ENG 475A - American Autobiography

(3 units) CO10

Reading life stories with attention to gender, race, and class. History, characteristics, and problems of the genre.

Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior standing OR ENG 303.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. list and discuss the key issues that arise in autobiographical writing and apply them to specific written works.
2. develop and articulate strategies for reading, interpreting, and critiquing memoirists’ choices of materials and literary techniques.
3. place American autobiographical writing in historical context, tracing trends in the representation of gender, race and class in in life writing.
4. pose and discuss ethical questions relevant to the genre and to writers’ choices.
5. write a successful autobiographical essay, collaborative memoir, and critical interpretation, as measured by course rubric.
6. demonstrate, through an annotated bibliography and class presentation, awareness of theories and research relevant to the study of autobiographical writing, and particularly to questions about truth, memory, identity, and representation.

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