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ENG 304: American Short Story

Course Description

This course will focus on an intensive study of the American short story. The reading ranges from works by Washington Irving, Hawthorne, and Poe, to contemporary writers like Sandra Cisneros, ZZ Packer, and Helena Maria Viramontes. Many other major American authors will also be studied, including Chopin, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Wright, and Baldwin. The course will consider a variety of thematic perspectives in American 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:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic elements of American short fiction, including plot, character, theme, symbolism, irony, and setting.
  2. Write about literature in a meaningful, thoughtful way, carefully examining the intent of the authors as well as the interpretations made by readers.
  3. Articulate a vision of American life as seen through the eyes of the authors studied in the course.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of traditions and themes in American literature.
  5. Demonstrate a basic understanding of literary criticism.
  6. Articulate written analysis of literature.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsPointsWeights

Discussions (weeks 1-8)

8 @ 25 = 200

40%

Journals (weeks 1, 3, 6, 8)

4 @ 25 = 100

20%

Essay #1 (due week 4)

100

20%

Final Essay (due week 7)

100

20%

Total

500

100%

Required Textbooks

  • This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are openly licensed, educational resources that can be used for teaching, learning and research. OER may consist of a variety of resources such as textbooks, videos and software that are at little or no cost for students.
  • Links for the readings will be provided within the weekly content folders.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1-6

Isolation/Oppression/Estrangement/Agency

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper”
    • John Steinbeck “The Chrysanthemums”
    • Richard Wright “The Man Who Was Almost a Man”
    • David Foster Wallace “Everything is Green”
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Make Journal Entry

2

1-6

Loss of Innocence/Natural Healing

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • James Baldwin, "Sonny’s Blues
    • Sarah Orne Jewett, "A White Heron”

Public Perception/Beauty Standards

    • Jamaica Kincaid “Girl”
    • Zadie Smith “Crazy They Call Me”
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit Essay #1 Proposal

3

1-6

Public Perception/Beauty Standards (continued)

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • Toni Cade Bambara “The Lesson”
    • Alice Walker, "Everyday Use”
    • Amy Tan, “Two Kinds”
    • Sandra Cisneros “Barbie-Q”
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Make Journal Entry

4

1-6

Codependency

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily
    • Edgar Allan Poe, “The Fall of the House of Usher”

Self-Preservation

    • Ursula K. Le Guin “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
    • Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery"
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Essay #1 Due

5

1-6

Myths Beliefs/Good vs Evil/Transformation

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • Joyce Carol Oats, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
    • Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown”
    • Helena Maria Viramontes “The Moths”
    • Leslie Marmon Silko “Yellow Woman”
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Submit Final Essay Proposal

6

1-6

Cruelty

  • Readings (all four stories):
    • Kate Chopin, “Desiree’s Baby”
    • ZZ Packer “Brownies”
    • Zora Neale Hurston “Sweat”
    • Cynthia Ozick “The Shawl”
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Make Journal Entry

7

1-6

Final Essay Drafting, Peer Review and Revision

  • Readings:
    • Revision PPT
    • Peer Review Guidelines
  • Read assigned works
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Final Essay Due

8

1-6

Final Meta-Reflection

  • There are no assigned readings this week.
  • Participate in Discussions
  • Make Journal Entry
  • Complete Course Evaluation

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.