Course Syllabus

Welcome to English 12 acp and what I expect will be a challenging and enriching experience for all of us.  Our journey together will be in the company of some of the most important writers in the western tradition.  We can’t help but learn a great deal from them, and, of course, from one another.  The success of the course, though, and the benefits you derive from it, will depend largely on your engagement, dedication and receptiveness.   

In English 12 acp you will immerse yourself in literature and ideas.  You will read and listen closely, think broadly and deeply and be open to new perspectives.  You will make relevant, discuss and write about what you conclude.  You will work to hone your powers of perception and self-expression.  You will respect and support your classmates.  You will give your responsibilities your best effort.

Expectations  

You will come to class on time and prepared.  You will be attentive, receptive and responsible, as well as courteous to and respectful of others.   You will meet deadlines for all reading and writing assignments.  If you anticipate a problem, let me know.  Excuses after the fact will fall on unsympathetic ears.  One late waiver a quarter is available for written work to those who need it.      You will adhere to the strictest tenets of academic and personal integrity.  The consequences of any transgression--which includes, of course, any use of AI--will be severe.     

Assignments  

You can expect an average of about forty pages of reading in preparation for each class meeting.  Anticipate unannounced quizzes on the readings, as well as exercises to encourage and assess your mastery of vocabulary and the craft of writing.  Absent students are responsible for making up promptly the work they missed.  Do not expect reminders, nags or swift kicks from me.  

Grading  

Grading will be based on a point system.  Your grade will be determined by what percentage the points you earned are of the total possible during each grading period.  The significance of an assignment will be reflected in the number of points it is worth.  Papers, DEs and in-class essays will comprise about 60% of your grade; quizzes and worksheets will comprise about 20%; engagement (participation, conscientiousness, diligence, receptiveness) about 20%.        

Discussion Essays and Papers  

Discussion essays should be not less than 200 words, formal papers not less than 750.  Each is due at the beginning of class the day it appears in the syllabus.  Late DEs will not be accepted for credit except with the use of a late waiver, of which you get one a quarter.  Late papers will be assessed a ten percent penalty a day.  All out-of-class written work must be word-processed in a conventional font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.  DEs must be more than just a single paragraph.  To get full credit for a DE you must define the word that appears in parentheses with each assignment.  Papers must be accompanied by an assessment sheet.  In-class essays will be hand-written.  

Office Hours  

I’m available every morning from 7:00 to 8:30, as well as purple, tan and blue blocks.  I can also meet after school if we make arrangements in advance.   

My email address is mcculloughd@wellesleyps.org.  

8/27                Welcome to English 12acp.  

8/28                Nuts, bolts, what to expect--and a questionnaire.  

9/2                   Discussion: Louis Agassiz’s fish, Robert Frost’s “The Pasture,” Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard                                   the Learned Astronomer” and Jane Kenyon’s “Otherwise.”  

9/3                   In-Class Essay One: Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s Wind, Sand and Stars.  

9/5                   Today we’ll begin our study of Homer’s The Odyssey.                          

                         Read Books 1 and 5 of The Odyssey.    

9/8                   Read Books 9 and 10 of The Odyssey.  

                         DE1: (acuity) What do we learn about Odysseus from his experiences with the Cyclops and                                     Circe?   

9/9                   Read Books 11 and 12 of The Odyssey.  

9/11                 Read Books 13 and 19 of The Odyssey.  

9/12                 Read Books 20 and 21 of The Odyssey.   

9/16                 Read Books 22 and 23 of The Odyssey.  

                          DE2: (edify) Using Odysseus as your primary example, explain how adventures serve to both                                    test and define one’s character.  As ever, be specific.                       

9/17                 Read Book 24 of The Odyssey.  

9/18                 In-Class Essay Two: The Odyssey and its significance.  

9/22                 Read Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses.”                  

9/24                 Today we’ll begin our study of O Brother, Where Art Thou?  

9/26                 Today we’ll carry on with O Brother, Where Art Thou?  

9/29                 In class today we’ll finish and discuss O Brother, Where Art Thou?

9/30                 Paper #1: An expanded and polished In-Class Essay One or Two, or DE1 or DE2.

                          In class we’ll scrutinize and discuss Ernest Hemingway’s “Indian Camp.”   

10/3                 Today we’ll examine and discuss “The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife.”  

10/6                 Read “The End of Something” and “The Three-Day Blow.”  

                          DE3: (pensive) These are stories of loss.  What has Nick lost?  What has he learned about                                         himself?  What has he learned about life?  Be specific.  

10/8                 Read “The Battler” and “Cross Country Snow.  

10/9                 Read “The Big Two-Hearted River, Parts I and II.”  

10/10               In-Class Essay Three: the Hemingway stories.  

10/14               Read to page 42 (through “…got to be there.’”) of James Dickey’s Deliverance.  

10/16               Read to page 89 (through “…turning on the light.”) of Deliverance.                          

                          DE4: (ennui) What’s ailing Ed?  

10/17               Read to page 131 (through “…going with it.”) of Deliverance.  

10/21               Read to page 165 (through “…to the purpose.”) of Deliverance.  

10/22               Read to page 205 (through “…his death itself.”) of Deliverance.  

10/23               Read through page 240 of Deliverance.                      

10/27               Finish reading Deliverance.                          

                          DE5: (vindicate) Explain the novel’s title.  

10/28               Today we’ll begin our study of the film version of Deliverance.  

10/30               Today we’ll continue the film version of Deliverance.  

10/31               Today we’ll finish our study of Deliverance, novel and film.  

11/3                 Read “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”                    

11/6                 In-Class Essay Four: Ed and Walter.