LITE401 American Drama
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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English Language and Literature
Nadira Puškar Mustafić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is a deep dive into the heart of American drama, analyzing six pivotal plays that reflect and challenge the cultural and societal norms of their respective eras. Through close reading, discussion, and written reflection, students will gain an understanding of the major themes, characters, and styles of American drama in the 20th century. In addition, students will present American plays of their choice from any era that are not included in the course syllabus, offering a comparative analysis between their chosen plays and the foundational ones studied in class.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Norton Anthology of Drama: Volume 2: The Nineteenth Century to the Present. NEW YORK: W.W. NORTON, 2009. Print.; Fisher, James, and Felicia Hardison Londré. Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Modernism. Lanham: Md, 2008. Print.
Additional Literature
Fischer, James. Historical Dictionary of Contemporary AMERICAN Theater: 1930-2010. Scarecrow, 2011.; Law, Jonathan. The Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre. London: Methuen Drama, 2013.; Aristote, et al. Aristotle's Poetics. Hill and Wang, 1961.; * Nikčević Sanja. Subverzivna američka Drama Ili Simpatija Za Losere. Centar društvenih Djelatnosti Mladih Rijeka, 1994.; *Nikčević Sanja. Afirmativna američka Drama Živjeli Puritanci. Hrvatski Centar ITI-Unesco, 2003.; Puškar Mustafić, Nadira. SUZE U PUBLICI, Katarza u Suvremenoj Auto/Biografskoj Američkoj Drami. Citadela Libri, Zagreb, 2020. *The lecturer will provide the translation of essential definitions and terminology from the two referenced Croatian booksTeaching Methods
Lectures
Group work
Individual work
In-class discussions
Presentations
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Syllabus & Defining American Drama | |
| 2 | Ride to New Orleans: Unveiling 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (Part I) | |
| 3 | Crashing Illusions: Delving Deeper into 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (Part II) | |
| 4 | Loman's Legacy: Introducing 'Death of a Salesman' (Part I) | |
| 5 | Dreams Dismantled: Concluding 'Death of a Salesman' (Part II) | |
| 6 | Student presentations | |
| 7 | Morning to Midnight: Unfolding 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' (Part I) | |
| 8 | The Mid-Term Exam | |
| 9 | Tyrone’s Turmoil: Final Acts of 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' (Part II) | |
| 10 | Glimpses of Grover’s Corners: 'Our Town' (Act I) | |
| 11 | Life, Love, and Beyond: 'Our Town' Acts II & III | |
| 12 | Student Presentations | |
| 13 | Beauty Shop Buzz: 'Steel Magnolias' Blooms (Part I); Strength in Sisterhood: 'Steel Magnolias' Blossoms (Part II) | |
| 14 | Drive Through Decades: The Journey of 'Driving Miss Daisy' | |
| 15 | Student Presentations; The Final Exam Revision |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITE401.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F1.17 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | B F2.26 | |
| Thursday | 13:00 - 15:00 | B F2.26 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 12:00 | B F2.26 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
The Mid-Term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 5
Discussions Participation/Activity
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Attending the lecturesss
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Presentation
20 hours ⏳ (4 week × 5 h)
Assignments
25 hours ⏳ (5 week × 5 h)
Home study/Revision
12 hours ⏳ (12 week × 1 h)
Studying for the midterm exam
24 hours ⏳ (3 week × 8 h)
Studying for the final exam
24 hours ⏳ (3 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [LITE401] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| LITE401 | American Drama | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nadira Puškar Mustafić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 Thursday: 13:00-15:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| npuskar-mustafic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is a deep dive into the heart of American drama, analyzing six pivotal plays that reflect and challenge the cultural and societal norms of their respective eras. Through close reading, discussion, and written reflection, students will gain an understanding of the major themes, characters, and styles of American drama in the 20th century. In addition, students will present American plays of their choice from any era that are not included in the course syllabus, offering a comparative analysis between their chosen plays and the foundational ones studied in class. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Norton Anthology of Drama: Volume 2: The Nineteenth Century to the Present. NEW YORK: W.W. NORTON, 2009. Print.; Fisher, James, and Felicia Hardison Londré. Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Modernism. Lanham: Md, 2008. Print. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | lectures, group work, individual work, in-class discussions, presentations | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Syllabus & Defining American Drama | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Ride to New Orleans: Unveiling 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (Part I) | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Crashing Illusions: Delving Deeper into 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (Part II) | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Loman's Legacy: Introducing 'Death of a Salesman' (Part I) | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Dreams Dismantled: Concluding 'Death of a Salesman' (Part II) | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Student presentations | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Morning to Midnight: Unfolding 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' (Part I) | |||||||||
| Week 8 | The Mid-Term Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Tyrone’s Turmoil: Final Acts of 'Long Day's Journey Into Night' (Part II) | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Glimpses of Grover’s Corners: 'Our Town' (Act I) | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Life, Love, and Beyond: 'Our Town' Acts II & III | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Student Presentations | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Beauty Shop Buzz: 'Steel Magnolias' Blooms (Part I); Strength in Sisterhood: 'Steel Magnolias' Blossoms (Part II) | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Drive Through Decades: The Journey of 'Driving Miss Daisy' | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Student Presentations; The Final Exam Revision | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| The Mid-Term Exam | 1 | 25 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignments | 12 | 15 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 15 | 2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Discussions Participation/Activity | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Attending the lecturesss | 3 | 15 | 45 | Presentation | 5 | 4 | 20 | |||
| Assignments | 5 | 5 | 25 | Home study/Revision | 1 | 12 | 12 | |||
| Studying for the midterm exam | 8 | 3 | 24 | Studying for the final exam | 8 | 3 | 24 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 24/02/2026 | |||||||||