ENG1304 – American Literature

Course content

This course provides a general introduction to American literature, where the main focus is on the nineteenth and the twentieth century. Primary attention will be given to how literary texts are constructed and how they are connected to larger historical and cultural contexts. Attention will also be paid to the ways in which literary texts relate to various readers, developments in literary history, and the history of ideas.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, you:

• have an introductory overview of American literature, central literary periods, and formal features of key texts;
• can demonstrate skills related to the close reading of texts;
• can situate texts in relation to various historical and cultural contexts;
• can analyze literary texts in a variety of genres;
• can discuss various aspects of literary analysis in an academic setting;
• can develop and support literary-critical arguments;
• can express yourself in appropriate academic English;
• can demonstrate critical thinking, writing, and discussion skills relevant both within and beyond literary studies.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Lectures are open to the public. Seminar teaching requires admission to the course.

Recommended previous knowledge

The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English

Teaching

Lectures, 2 hours weekly for 10 weeks, and seminars, 2 hours weekly for 8 weeks. 36 hours in all.

Obligatory activities:

• An essay of 5 standard pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters) submitted by a stated deadline. References and bibliography comes in addition. You will get written feedback on the essay. Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.

• Canvas posts: required submissions before each seminar meeting (minimum 5 of 8); further instructions will be announced.

• It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 5 of 8 seminars. The requirement is absolute. Attendance at 100% of the seminars and lectures is strongly encouraged.

The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.

If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.

If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.

In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accommodations.

Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.

As a full-time student you are expected to spend at least 12 hours a week studying for this course.

In seminar weeks, 2 of those hours are spent in seminars with your seminar leader, 2 hours are spent attending lectures, and 8 hours are free for your own studies. In non-seminar weeks, 2 hours are spent attending lectures, and 10 hours are free for your own studies. You should be spending these hours reading, making notes on and reflecting on primary texts, exploring secondary texts and criticism, completing the assignments given by your seminar leader, and preparing to contribute your own viewpoints and ideas to seminar discussions. You may also want to spend some of this time working on your essay writing skills and discussing the course material with other students.

You are expected to come prepared to each seminar. This means that you have completed the assigned reading and any other assignments given by your seminar leader.

ENG1304 consists of lectures, in which you learn about some central aspects of each primary text and its historical, cultural and/or literary contexts, and seminars, which consist mainly of student-driven literary discussion. This means that while it is fine to prefer listening to talking, you should be prepared to contribute to discussions throughout the term. The more of your week you spend exploring the primary texts yourself (or in conversation with your fellow students), the more you will get out of the seminars.

Examination

The form of assessment is a 4-hour written examination.

Examination support material

Cambridge Dictionary will be available in the digital examination system Inspera. 

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.