Sources of the Self: the Making of American Identity (U02770)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : LLC-3-U02770

Individualism has played a crucial role in America's ideological and literary development. For many authors, America was not only a New World, but it also promised new identities, and new ways of conceiving the self. The course will consider whether there is such as thing as a distinctly 'American' self. Some of the questions it will consider are: How is American identity constructed? What did the rise of individualism contribute to this process? How has American identity evolved from the eighteenth to the late twentieth century? The course also examines American encounters with 'others' - racial, social, moral, sexual, national, and environmental - in order to understand the various ways in which the self has been conceptualized.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Passes in Enlgish or Scottish Literature 1, and English or Scottish or American Literature 2, with a mark of 50 or above at the first attempt in the second year course.

? Special Arrangements for Entry : Numbers are limited to 15, with priority given to students taking degrees involving English or Scottish Literature and Visiting Students placed by the Admissions Office. Students not in these categories need the written approval of the Head of English Literature before enrolling. In the case of excess applications places will be decided by ballot.

? Costs : Essential course texts.

Variants

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

Sources of the Self: the Making of American Identity (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Subject Areas

Home subject area

English Literature, (School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, Schedule G)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
21/09/2007	10:00	12:00			Rm 1.13, 18 Buccleuch Place

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Friday	10:00	12:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will engage in a chronological consideration of literary and non-literary texts, evaluating their developing contribution to ideas of American selfhood. They will learn to assess critically the varieties of American experience and identity, from the 18th century to the late 20th century.