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Course: AML 4930 Instructor: Nathaniel Cadle Semester: Fall 2008 E-mail: ncadle@fiu.edu Room: PC 212 Office: DM 458B Time: MWF 12:00-12:50 Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00 W 5:15-6:15 Website: and by appointment
AMERICAN COSMOPOLITANISMS
Course Policies Course Description and Objectives: This course explores three different modes of constructing, assessing, and critiquing an internationally recognizable form of American identity during a crucial period in the United States’ growth into a multicultural global power (roughly 1875-1930). Specifically, we will investigate how American authors presented themselves and their characters as (1) cosmopolitan travelers or expatriates, (2) immigrants or Americans-in-the-making, and (3) participants in and/or observers of America’s expanding territory and economic influence. We will also examine how these different cosmopolitanisms informed one another and commented upon the United States’ position within the international community. Additionally (and more generally), we will continue to expand our appreciation of several key American authors and to develop our skills in critical thinking and academic writing.
Required Texts: We’ll read all or sizeable portions of each of the following seven books. For easier reference during classroom discussions, I ask that all students obtain the same editions of these texts, which you can do by purchasing them from the campus bookstore.
Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinsky (Penguin) Ernest Hemingway, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories (Simon and Schuster) Helen Hunt Jackson, Ramona (Modern Library) Henry James, The American (Norton Critical Edition) Nella Larsen, The Complete Fiction of Nella Larsen (Anchor) Mark Twain, Following the Equator (Dover) Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence (New Riverside Edition)
We’ll also read several shorter texts that are in the public domain. I’ll make these texts available through e-mail or our course website. I ask that you print these e-texts and bring them to class.
Methods of Evaluation: 1. Midterm Exam: 20% Final Exam: 25% Essay: 25% Presentation: 15% Participation: 15% Total: 100%
2. A = 94-100 C = 73-76 A - = 90-93 C - = 70-72 B + = 87-89 D + = 67-69 B = 83-86 D = 63-66 B - = 80-82 D - = 60-62 C+ = 77-79 F = 0-59
Exams: There will be two exams. They’re designed to test how closely you read the texts and follow classroom lectures and discussion. For each exam, expect (1) a few specific questions for which you’ll need to provide short answers that identify texts, literary terms, background information, etc. (If you read all the assigned materials and take notes during class, you should have no problems answering these questions.) Also expect (2) one or two essay questions that ask you to compare/contrast different texts, analyze a single text in detail, or locate common thematic threads running through several texts. You will have some freedom in selecting which questions to answer. The Final Exam will be cumulative.
Essay: Toward the end of the semester, you will submit one 8- to 10-page paper in which you attempt to synthesize two or more of the three forms of cosmopolitan identity we are examining in this course. In other words, what commonalities exist, for example, between Henry James and W.E.B. Du Bois or among The Age of Innocence, Following the Equator, and “Our America”? What this means is that you will be constructing an argument about American cosmopolitanism and backing it up with textual and perhaps some critical and historical research. I will provide further guidelines before the draft workshop, but the usual standards apply: 12-point Times New Roman font, 1.25-inch margins, etc. We will discuss potential topics after the Midterm Exam. If you are interested in writing on Ramona and/or Following the Equator, you should start reading those books earlier than their assigned dates. Due Nov. 26. (No exceptions! Late papers will be lowered by 1/3 letter grade for each calendar day they are overdue.)
Presentation: You will participate in one of ten group presentations during the semester. (I will provide a schedule/sign-up sheet for presentations at the end of the first week of classes.) For these presentations, you must conduct some outside research on your topic in addition to reading the day’s assignment, and your group will collectively play the role of the day’s instructor, presenting additional information to help contextualize the day’s assigned reading and asking questions and otherwise directing the day’s in-class discussion. I will meet with your group several days in advance in order to address any questions or concerns you may have, and I should be able to give your group some advice and to direct you to additional sources of information.
Participation: In the belief that students learn most when actively demonstrating critical thinking and engaging their teacher and fellow students in open dialogue, I have dedicated a sizeable percentage of your final grade to “Participation.” For the most part, I view participation as a low-risk means of expressing your views about our texts, testing your ideas with your peers, thinking aloud, and demonstrating that you’re doing your work. In a sense, then, I expect you to learn from one another as well as from me. You will receive credit for “Participation” if you fulfill the following requirements:
Miss no more than three classes. For each additional absence, I will deduct three percentage points from your final Participation grade. If you miss nine or more classes, you will fail this course automatically. If you arrive to class more than five minutes late, I will count you ½ absent.
