Concentrates on how cultural, geographic, and political issues shape and are shaped by American literature. Topics may include the struggle to discover a national identity, the transition from war to postwar periods, or the tensions of a multicultural society; the course may also be structured as a chronological survey. Examines at least three genres and six authors. Emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing. Satisfies the University of Texas at Arlington core curriculum requirement in Language, Philosophy, and Culture. Prerequisites: C or better in ENGL 1301.