Date

Topic and Readings

Writing Assignment

Week 1

Jan 23-25

Introduction, goals, terms, themes
"The Muddy Road"
Achebe, "Dead Men’s Path" (247); Story map

Letter to instructor

Week 2

Jan 28-Feb 1

Theme: Crime and Punishment
Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery" (213);
Guy de Maupassant, "Mother Savage" (52);

Story questions and responses

Week 3

Feb 4-8

Theme: Family ties / Alienation

Alice Walker, “Everyday Use” (319);
Louise Erdrich, “The Red Convertible” (354)

Story questions and responses

Week 4

Feb 11-15

Theme: Communication and Prejudice (Class activity)
Raymond Carver, "Cathedral" (273) 
Flannery O’Connor, "Good Country People" (222)

Story questions and responses

*Essay 1 due Feb 22

Week 5

Feb 20-22

Review essay drafts

Theme: Love and Marital Relationships
Ernest Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants" (165)

Story questions and responses

Week 6 

Feb 25-29

John Steinbeck, "The Chrysanthemums" (170);

Themes: Initiation / Rebellion / Search for Identity
Joyce Carol Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” (286)

Story questions and responses

Week 7

March 3-7

Trent Masiki, “With Myth and Fire”  (provided)

*Essay 2 due Mar 10

Week 8

March 10-14

Drama
David Mamet, Oleanna
Responses to conflicts, theme, characters

Reading:

Complete Oleanna;

March 16-22

Spring Break

Week 9

March 24-28

Oleanna  Class activity and quiz

Robert Browning,  "My Last Duchess" (516)

Prepare response to
“My Last Duchess”

Week 10

Mar 31-Apr 4

Critical essay directions

Aristotle's definition of tragedy
Ibsen, A Doll House (961-1030)

A Doll House

interpretations

Selections & topic for critical essay due April 7

Week 11 

Apr 7-11

Ibsen, A Doll House

Poetry project directions (reading and commentary);

see online syllabus and http://www.favoritepoem.org/

Prepare critical essay

Week 12

April 14-18

Theodore Roethke, "My Papa's Waltz" (610); R. Hayden, "Those Winter Sundays" (616)
William Stafford, "Traveling Through the Dark" (618)

Critical essay due
April 14

 

Week 13

April 23-25

James Wright, "Saint Judas" (664); William Blake, "The Tyger" (470); Frost, "Acquainted with the Night" (556)

Poetry projects

due April 28

Week 14 

April 28-May 2

Present Poetry projects

Prepare final evaluation

Week 15

May 5

Final evaluation

Section 5  (9 am class):    Wed. May 7, 9:00-11:00

Section 6: (10 am class)  Thurs. May 8, 9:00-11:00