World Literature
Cultural Literacy
In the Global Community
Course Emphasis
• Introduction to the Humanities
• Study and Organization Skills
Notebook Requirements
• Daily Class Participation
Attendance (Learning Log)
Cooperative Learning
• Reading Comprehension and Literary Analysis
• Writing Skills
• Research Skills and Multi-media Presentations
Course Texts
• Course anthology
Thomson, Eileen (ed.).
World Masterpieces.
Englewood Cliffs: Prentice
Hall, 1998.
• Supplemental text
Smith, Houston. The
World’s Religions, Our Great
Wisdom Traditions. San
Francisco: Harper Collins
Publishers, 1991.
Key Concepts
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Cultural Literacy in the Global Community
The Humanities
Cultural Milieu
Sacred and National Literature
Epic
Hero’s Journey
Sumerian Literature
• Cradle of civilization
• The Epic of Gilgamesh
• “The Story
of the Flood”
• Archetype
• Hero’s quest
Egyptian Literature
• Book of the Dead
• Pastoral Poetry
Hebrew Literature
• Textual criticism and
translations of the Bible
• Excerpts from Genesis
“The Story
of the Flood”
• Biblical hero Vs epic
hero
“The Story of
David and Goliath”
• Psalms
Persian Literature
• Dualism--Good vs
Evil
• excerpts from
The Shanama
• selections from
The Rubaiyat
Arabic Literature
• Fact Vs stereotype
• Five Pillars of Islam
faith, prayer,
charity, fasting,
pilgrimage
• selections from
The Koran
• selections from
A Thousand and
One Nights
Indian Literature
• Hindu concepts
Brahaman
dharma--duty
karma
• selections from
The Rig Veda
the Upanishads
Mahabharata
Panchatantra
Siddharta
by Hernan Hesse
• Western description of
Hinduism and
Buddhism
• Illustrations of Buddhist
concepts
Four Noble Truths
Eight Fold Path
• Self-discipline,
meditation, moral
conduct
• Search for identity
Chinese Literature
• Philosophy Vs
Religion
• Moral nature of social
relationships
• Respect and obedience
• Righteousness and
humane treatment
Chinese Literature
Selections from the
teaching of
Confucius
The Analects
Chinese Literature
• Philosophy of Lao Tzu
• Withdrawal from the
materialism of society
• Simple life in
harmony with nature
• Selections from the
Tao Te Ching
Japanese Literature
• Religious traditions of
Buddhism and
Shintoism
• Selections from Essays
in Idleness by Yoshida
Kenko
• Poetry
• Selections from The
Pillow Book by Sei
Shonagon
• The No Theater
S.D.A.I.E.
Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English
• Reading and Study
Guides
• Interactive
Communication
Strategies
• Advanced Organizers
• Graphic Organizers
9-Square Story Charts
Quote Graphics
• Socratic Seminars
• Group Presentations
• Thematic/Dramatic
Interpretations
Individualized Research Project
• Research paper
Work schedule
Working thesis
Bibliography cards
Content note cards
Outline
Rough Draft
Works Cited
Final Draft
• Concrete Project
• Oral Presentation
Speech Proficiency
Ways to contact Ms Gebet:
• From 10:02 A.M. to 11:03 A.M. or before
and after school
(925) 461-6600 x5804
• E-mail jgebet@pleasanton.k12.ca.us