ENG 217 - Contemporary American Literature: 1945-present

3 credit hours - Three hours weekly; one term.
This course meets the Arts & Humanities General Education Requirement.

Survey the literature of the United States written since 1945. Explore readings reflecting major currents - literary, historical and social - in the culture of the United States.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 101 /ENG 101A or permission of the department chair.

Crosslisted: Also offered as ENG 217H ; credit is not given for both ENG 217 and ENG 217H .

Note: Typically offered at MC and OL; fall, spring, and summer terms.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Describe the major trends, periods, and developments of American Literature from 1945 to the present;
Explain the racial, ethnic, gender, and class differences which constitute the American experience and are reflected in its literature;
Analyze and evaluate important works of the period;
Explain the relationships of the literature to its intellectual, social, and cultural backgrounds;
Identify and trace changes in literary forms, themes, and conventions during the period;
Write analytically about different forms of literature;
Practice close textual analysis that demonstrates the application of critical reading skills.