Subject description for 2024/25
American Fiction Since 1945
SP229L
Subject description for 2024/25
American Fiction Since 1945
SP229L
Discover how politics, paranoia, and postmodernism have shaped American fiction since 1945. This class uses contemporary American literature as a basis of discussion of these crucial themes.
American Fiction since 1945 is an in-depth review and examination of central works of American literature in the period from the end of WWII until the present day. By focusing on a large selection of writings in several prose genres, as well as related secondary criticism, students will gain new appreciation for key writers as well as a clearer understanding of their place in the developing canon of American literature.
Acceptance into the Bachelor of English program or English One-Year program with adequate course progression (at least 45 ECTS passed). The course is also open to international exchange students at Nord University.
Acceptance into the Bachelor of English program or English One-Year program with adequate course progression (at least 45 ECTS passed). The course is also open to international exchange students at Nord University.
Knowledge:
- Familiarity with and contextual background for selected works of fiction and non-fiction by American writers since 1945.
- Broad-based knowledge of central American authors's biographies, secondary criticism, and their respective contributions to the Postmodern period of literature.
Skills:
- Reading widely with an aesthetic and critical gaze with the purpose of making relevant comparisons and judgments about American fiction in the post-war period.
- Ability to reflect critically upon texts in several genres and come to independent and relevant scholarly conclusions, using secondary references where appropriate;
- Placing works by American writers into a larger socio-historical context, and more specifically into the framework/timeline of American literary Postmodernism.
General Competencies:
- Engagement with the course material in an independent and critical context;
- Development of a more sophisticated written and oral English.
Semester fee and course litterature.
Compulsory.
On-campus, seminar-based instruction. The teaching will be part lectures, part seminars and there will also be time for tutoring outside of class. Quizzes and other learning activities must be attempted, but not necessarily passed, to count as approved.
Evaluation using mid-term and final surveys. Students are also encouraged to participate in the central quality surveys.
Obligatory attendance (OD): 85% attendance required (approved/not approved);
Assessment tasks (AK): 8 quizzes, 1 writing activity, and 1 group activity (approved/not approved);
Home exam (HJ): 100%, graded A-F, a two-week home exam.
Attendance and assessment tasks must be approved to receive the final grade.
All aids allowed.
Generating an answer using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as one's own answer is considered cheating
It is recommended that students have taken the English One-Year Programme or a similar introductory survey program, including a class in research and writing, before proceeding with a more-advanced class.
Subject language
English
Credits
10
Study location
Bodø
Responsible faculty
The Faculty of Education and Arts
Course coordinator
