You cannot depend on your eyes...

You cannot depend on your eyes....

                                                               ....when your imagination is out of focus.
           
                                                                                                                      - Mark Twain


Welcome to American Literature class, where I hope your imagination will be sparked, and a fire will result in your mind; the kind that warms and comforts, and keeps one going through the cold night.

Make no mistake, there will be cold nights coming at some point in your future, but if you develop your mind, here through a love of reading and literature, no one will be able to take away what you have developed.

We will endeavor to look at central readings in American literature, because these shed light on American culture and history while developing an awareness of masterful expression. The voices of the authors should ring out - hear Walt Whitman's barbaric yawp - or get drawn into American novels right from the start: "Call me Ishmael." Or "I am an invisible man." It's a rich subject - one you can sink your teeth into, and drink deep, coming away satisfied.

A mention is due to our new system attending both A and B classes in American literature. It is one course with two periods per day. The A class is essentially the literature class, while the B class could be considered a "language arts" class, wherein we will focus on writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Speaking will happen most in the A classes. We also have "testing practice" in the B classes, and right now we are focusing on TOEFL, but later we will try other tests. There will be both timed tests and "going over answers" with testing strategies. Both A and B classes combine for ONE grade. Enough said.

Welcome again to the class, and doubt NEVERMORE the beauty of what you will experience!

Q1 Readings – Collections 1 Early America (to 1800) & 2 American Romanticism (to 1860)

HW1 The Sky Tree – Native American Readings            p. 26 – 3-5 x 3

HW2 Sinners in Hand of Angry God – J. Edwards          p. 51 – 5-9                                            TEST

HW3 Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano 9/2                 p. 65 –1,2,7,8,9,10

HW4 Ben Franklin Readings – B. Franklin 9/4                p. 77 – auto: 2,3,5,7,8; Aphorisms: 1,2  TEST

HW5 Liberty or Death – P. Henry 9/9                               p. 85 – 4,6,8,9

HW6 The Crisis – T. Paine 9/11                                        p. 94 – 3,5,7,8 (+11 extra)                    TEST

HW7 Declaration of Independence – T. Jefferson 9/18     p. 106 – 2,4,5,6 (+3 extra)

HW8 Devil & Tom Walker – W. Irving 9/23                    p. 186 – 3,4,7,8,9 (+5,10 extra)             TEST

HW9 Nature & Self Reliance – R.W. Emerson (extra)     p. 211 – Nature: 5,6; Self-Reliance: 2,4

HW10 Civil Disobedience – H. D. Thoreau (extra) 10/7   p. 241 – 1,3,5,7

HW11 Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment – N. Hawthorne 9/30 p. 261 – 2,3,4,5,6,8 (+1,7 extra)           TEST

HW12 Gandhi & King readings      (extra) 10/3                 p. 247 – 4,5

Q1 Exams begin Monday, 10/13                                        12 readings in total for Q1

Extra Credit for HW: Read: Pit & Pendulum – E.A. Poe – do p. 293 – 2,3,5 (extra credit test available) 
Extra Credit for HW: Read: The Minister’s Black Veil – N. Hawthorne – answer questions 4-12 on p. 273 (extra credit test available) 

Extra Credit for HW: Read: from Walden, or Life in the Woods – H.D. Thoreau – answer 1-8 on p. 230 (extra credit test available) 
Extra Credit for HW: Read: from Moby Dick – H. Melville – do 1,2,4,5,7 on p. 335 

Extra Credit for Tests: Read the Period introductions for Collections 1 or 2: p. 6-19 on Encounters and Foundations to 1800 or p. 162-173 on American Romanticism 1800-1860, and then take test. If your score is higher than a selection test, you may substitute the grade.
Extra Credit for Tests: do any of the test for three extra credit reading above, or period intro readings. Also, for Wordly Wise vocabulary quizzes, you may substitute one publisher-made quiz for either 11.1 or 11.3. 

Extra Credit for Speaking: Do a “sermon” on a Bible passage, Franklin aphorism, or topic of choice. Arrange time to say it and get points added to your speaking grade.

Extra Credit for writing: Write a short comparative essay based on HW5 Liberty or Death & HW6 The Crisis. Explain differences in spoken and written persuasion, use of emotional and logical appeals, style, etc. Must be less than 2 pages.

All extra credit should be completed by October 3, 2014. This is one week before classes end for Q1. Recall Oct. 9-10 are off. 
Extra Credit: Help write or act in Thanksgiving play or skits (writing = Q1; acting = Q2; both applied where needed)

Additional extra credit assignments are available: reporting to class on warfare with American Indians, Puritan failings, Comparison of voting rights in your countries of origin (in groups) to America & make classroom poster or blog graphic, & written comparison of The Devil & Tom Walker with Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God, which were written around the same time & place. 

Q1 Writing and Speaking

Q1 Writing: Persuasive Essay 1 – student-generated topic

Q1 Writing: Informative-research 1– write on health or age-related issue, linked to HW11. Cite 3 different categories in bibliography.

Q1 Speaking: Narrative 1 – give advice as if to a younger family member based on real event in your life. Use photo while speaking

Q1 Speaking: Informative 1 – Agree to topic from list regarding: health, health care system, elderly, heroic or dastardly acts, protests

Q1 Speaking: Collaborative 1 – groups will be graded on how they work together in reading groups; there is also peer assessment 

Q2 Poetry Readings from Collections 1 to 3; Collection 4: The Rise of Realism – Civil War to 1914

HW13 –The Burning of Our House – A. Bradstreet   p. 30 – 2,3,4,7 TEST

HW14 –Thanatopsis – W.C. Bryant                            p. 193 –2,3,4,7

HW15 –Tide Rises, Tide Falls – H. Longfellow         p. 201 – 4,5,7,8 (+9 extra)

HW16 –The Raven – E.A. Poe                                    p. 303 – 3,4,6,7 TEST

HW17 –I Hear America Singing – W. Whitman        p. 366 – 2,3,5

HW18 –Song of Myself 10 – W. Whitman                 p. 372 - #10:3,4,5; # 33:2,4,6

HW18 –Song of Myself 33 – W. Whitman 

HW19 –Sight in Camp at Daybreak – W. Whitman   p.381 – 1,2,3,4,7

HW20 –Song of Myself 52 – W. Whitman                 p.374 – 2,3,4,5,7 TEST

HW21 –Tell Truth Slant – E. Dickinson                     p. 400 – 1,3,4,5

HW21 –Success is Sweetest – E. Dickinson                p. 400 – 1,2,3,4  TEST

HW22 – An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge             p. 497 – 2,3,4,5

HW23 –  Civil War readings – Gettysburg address, etc.  p. 519 – 2,3,4,5 TEST               

HW24 – The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County – M. Twain   p. 533 – 4,5,6,7 TEST

HW25 – The Lowest Animal – Mark Twain               p. 542 – 2,4,5,6 TEST (combined)

HW26 – To Build a Fire – Jack London                      p. 561 – 1,3,5,6 

Extra Credit: Read “Cross of Snow” by Longfellow and do any questions p. 202
Q2 goes from 10/20 to 12/12, and Q2 Exams begin on 12/15