World Literature II

The Class

In this class, we will use literature from the past five hundred years to study changes in perspective.     During the first trimester, we focus on awakening, both personal, social, and cultural.  The second trimester, we investigate dichotomies.  How do we separate ourselves into groups?  At the end of the year, we reflect on unifications.  Is it possible to join together without barriers?  

 

The Books

 These are the texts you will read:

Trimester 1:

  1. Colors of the Mountain by Da Chen  (summer reading)

  2. 40 Short Stories, Beverly Lawn ed.

  3. The Tempest by William Shakespeare

  4. Vocabulary from Classical Roots, Volume C

 

Trimesters 2 and 3:

  1. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

  2. “Master Harold and the Boys” by Athol Fugard

  3. "No Exit" by Jean Paul Sartre

  4. Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman

  5. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

  6. Selected essays, poems, short stories, and nonfiction articles.

 The Rules

Please follow these, and class will flow swimmingly.

  1. Arrive on time.
  2. Be nice to each other and to me.
  3. Do not cheat or plagiarize.
  4. Avoid completing work for another class during English.  Such an infraction earns an automatic detention.
  5. During assignments requiring computers, eschew non-Englishy distractions (no e-mailing, web surfing, or instant messengering).  Should this rule be ignored, you will enjoy the pleasure of detention time.

The Supplies

During World Lit, you will need to bring to class every day:

  1. Your tablet pc.

  2. The book we are currently reading.

 

Homework, extensions, and grading

Please come to class prepared.  In other words, arrive on time (see rule #1), complete all the homework before crossing the class threshold, and bring the right stuff.  If, over the course of a trimester, you arrive in class three times without required materials, you earn a detention; the same policy applies to tardies.

For major projects, I grant extensions on a case-by-case basis, but you must speak with me prior to the due date.  If a student abuses this policy, I reserve the right to deny extensions.  I award no extensions for homework, though I may allow students to complete an assignment for partial credit.   For each day that a major assignment is late, the paper or project will have 10% deducted.  Computer problems do not excuse late work.

 You will earn your grade through reading quizzes, tests, vocabulary quizzes, homework, essays, daily participation, projects, and in-class work

Your grade will be derived from an accumulation of points.  Your final average for the trimester will result from the total number of points you earned divided by the total possible number of points. 

 

Enjoy yourself.  Have fun, be creative, and learn.