grade Breakdown:

Your grade will depend primarily on your written work and the understanding of the material that you convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of your grade.

Late assignments will receive a deduction of 1/3 of a letter grade for each business day that they are late. Students who miss exams may not make them up without a valid excuse for the absence.

Academic dishonesty tarnishes the reputation of the University of Minnesota Duluth and discredits the accomplishments of its students. Because the university is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit, it must insist on an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. Consequently, all members of the academic community must regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which is available online at "http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/integrity/". This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, should inform me at the start of the semester. The Office of Disability Resources writes that "[i]t is the policy and practice of the University of Minnesota Duluth to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including students with disabilities. If there are aspects of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or your ability to meet course requirements—such as time limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videos—please notify the instructor as soon as possible." You can contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss and arrange reasonable accommodations by calling 218-726-6130 or by visiting the Disability Resources website at "http://www.d.umn.edu/access/".

Required Texts

Carver, Raymond. What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. New York: Knopf Doubleday, 1989. Print.

Coetzee, J. M. Disgrace. New York: Penguin, 2000. Print.

Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. 1957. New York: Penguin, 1976. Print.

McClatchy, J. D. The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Poetry. New York: Vintage, 2003. Print.

Pinter, Harold. The Homecoming. New York: Grove Atlantic, 1994. Print.

Wiggins, Marianne. John Dollar. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1999. Print.