ENGL-2328 American Literature: Civil War to the Present
Carrza Dubose
Credit Fall 2024
Section(s)
ENGL-2328-012 (90437)
LEC DIL ONL DIL
Course Requirements
Course Description
African American literature examines African American literary works from the early twentieth century (Realism, Naturalism, and the Harlem Renaissance) to the literature of the Contemporary Period in African American literature (1975 and beyond). Although this course will begin with the earlier twentieth-century, we will examine some earlier aspects of African American literature such as the Vernacular Tradition, slave narratives, and literature of the Reconstruction era. Furthermore, students will explore literature of the Black Arts movement and understand the overall Africanist presence in American letters.
This course will emphasize civic leadership, critical thinking skills, and discipline- appropriate research skills culminating in a research paper. Prerequisites: ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302
Textbook
Jr. Gates, Henry Louis, and Valerie A. Smith. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature 3rd Ed. Volumes 1-2.
Readings
Schedule of Assignments/ Calendars
Weeks 1-2: Due : What is African American Literature?
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Volume 1
Read: Lecture# 1 notes on What is African American Literature?
Read: “Introduction” pp. xxxv-xlvii
Read: “The Vernacular Tradition Part I” pp. 3-10; “Spirituals” pp. 10-12; “Secular Rhymes and Songs, Ballads, and Work Songs” pp. 20-21; “The Blues” pp. 38-39; “Folktales” pp. 54-56. |
Video: “History of African Americans” by History on Maps (YouTube)
Video: Gospel: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by TheAllGlee Music (YouTube)
Video: Spirituals: “Wade in the Water” by Sweet Honey in the Rock (YouTube) |
Complete Discussion Boards
Complete MLA Homework Assignment |
Weeks 3-4: African American Literature and Its Segments/Divisions
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Read: Lecture# 2 Notes on African American Literature and Its Segments/Divisions
Read: “City Called Heaven” p. 12
Read: “Go Down, Moses” pp. 14-15
Read an excerpt: “No More Auction Block” p. 23
Read: “Trouble in Mind” pp. 43-45
Read: “All God’s Chillen Had Wings” pp. 57-58 |
Video: Folktales: “Br’er Rabbit and the Tarbaby” by Riddle Films (YouTube)
Video: Jazz/Blues: “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane (YouTube/Jazzaddict98)
Video: Rhythm and Blues: “Love and Happiness” by Al Green (YouTube/Cilla Sounds)
Video: Hip Hop/Rap: “Dear Mama” by 2Pac (YouTube) |
Complete Discussion Boards |
Weeks 5-6: The Literature of Slavery and Freedom Boards
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Read: Lecture# 3 notes on The Literature of Slavery and Freedom
Read: “The Literature of Slavery and Freedom: 1746- 1865” pp. 75-87
Read: “Bars Fight” pp. 111- 112 by Lucy Terry
Read: “On Being Brought from Africa to America” pp.143-144 by Phillis Wheatley
Read an excerpt: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs pp. 224-251 |
Video: “Enslavement to Emancipation” by OCTDC (YouTube) |
Complete Discussion Boards |
Weeks 7-8: Literature of the Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance
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Read: Lecture notes on Paper# 4 (See Blackboard)
Read: “Literature of the Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance” pp. 505-520
Read: “Womanhood: A Vital Element” pp. 619-633
Read: “A Red Record” by Ida B. Wells-Barnett pp. 670-679
Excerpt from: The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois pp. 687-702
“We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar p. 906 |
Complete Paper# 1 on Prose Analysis. (1000 word minimum)
Video: “Reconstruction in America After the Civil War” YouTube |
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“Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar p. 910
Reread and choose a story or stories for Paper# 1 from the list on Blackboard. You cannot choose a story that is not on the syllabus/Blackboard for Paper# 1. You cannot choose a poem.
