Language Arts
Syllabus
R. Cory Kinley
Senior Survey: Contemporary American Literature Syllabus
Mr. Kinley Spring 1998
Purpose: The purpose of this course is to read, study, and
discuss important works of contemporary American literature published
since 1950, with an emphasis on living authors. The material will be
set in the context of the great changes that have taken place in the
United States since world War II.
Selected
Resources: Cassill, R.V. ed. The Norton Anthology of
contemporary Fiction. New York: W.W. Norton and Company,
1988.
Clerc, Charles & Leiter, Louis eds. Seven Contemporary Short
Novels.New York: Harper Collins, 1982.
Hinnefeld, Joyce. Tell Me Everything and Other Stories.
Hanover: University Press of New England, 1998.
Hunter, Paul J. Norton Introduction to Poetry: Sixth Edition.
London:W.W. Norton & Company, 1996.
Martin, Wendy ed. We Are the Stories We Tell. New York: Random
House,1990.
Mckenzie, Barbara ed. The Process of Fiction. New York:
Harcourt Brace Javanovich, 1974.
Osborn, Michael & Suzanne. Public Speaking: Fourth
Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
Watt, Stephen & Richardson Gary A. American Drama: Colonial to
Contemporary. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1995.
Internet Cites:
American Literature:
(http://www.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/Literature/)
VoS English Literature:
(http://humanitas.ucsb.edu/shuttle/english.html)
Modern and Contemporary American Poetry:
(http://dept.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/home.html)
VCL Reference Sources for Theater and Drama:
(http:www.iberia.vassar.edu/vcl/bl/drama_bib.html)
Requirements: In order to complete the Contemporary American
Lit. Survey successfully, you must...
1.) Actively participate in class discussions,presentations, and
projects.
2.) Manintain a comprehensive notebook of journal, assignments, grade
sheets, and self-assessments which will be assessed quarterly.
3.) Write a narrative account using the point of view of a character
from a short story of your choice.
4.) Write a compare/contrast response incorporating two short stories
covered in the short fiction unit.
5.) Write a reflective essay and prepare a presentation for a
poem.
6.) Prepare a persuasive speech convincing the class to choose one of
three works of drama to be presented by the class.
7.) Prepare and present scenes from a play which the class selects
with a written character analysis of your role --or-- present scenes
from the same play, set in a different social/political setting with
a written character analysis of your role.
8.) Write a literary response to one of the two short novels we cover
in class.
9.)Write a research paper on a novel of your choosing with an
accompanying journal.
CONTENT
OF STUDY:
Short fiction- The class will read and discuss five works of
Contemporary American short fiction. In class discussions and
journals focus on the elements of fiction: point of view, characters,
plot, setting, style, and tone.
2 projects:
Literary Response- You will produce a response to literature
in a compare/contrast format. The paper must include at least two of
the stories that are covered in class.
Narrative Account-You will write a narrative account from the
point of view of a character you have experienced in literature The
character and setting of your paper is in your hands. Note: the
setting of your account must be different than that which the
original character experienced.
Drama- The class will read and discuss three works of contemporary
American Drama. Through discussions and journals you will analyze how
the entire work reflects a social and political environment.
2 projects:
Persuasive Speech- The class will democratically select one of
the plays which we will discuss more in depth as a class. Your task
is to create a persuasive speech that will convince your classmates
to choose the play which you support.
Drama Presentation- 1/2 of the class will present a
scene/scenes from the play that is selected. Individuals will write a
character analysis of the role he or she plays.
--or--
1/2 the class will present a scene/scenes from the play selected, but
it will be set in a different social/political setting. Individuals
will also write a character analysis.
Poetry- You will read five poems and see them presented. Each will be
presented by different members of your faculty; ex. Mr. Kinley, a
math teacher, or your principal. Each poem will have a focus on an
element of poetry; Tone, speaker, situation & setting, language,
and structure. Discussions and journal assignments will focus on
reactions of these presentations.
2projects
Poem Presentation- You must choose and present your own poem.
Your presentation can include any accompanying prop you see fit(focus
on the 5 elements of poetry). You also must explain to the class why
you chose this poem.
Reflective Essay- You must write a reflective essay on your
poem.Your essay must discuss 3 of the 5 elements of poetry.
The Novel- The class will read and discuss two Contemporary Short
novels. Discussions and journal assignments will focus on the five
elements of fiction.
2projects
Novel Presentation- You will select your own novel to read and
study. You will present your novel to the class. The presentation
must include a description, an author Biography, and the reasons you
chose the novel.
Research Paper- You have free reign to discuss any topic which
is appropriate to your novel. You will have to submit your idea to me
for approval. Part of this project is a journal assignment. You will
have to turn in 10 one page journal entries that reflect your reading
of the novel.
Notebook- You will be required to maintain a notebook which is a
comprehensive collection of:
-Journal entries
- Writer’s workshop notes
-Reactions to presentations
-Assignments
- Peer evaluations
-Grade sheets
-Your self evaluation letter of your performance each quarter.
-in the last quarter, your journal account of your reading of the
novel.
Your notebook will be checked every quarter. Included in your grade
will be the average of your self-evaluation grade/ my evaluation
grade.
Writer’s
Workshop- A writer’s workshop will be held before and after
every presentation unit and writing ssignment:
-“Pre”Workshop days will be days which the class will
discuss the upcoming projects. It will give us a chance to answer
questions, organize our assignments and work on structure issues for
presentations and Writing process issues for papers. We will also
address grammar and usage issues that need attention.
- “Post” Workshop days will be spent evaluating our
projects and working on revision. After I have looked at your work,
this will be a chance for your peers to help you prepare your papers
to go into your folder to be graded.
Grading: Each activity below is worth one hundred points. The
points you receive will be divided by the total possible points for
that quarter, this number will be your percentage grade:
Comprehensive Notebook (counts double)
Short Fiction narrative account paper
Short Fiction compare/contrast paper
Poetry reflective essay
Persuasive speech in the Drama Unit
Presentation and character analysis in the Drama Unit
Literary Response of a novel
Research paper on a novel
Time
Management: While much class time will be devoted to discussions,
presentations, and group work, it is also necessary to spend time
praeparing out of class. Very little written homework will be
assigned to make sure you have time to read and prepare for class.
Don’t Forget:
Use class time wisely and effectively.
You must do most of the reading and preparatory work outside of
class, so you can maximize your opportunity in class to get help.
Procrastination does not work in this class.
Deadlines
& Revisions: 1.) Written assignments must be handed in on, or
before the due date. the assignment will lose one letter grade for
everyday it is late.
2.) Late homework will receive a “0.”
3.) Being unprepared for a presentation will result in a twenty point
deduction toward your grade.
4.) If absences are not properly excused with a note from a parent,
you will receive a “0” for the day or days absent.
Classroom
Rules: 1.) You must be seated BEFORE the bell to begin
class rings. If not, you will be marked late.
2.) You must be seated QUIETLY during attendence.
3.) You must be responsible and bring the necessary books and
materials to class. You will not be permitted to leave class to get
them.
4.) During class discussions, if another person is speaking, you
cannot speak. You must also listen attentively.
5.) Use class time only for Contemporary American Literature--
nothing more, nothing less.
6.) I will dismiss you from class, NOT THE BELL. In
order to be dismissed, you must be sitting quietly.
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