English 2275
Thematic Approaches to Literature: Faking It in American Literature
Credit hours: 3
GEC categories: GE Literature
Prerequisites: Prereq: 1110.01 (110.01) or equiv. Not open to students with 10 qtr cr hrs for 275. Repeatable to a maximum of 6 cr hrs. GE lit course.
Text Books:
| Title | Author(s) | Publisher | ISBN |
| Passing | Nella Larsen | Penguin | 9780141180250 |
| The Great Gatsby | F. Scott Fitzgerald | Scribner | 978-0-7432-7356-5 |
| Fun Home | Alison Bechdel | Houghton Mifflin | 978-0618477944 |
| Kindred | Octavia Butler | Beacon | 978-0807083697 |
Course Objectives: Course title: Faking It in American Literature Americans tend to cherish authenticity, yet one of our culture’s most beloved myths is that of personal reinvention, the idea that we can become anything or anyone that we want to be. Because of this contradiction, one person’s act of “fraud” can sometimes be another person’s “American dream.” In this class we will read American fiction that focuses on characters who are, purposely or unintentionally, not what they appear to be. We will discuss the significance of authenticity and social mobility, among other things, and we will examine what these texts reveal about American identity. While we explore these themes, you will also be sharpening your critical analysis and writing skills.
Course Content: Literature, autobiography, and film.
Method of Presentation: Discussion and short lectures.
Method of Evaluation: short essays and objective exams; quizzes.