American Literature and Culture (ENG175)

Content

This course, American Literature and Culture, focuses on interpreting literature from and about the United States of America from the early colonial period to the present. By reading and analyzing a diverse range of intellectually serious and formally skillful literary works by acclaimed American authors, students will explore thematic topics such as: American exceptionalism, the American dream, democracy and civil rights, ecology and the environment, immigration and Americanization, modernity and modernization, postmodernity and post-WWII America, and post-9/11 America.

In addition to providing a sampling of the diverse beliefs and perspectives expressed in American literature, this course aims to develop students' critical understanding of American culture and society by situating literary texts, meaningfully, in relevant social, historical, and cultural contexts. In the process, students will develop valuable critical, analytic, and interpretive skills and enhance their ability to communicate effectively in English.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The student will gain knowledge of:

• how intellectually serious and formally skillful literary texts and artifacts have contributed to the USA's diverse literary tradition;
• significant relationships between American literary texts and their particular social, cultural, and historical contexts;
• literary mediations of important historical events and sociocultural debates;
• diverse sociocultural situations, traditions, and philosophies that inform American literature.

Skills

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• analyze and understand American literature from different perspectives and multiple historical periods and literary genres;
• interpret texts by conducting close readings and deploying relevant techniques and terms from literary and cultural studies;
• explain the sociocultural significance of selected texts and authors;
• identify relevant trends and movements that distinguish different literary periods within American literature.

General competence

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• use correct, varied, and precise English to participate in informed conversations about issues in literary and cultural studies;
• analyze what others have written or said, then summarize their arguments and assumptions.
• demonstrate critical, analytic, and interpretive skills using formal English 

Required prerequisite knowledge

Recommended prerequisites

The course presupposes a solid command of written and spoken English.

It is strongly advised that students, in addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, also have good results from specialized courses in English from Upper Secondary School. 

For students with a background other than the Norwegian school system, a level of competence in English corresponding to C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is recommended.

Exam

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Course teacher:

Study Adviser:

Method of work

Lecture with in-class discussion and activities (in-class and online). Online discussion and resources. 

Students are expected to: 

1. Attend every class, unless health reasons and/or an emergency make attendance that day impossible. Register each absence in Canvas.
2. Do the required reading and study exercises before each class session.
3. Annotate (take notes in) course texts, primarily books, and have them at hand during class.
4. Spend approximately 19 hours per week studying for this course, including class meetings and out-of-class preparation.
5. Contribute to class discussions, both verbally and in writing; take notes and annotate course books during class; participate in study exercises, both in class and online.
6. Make use of online resources accessed via Canvas.
7. Check Canvas and UiS student email daily for updates and information.

Open for

Course assessment

Literature