Selective Reading of
Modern Fiction
4CN041

Selective Reading of Modern
Fiction
Instructor Elena Kolodkina
School year 2010
2 hours per week
Required textbooks:
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Cries from the Heart: Stories from
Around the World

OBJECTIVES
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To bring the best of the world’s stories to the English language learners
To help students to see reading as an interesting activity
To improve reading and comprehension skills
To learn summarizing and reviewing

Course Introduction
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Course Introduction
Syllabus Review
Class expectations: What do you expect to learn in this class?
Assessment review
Question and answer period

Week 2. The Photograph
Activities:
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Introducing the author Sefi Atta from
Nigeria
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Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 3. The Photograph
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 4. Leonard
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Introducing the author Adrienne
M. Fratter from New Zealand
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 5. Leonard
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 6. A Pot Full of Tears
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Introducing the author Lauri Kubuisile from Botswana
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 7. A Pot Full of Tears
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 8. The Wild West
Midterm preparation
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Introducing Erica Robinson from
Jamaica

Week 9. The House
Writing a summary

Week 10. Dora’s Turn
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Introducing the author Jackee Budesta
Botanda from Uganda
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 11. Dora’s Turn
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 12. Callus
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Introducing the author Janet Tay Hui
Ching from Malaysia
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 13. Callus
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 14. Nimble Fingers
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Introducing the author Anurulla
Muralidbaran from India
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 15. Nimble Fingers
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 16. The Festive Season in a Part of Africa
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Introducing the author Tod Collins from
South Africa
Reading
Reading check
Word work

Week 17. The Festive Season in a Part of Africa
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Review
Summary
Discussion

Week 18. Final Exam
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Make a presentation of one of the stories of the book Cries from the
Heart: Stories from Around the World

Assessment
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Attendance – 25%
Participation (classroom activity, homework, quizzes, presentations) - 25%
Midterm test – 20%
Final test – 30%

Textbook
Cries from the Heart: Stories from Around the World