ENGL 364 African American Authors from 1900 to Present at the University of Maryland Global Campus examines authors from the early 20th century to the early 21st.
UMGC's description names James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ann Petry, Helene Johnson, Dorothy West and Langston Hughes. The prerequisite is WRTG 112 or ENGL 102.
As in ENGL 363, the stated goal is to research historical issues, integrate findings into discussion, and develop a persuasive written argument. UMGC notes credit may be received for only one of ENGL 364 or HUMN 364.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Course code | ENGL 364 |
| Credits | 3 |
| Prerequisite | WRTG 112 or ENGL 102 |
| Credit limit | Credit for only one of ENGL 364 or HUMN 364 |
| Typical work | Researched argumentative essays, discussion (general; check your syllabus) |
What ENGL 364 Covers
| Area | What to examine |
|---|---|
| Early 20th-century voices (for example J. W. Johnson, H. Johnson, West) | Poetry and fiction around migration, class and identity |
| The Harlem Renaissance (for example Hurston, Hughes) | Folk culture, jazz and blues influence, and debates about representation |
| Mid-century protest writing (for example Wright, Petry, Baldwin) | Realism, urban life, essays and social critique |
| Contemporary reach | How earlier writers influence later work, according to your syllabus |
Key Concepts Explained
Form and Tradition
Many authors adapt traditions such as the blues, sermons or folk speech. Identify the tradition and ask what the author gains by using it.
Example: A poem that borrows blues repetition can be read as turning private pain into shared experience. Cite the repeated line and what changes when it returns.
Representation and Audience
Authors in this period debated how to portray Black life and for whom. Note who the text addresses and what it refuses to explain.
Argument Built on Evidence
The persuasive-argument goal means a position, supported. Combine two or three well-chosen passages with a relevant historical fact.
Example: Thesis: "The novel's urban setting works as an argument, showing how housing and work limit the protagonist's choices." Evidence: key scenes of constraint plus a researched point about housing practices of the era.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Assignment type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Researched essay | Argument, research and writing | Frame a debatable claim and support it with text and reliable sources |
| Close-reading paper | Language and form | Select a passage and link style to meaning |
| Comparative essay | Cross-text thinking | Compare two authors on a theme such as home or migration |
| Discussion posts | Integration of research | Pair a quotation with a researched context point |
Planning a Researched Essay
A researched essay for this course should show that the research changed the reading of the text.
| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Name the text, state the question and give your claim |
| Context paragraph | Give the one historical fact the argument needs |
| Analysis paragraphs | Close reading of two or three passages |
| Counterpoint | Acknowledge a different reading and answer it |
| Conclusion | Say what the reading shows beyond the text |
This structure keeps research from taking over the analysis and keeps the thesis at the center of every paragraph.
Planning Your Term
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Early | Build a timeline and note each author's form and audience |
| Middle | Draft a research question for your first essay |
| Late | Revise to make the research change the reading of the text |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Treating authors as spokespeople. Analyze the text, not only the author's biography.
- Broad themes. "Racism" is too broad; choose a specific mechanism the text portrays.
- Thin research. One context source used well beats several used vaguely.
- Quote dumping. Explain every quotation.
Study Tips for ENGL 364
- Build a timeline of major events and place each text on it.
- Note recurring images and forms across authors.
- Draft a research question before searching.
- Leave time to revise for argument before proofreading.
How We Help with ENGL 364
Send the prompt, the readings and your draft. A literature tutor can help you frame a question, prepare a custom essay, or edit your draft with comments. See our critical analysis essay guide.
GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with UMGC. Our work is a study and reference aid: use it to learn the method, then write and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, include free revisions within the scope of your original request, and are refunded in full if late.
Strengthen Your ENGL 364 Argument
Share the assignment and sources. We prepare a custom essay or edit your draft with comments.
Start My ENGL 364 HelpFree revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order
Frequently Asked Questions
James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ann Petry, Helene Johnson, Dorothy West and Langston Hughes.
WRTG 112 or ENGL 102.
UMGC says credit may be received for only one of the two.
The stated goal includes researching historical issues and integrating findings into discussion.
ENGL 363 covers authors before 1900; ENGL 364 covers early 20th-century to early 21st-century authors.
We provide custom essays, editing and tutoring as study support. Submit only your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy.