Introduction to american culture description

The purpose of this course is to examine the development of a distinct American cultural discourse from the Colonial period to the end of the 20th century. The texts read in class offer a variety of genres and voices representing the different facets of American cultural production.

TEXTS: Selected texts from a variety of authors, poets, and essayists.  All texts will be made available in electronic form.

In addition we will read wide selections from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and all of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.  It’s a good idea to purchase these two books in any edition.

REQUIREMENTS: there will be a written assignment, midterm quizzes, and a final exam.