Course Description: In this web-based American literature course, students explore the themes of technology, language, illusion, and independence. Students read culturally diverse selections, within such differing genres as the essay, short story, novel, historical writings, and poetry. Through multimedia presentations, selections provide vocabulary enrichment, textual insights, and audio readings of excerpts to enhance the learning experience.

Students will develop critical thinking and writing skills by taking quizzes, completing creative projects, and sharing their thoughts in discussions with the teacher or other students. Basic computer skills are recommended.

Course Contents:
Students will learn about:

• Four major themes in American literature, which have rich aesthetic, personal, and socio-cultural dimensions: technology, language, independence, and illusion
• American literary works from the eighteenth century to the present, with primary emphasis on twentieth-century works
• A large variety of genres: the essay, the short story, the novel, historical writing, poetry, autobiography, the play, nonfiction, the road narrative, and the tall tale
• How these four themes are shaped and inflected by race, gender, ethnicity, class, history, and regionalism
• Close reading and analysis of texts
• Connecting issues raised in these readings to a contemporary social or personal context
• How to write in different formats and genres
• Developing a good discussion in the class newsgroup

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