21^st Century American Fiction

English 576.70, Sp 2009          Tuesday 6- 8:50 pm

Dr. Susan Swartwout, GB 318-O, 651-2641

sswartwout@semo.edu

Required books

Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Diary by Chuck Palahniuk

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier

Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich

How to pass this class:

• Turn in each completed assignment typed and on time: Late work does not receive credit, but it is accepted if you desire feedback from the professor on the specific assignment. If you need an extension on an assignment or paper due to illness or a necessary absence, you must ask for the extension before the class period in which it is due.

·         Be (well) prepared to deliver your presentation on its assigned date. Your presentations bring essential information to the class. Be thorough. Do your research.

·         Attend class and be in class on time: Your attendance reflects directly upon your participation and on-time assignments. Furthermore, when you are absent, you detract from your fellow students’ college experience by missing discussions and from your own grade by missing exams or quizzes.  There will be no so-called “make-up” quizzes. Exams can be made up if you have an extension in advance.

·         Do all the reading: The discussions, exams, and quizzes are all based on the readings and class discussion.  The papers reflect what you have learned from the readings. Since the reading is significant, don’t attempt to wait until the last minute to catch up on several reading assignments. Quizzes may be given on any day, especially if class discussion is weak.

How your grade will be assessed:

·         daily assignments, quizzes, and participation - 30%

·         midterm exam - 20%

·         1 critical paper - 20%

·         presentation - 10%

·         final exam - 20%

Graduate students will make an additional presentation on an essay that I’ll provide. The presentation will count toward 10% of the daily/quizzes/participation grade.

Critical Paper: The critical paper should be typed in a professional-looking font (i.e. no unusual-sized nor decorative fonts) with 1” margins all around and double-spaced. The paper will be 6 - 10 pages in length, present an argumentative issue about the genre, and will cite and document information from at least three secondary sources. The final draft will include the paper and an MLA-format bibliography.

Presentation: The presentation consists of information on the topic assigned and will be assigned for presenting on different days (see sign-up sheet). I encourage multimedia presentations and creativity, keeping in mind the main concerns which are 1) premeditated consideration of the topic and its issues that relate to the course and 2) a well-organized delivery.  Prepare an informal, typed sheet of notes, information, critical sources, etc. to hand in after your presentation.

Syllabus: Have assignments done on the day in which they are listed. I expect the books to be read in their entirety by their first discussion day. Plan ahead as needed.

Week 1

            Intro to the course. (Read  Motherless Brooklyn for Week  2.)

Notes on The Self and the Human Condition

Discussion questions

Week 2

            Motherless Brooklyn;      Notes

Week 3           

Motherless Brooklyn

Week 4

Water for Elephants

Week 5

Water for Elephants

Week 6

            Performance by Hollywood actor Adilah Barnes in Rose Theatre

Week 7

            Pattern Recognition

Week 8

            Midterm exam

Pattern Recognition   

Week 9

SPRING BREAK

Week 10

             Critical paper is due.

            Diary

Week 11

            Diary

Week 12

            The Road

Week 13

            The Road

Week 14:

A Brief History of the Dead

Week 15

A Brief History of the Dead

Week 16

The Painted Drum

Final exam on Tuesday May 12 at 6 pm.