American Literature

Any topic can be chosen from the works of the following authors: John Smith, William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson, Edward Taylor, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Sewell, Cotton Mather. But the topic I have been working is “Comparison of Anne Bradstreet’s poetry and Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative.” So please feel free to use this topic or any other from the authors. Also, as already stated in the instructions, please note that the citations should only be from the textbook. (textbook can be uploaded once writer is hired)

The guiding ideas for this course on information literacy come from the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy. Read the attached sheet summarizing the Framework. All our work will tie throughout the course will tie to these ideas, and it will be a major part of your Final. This sheet is a summary of the entire Framework, which can be found here: http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework In each module based on each Frame, you will learn more, as well as complete assignments that relate to that Frame. There are three additional assignments connected to the Framework.

Develop a 250-500 word journal entry defining what success means to you in college and beyond. To help you write this entry, consider some of the following: Find a quote (or make one up) that best summarizes your definition of success. Note the author of the quote, and use quotation marks as appropriate. Why does this quote best represent your personal definition of success? What people do you consider to be successful and why? What is your definition of success? What will you do to achieve success? What is the biggest change you need to make in order to be successful in college? How does your ability to write and communicate well fit into your strategy? How will you know you’ve achieved success?

Briefly describe the event, and then explain why you enjoyed that part. Make sure your response is a full essay that is detailed and well written with an introductory paragraph, at least three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. You may use the book itself but not any other sources. Make sure you cite any specific information you use from the book.

“Think of the stories we’ve read so far. In Kafka, Davis and Hawthorne, people’s “character” seems “set.” They don’t change. The story doesn’t “develop” and change the character. Note WHERE we see that in the story. Do you think that is a kind of higher truth about human nature?” No sources. Not a summary.

What is Modernism? Write a four-page essay that answers this question, using examples/quotes from at least five different Modernist writers we’ve covered in Unit IV. How does their work fit into Modernist ideas? What connects these writers? *Use MLA format (double-space, size 12, Times New Roman, etc.) *Set aside three hours or so to write the essay. Use your books and notes, but avoid outside sources. *Focus on analysis rather than mere summary of the works. *Cite and quote any information you use from the text book. *Be sure to focus on Modernism by providing depth of analysis and connections between the stories, poems, and/or the play Book The Norton Anthology of American Literature unit II Amy Lowell: “September, 1918” (728) Gertrude Stein: “The Making of Americans” (731-734) Robert Frost: “Mending Wall” (737); and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” (747) Sherwood Anderson: “Winesburg, Ohio” (763-767) Wallace Stevens: “Anecdote of the Jar” (782) William Carlos Williams: “The Red Wheelbarrow” (793) Ezra Pound: “In a Station of the Metro” (799) H.D.: “Leda” (821) T.S. Eliot: “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (830-833); “The Wasteland” (Part I: 834-836); and “The Hollow Men” (847-849) Katherine Anne Porter: “Flowering Judas” (940-948) William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily” (1009-1015) Ernest Hemingway: “Hills Like White Elephants” (1032-1035) Langston Hughes: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1037) Tennessee Williams: A Streetcar Named Desire (1119-1181) *If time permits (these writers are post-modernist era writers): Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1381-1392) Sylvia Plath: “Daddy” (1447) Gloria Anzaldua: “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” (1558-1562) Recommended Reading: Introduction (667-687)

Film/Book: Atonement by Ian McEwan You are looking for similarities and differences.   Also, why were changes made from book to film?   You must include four sources, book reviews and film reviews (secondary sources) that helped you form your opinions, plus the novel and the film (primary sources) for a total of six sources.   YOU MUST FIND PROFESSIONAL CRITICS’ REVIEWS, NOT JUST FANS AND BLOGGERS. Try to relate the works to the themes we will be covering this semester:  youth, gender, genre, etc. The books and films themselves do not count toward the four sources, but should also be included in your Works Cited, which must be done in MLA style. The finished paper should be approximately 1500 words (that is five pages with double spacing, Times New Romans 12-point font) and is due two days before our last class meeting.  Works Cited should be done as such in the example I provided in the pdf.

Be sure that you follow the standards of academic writing. Your paper will require a brief introduction, a concise and focused claim (or thesis statement), two to three main points you will address, solid reasoning, and textual evidence along with an explanation of its significance. See the criteria sheet for more information. Grading Criteria This is both a reading and a writing course, designed to sharpen your skills of textual analysis, argumentative writing, and critical thinking. To that end, your essays will be graded using the following criteria: Presentation. Proofreading; style and readability; proper documentation of any research if necessary (Modern Language Association Style); a clear and specific title; clear context for someone who hasn’t read the work; effective introduction and conclusion.  Organization. Thesis; topic and closing sentences; relevant, focused, organized and developed paragraphs; effective sentence and paragraph transitions; clear and understandable overall organization. Evidence/support. Specific, accurate, convincing details; effective and relevant quotations. (See appendix B for documentation information.) Analysis. Clear interpretation; added insight into the literary work; overall coherence of argument.

This paper needs to focus on the theme of economic opportunity and growth due to the rapid urbanization of larger US Cities such as NYC and Chicago. DO NOT use any outside information or sources. You are only to use the books as sources. YOU MUST use at least 3 quotes from “Sister Carrie” and 2 quotes from Chapter 9 of “The Jungle” (Please not that you are only supposed to use Chapter 9 from “The Jungle” and no other chapters) When quoting Sister Carrie, please state what Chapter the quote is from. The 3 main characters from Sister Carrie I would like for you to discuss is Carrie, Drouet, and Hurstwood. When it comes to Carrie, I would like for you to write about how she is from a smaller town and how she moved to Chicago and then NYC and became an actress. When discussing Chapter 9 from “The Jungle” you can talk about anything you seem fit that relates to the theme but you must make this connection to the theme as well as draw similarities to Sister Carrie. I will attach my professors instructions to make this a little more clear. Also, Chapter 9 of The Jungle can easily be found online.

This week I want us to reflect on the interaction between religion and the world today.  What do you feel is the role of religion today?  Is it positive or negative on the whole?  Is religion free of politics either generally or specifically?  What problems are inherent in dealing with religious beliefs?  Remember that this forum is public, so please respect the beliefs of others.  Refrain from naming specific religions or denominations and speak in generic terms.    You may choose, either instead or in addition to, to speak directly to one of the stories and the impact of the Puritan religion on the people of the 19th century or analyze the effects on the characters.  For example, how wise was Rev. Hooper in his actions or Goodman Brown in his?  Speaking of Goodman Brown, is his case relevant today?