Course Syllabus
Welcome to what I expect will be an enriching experience for all of us. Our examination of selected works of American literature will be in the company of many of the finest writers ever to put ink to paper. We can’t help but learn a great deal from them, and, of course, from one another. Your success in the course, though, and the benefits you derive from it, will depend largely on your engagement and dedication.
In English 10h you will immerse yourself in literature and ideas—and some history, too. You will read and listen closely, think broadly and deeply and be receptive to new perspectives. You will make relevant, discuss and write about what you conclude. You will hone your powers of perception and self-expression. You will give your responsibilities your best effort without relent.
Expectations
You will be courteous to and respectful of others, as well as open-minded, receptive and responsible.
You will come to class on time and prepared. This includes having with you your notebook, something to write with and the pertinent text.
You will adhere without fail to the tenets of academic and personal integrity. The consequences of any transgression will be severe.
Assignments
You can expect an average of about forty pages of reading in preparation for each class meeting. Anticipate unannounced quizzes as well as other exercises to encourage and assess your comprehension of what you’ve read as well as to practice the craft of writing. Absent students are responsible for making up promptly the work they missed. Do not expect reminders 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 the grading period. The significance of an assignment will be reflected in the number of points it is worth. In-class essays will comprise about 40% of your grade; quizzes and worksheets will comprise about 40%; engagement (participation, conscientiousness, diligence, receptiveness) about 20%.
Blue Syllabus
9/2 Welcome
9/3 Nuts, bolts, Louis Agassiz’s fish, and Robert Frost’s “The Pasture.”
9/8 Today we’ll be examining Jane Kenyon’s “Otherwise,” Richard Wilbur’s “Hamlen Brook” and Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day.”
9/9 In class today you’ll be writing about Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers.
9/10 Read the excerpts from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self-Reliance,” and from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
9/14 Read the poems by Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.
9/15 Read Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 7.
9/17 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 12.
9/18 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 18.
9/22 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 22.
9/24 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 26.
9/25 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 32.
9/29 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 37.
9/30 Finish reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In class today you’ll be writing about Huck, his adventures and what they suggest.
10/1 Read Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat.”
10/5 Read the poems by Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot.
10/6 Read chapters one and two of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
10/8 Read chapters three and four of The Great Gatsby.
10/9 Read chapters five and six of The Great Gatsby.
10/13 Read chapters seven and eight of The Great Gatsby.
10/16 Finish reading The Great Gatsby.
10/19 In class today you’ll be writing about Nick, Daisy, Tom, Gatsby and the green light.
10/21 Read Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants.”
10/22 Read Edith Wharton’s “Roman Fever.”
10/23 Read Irwin Shaw’s “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses.”
10/27 Today we’ll begin our study of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
10/28 Finish reading act one of Death of a Salesman.
10/30 Read act two of Death of a Salesman through Charlie’s line “Jesus!”
10/2 Finish reading Death of a Salesman.
11/3 In class today you’ll be writing about Death of a Salesman. E
Purple Syllabus
9/2 Welcome
9/4 Nuts, bolts, Louis Agassiz’s fish, and Robert Frost’s “The Pasture.”
9/8 Today we’ll be examining Jane Kenyon’s “Otherwise,” Richard Wilbur’s “Hamlen Brook” and Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day.”
9/10 In class today you’ll be writing about Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers.
9/11 Read the excerpts from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” and “Self-Reliance,” and from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden.
9/14 Read the poems by Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman.
9/16 Read Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 7.
9/17 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 12.
9/22 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 18.
9/23 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 22.
9/24 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 26.
9/28 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 32.
9/29 Read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through chapter 37.
10/1 Finish reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In class today you’ll be writing about Huck, his adventures and what they suggest.
10/2 Read Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat.”
10/5 Read the poems by Robert Frost and T.S. Eliot.
10/7 Read chapters one and two of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
10/8 Read chapters three and four of The Great Gatsby.
10/13 Read chapters five and six of The Great Gatsby.
10/15 Read chapters seven and eight of The Great Gatsby.
10/16 Finish reading The Great Gatsby.
10/20 In class today you’ll be writing about Nick, Daisy, Tom, Gatsby and the green light.
10/21 Read Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants.”
10/23 Read Edith Wharton’s “Roman Fever.”
10/26 Read Irwin Shaw’s “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses.”
10/27 Today we’ll begin our study of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
10/29 Finish reading act one of Death of a Salesman.
10/30 Read act two of Death of a Salesman through Charlie’s line “Jesus!”
10/3 Finish reading Death of a Salesman.
11/5 In class today you’ll be writing about Death of a Salesman.