Take part in class discussions and group activities. Put simply, I want your presence to be felt in class. I would like to hear each student’s voice at least once each week. You are also expected to treat each other and each other’s ideas with respect.
Maintain an e-mail account that is linked to our CE6 website. In other words, I want to be able to reach you—and for you to reach other members of you group—via e-mail. I will make certain texts available electronically. In most cases, your access to CE6 will be through your FIU e-mail account, so please check that account regularly.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in this class; I expect you to abide by the policies outlined in your student handbook. You must give proper credit for other people’s ideas—even if you change their words. This includes ideas gathered from books, journal articles, Internet sites, interviews, and all other sources. For your essay, you must follow proper MLA citation and documentation formatting. If you have any questions concerning plagiarism, acceptable sources, and the proper documentation of sources, you should contact me well before the assignment is due.
Course Schedule M Aug. 25 Course Introduction W Aug. 27 “Cosmopolitan Patriots” by Anthony Appiah (online) F Aug. 29 “Americans Abroad” and excerpt from Hawthorne by Henry James (pp. 357-64 in The American)
M Sep. 1 Labor Day (no class) W Sep. 3 Henry James, The American: chapters I-III (pp. 17-51) F Sep. 5 H. James, The American: chs. IV-X (pp. 51-128)
M Sep. 8 H. James, The American: XI-XIV (pp. 128-172) W Sep. 10 H. James, The American: XV-XXII (pp. 172-268) F Sep. 12 H. James, The American: XXIII-XXVI (pp. 268-309) & Preface (pp. 1-15)
M Sep. 15 Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence W Sep. 17 The Age of Innocence (cont.) F Sep. 19 The Age of Innocence (cont.)
M Sep. 22 The Age of Innocence (cont.) W Sep. 24 The Age of Innocence (cont.) F Sep. 26 Nella Larsen, Quicksand: chs. 1-9 (pp. 35-84)
M Sep. 29 N. Larsen, Quicksand: chs. 10-17 (pp.84-126) W Oct. 1 N. Larsen, Quicksand: chs. 18-25 (pp. 126-162) F Oct. 3 Ernest Hemingway, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” (pp. 3-28) & “In Another Country” (pp. 65-70)
M Oct. 6 E. Hemingway, “A Way You’ll Never Be” (pp. 82-94) & “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” (pp. 121-154) W Oct. 8 Midterm Exam F Oct. 10 Randolph Bourne, “Trans-National America” (online)
M Oct. 13 Abraham Cahan, The Rise of David Levinsky W Oct. 15 The Rise of David Levinsky (cont.) F Oct. 17 The Rise of David Levinsky (cont.)
M Oct. 20 The Rise of David Levinsky (cont.) W Oct. 22 The Rise of David Levinsky (cont.) F Oct. 24 The Rise of David Levinsky (cont.)
M Oct. 27 Knut Hamsun, excerpts from On the Cultural Life of Modern America (online) W Oct. 29 José Martí, “Our America” & “The Truth about the United States” (online) F Oct. 31 W.E.B. Du Bois, “The African Roots of the War” & “The Souls of White Folks” (online)
M Nov. 3 Helen Hunt Jackson, Ramona W Nov. 5 Ramona (cont.) F Nov. 7 Ramona (cont.)
M Nov. 10 Ramona (cont.) W Nov. 12 Ramona (cont.) F Nov. 14 Ramona (cont.)
M Nov. 17 Draft Workshop for essay W Nov. 19 Mark Twain, Following the Equator: chs. I, III-XII, XIV, XVI (pp. 25-34, 48-134, 151-155, 161-169) F Nov. 21 M. Twain, Following the Equator: chs. XVII-XIX, XXI-XXII, XXIV-XXXIII, XXXV (pp. 170-194, 206-222, 230-311, 318-323)
M Nov. 24 M. Twain, Following the Equator: chs. XXXVII-XLI, XLIII, XLV-XLIX (pp. 331-385, 392-399, 410-474) W Nov. 26 M. Twain, Following the Equator: chs. L-LV, LVII-LX (pp. 475- 534, 544-596); Essay due F Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Break (no class)
M Dec. 1 M. Twain, Following the Equator: chs. LXII-LXIX, Conclusion (pp. 609-712) W Dec. 3 TBA F Dec. 5 Review for final exam; wrap-up
Final Exam: TBA |
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