Honors American Literature/Contemporary Comp: September 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

Original Scene

Remember to finish your original scene between John Proctor and Abigail Williams in play format. Remember to include stage directions in parentheses.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

The Crucible

Remember to bring your textbook every day. This week we will introduce the play The Crucible by Arthury Miller, by first reading and analyzing the 16th century sermon In the Hands of an Angry God.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Syllabus

The syllabus for this class can be found under Teachers Pages, my name, and American Literature. It will stay there all semester. For daily class and homework assignments, check this blog.

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.