UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
HE 111: Rhetoric and Introduction to Literature I
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
Home:
E-mail:
LT Jason A. Salinas
Sampson Hall 230
Office: x3-6223
(410) 571-5724
salinas@usna.edu
Course Overview:
HE-111 is the first of two required Plebe English courses that stress the writing of rhetorically
effective and grammatically correct expository prose. In this course, we will read essays, short stories, and
plays, and write several short response papers.
Reading Assignments:
With a few exceptions, reading will be assigned for each class. If I determine that you have failed
to complete the required reading, I will ask you to leave the classroom, and return only when you can
participate. The reading assignments vary considerably in length, and all are challenging. Annotate the
text as you read! Annotations will provide a basis for your comments/questions on the text. Please bring
the assigned text to every class, as we will frequently refer to it during class discussions.
In addition to the books you were issued, we will read several handouts which I will give you in
class. These handouts provide new and often surprising contexts for the literature we read. They also
develop a central tenet of the course: that different texts comment on and complement each other, a
“conversation” which goes back to the foundations of literature and extends to the present time. The
class discussions and papers you will write are part of this developing conversation between the great
ideas and great works of literature.
Papers:
You will write seven papers during the semester. I will evaluate each paper’s clarity of thought,
cogency of argument, elegance of expression, and proper respect for tone, audience, and purpose, as
well as its use of grammatically correct English. Please submit all papers in 10 or 12 pt. font, with one inch
margins. The Everyday Reader, pages 403-412, has an example essay which yours should emulate.
Additionally, document your work using the Modern Language Association (MLA) style; refer to pages
367-412 of The Everyday Reader for additional guidance.
Pre-Writing:
Before your essay is due, I encourage you to take it to the Writing Center for review and
assistance. Additionally, I am happy to review and provide feedback on at as many rough drafts as you
care to discuss. This is an excellent way to avoid surprises when you receive your graded paper, and I
highly encourage you to take advantage of all the writing resources available to you.
Rewrites:
You may rewrite any paper for a better grade, provided that you meet with me first to discuss
your strategy for improvement. As with pre-writing reviews, rewrites will be on your initiative; they must
be completed NLT one week from the day when you received your graded assignment.
Quizzes:
Pop-quizzes will be given periodically at my discretion. If you do the reading, these quizzes will be
easy.
Grades:
Your grade will be computed as follows:
Essays:
Class participation:
Quizzes:
70%
15%
15%
Extra Instruction:
I am available and happy to discuss texts and papers with you outside of class. Just send me an email, talk to me after class, or drop by to schedule a time that is mutually convenient. I also encourage
you to go to the Writing Center and make an appointment with another instructor, so you can get a
range of feedback.
Plagiarism:
A guaranteed, one-way, no-expenses-paid ticket home, via the Honor Committee. Read the
“USNA Statement on Plagiarism,” which is included in the materials you receive from me on your first day
of class. Additionally, refer to The Everyday Writer, pp. 173-175. If you have any questions about
plagiarism, I will be happy to answer them for you. Your integrity is too valuable to risk on any
assignment; if you are struggling, please ask someone you trust and respect for help. If you resort to
plagiarism, the consequences will be dire.
Course Syllabus
Texts
Aristophanes
Barnes, Julian
Bierce, Ambrose
Bolt, Robert
Butler, Robert Olen
Lunsford, Andrea A.
