Wayne Lesser

Description forthcoming

Instructor:  Lesser, W            Areas:  Elective / U

Unique #:  XXXXX            Flags:  n/a

Semester:  Spring 2013            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  n/a            Computer Instruction:  No

Prerequisites: C L 315, E 603B, 316K, or T C 603B.

Description: In this course, we will be reading eight contemporary American fiction writers whose narratives represent the contemporary American scene, roughly 1960 to the present. The writers include Philip Roth (Goodbye Columbus), Toni Morrison (Sula), Don DeLillo (The Names), Jennifer Egan (A Visit from the Good Squad), Michael Chabon (Telegraph Avenue), Cormac McCarthy (The Road), Marilynne Robinson (Gilead), and Kevin Wilson (The Family Fang).

Requirements & Grading: Three take-home examinations (Exam #1, 25%; Exam #2, 30%; Exam #3, 35%); and Class Participation (10%).

Instructor:  Lesser, W            Areas:  n/a / B

Unique #:  34805-34850            Flags:  n/a

Semester:  Spring 2012            Restrictions:  n/a

Cross-lists:  n/a            Computer Instruction:  No

Prerequisites: Completion of at least thirty semester hours of coursework, including E 603A, RHE 306, 306Q, or T C 603A, and a passing score on the reading section of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test.

Description: Literature in Culture – We will survey major works of American literature from colonial times to the present.  We will read each of our texts in reference to its “historical context,” and we will define our highlighted contexts on the bases of Puritan (17th century), Enlightenment (18th century), Modernist (early 20th century), and contemporary thought.  In addition, we will examine some of our selections – particularly those authored by women and people of color – as reconfigurations or confrontations with the ideals contained within the highlighted contexts.

Texts: An E-Anthology (drawn from Concise Anthology of American Literature (6th & 7th Editions), George McMichael, editor ((Pearson). A Supplemental Packet (a professor’s packet containing the lecture outlines) available at Jenn’s Copy, 2200 Guadalupe.

Requirements & Grading: Exam #1(25%); Exam #2:(30%); Exam #3:(40%); Quizzes (5%). We will be using plus and minus grade designations this semester. Each exam will be calibrated on a four-point scale, rounded to the second decimal. We will use two scales: one for evaluated work and one for the course grade. For evaluated work: A =4.0; A- = 3.67; B+ = 3.34; B = 3.0; etc. For the calculation of course grades: the bar you must reach for an A = 3.8; for an A- = 3.6; for a B+ = 3.3; for a B = 2.8; for a B- = 2.6; etc.

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or rhetoric and writing.

Although the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963 is one of the most thoroughly documented events in American history, the whole episode remains unsettled, the source of ongoing debate, unease, and a myriad of conspiracy theories. The assassination has also been the subject of several novels and plays. In this course I propose to study that day in Dallas from three perspectives. First we will try to establish a factual basis from a reading of Norman Mailer’s Oswald’s Tale followed by student reports based on segments of the Warren Commission Report. The second part of the course will focus on fiction inspired by the assassination. These include four novels: Edwin Shrake’s Strange Peaches, Bryan Woolley’s November 22, Don Delillo’s Libra, and Adam Braver’s November 22, 1963. We will also read one play, Michael Hastings’ Lee Harvey Oswald: A Far Mean Streak of Indepence Brought on by Negleck. Finally, we will take a look into the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, which constitutes the “Fantasy” part of the course title.

This course will also have an HRC component. The Don DeLillo Collection and the Norman Mailer Collection will be used in our study of the works by those authors. Edwin Shrake’s papers may also be consulted at Texas State University-San Marcos.I envision the course as a multi-layered investigation into how language and research are employed to create structures of factual as well as emotional truths or fictions.

Prerequisites: Completion of at least thirty semester hours of coursework, including E 603A, RHE 306, 306Q, or T C 603A, and a passing score on the reading section of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test.

Description: Literature in culture –

We will survey major works of American literature from colonial times to the present. We will read each of our texts in reference to its “historical context,” and we will define our highlighted contexts on the bases of Puritan (17th century), Enlightenment (18th century), Modernist (early 20th century), and contemporary thought. In addition, we will examine some of our selections – particularly those authored by women and people of color – as reconfigurations or confrontations with the ideals contained within the highlighted contexts.

