21st Century Literature - Fall 2017

ENG 3540
MWF 9:10-10:10

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Professor Caitlin OBrien
fake.email@hamline.edu

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Office Hours: T 3:00-4:30pm,
R 11:00-12:00pm, and by
appointment

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Course Description:
What exactly is a 21st century novel? The fast answer is anything that was published in
the 21st century, yet this class will take an in-depth look into what the 21st century novel
accomplishes compared to those written in previous centuries. Beyond the publication
date, what makes a novel a 21st century novel? Have September 11th, Hurricane Katrina,
Taylor Swift, Minecraft, the War on Terror, technology, or social issues impacted the
novel in any form? Through a survey of different genres from this century and past, we
will try to answer these questions by engaging with and discussing what makes a 21st
century novel.

Course Goals:

Learn how to critically analyze texts

Construct an argument through effective writing skills
Connect contemporary literature with literature from the past
Recognize and make connections between American culture and global culture

 Discover the thematic concerns of the 21st century novel that are relevant to and
showcase the anxieties of society

Required Reading List:

1. The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, 1985
2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, 2002
3. World War Z by Max Brooks, 2006
4. A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, 2010
5. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell, 2011
6. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, 2012
7. The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith, 2013
8. Go Set A Watchmen by Harper Lee, 2015
9. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, 2016

Requirements
The required work for ENG 3540 will take on a variety of forms: (1) class participation,
(2) a weekly journal, (3) one critical analysis paper, (4) an annotated bibliography, and
(5) a final research paper.

(1) Because this class depends on discussion rather than lecture, there is a high
expectation for class participation. Because this class is discussion based, it is imperative
that everyone keeps up with the assigned readings, attends class, and actively participates
(either in small group, or large group). There will be occasional in-class quizzes that will
count toward your final class participation grade.

Participation is 20% of your final grade.

(2) Every week, each student will write in their weekly journal that reflects on that
weeks readings. This should be used as a way to think about the texts, and to develop
ideas to talk about in class discussion. Every week you should expect to upload your
journal under the Assignments tab on Blackboard. Sometimes I may give you a specific
prompt to consider for that weeks journal. Each entry should hit at least 750 words.

The weekly journal is 20% of your final grade.

(3) There will be one critical analysis paper on a novel of your choosing. The final paper
will be due on the last day of class. The paper should be 3-4 pages in MLA format. Each
paper must have an arguable thesis that pertains to a certain aspect of the novel. Ill be
looking to make sure that youve included quotations as evidence to support your claims,
and that these quotations were taken from each half of the book.

The critical analysis paper is 20% of your final grade.

(4) The annotated bibliography will be used for your final research paper, and will be
due November 20th.

The annotated bibliography is 15% of your final grade.

(5) The final research paper will be 10-12 pages in length, and will focus on answering
what the 21st century novel is. Please focus on analyzing one or more of the novels we
read throughout the course of the semester. This will require library research, or research
from the online databases like JSTOR. It is important to make sure that each source has
been peer-reviewed.

The final research paper is 25% of your final grade.

Grading:

Participation: 20%
Weekly Journal: 20%
Critical Analysis Paper: 20%
Annotated Bibliography: 15%
Final Research Paper: 25%

A+ = 100% /A = 95% /A- = 90%

B+ = 88% / B = 85% / B- = 80%
C+ = 78% / C = 75% / C- = 70%
D = 65% / F = below 60%

Attendance:

Students are responsible for attending all classes. Because this is a discussion based
class, it is imperative that class isnt missed. After 3 absences, your grade will lower by
5% . After 6 absences, it will be impossible to pass the course. If you miss a day, please
ask your classmates for notes. If there are any medical or personal emergencies, please
get a hold of me as soon as possible.

Late Policy:
I do not accept late work. For every day an assignment is late, I will drop the
grade by 50%. If there are extenuating circumstances, please see me so we can
arrange something for you.

Academic Integrity:
Students should act with integrity at all times. It is expected that all of your work is
honest in this course. Students who violate the policies are subject to disciplinary
penalties. For more information about Hamlines Academic Honesty policy, please visit:
http://www.hamline.edu/Policy.aspx?id=2147487457