Shakespeare, William
Sophocles
Various Handouts
Lysistrata
A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters
The Civil War Short Stories of Ambrose Bierce
A Man for All Seasons
A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain
The Everyday Writer, 3rd Edition
Julius Caesar
Antigone
Week 1
Monday, 21 Aug
In Class: Course Introduction
Reading: Orwell, “Politics and the English Language” (Handout)
Wednesday, 23 Aug
In Class: Orwell, “Politics and the English Language” (Handout)
Reading: Thucydides, “Pericles’ Funeral Oration (Handout)
Friday, 25 Aug
In Class: Thucydides, “Pericles’ Funeral Oration (Handout)
Reading: Lincoln, “Second Inaugural Address” (Handout)
Week 2
Monday, 28 Aug
In Class: Lincoln, “Second Inaugural Address” (Handout)
Reading: Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Chapter 13 (Handout)
Wednesday, 30 Aug
In Class: Fowles, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Chapter 13 (Handout)
Friday, 01 Sep
In Class: Genesis 6:5 - 9:29 (Handout)
Reading: Barnes, “The Stowaway”
** Response Essay #1 Due **
Week 3
Monday, 04 Sep
No Class — Labor Day
Tuesday, 05 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “The Stowaway”
Reading: Barnes, “The Wars of Religion”
Wednesday, 06 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “The Wars of Religion”
Reading: Barnes, “Shipwreck”
Friday, 08 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “Shipwreck”
Reading: Barnes, “Three Simple Stories”
Week 4
Monday, 11 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “Three Simple Stories”
Reading: Barnes, “Parenthesis”
Wednesday, 13 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “Parenthesis”
Reading: Barnes, “The Dream”
Friday, 15 Sep
In Class: Barnes, “The Dream”
Reading: O’Brien, “How to Tell a True War Story” (Handout)
Week 5
Monday, 18 Sep
In Class: O’Brien, “How to Tell a True War Story” (Handout)
Reading: Bierce, “One of the Missing”
Wednesday, 20 Sep
In Class: Bierce, “One of the Missing”
Friday, 22 Sep
In Class: Atwood, “Happy Endings” (Handout)
Reading: Bierce, “One Kind of Officer”
** Response Essay #2 Due **
Week 6
Monday, 25 Sep
In Class: Bierce, “One Kind of Officer”
Reading: Bierce, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
Wednesday, 27 Sep
In Class: Bierce, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
Reading: Bierce, “The Story of a Conscience”
Friday, 29 Sep
In Class: Bierce, “The Story of a Conscience”
Reading: O’Brien, “The Magic Show” (Handout)
Week 7
Monday, 02 Oct
In Class: O’Brien, “The Magic Show” (Handout)
Reading: Butler, “Open Arms” and “In the Clearing”
Tuesday, 03 Oct — Grades Due
Wednesday, 04 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Open Arms” and “In the Clearing”
Friday, 06 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Missing”
Reading: Butler, “Mr. Green” and “The Trip Back”
** Response Essay #3 Due **
Week 8
Monday, 09 Oct
No Class — Columbus Day
Wednesday, 11 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Mr. Green” and “The Trip Back”
Reading: Butler, “Love” and “Preparation”
Friday, 13 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Love” and “Preparation”
Reading: Butler, “Crickets” and “Relic”
Week 9
Monday, 16 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Crickets” and “Relic”
Reading: Butler, “Snow” and “Fairy Tale”
Wednesday, 18 Oct
In Class: Butler, “Snow” and “Fairy Tale”
Friday, 20 Oct
In Class: Kafka, “The Myth of Sisyphus” (Handout)
Reading: Lysistrata, pp. 1-63
** Response Essay #4 Due **
Week 10
Monday, 23 Oct
In Class: Lysistrata, pp. 1 - 63
Reading: Lysistrata, pp. 64 - 113
Wednesday, 25 Oct
In Class: Lysistrata, pp. 64 - 113
Reading: Thucydides, “The Melian Dialogue” (Handout)
Friday, 27 Oct
In Class: Thucydides, “The Melian Dialogue” (Handout)
Reading: Antigone, pp. 20 - 44
Week 11
Monday, 30 Oct
In Class: Antigone, pp. 20 - 44
Reading: Antigone, pp. 45 - 72
Wednesday, 01 Nov
In Class: Antigone, pp. 45 - 72
Friday, 03 Nov
In Class: Shakespeare, “Upon the King” from Henry V (Handout)
Reading: Julius Caesar, Act I
** Response Essay #5 Due **
Week 12
Monday, 06 Nov
In Class: Julius Caesar, Act I
Reading: Julius Caesar, Act II
Tuesday, 07 Nov — Grades Due
Wednesday, 08 Nov
In Class: Julius Caesar, Act II
Reading: Julius Caesar, Act III
Friday, 10 Nov
In Class: Julius Caesar, Act III
Reading: Julius Caesar, Act IV
Week 13
Monday, 13 Nov
In Class: Julius Caesar, Act IV
Reading: Julius Caesar, Act V
Wednesday, 15 Nov
In Class: Julius Caesar, Act V
Friday, 17 Nov
In Class: Plato, “The Ring of Gyges” (Handout)
Reading: Melville, “Billy Budd” (Handout)
** Response #6 Essay Due **
Week 14
Monday, 20 Nov
In Class: Melville, “Billy Budd” (Handout)
Reading: A Man for All Seasons, Act I
Wednesday, 22 Nov
In Class: A Man for All Seasons, Act I
Reading: A Man for All Seasons, Act II
Friday, 24 Nov
No Class — Thanksgiving Break
Week 15
Monday, 27 Nov
In Class: A Man for All Seasons, complete Act I, begin Act II
Wednesday, 29 Nov
In Class: A Man for All Seasons, finish Act II
Friday, 01 Dec
In Class: Movie, “A Man for All Seasons”
** Response Essay Due **
Week 16
Monday, 04 Dec
In Class: Movie, “A Man for All Seasons”
Wednesday, 06 Dec
In Class: Movie, “A Man for All Seasons”; Course Wrap-up and Critiques
No Final Exam! Enjoy your holiday!