English 190

Other Readings and Media

Harte, B.: Stories, Sketches, Poems (photocopy); Browne, J. Ross: “A Peep at Washoe," “Washoe Revisited” (photocopy); Clemens, Samuel L. (“Mark Twain”): "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” “Jim Baker’s Bluejay Yarn,” “How to Tell a Story" (photocopy); Clemens, Samuel L. (“Mark Twain”): Roughing It; Stevenson, Robert L.: The Silverado Squatters; Norris, Frank: McTeague; Austin, Mary: The Land of Little Rain; London, Jack: The Valley of the Moon. (Secondary material to be posted on bSpace or distributed in photocopy)

Description

Besides reading and discussing fiction and poetry with Western settings, and essays attempting to identify or explain distinctive regional characteristics, this course will include consideration of some movies shaped by and shaping conceptions of California. Writing will consist of a term paper of 16-20 pages. Depending on enrollment, each student will be responsible for organizing and leading class discussion (probably teamed with another student) once during the semester. There will be no quizzes or exams, but seminar attendance and participation will be expected, and will affect grades.

English 190 replaces English 100 and 150 as of Fall ’09. English majors may fulfill the seminar requirement for the major by taking one section of English 190 (or by having taken either English 100 or 150 before Fall ’09). Please read the paragraph on page 2 of this Announcement of Classes for more details about enrolling in or wait-listing for this course!