EL 266 has been designated a writing-intensive course. (In the past, it was taught as a lecture in a class capped at 35.)

Your objectives for this course are to

1. Deeply and critically read complex literary texts
2. Demonstrate familiarity with the social and political forces shaping American culture during the time period
3. Use textual evidence to support your claims in oral and informal written discussion of assigned texts, without dismissing or oversimplifying views which differ from yours
4. Organize and develop your initial reactions to assigned texts, through informal writing, peer critiques, and discussion
5. Write a college-level research paper that appropriately uses primary and secondary sources (including basic literary theory)
6. Contribute actively to a positive learning environment

• read all assigned texts and reflect on them before class,
• complete quizzes and exercises to ensure that you are keeping up with the readings and to evaluate your progress,
• participate regularly in classroom and web-based discussions, and
• write and revise three formal papers (minimum 4, 6, and 10 pages).

At the end of this course, you should be able to demonstrate

1. Competence in the critical reading of complex literary texts
   
2. Intellectual engagement with your peers (in person and online)
   
3. Awarness of the historical, cultural, and formal issues that influence your developing responses to texts on the syllabus
   
4. Ability to plan, draft, revise, and polish a high-quality collegiate researched essay, appropriately usesing primary and secondary sources to defend a non-obvious claim (without minimizing or neglecting opposing or alternative views)