Thursday, January 30

HOMEWORK:
Read all Emily Dickinson poems in American Experience, pages 368-390
Emily Dickinson

Some keep the sabbath

I died for beauty

Tue/Wed, last week of January (the daffodils are ready to start opening!)

HOMEWORK: Read all of Whitman's poems in the Anthology

When I Heard the Learned Astronomer, by Walt Whitman

What is the message of the poem?
   In what way does the word choice lead to your interpretation?

An archetypal reading of the poem

HOMEWORK:
Read all Whitman poems in American Experience and come to class prepared to tell the class which is your favorite, and why.

Top Ten Whitman Poems

Welcome to Semester 2!

Second Semester Class Syllabus


Song of the Open Road, Whitman

I Am Waiting, Ferlinghetti

What is the American Dream? Why aren't some of us able to achieve it?

January 14

FINAL EXAM--HUCK FINN TEST
ESSAY DUE AT FIRST OF FINAL EXAM PERIOD

HUCKLEBERRY FINN SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT--ESSAY
  Huckleberry Finn Argument Essay--Prompts
  Huckleberry Finn Argument Essay--Supplemental Readings
     Don't Censor the N-Word, by Leonard Pitts
          N-word CBS news article
     Charlotte Perkins Gilman biographical information (author of The Yellow Wallpaper)
        Panther Rilke's poem is very similar to The Yellow Wallpaper

*Feel free to find other sources, so long as you cite Huckleberry Finn at least twice and one of the other sources at least once (these are absolute minimums)

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR EVERYTHING YOU EVER WRITE:

Before you start, be sure that you come up with an idea that you feel strongly about. Remember, all good writing is filled with passion. If you don't feel strongly about it, find another topic.

Your first sentence should engage the reader (a "hook.")
Write a short (or longer) introduction that pulls the reader into your topic.
Write a strong thesis (often the last sentence, but not necessarily).
   Thesis must be very specific and capable of being defended/supported
   Thesis must be interesting

Write at least three paragraphs supporting your thesis/main idea.

Each paragraph should have between 6-11 sentences (roughly).
Each paragraph should have a strong idea (and different ideas should be in different paragraphs)
Each idea of yours must have evidence backing up your assertion
    Quote from the book that supports what you're saying in
     Explain how the quote supports your idea
         Elaborate (explain for at least two sentences)

Write a conclusion that sums up your ideas and, if possible, leaves the reader thinking about your topic in a new way.

January, 9 Huck Finn

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, FINISH HUCK FINN OVER THE WEEKEND

You will have half of all class time next week to work on your essay.

HUCKLEBERRY FINN SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT--ESSAY
  Huckleberry Finn Argument Essay--Prompts
  Huckleberry Finn Argument Essay--Supplemental Readings
     Don't Censor the N-Word, by Leonard Pitts
     Charlotte Perkins Gilman biographical information (author of The Yellow Wallpaper)
        Panther

 N-word CBS news article

*Feel free to find other sources, so long as you cite Huckleberry Finn at least twice and one of the other sources at least once (these are minimums)