Michelle Hardy
English 102H Syllabus
*Readings are to be done before the due date.
*Syllabus is subject to change based on the pace and needs of the class.
Th 1/24 Icebreaking
Tu 1/29 JR #1 due
Discussion of literature "definitions," experimental literature, and
handouts ("All About Suicide" and assigned poems)
Th 1/31 "My Oedipus Complex" by Frank O'Connor (p. 75)
JR #2 due
Tu 2/5 "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin (p. 103)
JR #3 due
Today's session as well as Th 2/7 will be focused on historical
context of story, Harlem, Baldwin, jazz, Charlie "Bird" Parker,
the drug/jazz culture, as well as the relationship between brothers.
Th 2/7 Continue discussion of "Sonny's Blues"
Tu 2/12 "Miles City, Montana" by Alice Munro (p. 139)
JR #4 due
Th 2/14 "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver (p. 1038)
Tu 2/19 Poetry: focus on themes of family/identity: "Nikki-Rosa" p. 187,
"My Father is a Simple Man" p. 182, "Daddy" p. 180, "A Prayer
for my Daughter" p. 173
Th 2/21 Rough draft Essay 1 due / Peer review session
Tu 2/26 Essay 1 due
Kate Chopin session: "Desiree's Baby" p. 314 and "The Story of an
Hour" p. 318
Th 2/28 "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway (p. 344)
Tu 3/5 "Girl" by Jamaica Kinkaid (p. 362)
JR #5 due/in-class sharing
Th 3/7 "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason (p. 364)
Tu 3/12 Group poetry activity
Th 3/14 Group poetry activity
**NOTE: Groups will prepare activity outside of class prior to 3/12. This exercise will
act as JR #6. Details will be given prior to 3/12 as well. Possible poets to be explored are Sharon Olds, Langston Hughes, Michael Weaver, and Janice Mirikitani.
Tu 3/19 "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates
(p. 577)
JR #7 due
Th 3/21--3/31 SPRING BREAK!
Tu 4/2 Midterm Exercise due (midterm will be focused on T.C. Boyle's
"Greasy Lake" which will be distributed)
Discuss "Greasy Lake" and midterm analyses
Th 4/4 Rough draft Essay 2 due
(if more discussion is needed for "Greasy Lake," we will devote the
beginning of our session to this and the latter to the peer review)
Tu 4/9 Essay 2 due
Begin Drama session with in-class readings from Fences by
August Wilson
Th 4/11 Fences
*Assign casts for scene work
Tu 4/16 Fences / JR #8 due
*Casts rehearse with props and costumes
Th 4/18 Fences scene presentations
OTHELLO
Readings and scene work for Othello will be announced
Tu 4/23 Othello
Th 4/25 Othello
(note: last day to withdraw from a class with a "W")
Tu 4/30 Othello / JR #9 due
Th 5/2 Othello
Tu 5/7 Othello / JR #10 due
Th 5/9 Last class
NOTE: Drama research paper is due on Tu 5/14 and final exercise is due on Th 5/16.
You may submit these to me personally in my office or submit in my mailbox with
work signed in with date and time by one of the English office personnel. And, yes,
of course, you may submit prior to these dates. Manage your time wisely!