Read: MLA Format from Paper# 1 Handout. Please follow MLA Rules for all papers. |
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Weeks 9-10: Due Friday, March 22, 2024: Harlem Renaissance
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Read: Lecture# 5 Notes on The Harlem Renaissance
Read: Harlem Renaissance: 1919-1940” pp. 929-944
Read: “The Black Finger” by Angelina Weld Grimke p. 951
“If We Must Die” by Claude McKay p. 1005
Read: “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston pp. 1040-1042
Read: “Fern” by Jean Toomer pp. 1150-1153
Read: “Heritage” by Gwendolyn Bennett p. 1292 |
Video: “The Harlem Renaissance” by Vision Chasers
YouTube |
Complete Discussion Boards |
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Read: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” pp. 1304-1305; “Mother to Son” p. 1305; “I, Too” p. 1308; “Harlem” p. 1319 by Langston Hughes
Read: “Yet Do I Marvel” by Countee Cullen pp. 1347- 1348 |
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Weeks 11-12: Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, and Imagism
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Volume II
Read: Lecture #6 Notes on Realism, Naturalism, Modernism, and Imagism
Read: “The Vernacular Tradition: Part 2” pp. 3-11; |
Complete Discussion Boards
Video: “Realism, Regionalism, Naturalism, and Modernism?” by Sam Chiang YouTube |
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“Gospel” 11-12; “Songs of |
Video: “Imagism Poetry” by English Still Matters to Classy People |
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Social Change” p. 17; |
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“Jazz” pp. 22-24; “Rhythm |
YouTube |
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and Blues” pp. 27-29; “Hip- |
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Hop” p. 35-38; “Sermons |
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and Prayers” pp. 56-58 |
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Video: “Regionalism” by Amanda Benson |
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Read: “Realism, Naturalism, |
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and Modernism” pp. 93-107 |
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Read: Excerpt from The |
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Street by Ann Petry pp. 168- |
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179 |
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Read: “Those Winter |
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Sundays” by Robert Hayden |
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p. 234 |
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Read: “Runagate Runagate” |
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by Robert Hayden pp. 235- |
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237 |
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Read: “Soledad” by Robert |
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Hayden pp. 239-240 |
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Read: “the mother” by |
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Gwendolyn Brooks pp. 326- |
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327 |
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Read: “We Real Cool” by |
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Gwendolyn Brooks p.337 |
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Weeks 13-15: Due Friday, April 26, 2024: The Black Arts Era; The Contemporary Period; Complete
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Read: Lecture Notes # 7
Read: Introduction to The Black Arts Era pp. 533-561
Read: The Contemporary Period pp. 913-929
Read: Lecture notes on Paper# 2 (See Blackboard)
Read: “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” pp.594- 607
Read: “Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note” p.665
Read: “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) pp. 885-886
Read: “Daystar” by Rita Dove p. 1364
Reread and choose a poem or poems for Paper# 2 from the list on Blackboard. You |
Complete Paper# 2 on Poetry Analysis. (1500 word minimum). |
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cannot choose a poem that is not on the syllabus/Blackboard for Paper# 2. You must have outside sources to support your analysis. Do not use Wikipedia, Cliffs Notes, Sparks Notes, Schmoop or blogs. Use online sources such as JSTOR and Project MUSE (email/call ACC Library).
Read: MLA Format from Paper# 2 Handout. Please follow MLA Rules for all papers. |
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Week 16: Complete Final Exam
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Reread: All Lecture Notes on (See Blackboard)
Reread and skim all introductions, poems, and stories from the syllabus. |
Complete Final Examination |
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Student Learning Outcomes
- Functional Outcomes
- Demonstrate critical thinking and reflective inquiry skills;
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- Demonstrate skills at summarizing, critiquing, analyzing, spontaneous writing, and synthesizing;
- Demonstrate skills at articulating, supporting, and defending a mature opinion on a particular topic;
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- Demonstrate proficiency in communication (both written and spoken, including the use of technology);
- Willingly and critically reflect on and articulate standpoints and positions regarding educational issues and challenges.
- Content outcomes
- Limit a broad topic to a manageable one for essays ranging from 500 to 2000+ words.
- Design plans for original essays by using appropriate prewriting or invention techniques (For example: free writing, brainstorming, journal writing, and asking questions) to
- Discover the primary questions that the essay will attempt to answer
- Define the goals of the essay
- Develop a working thesis for the essay
- Design a working structure for each essay by
- Developing key points for each body paragraph
- Developing descriptive details, examples, or reasons for each key point
- Use the pre-approved plans to compose rough drafts of academic essays that
- Are appropriate for the audience and purpose
- Contain effective introductions.
- Contain body paragraphs with well-developed, relevant, and coherent supporting details.
- Contain an effective conclusion.
- Conform to Standard English Grammar usage and mechanics
- Revise essay drafts to improve the following
- Content and development
- Clarity in sentence structure and word choice
- Organization and coherence
- Standard English Grammar usage, mechanics, and punctuation so as to render the essay free of serious errors
- Produce essays that meet the style and standards of the professional English community
Office Hours
T Th 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Round Rock
NOTE I am located in Building 1000 Room 1204: 13.Published: 08/14/2024 10:38:37