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American Fiction: The 20th Century (ENGL40015)
HonoursPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
In this subject, students study a range of major works of American fiction from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries identifying and tracing the different genres and themes that occur over the century and that seem important to American writers. The list is not definitive but includes such ideas as the role of the writer and fiction, the problems of gender, sexuality, class and race but also war, consumerism, surveillance and authority, the environment and technology. Drawing on class discussions and the critical and theoretical articles they read in class they develop their own essay topics.
Intended learning outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to demonstrate a familiarity with some of the key texts of 20th century American fiction;
- have a broad understanding of the political, social and cultural changes affecting American fiction from the early to the late early-20 th century and how these have influenced the subject matter and styles of 20 th century American fiction;
- have an overview of some of the more important and critical and theoretical works issuing from North America and how these can be usefully applied to the reading of American fiction;
- have acquired a transportable set of interpretative skills;
- have developed their capacity for independent research;
- have developed their capacity for critical thinking and analysis; and
- have developed their ability to communicate in writing.
Generic skills
At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:
- the ability to critically analyse and discuss a wide range of reading materials through participation in class discussions, the reading of critical essays and the writing of a class paper and an extended scholarly essay;
- the ability to both develop and modify one's thinking by participating in class discussions and writing an essay that requires one to respond to literary critics ideas;
- the capacity for independent and targeted research as a result of preparing a class presentation and writing a scholarly essay;
- the capacity for creative thinking through participation in discussions and the writing of essays that apply critical and theoretical ideas to the reading and interpretation of texts;
- the capacity for making ethical judgements and informed political choices as a result of engaging with and discussing texts by people from different social and cultural backgrounds to oneself;
- the capacity for critical self awareness through participation in discussions and the reading of critical texts that acknowledge where one's ideas and assumptions come from as well as what kinds of social privileges one enjoys;
- the capacity for lucid and logical argument as a result of careful essay planning and writing;
- competency in the use of library and other information sources such as on line websites and search engines through the researching and writing of essays that require the use of these resources; and
- the ability to organise oneself and manage one's time efficiently and effectively through the successful completion of a class paper and a written essay by the due date.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
ENGL40015 The Black Presence in American Fiction
ENGL40015 American Fiction: Cooper to Cather
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
A piece of written work
| Mid semester | 30% |
A piece of written work
| During the examination period | 70% |
| Hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of (or at least) 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures, in person or via online delivery. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass this subject. For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. (Complete not less than 50% of word count) | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Julia Tulloh Harper Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total 24 hours: a 2-hour seminar per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
A subject reader will be available.
- Summer (E Wharton)
- Love Medicine (L Erdrich)
- Passing (N Larsen)
- The Bluest Eye (T Morrison)
- Mother Night (K Vonnegut Jr)
- The Left Hand of Darkness (U Le Guin)
- The Road (C McCarthy)
- The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (J Diaz)
Recommended texts and other resources
- The Cambridge History of American Literature Vol 5
- The Cambridge History of American Literature Vol 6
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Specialisation (formal) English and Theatre Studies Informal specialisation PD-ARTS English and Theatre Studies - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 12 November 2022