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

Course content

The course gives an overview of American literature in the nineteenth century with major emphasis on the American Renaissance, realism, naturalism, and the local color movement. The syllabus consists of selected, representative essays, poems, short stories, and novels from the period.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you will have:

• gained an understanding of the development of American literature during the nineteenth century, the literary texts' historical context, and the characteristics of various literary genres;
• developed your critical and analytical abilities through the study of nineteenth-century American essays, short stories, novels, and poems;
• acquired training in scholarly writing about literature.

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 achieved at least 10 credits in literature, preferably ENG1304 - American Literature, an introduction. The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.

Overlapping courses

10 credits overlap with ENG4340 - Nineteenth-Century American Literature.

Teaching

Seminar, two hours per week for 10 weeks, 20 hours in all.

Attendance is an obligatory class requirement (80%). Additional absences must be justified by documentation to the exam coordinator. Read more about guidelines for compulsory activities.

Students prepare by studying the primary texts and completing assignments they are given in class or that are posted in Fronter. All handouts in connection with the course will be available in Fronter.

Access to teaching

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Examination

The assessment of the course is based on a portfolio consisting of one 5-page essay and a two-hour written classroom exam. Students are required to submit the essay at an appointed time. Beforehand, students will be given an opportunity to submit a draft of the essay and receive individual feedback on both the form and content of the draft.

The final version of the essay must be handed in on Fronter. Read more about submission procedures.

Examination support material

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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

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Portfolio exams cannot be handed in a later semester. If you want to re-take the exam, you must write on a different topic.

If it is only the class room you have missed because of illness, you can apply for a postponed exam. Please contact the exam coordinator.

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

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.