Honors American Literature/Contemporary Comp: November 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009

Be Prepared for Playwriting Sessions

If you did not bring your envelope with all your writing exercises, remember to do so on Thursday. You don't need to bring a posterboard on Thursday. Julie's directions were to get a posterboard to have at home so you can work on your collages, which you will bring with you on the last session in January.

Quotation

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?...
Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you....
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson

About this class

This is a survey course of American literature which includes speaking, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. The objectives are: to examine the development of American literary themes from pre-colonial times to the present; to develop an awareness of literary genres; to enhance student skills in the analysis of literature.

Students will present oral recitations of poetry and participate in class discussions and small-group activities. Students will read numerous excerpts from American literature as well as at least one novel and one play. Students will write essays responding to literature and analyzing major literary works. Finally, students will develop critical thinking skills by analyzing tone, style and theme to compare and contrast various works of American literature.