Schedule for Making Literature Matter created and tested by Prof. Donna Phillips, Fall 2014
Required Texts
Schilb, John and John Clifford. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012.
Hacker, Diana, and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s Reference. Montclair State University custom 7th ed.Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. (this is the required handbook you purchased for College Writing I)
Notes to instructors will appear in red ink. These must be removed before submitting your syllabus. This course is based on 5 essays, but you may choose to modify by requiring 4 essays in EWNR106. In either case, the minimum word requirement of revised prose is 6000 words, roughly 20-22 pages of unit essays.
Week / Insert day of week / Insert day of weekWeek 1 / Insert class date
Unit 1: Literature as a Journey
In-Class:
Introduction to course and its expectations. Overview of syllabus/breakdown of assignments. Writing exercise using “Orientation,” Daniel Orozco (50-4) and “Girl,” Jamaica Kincaid (55-6).
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: Chapter 1 of our text (3-7; bottom of 17-20), “From Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood,” bell hooks (266-9), “Theme for English B,” Langston Hughes (1054-5), AND “The Lesson,” Toni Cade Bambara (1142-7).
Write: Complete and submit HW1 (Homework 1) assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 1 folder). / Insert class date
In-Class:
Discussion of hooks, Hughes, and Bambara (be prepared to discuss your responses to the HW1 assignment you submitted prior to coming to class; bring a hard copy of assignment for reference).
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Araby,” James Joyce (609-13) AND “On the Lake,” Olaf Olafsson (1026-33)
Write: Complete and submit HW2 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 1 folder)
Week 2 / Insert class date
In-Class:
Discussion of Joyce and Olafsson. Include Robert Frost’s “The Road not Taken” (1452).
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Hills Like White Elephants,” Ernest Hemingway (551-5) and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates (1407-20).
Write: Complete and submit HW3 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 1 folder). / Insert class date
In-Class: Group work on Hemingwayand Oates. Unit 1 essay assignment distributed. Discussion of Unit 1 essay and peer review guidelinesfor Wednesday’s class.
Homework (due at the start of next class):
Write: First draft of Unit 1 essay.
Week 3 / Insert class date
PEER REVIEW SESSION
In-Class: First drafts are due today in class. Bring two hard copies with you to class for peer review. Review of MLA guidelines in preparation for submitting first unit essay.
Homework (due at the start of next class): Using the feedback you received during today’s peer review session, write your final draft of the Unit 1 essay. The final draft packet (consisting of your Final Draft, First Draft, and peer review sheets) is due in hard copy in class on (insert due date). NOTE: INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE GRADED LATE ACCORDINGLY. / Insert class date
Final Draft of Unit 1 essay is due: length 4 pages. (complete packet must be submitted at the start of class in hard copy)
Post (by end of day): Submit a journal entry in the “Unit 1 essay post-write” journal (Bb: Journal) detailing your process of writing this paper (thoughts, problems, concerns, strengths, weaknesses, etc.). You will do this type of post-write for each of the unit papers you complete.
Unit 2: Family Perspectives
In-class: Introduction to new unit. Group exercise using Lucille Clifton’s “forgiving my father” (270), Theodore Roethke’s “My Papa’s Waltz” (273) and Molly Peacock’s “Say You Love Me” (276)
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Commitments,” Essex Hemphill (578-9), “Who Said It Was Simple,” Audre Lorde (579-80), “Two Small-Sized Girls,” Minnie Bruce Pratt (581-2), AND “My Transvestite Uncle Is Missing,” Rane Arroyo (583-4).
Write: Complete and submit HW4 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 2 folder)
Week 4 / Insert class date
In-Class:Discussion of HW4’s collection of poems.
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “The Rich Brother,” Tobias Wolff (323-36) AND “My Son, the Fanatic,” Hanif Kureishi (533-41)
Write: Complete and submit HW5 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 2 folder) / Insert class date
BRING HACKER/SOMMERS GUIDE TO CLASS TODAY!
