English 4/Chabot College
Spring, „12 / Zappa
**You are expected to buy books immediately**
Note: All readings and assignments are to be completed by the dates shown.
I. Poetry
Thurs. Jan. 19
Complete reading all handouts; in-class writing assignment TBA.
Tues. Jan. 24
Read Frost (33), Hayden (65-6), Dickinson (19), Wordsworth (250-1), and Whitman
(29) (from your text Premier Book of Major Poets).
*Sign up for poetry presentations.
Thurs. Jan. 26
Read Marvell (126-7), Shakespeare, both (116 “Let Me Not…” and 143 “That Time
of Year…”), Lowell (222-225), and Millay (215).
Tues. Jan 31
Oral poetry presentations begin.
Thurs. Feb. 2
Poetry presentations.
Tues. Feb. 7
Poetry presentations conclude.
*Thurs. Feb. 9*
Draft of poetry paper due (3 pages, TYPED).
Tues. Feb. 14
**Final poetry paper due (3-page minimum; draft attached). AND
II. Short Fiction (from your text English 4 Short Stories)
Read introduction, “Fiction” through p. 8. Bring books to class!
Thurs. Feb. 16
Read Baldwin, “Sonny‟s Blues.”
Tues. Feb. 21
Read O‟Brien, “The Things They Carried,” and Mason, “Shiloh.”
Thurs. Feb. 23
Read O‟Connor “Everything That Rises Must Converge,” and Silko, “Storyteller.”
Tues. Feb. 28
Read Bausch, “Ralph the Duck,” and Bambara, “The Lesson.”
*Thurs. March 1*
Draft of essay on short fiction due (4 pages TYPED).
III. The Novel:
Tues. March 6
Frankenstein, Introduction, Preface, Letters (I through IV), and Chapters I and II pp.
19 - 49.
**Thurs. March 8**
Final essay on short stories due (4-page minimum, draft attached). Read
Frankenstein, Chapters III through XII (49 – 106). Reading quiz.
Tues. March 13
Read Frankenstein, Chapters XIII through XX (106 - 151). Groups for reports on
criticism (end of text).
Thurs. March 15
Finish Frankenstein to 189; in-class mid-term.
Tues. March 20
Read “Contextual Documents” (190 – 223) AND assigned critical essays (from Part
II); finish planning reports.
Thurs. March 22
Reports on critical essays, Frankenstein.
Tues. March 27
Read Sula through “1921” (to 48).
Thurs. March 29
Read Sula through Part I “1927” (to 85). Reading test.
Tues. Apr. 3
Read Sula through “1939” (to 137).
Thurs. Apr. 5
Finish Sula. Reading test.
**Fri. Apr. 6: last day to withdraw with a “W”**
Tues. Apr. 10 and Thurs. Apr 12
Spring break! No class!
Tues. Apr. 17
Visit Chabot Library for database/ research orientation.
Thurs. Apr. 19
Statement of Intent and Outline due (research paper).
Tues. Apr. 24
Mini-presentations (research papers).
Thurs. Apr. 26
Preliminary drafts, research papers, four-page minimum.
Tues. May 1
Complete draft of research paper due (eight pages TYPED).
Thurs. May 3
Final research paper due (8-pg minimum). AND
IV. Drama
(Choose group/ plays from your text Telling Tales)
*Tues. May 8*
Read selected play; plan group presentations.
**Thurs. May 10**
Continue/ complete plan for final presentations.
Tues. May 15
Complete draft of paper, analysis of drama, due (2 pages TYPED).
Thurs. May 17
Final papers due; drafts attached; rehearse/ finalize presentations.
Tues. May 22
12:00 - 1:50 p.m.
Final examination (group drama presentations).
*Note: This course provides an opportunity for Service Learning. If you choose to volunteer 12 –
15 hours with one of Chabot‟s community partners (TBA), you may be excused from the midterm and one reading-journal entry.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS: OVERVIEW
You will be writing four formal, critical essays analyzing our readings in each of the four genres:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Poetry: 3-4 pages
The short story: 4-5 pages
The novel: 8-10 pages (research project, based on Frankenstein and Sula)
Drama: 2-3 pages
Please note that the above are MINIMUM-page requirements. You will always lose credit for
papers which are too short, but not necessarily for those which are longer (within reason, and as
long as you do not lose focus). ALL DRAFTS AS WELL AS ESSAYS MUST BE TYPED AND
DOUBLE-SPACED; DRAFTS WHICH ARE NOT TYPED WILL RECEIVE ZERO CREDIT.
**Please use plain, 12-point Times font only.
Peer review/ draft days:
If you are absent (or more than 10 minutes late) on a draft day, you will only receive half credit for
the draft IF you turn it in, and see me, well before the final paper is due; you will not receive credit
for drafts turned in with final papers if I have not seen, responded to, and marked them before the
final paper due date.
NRG: If you receive "NRG" (not ready to be graded), on any of your papers, this means the work
is not up to the minimum standard and you will be expected to rewrite and complete it within one
week, or receive a zero for that assignment. Please note that this is not optional, and you will be
given the opportunity to revise only once, on either your first or second paper (not for the research
paper). Beyond this, there are NO REVISIONS.
NOTE: ALL four of your main papers must pass; if you receive a final grade of “D” or lower on
any of your papers (below 70%), you will not pass the course.
•Reading quizzes:
As noted on your calendar, and additional reading quizzes may be unannounced and given at any
time, generally worth 10 points.
•Mid-term:
An in-class essay analyzing Frankenstein (see Thurs., March 15) 50 points.
•The Reading Journal:
Please plan to use a separate notebook for your reading journal. Because I will collect these from
time to time, your notes from class should be kept elsewhere. Journal entries should be clearly
identified by number and are based on topics I will give you in class (you are not required to
keep a journal of all readings). I will often give you time during class to write on a specific topic,
however, completion of journal entries is your responsibility. The central purpose of this journal
is to practice responding in writing to our readings, as well as to provide you with ideas for your
papers. Credit will be given based on both how thoughtful and thorough your responses are,
including entry length, i.e. approximately 3/4 of a standard-sized page for each. 5 points per
entry; approximately 50 points overall