ENGL 170A
American Literature, 1865 to 1900
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Requisites: courses 10A, 10B, and 10C, or 11 and 87. Historical survey of American literature from end of Civil War to beginning of 20th century, including writers such as Howells, James, Twain, Norris, Dickinson, Crane, Chesnutt, Gilman, and others working in modes of realist and naturalist novel, regional and vernacular prose, and poetry. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - Professor Colacurcio is the textbook example of a professor who was once an inspired teacher but is well past his prime. It's clear that he has immense knowledge of the American literature he teaches, it's just unfortunate that it doesn't always come up in class. Instead, his lectures lack structure so are hard to follow and it can be difficult to parse what is personal anecdote and what might be on the test. I would also say that he expects close reading of all the texts: he is one of the only English professors I've ever had who employs really difficult regular quizzes on the facts of the reading.
Winter 2025 - Professor Colacurcio is the textbook example of a professor who was once an inspired teacher but is well past his prime. It's clear that he has immense knowledge of the American literature he teaches, it's just unfortunate that it doesn't always come up in class. Instead, his lectures lack structure so are hard to follow and it can be difficult to parse what is personal anecdote and what might be on the test. I would also say that he expects close reading of all the texts: he is one of the only English professors I've ever had who employs really difficult regular quizzes on the facts of the reading.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2019 - Fair warning, if you ask for letters of rec, he is unlikely to help you with one…I took 2 classes with Prof. Salway and received an A+ in both (plus going to office hours and participating in class), and he still did not respond to my request for an LoR. I am happily now at Harvard for grad school, so I’m thankful it worked out, but I would not say Salway is a good bet for someone to vouch for you.
Fall 2019 - Fair warning, if you ask for letters of rec, he is unlikely to help you with one…I took 2 classes with Prof. Salway and received an A+ in both (plus going to office hours and participating in class), and he still did not respond to my request for an LoR. I am happily now at Harvard for grad school, so I’m thankful it worked out, but I would not say Salway is a good bet for someone to vouch for you.
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