Course content - Learning outcome - Admission - Prerequisites - Overlapping courses - Teaching - Examination - Evaluation

Course content

This course is an examination of contemporary American literature through the lens of multiculturalism. We will read a variety of literary genres, including novels, plays and creative non-fiction, by writers who are concerned with issues of race, identity and America as a multicultural society. Some of the important questions we will address are: What are the concerns of so-called “ethnic” writers in contemporary American culture? What is the relationship between identity politics and literature? How can we use critical race analysis as a part of literary study?

Learning outcome

After completing this course you will have:

• increased your knowledge of American literature by analyzing texts written by authors who openly challenge the literary canon, and who furthermore acknowledge the race and class divisions at the heart of American culture.
• gained an understanding of the relationship between politics, identity, and the place of literature in contemporary American society.

Admission

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

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Students must have passed at least one course in literature, preferably ENG1304 - American Literature, an introduction or similar knowledge.
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.

Overlapping courses

10 credits overlap with ENG4373 - Multicultural American literature.

Teaching

Seminar, two hours per week for 14 weeks, 28 hours in total.

80% attendance is obligatory; you are allowed 3 absences without a doctor’s note.

Students will write an essay (5 standard pages) at an appointed time. The essay is pass/fail, but the student must pass in order to sit for the exam.

Access to teaching

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Examination

The exam is a three-day take home exam.

Examination support material

No examination support material is allowed.

Language of examination

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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.

Explanations and appeals

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Resit an examination

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.

Withdrawal from an examination

A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.

Special examination arrangements

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

Evaluation

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