Seattle Central Community College
Humanities/Social Sciences Division
Spring Quarter 2006
English 265: The Beat Generation Writers
Instructor: Larry Silverman
Office: Room 4125
Message Mailbox: Room 4128
Office Phone Number: (206) 587-2915
Special Situations: (306) 383-3945
E-Mail Addresses: College: lsilve@sccd.ctc.edu
Home: larryrsilverman@comcast.net
Office Hours: 12-1 M-F; other times by appointment
Required Texts:
The Portable Beat Reader Edited by Ann Charters
On The Road by Jack Kerouac
Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
This course will focus on the literature of the Beat Generation Writers, those
writers who first burst on the literary scene during the late 1940s and continued to hone
their craft through the 1950s and 1960s. To fully appreciate the impact of these writers,
we will explore American society during this post World War II time period and theorize
about the connection between this particular society and its literature. Thus we will view
such videos as David Halberstam’s The Fifties, The Beat Generation: An American
Dream, What Happened to Kerouac, Burroughs: The Video, and The Life and Times of
Allen Ginsberg to understand that connection.
As we examine the relationship between society’s mores, dominant beliefs and the
counterculture, non-conformist philosophy as espoused by The Beats, we will read
excerpts of material written by Beat writers contained in The Portable Beat Reader. We
will also have the opportunity to read the full version of On the Road by Jack Kerouac
and Naked Lunch by William Burroughs.
Course goals for students are as follows:

Gain a greater understanding of The Beat philosophical underpinnings

Gain a greater understanding of the post World War II era that spawned The Beats

Improve ability to critically analyze prose and poetic forms

Improve overall writing performance

Increase individual participation in small and large group discussions

Appreciate cultural diversity, gender differences, and sexual orientation

Demonstrate an ability to collaborate in group efforts
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I will use a point system to determine your final grade. Following are the ways to
accumulate points:

Collaborate with 3-4 other students to facilitate a one-period discussion of
selected Beat material. Each student will be involved in 2 facilitated lessons.
Each lesson is worth a maximum of 100 points. The maximum point value
for participation in 2 lessons is 200.

Write two word-processed essays of at least 1000 words that analyze some
aspect of our course work. Please include a word count for each essay and use
the MLA (Modern Language Association) format. The first essay will be due
on April 24th and the second essay on May 22nd. Each essay is worth a
maximum of 100 points.

Complete 4 short essay tests at the end of each unit of study. Facilitating
groups or individuals will submit two questions to be included on the tests.
Each test will be worth 100 points.

Attend class regularly. This class requires your attendance and concurrently,
your active participation. You will receive 5 points for each class day that
you attend. You should contact me in the unlikely event that you miss class.

Submit a one-page word-processed analysis of videos presented in class one
day following the showing. Each response is worth a maximum of 10 points.

Write at least an 800-word self-evaluation final due the day following the last
day of class. Maximum point value is 100.

Collaborate with 2-3 other students as to create a group essay of at least 1200
words that examines a relevant aspect of Beat literature and/or culture.
Groups will present essays to the class and share pertinent related information
about their topic. Maximum point value is 100 for the essay. Maximum point
value is 50 for the group presentation.

Individually introduce the class to an Internet web site or share some
information from outside our course material that is connected to some aspect
of the Beat experience for about 5-10 minutes. Point value is 25.

Complete in-class assignments that may arise. Maximum point value is 100.
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The grade breakdown is as follows:

98% of the total number of points
4.0

93-97% of the total number of points
3.5-3.9

88-92% of the total number of points
2.9-3.4

83-87% of the total number of points
2.4-2.8

78-82% of the total number of points
1.9-2.3

73-77% of the total number of points
1.4-1.8

68-72% of the total number of points
.8-1.3

Below 68%
0.0
Course Schedule
Week 1, April 3-7: Course overview, introductions, ground rules and expectations.
Reading Assignments: Portable Beat Reader (PBR): Introduction, pages xv-xxxvi; Part
One, pages 1-7; Appendix, pages 581-622.
Videos: Episode 1, The Fifties, “The Fear and the Dream”;
Week 2, April 10-14: Focus on Jack Kerouac.
Reading Assignments: PBR: pages 8-10, 43-58, 187-225; On The Road: pages 3-148.
Video: Episode 5, The Fifties, “The Beat.”
Week 3, April 17-21: Continued focus on Jack Kerouac. Unit test.
Reading Assignments: On the Road: pages 149-310.
Video: What Happened to Kerouac?
Week 4, April 24-28: Preparation for first collaborations. Focus on Allen Ginsberg.
Writing Assignment: First major essay is due by April 24th at the start of class.
Reading Assignments: PBR: To be determined from pages 62-101, 543-556.
Video: The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg
Week 5, May 1-5: Continued focus on Ginsberg. Unit test.
Reading Assignments: PBR: To be determined from pages 62-101, 543-556.
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Week 6, May 8-12: Focus on William Burroughs.
Reading Assignments: PBR: pages 104-126, 520-523. Naked Lunch: pages ix-xlvii, 3131
Video: Burroughs: The Video.
Week 7, May 15--19: Continued focus on William Burroughs. Unit test.
Reading Assignments: Naked Lunch: pages 131-213, 215-232.
Video: The Beat Generation: An American Dream
Week 8, May 22-26: Preparation for second collaborations that focus on additional Beat
writers.
Writing Assignment: Second major essay is due on May 22nd at the start of class.
Reading Assignments: PBR: To be determined.
Week 9, May 30-June 2 (May 29 is the Memorial Day Holiday): Continued focus on
additional Beat writers. Unit Test. Preparation for group essays.
Reading Assignments: PBR: To be determined.
Week 10, June 5-9: Conferencing and whole class activities related to group essays.
Reading Assignments: PBR: To be determined.
Week 11, June 12-16: Groups share essays and related topical information. Final selfevaluation essay due by June 15.
Special Notes
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


Please be aware that I reserve the right to make alterations to our schedule and
procedures should the need arise.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have
medical information that you would like to share, or if you need special arrangements
in case the building must be evacuated, please contact me.
I will impose a penalty for work that is submitted late: ten (10) points per day for late
essays; one (1) point per day for each late video response.
I cannot accept essays or video responses more than one (1) week late.
Extra credit is an option you each have, and we can discuss those options.
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