Texts: Concise Anthology of American Literature (7th Edition), George McMichael, editor (Pearson); Supplemental Packet (a professor’s packet containing required readings and the lecture outlines). The packets are available at Jenn’s Copy, 2200 Guadalupe.

Requirements & Grading: EXAMINATIONS:  Exam #1: 7/27, 7/28; Exam #2: during final exam period (tba)

SEMESTER GRADES:  Exam #1(45%); Exam #2 (55%). We will be using plus and minus grade designations this semester. Each exam will be calibrated on a four-point scale, rounded to the second decimal. We will use two scales: one for evaluated work and one for the course grade. For evaluated work:  A =4.0; A- = 3.67; B+ = 3.34; B = 3.0; etc. For the calculation of course grades: the bar you must reach for an A = 3.8; for an A- = 3.6; for a B+ = 3.3; for a B = 2.8; for a B- = 2.6; etc.

Prerequisites:  Completion of at least thirty semester hours of coursework, including E 603A, RHE 306, 306Q, or T C 603A, and a passing score on the reading section of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test. 

Description: We will survey major works of American literature from colonial times to the present.  We will read each of our texts in reference to its “historical context,” and we will define our highlighted contexts on the bases of Puritan (17^th century), Enlightenment (18^th century), Modernist (early 20^th century), and contemporary thought.  In addition, we will examine some of our selections – particularly those authored by women and people of color – as reconfigurations or confrontations with the ideals contained within the highlighted contexts.

Texts:    

• Concise Anthology of American Literature (6^th Edition), George McMichael, editor ((Pearson). 
• Supplemental Packet (a professor’s packet containing the lecture outlines and additional required readings). 

The packets are available at Jenn’s Copy, 2200 Guadalupe

Requirements & Grading:

Examinations:  Exam #1: 6/21 & 6/22;   Exam #2:  7/9 (2:00-5:00)

Semester Grades:  Exam #1: 45%;  Exam #2: 55%.  We will be using plus and minus grade designations this semester.  Each exam will be calibrated on a four-point scale, rounded to the second decimal.  We will use two scales: one for evaluated work and one for the course grade.  For evaluated work:  A =4.0;  A- = 3.67;  B+ = 3.34;  B = 3.0; etc.  For the calculation of course grades:  the bar you must reach for an A = 3.8;  for an A- = 3.6;  for a B+ = 3.3;  for a B = 2.8; for a B- = 2.6; etc.

For more information, please download the full course syllabus.

English 348:  The Modern Short Story

Professor Wayne Lesser (lesser@mail.utexas.edu)
Parlin Hall 218
Office Hours::  (tentative) TTH 1-2:30

During this semester, we will be reading 20^th century American short stories.   The course has two principal objectives.  The first is simply to introduce you to a selection of distinguished American short story writers.  The second objective is to cultivate an approach to inventing interpretive agendas based upon the relationship between “narrative projects” and “ideas.”  Although our class discussions will be wide-ranging, we will work persistently at refining our definitions of “projects,” “ideas,” and also at the various ways in which they relate to one another.

Required Text: 

The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction, ed. Bausch & Cassill (7^th ed).

Evaluation:

1. There will be three take-home essay examinations: Exam #1  (2/18-23) 33%; Exam #2 (4/6-8) 33%; Exam #3 (5/4-6) 34%.
2. I will indicate on each exam whether your class participation is “satisfactory” for that unit of the course.  You will need to earn at least 2 “satisfactory” designations in order to have “class participation” count in your final course grade.  If your class participation is adequate, I will count your highest grade twice in the final calculation.   Therefore, instead of averaging three grades, I’ll average four, with each counting 25%.  In this way, your best performance will count for 50% of your course grade.
3. (3) Grading Policy: I will be using plus and minus grade designations this semester.  Each piece of work will be calibrated on a four-point scale, rounded to the second decimal.  However, I will use two scales, one for evaluated work and one for the final course grade calculation.  For evaluated work:  A = 4.0; A- = 3.67; B+ = 3.34; B = 3; B- = 2.67,;etc..   For the calculation of course grades:  the bar you must reach for A = 3.8; for A- = 3.6; for B+ = 3.3; for B = 2.8; for B- = 2.6, etc..

Absenteeism: 

You are allowed three unexcused absences during the term.  Additional absences may affect your grade in the course.

Note: Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259

For more information, please download the full syllabus.

TBD