Annotated Bibliography

Objectives:

• utilize literary terms in writings/essays
• analyze and evaluate cultural, political, economic, social, and/or historical influences of the readings
• discuss trends, recurring themes, and writing styles throughout the periods and genres
• apply various principles of literary criticism and analysis to readings
• compare and contrast characteristics of major literary figures
• develop literary argument(s) using MLA documentation through analyzing readings and synthesizing research from both traditional and electronic sources

General Guidelines:

• Length: 1,200 1,500 words
• Format: MLA format, 9th edition
• Source requirement: 5 academic quality sources, including at least 2 primary sources and 2 peer-reviewed academic journal article essays
• Submission: Essays will be submitted to the assignment folder in D2L Dropbox as a doc, docx, or pdf file. Students are responsible for ensuring the file is readable prior to the deadline. Unreadable documents will receive a 0.
• Grading criteria: A rubric will be posted in D2L with the assignment folder in Dropbox. Failing to fulfill assignment requirements may result in additional penalties.
• Academic integrity policies are in effect and essays will be checked for plagiarism. Students may not utilize generative AI in the writing of this assignment.

Topic :

Literary Movements and Genre: Select one literary movement/period from the list below and one work of American literature (poetry, prose, drama, or novel) from prior to 1860 that was not assigned in our course readings. For the purpose of research and literary analysis, it is recommended that you choose an author who is known as part of the traditional canon.

Literary movements may include Native American Oral Tradition, Colonial Non-Fiction (explorers), Enlightenment, Captivity Narratives, American Gothic, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Lyric Poetry, and Realism.

Essays on this topic will engage in an in-depth analysis of the selected movement or genre, discussing its development, characteristics, and greater impact on American literature.

As part of the source requirements, two primary sources, in the form of literature (fiction novel, drama, or poetry) published in the selected time period, will be used as examples in the analysis.