john olon/english & theology departments

American Literature & Composition
 

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to important texts and time periods of American literature. The student will develop the critical thinking skills that he/she needs in order to appreciate and analyze literary selections. Students will read short and long fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. The course also includes an emphasis on the development of writing, vocabulary, and the correct use of grammar.

Course Goals/Objectives:

Each student should be able to:

·         read a wide range of American literature in many genres for improved reading comprehension, for broadening their understanding of human experience, for gaining and appreciation of culture, for acquiring new information, and for personal enjoyment.

·         apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts.

·         adjust their use of written language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences for different purposes.

·         speak confidently and are able to adjust their techniques to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and for a variety of purposes.

·         conduct research using a variety of technological and informational resources.

Instructional Methods:

Group discussion, direct instruction, class critiquing, writing process, and written reflections

Text(s)/Materials for Course:

·         The Language of Literature:  American Literature

·         Vocabulary for the College-Bound Student

·         The St. Martin’s Handbook

·         Outside readings

                        Quarter 1: Daisy Miller – Henry James

                        Quarter 2: The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

                        Quarter 3: The Complete Stories – Flannery O’Connor

                        Quarter 4: Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

·         Notebook (I will collect them for notebook checks, so please don’t keep work from other classes in it.)

·         Pen & pencil

• ·          Binder (There will be a lot of handouts for this class. Be sure to 
         have something in which you can keep them throughout the year.)

Grading Policy:

Assignments, tests/quizzes, projects and research paper will be assessed by a point system.  Such assignments will be given individual point values, which will be determined and students will be well aware of the point values before the due dates of the assignments.  The grades will be computed by dividing the points earned by the possible number of points. 

Homework is due when collected or checked (usually at the beginning of class). No late homework will be accepted. It is in your best interest that you get your homework out as soon as you get to class in order to avoid any “difficulties” in finding it when I collect it.

You may turn a paper in late (up to 24 hours) for half credit.

Make-Up Work Policy:

If you have an excused absence, word due the day of the absence is due the first day you are back in school. 

Missed class work and homework from an excused absence should be made up within three days (unless you have an extended absence) and it is your responsibility to make the arrangements to do so.

If you have an unexcused absence you will not receive any credit for missed work or tests.

Classroom Procedures/Policies:
 

• Students should be in their seats with their appropriate books and work out by the time class starts.

• Come to class prepared.  This means having completed the assigned readings at least once and having thoroughly thought through what you have read.  Annotate the text to prepare for discussion. All readings are quiz-worthy. All outside papers are to be typed following the format that I provide. Do not ask to e-mail the assignment. Be sure to save your papers as you work on them (you might want to save as multiple files). Don’t wait until the last minute to print out your paper.

• Be courteous.  Do not mock or ridicule other people’s ideas.  Be sure to back your thoughts up with concrete evidence and well-reasoned arguments.

• Get used to reading texts/passages more than once and taking notes on them.

• You should never be doing work from other classes while in my class.  Students who do so can expect to have their work confiscated.

• I cannot stress how important it is for the student to do his/her work and turn it in on time. No student who has consistently done his/her work and submitted it on time has ever failed my class. This is not a guarantee, but rather an obvious way to increase your odds of passing.

Syllabus
 

1

*Bring pencil, pen, and notebook

2

*Bring pencil, pen, and notebook

3

*Bring pencil, pen, and notebook

6

*Bring pencil, pen, and notebook

Vocabulary
 

To get credit for the optional vocabulary flash cards you need to have:

 - One note card for each word.

 - Front of the card: vocabulary word, your name (first initial and last name) written in ink

 - Back of the card: part of speech, definition, example sentence (all three should be taken from the      vocabulary book)

 - The cards must be done when class starts. You should not be working on them in class.

1.1 (8-10)

ameliorate – conserve – detriment – exotic – folly – impediment – indolent – intact – invalid (adj) – parsimonious – raze – reticent  - retort – subvert – tractable

2.1 (17-19)

baffle – despise – ebullient – exhort – finicky – gall (n) – inane – indemnify – Occident – peruse – spurn – stipend – tepid – wager (v & n) – wane

2.2 (26-28)

abhorrent – admonish – admonition – confine – ephemeral – gullible – haggle – immerse – lapse (n) – probe – render – replenish – snub (n & v) – suture – unwittingly

2.3 (35-37)

acquit – consign –excruciating – hamper – nettlesome – oblivious – prodigy – rejuvenate – residue – salutary – scrutinize – supersede – unruffled – unwieldy – zany (n & adj)

3.1-2 (46-50)

ascetic – bliss – buoyant – chagrin – complacent – contrite – convivial – ecstatic – jubilation – lament – maudlin – nostalgia – pathos – pensive – sullen

3.3-5 (50-51)

attenuate - burly – cajole - cherubic – emaciated – ingratiate – lackey – obese - svelte - sycophant

3.6-7 (58-61)

astringent - badger – benign - halcyon – hypochondriac – immunize - lionize – malignant - molt – parrot – pestilential – regimen – sebaceous – therapeutic - virulent

3.8-10 (61-64)

caricature - derogatory - encomium – eulogize – facetious – harlequin – ironic – jocose - libel – malign – parody – sardonic – satiric - stigmatize - travesty

3.11, 14-15 (69, 72-75)

aroma - aversion – filial – fraternal - involuntary – loathe – nepotism – paternal – progeny – pungent – putrid – reek - volition

3.12-13 (69-72)

acme – chasm – dregs - eminence – ethereal – humble – menial – nadir – precipice – profound – sublime – zenith

3.16-17 (80-84)

adolescent – antediluvian – archaic – callow – carousal – decrepit – defunct – inebriated – infantile – matriarch – patriarch – primordial – sober – teetotaler

3.18-20 (84-87)

adjacent – brine – carrion – doldrums – dross – environs – immaculate – jettison – juxtapose – marine – purge – sordid – squalor

3.21 (92-94)

arbitrary – bias – bigotry – crux – dilemma – dogmatic – eclectic – heterodox – hypothetical – illusion – orthodox – paradoxical – rationalize – speculate – tenable

3.22-25 (95-97)

amorphous – brazen – coy – diffident – grave – malleable – modest – ostentatious – paltry – paramount – pert - relevant – sinuous – symmetry – vanity

To get credit for the vocabulary flash cards you need to have:

 - One note card for each word.

 - Front of the card: vocabulary word, your name (first initial and last name) written in  ink

 - Back of the card: part of speech, definition, example sentence (all three should be taken from the vocabulary book)

 - The cards must be done when class starts. You should not be working on them in class.