Senior English 231 English 231 Mr G A White Senior English WhiteAGE@AOL.COM Syllabus—Tentative—231 Learn why the narrator's father in "The Boat" went to sea in November, and stayed there; how comic-book images and very short text can change your ideas about growing up in the Middle East; what it means to be ‘embedded’ with the U.S. Army; why the most famous Englishman of the 20th century walked around naked in the morning; how the President’s poet is both experimental and traditional; the importance of a single word in translating one of the greatest poets of the past – or any – century; why fishing in the Upper “P” is great therapy; just how important the Tuskegee Airmen really were; whether or not a guy wants his girlfriend’s noisy mother to find something very embarrassing; why Hamlet’s supposed craziness and indecision was likely a brilliant and desperate ploy to save his life and redeem his Father’s murder. Nothing important, just illuminatimg the most central issues in anyone’s life… Goals for Students • become aware of the language and issues of 19th & 20th century “American” literature • build essential vocabulary and grammar tools for future education and work • strengthen close reading and careful analytic writing skills through central texts and other media • experience crucial contemporary issues through genre — short & long essay, biography, poetry, translation, short story, novella, novel, drama • learn from self and others by individual, group and electronic means Topics, Ideas, Expectations, Materials and Tools For openers —"The Boat," Alasdair MacLeod, from the story collection, The Island, and your summer reading about that young woman in Persia ( aka, Iran ) short & longer essays —from The New Yorker, Vaniety Fair, Rolling Stone biography —Winston Churchill’s day, Katherine Graham’s Washington Post, Obama on the campaign trail, embedded in Iraq poetry —Elizabeth Alexander, the President’s poet; Walt Whitman, Randall Jarrell, Richard Wilbur & Howard Nemerov at war translation —four poems by Cavafy & his translators short story —Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner and Ralph Ellison novella — Goodbye, Columbus, Phillip Roth novel — (outside reading, take your pick) Catch-22,The Color Purple, The Moviegoer, The Shipping News drama —Hamlet ( why not? ) + films T H E F O R M A T 1 Seniors know their way around, so the following information, cautions, encouragements...and cheer-leading should come as no surprise. 2 In this class: Students receive careful reminders about the use of basic but valuable stuff like dictionaries (including OED), the card catalogue, Readers Guide, and other fundamental research tools in the humanities.—with particular emphasis upon the newer technologies such as the World Wide Web (WWW) and Multimedia. Any questions about old tools or the newer technologies: Please Ask. Your classroom allows you access to many of these newer technologies. Nevertheless, neglect not resources OUTSIDE your school: with a little effort, you may find a wide variety of the "newer technologies" at home or in & around your community. If you aren't working with them now...you surely will be come June 2001. Be smart, get a head start now. 2 Vocabulary is identified early and often, explained in context of what students are actually reading. Students are encouraged to make vocabulary notes as they read. If you don't know what the language means, you don't know. 3 Note-taking, outlining, and test-taking skills will be reviewed and, as necessary, strengthened. Students should keep as careful an English Notebook as they do a Bankbook. English notebooks will be examined for accuracy and detail, and they will be given several lectures in order to check those note-taking skills. Oral presentation skills are honed as a consequence of constant discussion between student(s) and teacher, students and each other. Additional assistance in public speaking and presentations available during J-Block. Few of us have photographic memories...train what you do have by note taking and review. 4 Outside readings now, and in college, are often accompanied by study and vocabulary sheets, although one goal is to enable students to build each for themselves as the year progresses. Get started on your novel ( check with your teacher first ) early, like, ah, now...Signet is the best paperback edition and, yes, you need to have your own copy so you can take notes as directed and necessary. Get in the habit of regular reading, even if it's the sports page. 5 All students will receive grammatical skills appropriate to grade level and as outlined in the NSHS "English Program" course of study. Remedial work may be accomplished through J-Block appointments.. If you make it a point to type papers or outside written assignments, you can ease your passage by using the Word Processor spell-checker. It is not 100% fool proof (there, they're, their) but can catch the outrageous errors. 6 Writing-—in all forms-—is stressed throughout the entire school year, and forms a major part of a student's grade.* You will write primarily analytic and descriptive essays; "close reading" and accurate appraisal of character and scene are emphasized. But—students have at least one "creative" assignment a term, and may always suggest and submit assignments for extra credit. Initial assignments tend to be shorter, full five-page papers at the end. 7 Geographical background appropriate to each text is provided by room maps, filmstrips, slides and individual handouts. Students are encouraged to range widely in parallel historical reading you have done or are doing. Remember: Writers do live in this world. 8 Any special interests students have in earlier American writing, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, may be shared with their instructor. These may include (certainly not limited by) photography, architecture, popular culture (including music), technology, fine arts, biography and creative writing. Outside projects including site visits and/or museum work acceptable for extra credit. 9 *Grades—please read at least twice—are not abstractions but a function of mutually-agreed upon levels of achievement. The process usually takes at least a term, as it is not strictly numerical. While reading and writing are "assessed" through frequent quizzes, tests, in-class and outside essays, the teacher's chief aim is not only conveying essentially inert data in an engaging manner, but stimulating young minds to make these rich texts their own, and to make connections between their own young lives and the lives of those who have struggled to make art. Your teacher wants to provide opportunities for many kinds of success, many occasions where students can grow and gain increasing confidence in themselves, the better to become productive individuals and responsible and engaged citizens in a democracy ( see Emerson’s "Self Reliance"). Grades are based upon that writing, testing and quizzes. Active and co operative class participation; regular attendance; obvious preparation; seeking extra help where necessary are positive additions. That Attendance Thing: You gotta be here to get the goodies. As Woody Allen remarks, 80% of life is just showing up. Too many absences, excused or not, will seriously qualify your success. (Meaning? No matter WHAT I - or anyone else - tries to do on your behalf...you flunk! Don't flunk, be here. You will write a minimum of four (4) essays each term, usually two in class and two-three out; take several full Tests (40-50 questions, plus one or two essays); complete 10-14 quizzes, worksheets, vocabulary drills, and the like. Enjoy this stuff, women and men gave a good deal of their lives to make it. But...be skeptical as you read and write: Every picture tells a story [but] Smiling faces tell lies.. 10 P.S. ALWAYS check the “breaking news” section for your class on the Home Page.