The American Literature Course

obligatory courses

The course intends to enable students make informed decisions as to the appropriate selection and adjustment of American literary texts so that they fit the needs of English language teaching in primary school. Chronological overview of literary epochs, constituting a broader context for the analyzed texts, along with a blended form of teaching (in class and online) are to effectively utilize time, technological advancements, and teaching methods.

Blended learning

The course is a chronological overview of the most significant literary epochs and trends, starting in the fifth semester with Colonial literature, through Romanticism and Transcendentalism, to Realism and Naturalism, while the second semester is devoted to the latest trends and issues such as Modernism, Postmodernism, current developments in American Literature, ethnic literature and a brief overview of American drama and kids' literature.

In an effort to raise the students' cultural and literary awareness, the course explores major American themes and myths, guides the participants through a survey of genres and techniques, and offers a perspective on such key issues as identity, ethnicity, multiculturalism and kids' literature. The students are also presented with selected critical commentaries and samples of literary theory. It also aims to acquaint participants with various ways of using American literature for ELT purposes.

The course is a chronological overview of the most significant literary epochs and trends, starting in the fifth semester with Colonial literature, through Romanticism and Transcendentalism, to Realism and Naturalism, while the second semester is devoted to the latest trends and issues such as Modernism, Postmodernism, current developments in American Literature, ethnic literature and a brief overview of American drama and kids' literature.

In an effort to raise the students' cultural and literary awareness, the course explores major American themes and myths, guides the participants through a survey of genres and techniques, and offers a perspective on such key issues as identity, ethnicity, multiculturalism and kids' literature. The students are also presented with selected critical commentaries and samples of literary theory. It also aims to acquaint participants with various ways of using American literature for ELT purposes.

List of discussed authors and titles for the summer semester:

V. American literature in the 20th century - Modernism (1900s - 1946)

- T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” fragments from The Waste Land

- Ezra Pound, “In a Station of the Metro,”

- Ernest Hemingway, “The Old Man and the Sea”

VI. The Jazz Age

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

VII. American Drama and post-war literature in the 20th century

- Arthur Miller, Death of A Salesman or Tennessee Williams, Streetcar Named Desire

- J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye – fragments

VIII. American literature for children. The uses of fairy tales: psychological benefits, cultural importance, analysis.

- Wizard of Oz as an American fairy tale

- American contemporary literature for children: Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss); Hans Augusto Rey and Margaret Rey; Ursula Le Guin

Baym, N., et al. (eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vols. I and II. Norton, New York, 1994.

Beaty, J. & Hunter, J.P., New Worlds of Literature, Norton & Company, W. W., New York, 1994.

Bradbury, M. & Ruland, R., From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature, Viking, New York, 1991.

Elliott, E., American Colonial Writers 1606-1734, Gale Research Co., Detroit, Mich., 1984.

Elliott, E., American Colonial Writers 1735-1781, Gale Research Co., Detroit, Mich., 1984.

Greenberg, M.H. (ed.), Great Stories of the American West II, Berkeley Books, New York, 1997.

Hart, J.D. (ed.), The Oxford Companion to American Literature, OUP, Oxford, 1995.

High, P.B., An Outline of American Literature, Longman, London, 1989.

Jones, S.W. (ed.), Growing up in the South: An Anthology of Modern Southern Literature, Mentor, New York, 1991.

Kenner, H., The Pound Era, University of California Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles, 1974.

Kostalanetz, R. (ed.), American Writing Today, 2 vols., Forum Series, United States International Communication Agency, Washington DC, 1982.

Lauter, P. (ed.), The Heath Anthology of American Literature, 2 vols., 3rd ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston & New York, 1998.

Lewicki, Z. (ed), A Handbook of American Literature for Students of English, US Embassy Cultural Section, Warsaw, 1990.

Litz, A. W. (ed.), Major American Short Stories, OUP, New York & Oxford, 1994.

Marlow Elizabeth McCallum, How to Teach Literature: A Practical Teaching Guide, WestBow Press, a Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan, 2017.

