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Course Outline
Aug. 31 - Intro to class; syllabus; diagnostic essay.
HMWK: Read PL, Reading and Writing about Literature, Arguments, Documenting
Sources; Chpts. 1, 2, 3: pp. 1-57. Then read “Greasy Lake” by T.C. Boyle, p. 365.
Sept. 7 – LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
Sept. 14 - Discussion of reading, discussion of essay writing; in class essay on “theme” in
“GL”.
HMWK: Read LS chpts. On Using and Evaluating Internet Sources, Summarizing,
Paraphrasing, Quoting, and Synthesizing Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism, MLA
Documentation Style.
Sept. 21- Discussion of authors for research papers; LRC orientation; begin short
biography of chosen author. Due in two weeks.
HMWK: Read PL p. 128, “A Rose For Emily” by William Faulkner, and p. 69, “Hills
Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway.
Sept. 28 - Lecture and discussion of Plot; group work and discussion to answer questions
on stories; introduce Characterization.
HMWK: Do an ‘online’ search on Henry II, King of England and read about him. If
you know his story it will help you to understand the movie next week.
Oct. 5 – Film: The Lion in Winter- worksheet, due next week.
HMWK: Read PL p.142, “A&P” by John Updike, and p.147, “Miss Brill” by Katherine
Mansfield.
Oct. 12 - Discussion of characterization and themes; in class essay on “characterization”
in either of the two stories.
HMWK: Write a brief Research Proposal; it should be a one-two page summary or topic
outline, with a thesis sentence at top.
Oct. 19 - Research paper proposal due; return to LRC for MLA documentation and
Literary Criticism research lesson.
HMWK: Read PL p. 269, “The Things They Carried”, by Tim O’Brian, and p. 251,
“Araby” by James Joyce.
Oct. 26 - Lecture and discussion of setting in the two stories; groups will answer
questions.
HMWK: Read PL p. 352, “The Rocking Horse Winner”, by D. H. Lawrence, and p.297,
“Everyday Use”, by Alice Walker.
Nov. 2 - Lecture and discussion of “theme” and the two stories; in class essay.
HMWK: Read PL p. 218, “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Edgar A. Poe, (Happy
Halloween!) and p. 257, “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, by Flannery O’Conner.
Nov. 9 - Lecture and discussion of “setting” in the two stories; groups will answer
questions.
HMWK: Read PL p. 317, “Young Goodman Brown”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and
p. 289, “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson.
Nov. 16 - Lecture and discussion of “symbolism” in the two stories; in class writing.
HMWK: Finish the research paper.
Nov. 23 - Research Paper due. Video: TBA
HMWK: Read PL p. 401, “The Secret Lion”, by A. A. Rios, and p. 388, “Where Are
You Going, Where Have You Been?”, by Joyce Carol Oats, and p. 340, “Doe Season”, by
David Kaplan.
Nov. 30 – Research Paper Presentations
Dec. 7 -- Discussion of three stories: characters, setting, symbolism, theme, tone. Last
regular class meeting- discuss final exam.
Dec. 14 – Final Exam