Course Description
This course will focus on Mark Twain's writings from the "Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" through "Life on the Mississippi," "Huck Finn," "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," "Pudd'nhead Wilson," and later writings. Special attention will be paid to American democratic vision, technology, Victorian society, and racism. The relation between humor, ethics, and American idealism will be stressed. Students will also read selections from Twain's travel books and short stories. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Demonstrate familiarity with Twain's works.
- Relate works to historical setting, contexts, and other writers.
- Ability to discuss works in writing, citing passages.
- Ability to research online and onground and demonstrate results.
- Ability to discuss literary criticism and major genres.
- Ability to respond to other comments, citing information.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1-15) | 60% |
Quizzes (Weeks 1-15) | 15% |
Written Assignments (Week 4, Week 10 and Week 14) | 15% |
Portfolio (Week 15) | 10% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Mark Twain/ Tales, Speeches, Essays, and Sketches, ed. Tom Quirk. (Penguin Books) ISBN:0-14-043417-8
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
- Pudd'nhead Wilson (Bantam) ISBN: 0-553-21158-7
- Old Times on the Mississippi ISBN: 9780872432338
Additional Required Materials
The following titles are available online at no charge. Click the links below to launch the titles.
- Mark Twain's Humor: Critical Essays, ed. by David E. E. Sloane, 600+ pages of critical essays on Twain's canon is available at $50.00 plus $5.05 postage, originally $95.00; please send $55.05 check w/ return address to:
- David E. E. Sloane
4 Edgehill Terrace
Hamden CT 06517
- David E. E. Sloane
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1-6 | Topic: Introduction to Mark Twain
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2 | 1-6 | Topic: Innocents Abroad
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3 | 1-6 | Topic: Roughing It
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4 | 1-6 | Topic: Old Times on the Mississippi (aka, Life on the Mississippi)
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5 | 1-6 | Topic: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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6 | 1-6 | Topic: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
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7 | 1-6 | Topic: Sociable Jimmy
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8 | 1-6 | Topic: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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9 | 1-6 | Topic: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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10 | 1-6 | Topic: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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11 | 1-6 | Topic: A Connecticut Yankee
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12 | 1-6 | Topic: A Connecticut Yankee
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13 | 1-6 | Topic: Pudd 'nhead Wilson
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14 | 1-6 | Topic: Pudd 'nhead Wilson
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15 | 1-6 | Topic: Twain's Short Works
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.