The Rise of Celebrity Authorship & the American Literary Market

Instructor: Michael Schueth

English 400

University of _________

Required Texts

Harriet Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Frederick Douglass, The Life of Frederick Douglass

Fanny Fern, Ruth Hall

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie

Willa Cather, Song of the Lark

F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Course Goals

In this course we will explore how image, advertising, and self-promotion played a key role in literary works from the 1850s to the 1930s.  The development of the “celebrity” author transformed the role of the writer in American culture, and this course aims to understand the role of the author. Further, this course will look at other cultural influences such as technology, theatre, and art to more fully understand the complex forces at work on authors during this period. In this course, students are welcome to explore specific interests in American culture and shape their research around those interests.

Policy on Attendance

Because this is an intense summer course meeting five days per week, I expect that you have made arrangements with your employer to be here on time every day and that you have a realistic amount of time set aside to complete reading assignments.  This course has a heavy reading load. Important: Students will fail this course FOR ANY REASON after FOUR absences.

A Note on Class Discussion

Because this is a 400-level course, discussion will be a major component of our meetings.  The quality of this course, then, largely rests on the active and intelligent participation of all members of the class.  The class discussions are meant to foster ideas among students and uncover major ideas through an organic class discussion.  If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to see me. 

A Note About Late Work, Incomplete Work and My Teaching Philosophy

It my job to do whatever possible to challenge, motivate and work with you as we do the work of this course.  It is your job to do the work.  If you are absent, late, or don't do things, you will either not pass the class or, depending on the quality here, can expect a much lower grade. My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that you want to be here to learn. 

Late Work Policy

See me if you are planning on being absent, or, if you are ill, please phone me or email me as soon as possible.  No late essays.  Reading quizzes cannot be made up.

Policy on Incompletes

I will only give an incomplete in the case of a serious medical or family emergency.  A significant amount of the coursework must be completed to receive an incomplete.  See UNL Handbook.

Policy on Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty

Plagiarism is a serious offence and will be treated as such in this course.  What you turn into me must be your own intellectual thinking—if it is not, cite your sources according to MLA guidelines.  It is your responsibility to know what plagiarism is and what constitutes appropriate paraphrasing.  See the UNL handbook for a more extensive discussion; also, see me if you have any questions or look up this topic in a guide to writing.  Cases of plagiarism will result in failure of this course and appropriate action by Student Judicial Affairs.

Short paper—This assignment requires a exploration of two major 19^th century magazine publications in our library.  Look through one or two years of each magazine, and discuss the ways in which fiction and poetry are used in context to other content. 

Requirements

Research Presentation—The assignment requires exploring various historical events in American culture during this period.  I have selected relevant historical topics that will contextualize the books in this course.  You will be responsible for researching and formulating the most critical aspects of these historical events to the class.  You will also be responsible for a one-page handout, which should incorporate relevant photographs/images. 

Research Paper—We will spend the second half of the semester working on the research paper.  Your paper topic should explore the themes of this course, and address an issue relevant to literary celebrity.  Looking a primary and archival materials is required as part of your research.  Topic selection is due on October XX.

Evaluation

Reading responses        75 pts.

Quiz                                50

Short paper                  100     

Research Presentation   75     

Final Research paper    200

Grading Scale

A      =  475-500 pts.

A-    =  460-470 pts.

B+   =  445-455 pts.

B      =  430-440 pts.

B-    =  415-425 pts.

C+   =  400-410 pts.

C      =  385-395 pts.

C-    =  370-380 pts.
D     =  325-365 pts.

F      =  0-320     pts.

An “A” grade to me indicates that all work has been completed clearly, on-time, and with care. All requirements of the assignment have been met. The student appears engaged in the work and invested in its quality. The writing is clear, free from excessive grammatical and mechanical problems, demonstrates the writer’s style and voice, and is organized and interesting.

A “B” grade suggests that the work has met all requirements as delineated in the assignment. The writing is clear and coherent, with some lapses or illogical connections.  The work may have some grammatical and mechanical problems. Development of thoughts or arguments may be incomplete, and some organizing could be confusing. Overall, the work exceeds the expectations of “average” college writing.

A “C” grade means the work fulfills the expectations for “average” college writing. That is, the work is readable and comprehensible but perhaps is slightly disorganized, has some messy or sketchy development, or lacks fresh/interesting ideas. Often, there is boring or repetitive sentence structure and problems with grammar and mechanics. All or most work has been completed.

A “D” grade is assigned when the writer has failed to meet the minimum criteria set in the “C” category. The paper is disorganized beyond understanding, incoherent, or too short/underdeveloped. Mechanical and grammatical errors plague the work.

Ideally, this syllabus would cover every contingency of every possibility that will arise in the course of the semester.  Of course, reality dictates that this will not be the case. Thus, I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as the need arises.

A Final Note:

I like teaching and I like students.  Take advantage of this…I always encourage you to come to see me, talk to me, and ask me questions.  My office hours will be announced on the first day of class, but feel free to email me as I check it often.  If you find yourself puzzled, upset, falling behind, unable to complete assignments, see me as soon as possible.