We will explore the works of these authors in social and historical context, examining how the two writers answer the large question of what it means to be a contemporary American, particularly for women and for members of racial minority groups. Required work for the course includes careful reading of all assigned material and active participation in class discussions. You will be responsible for completing and presenting to class two short research exercises during the course of the semester. The other will be a ten-item annotated bibliography of critical arguments published about the book. These research assignments will be due on the day we discuss the book in class.
Students are also responsible for presenting their research findings to the class on that day.
Your research findings must be summarized in a handout, which will be distributed to the entire class. You will not write a position paper on the books that you research for your bibliography. You may choose four other position papers you want to omit. Specific topics, which the position papers should address, will be handed out the week before we begin each book. Be prepared to read your position paper out loud.