ENGL 364: African American Authors from 1900 to Present

African American Authors from 1900 to Present examines early-20th to early-21st-century authors including Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and Langston Hughes.

What ENGL 364 covers

Prerequisite: WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. An examination of early 20th-century to early 21st-century African American authors, including James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Ann Petry, Helene Johnson, Dorothy West, and Langston Hughes.

The goal is to research historical issues; integrate findings into discussion; and articulate, develop, and advance a persuasive argument in written form.

Typical ENGL 364 assignments

Expect an assignment requiring you to research a historical issue relevant to a specific author (e.g., James Baldwin) and develop a persuasive argument grounded in that research.

Key topics in ENGL 364

• 20th-century African American authors
• Historical issue research
• Persuasive argument development
• Integrating research into literary discussion

Writing tips for ENGL 364

Follow the assignment instructions and rubric line by line

UMGC assignments for ENGL 364 are graded against a specific rubric or grading criteria your instructor provides — every requirement has to be visibly addressed. Skipping a requirement because it seems minor is one of the most common reasons a strong submission loses points.

Use close reading, not just plot summary

English literature courses like ENGL 364 expect close reading of the text itself — specific quotations, literary devices, and passages analyzed in depth — not a plot summary or general impression of the work.

Ground interpretation in historical or cultural context

Strong literary analysis connects a text to its specific historical, social, or cultural context — a reading that treats the work as timeless and disconnected from when and where it was written is one of the most common ways students lose points.

Why students seek help with ENGL 364

Students sometimes summarize an author's biography without the historical research and persuasive argument the course specifically requires — the rubric typically wants that research-grounded argument shown, not biography alone.

How GradeEssays helps with ENGL 364

Share your African American authors assignment and rubric, and your writer will build a persuasive argument grounded in genuine historical research.

Prerequisites and course context

ENGL 364 requires WRTG 112 or ENGL 102. Note: students may receive credit for only one of ENGL 364 or HUMN 364.

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