Instructor: James David Brinson
E-mail: wi.dbrinson@gmail.com
Course: English – Writing through Literature
WEBSITE: www.mrbrinsonenglish.weebly.com
OBJECTIVES: You will
1. Demonstrate understanding of writing as a process by pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading your essays;
2. Write essays of varying lengths (between 600 and 2000 words) that demonstrate the concept of writing as a critical thinking
process;
3. Interpret and write critically about poetry and at least two other genres of literature (novel, short story, play, etc.), while
applying techniques of close reading and incorporating literary elements;
4. Demonstrate understanding of research methods, conventions, and practices that will be integrated into critical and
analytical writing;
5. Identify and evaluate forms of literary analysis, including biographical information, historical context, and/or critical theory.
GRADE BREAKDOWN – How your grade will be calculated.
Journals (25 points):
You will do informal journal or “response” writing both in and outside of class in a notebook. You
should save these graded pages, as these will often turn into a starting point for your essay topics. Your
journal grade will be based on the ratio of journal entries you complete to the total number assigned, worth
a maximum of 25 points. Journal entries represent your thoughts and/or answers to questions on the
assigned literary readings and should be around (a minimum of) two hand-written pages (one side, singlespaced, with no lines skipped). On occasion the length may vary, if for example you are asked to compose
your own poetry, etc. This abbreviated requirement will be clearly specified. Journals should be stapled /
clipped together, have your name, the date, journal number, and topic written at the top of the page to
receive full credit. If your journals are 1) handed in on time, 2) written on the assigned topic, and 3) of
sufficient length, they will receive full credit. If any journal does not meet the above criteria, it will receive
no credit. I simply read your journals, mark them as credit/no credit, and return them to you.
If for some reason you fail to receive credit for a journal, you may hand it in on the next class day for
half credit, as long as the journal is on-topic and of sufficient length.
Journals serve four purposes:
They give you writing practice on the course topics,
They offer a regular forum where you can develop thoughts on the readings without worrying about grammar,
They inspire (or encourage) you to express your ideas, which may develop into essay topics,
They prime your brain for class discussion.
Journals will not be graded for grammar or spelling; however, the more you practice editing your
writing, the better your writing will be.
3 Essays (75 points):
Essay One, two pages typed; offers a close reading of a selection of poetry: 20 points
Essay Two, two pages typed; offers a close reading of a prose work: 20 points
Research Essay, eight pages (THIS IS YOUR FINAL), offers a close reading and critical analysis
of a literary text; may be expanded from Essay One or Two: 35 points
All essays will be started in class. All writing done outside of class must be turned in to me in a packet that
includes each significant draft of the essay, ALL revision and editing copies. You should be prepared at all
times to give me an electronic copy of your essay (USB memory stick or via e-mail). With multiple-source
and research essays, I will expect you to hand in highlighted photocopies / print-outs of your
sources. Forgetting to include any of these parts of the essay packets may reduce your essay grade by
5% for each missing component of the essay packet.
Essay Format:
Follow these guidelines whenever you turn in a paper to me; not following them may reduce your
essay grade.
All essays will be typed, double-spaced, and printed in black ink. Times New Roman font is preferable.
Follow MLA documentation style at all times. Double space your entire essay, and don’t skip any lines.
Essays should have 1” margins on all sides, be printed in a 12-point font size, and have the following
heading in the top left-hand corner of the first page:
Your Name
English: Writing Through Literature
Date
Essay #
Your Original Title
Essays should be stapled already when they are turned in. Please number pages using the header page
number function.
Please do not include a cover page. Your final version goes on top, followed by your most recent draft/s.
You are required to hand in all revised drafts.
(Parts of the above syllabus outline pulled from: http://maginlasovgregg.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/English-102-Writing-About-Literature-Syllabus1.pdf;
http://www.brian-t-murphy.com/Eng102.htm )
COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING LIST
Week 1: (October 3
1.5 hours)
~ Introduction to course, expectations, requirements, etc.
POETRY
READ: Billy Collin's “Marginalia” in class. We will map the images of the poem, as well as define connotation,
denotation, imagery, figure of speech, and metaphor (and provide examples of each from “Marginalia.”)
HW: Journal Writing  How does my concept of the truth change as I grow up?
Week 2: (October 16
1.5 hours)
POETRY
Poems:
Begin Comparative Essay – Comparing Literature
Ars Poetica by Archibald MacLeish (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ars-poetica-2/)
From Letter to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke (http://www.carrothers.com/rilke1.htm)
Eating Poetry by Mark Strand (http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/99/jrieffel/poetry/strand/eating.html)
beware: do not read this poem by Ishmael Reed (http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/poetry/beware.html)
Week 3: ( October 23 1.5 hours)
POETRY / DRAMA
Analytical Essay – E.E. Cummings or Robert Frost (Select poems from anthology)
Essay 1 Due
Begin “The Crucible” by Authur Miller (Download from www.free-ebooks.net)
READ: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/~/media/ArtsEdge/LessonPrintables/grade-912/arthur_miller_info_sheet.ashx Information about the history of Modern American Drama
READ: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/are-americans-stillpuritan.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1349814788-LlYqHjsuZ0xybVThRcUQ1g
NYTimes Article: Still Puritan After All These Years
READ / VIEW: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/herblock/fire.html Cartoons
READ: http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/miller-mccarthyism.html Article written by Arthur Miller
Are You Now or Were You Ever?
Week 4: (October 30
1.5 hours)
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/crucible.html
DRAMA
READ: “The Crucible” by Authur Miller
Week 5: (November 6
1.5 hours)
DRAMA
READ: “The Crucible” by Authur Miller
WRITE: ESSAY 2  Editorial: Think of a contemporary real-world situation that resembles the circumstances and
conflicts of The Crucible. Present you own solution to the current problem in an editorial.
Week 6: (November 13
1.5 hours) ** Date might change due to teacher’s external obligations
DRAMA / NOVEL
Essay 2 Due
BEGIN: The Power of One – Bryce Courtenay
http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/teachers/lesson_2.html
http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit232/lesson1.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/power/
Week 7: (27 November
1.5 hours)
NOVEL
Week 8: (December 4
1.5 hours)
NOVEL
Week 9: (December 11
1.5 hours) ** Date might change due to teacher’s external obligations
NOVEL
Week 10: (January 8 1.5 hours)
NOVEL
Week 11: (January 15 1.5 hours) ** Date might change due to teacher’s external obligations
NOVEL
Week 12: (January 22 1.5 hours)
Essay 3 Due
TOTAL: 18 hours in class