This self-study course provides students with an overview of the important writers and works of American Literature from World War II to contemporary times. Class discussions focus on nonfiction essays, documents, poems, speeches, and short stories and their relevance to respective historical time periods. Students are responsible for reading required works and choose supplemental readings in a genre of their choice to enhance their literary education. Major topics include: Twentieth Century Literature, Confessional Poetry, Short Stories, Asian American writers, Native American writers, Pulitzer Prize Award Winners, Humor, Modern Memoir, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Popular books, and bestseller lists.