In-Class:Discussion of Wolff/Kureishi readings (HW5 responses).
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Daddy,” Sylvia Plath (279-82) AND critical commentaries printed after poem by Broe, Bundtzen, Axelrod, and Kendall (283-96).
Write: Complete and submit HW6 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 2 folder).
Week 5 / Insert class date
In-Class:Discussion of Plath’s poem and critical approaches to it. Include a look at Anne Sexton’s “Sylvia’s Death” (664).
Unit 2 Essay assignment will be distributed today (first draft due next class)
Homework (due at the start of next class):
Write a first draft of the Unit 2 essay. Bring TWO hard copies for our in-class peer review. / Insert class date
PEER REVIEW SESSION
In-Class: First drafts are due today in class. Bring two hard copies with you to class for peer review.
Homework (due prior to next class):
Read through your peer reviews carefully and from there develop a second draft of your essay. This second draft is due via email to me on (insert due date).
Week 6 / Insert class date
Due by the start of our class:
Email: Second draft of Unit 2 essay to me prior to class time.
In-class: Writing workshop on developing central claim and applying textual evidence
I will return comments on your second drafts via email by (insert date); you will develop a final draft of your essay (taking into consideration today’s writer’s workshop and my feedback).
The final draft packet (consisting of your Final Draft, Second draft (the one with my emailed comments), First Draft, and peer review sheets)is due in hard copy in class on (insert date). NOTE: INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE GRADED LATE ACCORDINGLY. / Insert class date
Final Draft packet of Unit 2 essay is due; length: 4 pages (complete packet must be submitted in class in hard copy)
Post: Unit 2 essay post-write is due by end of day (Bb: Journal)
Unit 3 begins: Drama: McNally and Norman
In-Class: Journey to Death poems: Oliver, Donne, Thomas, Szymborska, Dickinson (1605-12)
Homework (due prior to next class):
Reading: Andre’s Mother, Terrence McNally (1601-4).
Write: Complete and submit HW7 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 3 folder).
Week7 / Insert class date
In-Class: Discussion of McNally’s play (close analysis)
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: ‘night, Mother, Marsha Norman (1567-1601)
Write: detailed reflection on play (bring hard copy to class only) / Insert class date
In-Class: Begin our discussion of Norman’s play (act out select scenes)
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: critical commentaries on play (Bb: Course Handouts).
Write: Complete and submit HW8 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 3 folder)
Week8 / Insert class date
In-Class: Finish our discussion of Norman’s play plus critical commentaries
** UNIT 3 ESSAY ASSIGNMENT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TODAY (Bb: “Unit Essays”)—FIRST DRAFTS WILL BE DUE (insert due date) VIA EMAIL
Homework (due by the end of day next class):
Write: First draft of Unit 3 essay and EMAIL to me by (insert due date). / Insert class date
In-Class:Discuss both plays and strategies for essay
Email: first draft of Unit 3 essay by end of day (midnight)
**I will email your first draft comments by (insert date). Using my comments, and your own re-thinking, write your second draft (which will be due next class for in-class peer review).
Week
9 / Insert class date
PEER REVIEW SESSION
In-Class: Second drafts are due today in class. Bring two hard copies with you to class for peer review.
Homework (due prior to next class):
Read through your peer reviews carefully and from there develop your final draft of the Unit 3 essay. The final draft packet (consisting of your Final Draft + Works Cited page, Second draft, First Draft (the one with my emailed comments), and Peer review sheets)is due in hard copy in class on Friday. NOTE: INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE GRADED LATE ACCORDINGLY. / Insert class date
Due by the start of our class:
Final packet of the Unit 3 essay is due (in hard copy), length 4-5 pages.
Post: Unit 3 essay post-write is due by end of day (journal)
In-Class: Begin Unit 4: Justice Reinterpreted (Documented essay)Introduction to new unit. Remembering the Death Camps: Poems by Niemoller, Sachs, Cohn, Gershon, and Sexton (1009-15)—small group work. Introduce psychological and biographical criticism.
