English 412: British Literature, 1740-1800

My Course Description

The second half of the eighteenth century in Britain is characterized by the continuing escalation of commercial print production, the emergence of the professional author, and the establishment of “literature” and literary criticism in their modern senses. Debates over colonization, Christian evangelicalism, the slave trade, the rights of women, and the French Revolution ran hot during these decades. These and other developments will be our concerns as we read selections from poetry, fiction, autobiography, drama, essays, journalism, sermons, and philosophical treatises. Students are expected to think for themselves, to form strong opinions, to disagree, to argue persuasively and eloquently when they speak and when they write.

Course Documents

Standard course policies (web page)

Spring 2010 syllabus (PDF)

Guide to Research in Literary Studies (web page)

Assignment description for Essay 1 (PDF)

Assignment description for Essay 2 (PDF)

Extra Credit Option: earn up to 10% extra on your final grade

Complete an annotated bibliography of scholarly sources concerning a theme, specific text, specific author, or literary genre from this period.

Email it to me by no later than April 22.

Follow the directions carefully to complete your annotated bibliography assignment correctly.

Feel free to meet with me to discuss this assignment.