In this course, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of American texts, ranging from early poetry and prose to contemporary drama and fiction. By studying these works from a diverse group of writers, including Toni Morrison, Olaudah Equiano, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, among many others, we will develop our critical thinking, inquiry, analysis, and synthesis skills. Through this exploration, we will learn about social, political, and ideological developments and their interactions with literature throughout American history, focusing on such themes as race, gender, sex, identity, power, religion, and social injustice. This course is open to all majors.