Date

Topic and Readings

Writing Assignment

Week 1

Jan 21-23

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

Commentary on course and opening stories

Week 2

Jan 26-30

Theme: Crime and Punishment

Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery" (213); "The Lottery: Action news video; South Park episode
Guy de Maupassant, "Mother Savage" (52);

Story questions and responses

Week 3

Feb 2-6

Theme: Family ties / Alienation

Kurt Vonnegut, “Harrison Bergeron” (provided in class)
Louise Erdrich, “The Red Convertible” (354)

Story questions and responses

Week 4

Feb 9-13

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 20

Week 5

Feb 18-20

Review essay drafts

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

Story questions and responses

Week 6 

Feb 23-27

John Steinbeck, "The Chrysanthemums" (170);

Story questions and responses

Week 7

March 2-6

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

*Essay 2 due Mar 9

Week 8

March 9-13

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

Reading:

Complete Oleanna;

March 16-20

Spring Break

Week 9

March 23-27

Oleanna  Class activity and quiz

Robert Browning, "My Last Duchess" (516)

Prepare response to
“My Last Duchess”

Week 10

Mar 30-Apr 3

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 8

Week 11 

Apr 6-10

Ibsen, A Doll House

Poetry project directions (reading and commentary);

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

Prepare critical essay

Week 12

April 13-17

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

Critical essay due
April 15

 

Week 13

April 22-24

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

Poetry projects

due  April 27

Week 14 

April 27-May 1

Present Poetry projects

Prepare final evaluation

Week 15

May 4-7

Final evaluation

Section 6: (10 am class): Thurs. 5/7, 2:00-4:00  

Section 8: (11 am class): Wed. 5/6, 11:30-1:30