English 102: English and American Literature from 1650 to 1789

Instructor: James H. Donelan                                     
Email: donelan@english.ucsb.edu
Enroll Code: 05538                                                      
Meets: MTWR 9:30-10:35, BSIF 1217
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, 12:30-1:30, 2702 South Hall
Books: All books are required; none will be on reserve. They are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at the UCen Bookstore.

·        The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Vol. 1C, Damrosh, et al. 4th edition
·        The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A, Baym, Nina, 7th edition.

Requirements: The course requires regular attendance, active participation in discussion section, and timely completion of all assignments, including, a short essay (5-6 pages), a midterm, a longer essay (8-10 pages), and a final examination. Grades will be calculated as follows:

  • Short Essay, 15%
  • Midterm, 20%
  • Long Essay, 25 %
  • Final, 25%
  • Attendance and Participation, 15%

In addition, please do your best to observe the following rules:

  • Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time. Late papers will result in grade reductions. Specific requirements and suggested topics for the essays will be distributed in class and posted on the course web site.
  • Never submit a paper without proofreading it carefully. Students are expected to adhere to MLA citation style.
  • Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence and your full participation. Do not miss class unless you must. Missing more than two class meetings will result in a reduction of your grade.
  • All university regulations regarding academic dishonesty will be enforced.
  • You may be asked to provide preliminary materials, such as a prospectus, an outline, or a rough draft, for either or both of the essays.
  • All assignments must be completed in order to pass the course.
  • Please read the assignment for a particular day before class. Reading assignments vary in length and difficulty, so please plan ahead.

 

Syllabus

Key to Reading the Syllabus: “Longman” refers to The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Vol. 1C; “Norton” refers to The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A. Milton’s Paradise Lost is available online and in any bookstore; you may complete the reading either way.

I.                   The Restoration and its Times

6/20     Introduction and Logistics: The Transformation of the Transatlantic
6/21     Milton, Paradise Lost, Books I and IV (online)
6/22     Pepys, Excerpts from Diaries, Longman, 2011.
6/23     Bradstreet, “Prologue,” Norton, 188; and “Contemplations” 195.

II.                Sin and Savagery

6/27    Wigglesworth, “Day of Doom,” Norton, 218. Writing Workshop
6/28    Rowlandson, Excerpts from Narrative, Norton, 235.
6/29    Dryden, “Absalom and Achitophel,” Longman, 2077.
6/30    Behn, Oroonoko, Longman, 2137. First Essay Due.


7/4       Happy Independence Day!
7/5       Wycherly, The Country Wife, Longman, 2215.
7/6       Mather, “The Wonders of the Invisible World,” Norton, 308; and Edwards, “Sinners in             the Hands of an Angry God,” Norton, 425.
7/8       Midterm

III.           Freedom and the Mind

7/11    Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, “Houyhnhms,” Longman, 2381.
7/12    Franklin, Autobiography, Part One, Norton, 449-518
7/13    St. John de Crèvecouer, “Letters,” Norton, 596
7/14    Writing Workshop

7/18     Pope, “Essay on Criticism,” Longman, 2440.
7/19     Pope, “Essay on Man,” Longman, 2501
7/20     “Perspectives: Mind and God,” Longman, 2613.
7/21     Paine, various writings, Norton, 629

7/25     Jefferson, Autobiography and “Notes on Virginia,” Norton, 651.
7/26     Boswell, various writings, Longman, 2750. Second Essay Due.
7/27     Equiano, from Narrative, Norton, 674 and Wheatley, poems, Norton, 751
7/28     Final Examination. Optional Revision of First Essay Due.