Mazur, Z. (ed.), The College Anthology of American Literature, Universitas, Kraków, 1998.

McQuade, D. (ed.), The Harper Single Volume of American Literature, 3rd ed., Longman, New York, 1999.

Merriam Webster’s Encyclopedia of Literature. 1995 ed.

Perkins, D., A History of Modern Poetry, 2 vols., the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., & London, 1976.

Rubin, L.D., The Faraway Country: Writers of the Modern South, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1963.

Richler M, (ed.), The Best of Modern Humor, Knopf, A.A., New York, 1983.

Salska, A. (ed.), Historia literatury amerykańskiej XX wieku. Vols. 1 and 2. Universitas, Kraków, 2003.

Stobaugh James, American Literature: Cultural Influences of Early to Contemporary Voices: High School Level Student, 2nd print., Master Books, 2013.

VanSpanckeren, K. Outline of American Literature: Revised Edition, US Department of State, 1994.

Velie, A. (ed.), American Indian Literature: An Anthology, Norman, University of Oklahoma Press, 1979.

Wagner-Martin, L. A History of American Literature: 1950 to the Present, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, 2013.

Wagner-Martin, L. & Davidson, C.M. (eds.), The Oxford Book of Women's Writing in the United States, OUP, Oxford & New York, 1995.

Wiget, A. (ed.), Critical Essays on Native American Literature, Hall, G.K. Boston, Mass., 1985.

Williford, L. & Martone, M. (eds.), The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American Stories Since 1970, Scribner Paperback Fiction, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1999.

Wilmeth, D.B. (ed.), The Cambridge History of American Theatre, CUP, New York, 1998

Wright Andrew, Storytelling with Children, Oxford University Press, 2009.

KNOWLEDGE: THE GRADUATE KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS

K_W01 the basic facts, theories, processes and phenomena relating to history of American literature, which have practical application in English language teaching at pre-school and the first and second stages of education P6S_WG Scope and depth

K_W02 selected study areas relevant to American literature, which have practical application in English language teaching P6S_WG Scope and depth

K_W03 the basic terminology covering literary studies and American literature relevant to English language teaching P6S_WG Scope and depth

SKILLS: THE GRADUATE IS ABLE TO

K_U01 search, analyze, evaluate, select and use information using a variety of sources and methods P6S_UW The application of knowledge/problems solved and activities performed

K_U16 conduct an argument using the views of other authors and formulate conclusions P6S_UK Communication/ constructing and receiving messages, propagation of knowledge in the academic environment, foreign language use

K_U19 prepare oral presentations, in Polish and English for specific purposes, using basic theoretical approaches, as well as a variety of sources P6S_UK Communication/ constructing and receiving messages, propagation of knowledge in the academic environment, foreign language use

SOCIAL COMPETENCES: THE GRADUATE IS PREPARED TO

K_K02 reflect on the level of their skills and knowledge, constantly develop professionally and personally, self-assess their competences, improve their skills, plan their development and training P6S_KK Assessment/critical approach

K_K04 take responsibility for the promotion and preservation of the cultural heritage of the region, country, Europe and plurilingualism and multiculturalism related to various ethnic groups living in the US P6S_KO Responsibility/fulfilling social obligations and acting for the public good

K_K06 interact and work in a group, performing various roles P6S_KR Professional role/ autonomy/development of the ethos

Reading the assigned texts is obligatory. At the end of each semester, students sit a test which is a combination of open and multiple choice questions (50% of the final grade). Active participation in class 10%, based on attentive reading, discussion (10% of the grade); individual preparation of a lesson plan (30% of the final grade),

Presentation grading scheme: 30% (high quality content and editing, originally designed materials) – 5,0; good quality – 4,0; good content but a few of mistakes – 3,0; poor quality and numerous mistakes – 2,0

Test grading scheme:

100%- 93% - 5,0

92% - 84% - 4,5

83% - 75% - 4,0

74% - 66% - 3,5

65% - 60% - 3,0

<60% - 2