Honors American Literature/Contemporary Comp: The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

As you read Sherman Alexie's collection of short stories, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, keep a journal like you did last semester with Into the Wild. (I you did not do this assignment last semester, or you weren't in this class, see the sample journal entry in the box.) When you have finished reading the book, you will need to schedule a book conference with me during nutrition, lunch or after school. It will take about 10 minutes. You will show me your notebook and share a few of your entries with me. I will give you a grade based on two entries per chapter and return the notebook to you. Book conferences need to be completed by Friday, March 22, although I would not wait until the last day. I will post a calendar in the classroom for you to schedule a date.

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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.