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: The Table, Ida Fink (1257-72) AND the two readings printed after the play (cultural contexts) by Szpilman and Laub/Felman (1272-81)
Write: Complete and submit HW9 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 4 folder)
Week
10 / Insert class date
In-Class: Discussion of Fink’s play and cultural contexts; view clip from The Pianist
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Killings,” Andre Dubus (1213-27) and “Saboteur,” Ha Jin (1227-35)
Write: Complete and submit HW10 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 4 folder) / Insert class date
In-Class: Discussion of Dubus and Jin readings; Unit 4 essay assignment will be distributed today (see also Bb: Unit Essays—outside research is required)
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “No Name Woman,” Maxine Hong Kingston (1179-87) and “The Flowers,” Alice Walker (1148-50)
Write: Complete and submit HW11 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 4 folder)
Week
11 / Insert class date
In-Class: Discussion of Kingston and Walker readings; discuss strategies for first draft
Homework (due by (insert due date)):
Write: First draft of Unit 4 essay (no research should be incorporated into this draft)
Email: first draft of Unit 4 essay by (insert due date) / Insert class date
WRITING WORKSHOP: DISCUSS STRATEGIES FOR FINDING AND INCORPORATING RESEARCH; READ THROUGH SAMPLE LITERARY CRITICISM AND WORK ON TRANSITIONING
Week
12 / Insert class date
NO CLASSES WILL BE HELD THIS WEEK: CONFERENCES ONLY
Conference Week: you will be required to sign up for a conference time and sit down with me to discuss your Unit 4 essay and research (15 MINUTE CONFERENCE).
Homework:
Work with peer groups (online peer review of second drafts) / Insert class date
NO CLASSES WILL BE HELD THIS WEEK: CONFERENCES ONLY
Conference Week: you will be required to sign up for a conference time and sit down with me to discuss your Unit 4 essay and research (15 MINUTE CONFERENCE).
Homework:
Work with peer groups (online peer review of second drafts)
Week
13 / Insert class date
Unit 4 Final Packets due in hard copy, length 5-7 pages.
In-class: Unit 5 begins: Is This Love? Lahiri and Hurston
Introduction to new unit. Select love poems: Millay, cummings, Szymborska, Harper, and Rose (592-600). Portfolio requirements distributed and discussed (see also Bb: Final Portfolio).
Homework (due prior to next class):
Readings: “Going Ashore,” Jhumpa Lahiri (622-46) AND “Sweat,” Zora Neale Hurston (731-40)
Write: Complete and submit HW12 assignment (Bb: posted in HW Assignments, Unit 5 folder)—this is your last homework assignment and will serve as significant pre-writing for the Unit 5 essay / Insert class date
In-Class: Discussion of Lahiri and Chopin. Unit 5 Essay Assignment will be distributed today (see also Bb: Unit Essays)
Homework (due at the start of next class):
Write : Write a second draft of the Unit 5 essay (HW 12 is serving as the first draft). BRING TWO COPIES OF BOTH YOUR HW12 AND THIS SECOND DRAFT TO THE NEXT CLASS FOR OUR FINAL IN-CLASS PEER REVIEW SESSION
Week
14 / Insert class date
PEER REVIEW SESSION
In-Class: Second drafts are due today in class. Bring two hard copies of both your second draft and your HW12 to class for peer review.
Homework (due at the start of next class):
Read through your peer reviews carefully and from there develop your final draft of the Unit 5 essay. The final draft packet (consisting of your Final Draft + Works Cited page, Second draft, HW12 (which serves as the First Draft), and Peer review sheets)is due in hard copy in class on (INSERT DUE DATE). NOTE: INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE GRADED LATE ACCORDINGLY. / Insert class date
Unit 5 Final Packets due in hard copy; length 4 pages.
In-class: Portfolio Review (the specifics of this to come)—we will meet in the computer lab and devote the entire class period to portfolio
Portfolio due: (insert due date and meeting place/times)