Western Mennonite School
Course Syllabus: Fall 2011
Course Title: Advanced Novel Instructors: Mr. Handrich
Grade Level: 12
Course Description: This course is designed as a honors level Novel course. Students read novels on diverse subjects and from many time periods. They will complete written responses, participate in group discussion, and make class presentations. Advanced students have additional reading requirements and will be graded on a tougher rubric more specifically geared towards analysis and critical thinking about the literary works we are studying. Students will also analyze several classic movies as works of literature. Reading List: Compiled from Reading Lists for College-Bound Students, American Library Association, Outstanding Books for the College Bound and California Department of Education Recommended Literature for Grades 9-12. Anderson, Sherwood Brown, Dee Crane, Stephen Dorris, Michael Faulkner, William Nathaniel Hawthorne Heller, Joseph Kidd, Sue Monk Kingsolver, Barbara Krakauer, Jon McCullers, Carson Melville, Herman Mitchell, Margaret Mortensen, Greg and David Oliver Relin O’Brien, Tim Sinclair, Upton Steinbeck, John Thoreau, Henry Thoreau, Henry Walker, Alice Walls, Jeannette Williams, Tennessee Wright, Richard
Winesburg, Ohio Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee The Red Badge of Courage Yellow Raft in Blue Water Absalom, Absalom! The Scarlet Letter Catch 22 The Secret Life of Bees The Poisonwood Bible Into Thin Air The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Moby Dick Gone with the Wind Three Cups of Tea The Things they Carried The Jungle East of Eden Walden Civil Disobedience The Color Purple The Glass castle: a Memoir The Glass Menagerie Native Son
In addition to the Reading List, students are required to read one additional book from Ben’s Personal Reading List. This list is comprised of books Mr. Handrich either read in college or in high school and will greatly assist students’ understanding of current college reading lists. Students are required to prepare a Book-talk with Ben presentation. Ben’s Personal Reading List: These are all books that Mr. Handrich personally owns and can be checked out through him. Austen, Jane Bradbury, Ray Bronte, Charlotte Danticat, Edwidge Dickens, Charles Dostoyevski, Fyodor Dostoyevski, Fyodor Duncan, David Faulkner, William Hesse, Herman Hesse, Herman Huxley, Aldous Maclaverty, Bernard Melville, Herman Morrison, Toni O’Brien, Tim Rand, Ayn *Satrapi, Marjane Smith, Zadie *Spiegelman, Art Stoker, Bram Vonnegut, Kurt Walker, Alice
Pride and Prejudice Fahrenheit 451 Jane Eyre Breath, Eyes, Memory A Tale of Two Cities Crime and Punishment The Brothers Karamazov The Brothers K As I Lay Dying The Glassbead Game Siddhartha Brave New World Cal Moby Dick Beloved The Things They Carried Atlas Shrugged Persepolis I and II White Teeth Maus I and II Dracula Slaughterhouse 5 The Color Purple
Reading Response #1 Title: Discovering a Book’s Culture September 13th October 4th October 18th
Book Title #1 to Mr. Handrich Book #1 is finished Reading Response Essay #1 is due
Response Description: Books are heavily influenced by the ethos of an author’s time period, and certain thematic events in history often closely align with a book’s thematic elements. In this reading response, look up the year your book was written and research how that influenced the author’s literary intention. Often, a book is written in a time period that is different from the year the book was first published. If this is the case, research how the author’s time period and the book’s time period coincide with one another. Discover a common theme between your author’s time period and the book’s time period that you can expound upon. The foundation of this response is based on a form of literary criticism called New Historicism. Research New Historicism and write this response from the perspective of a New Historicist. Possible (but not required) Structure of Response Page 1(+) – What is New Historicism? How does it aid in understanding your book? Page 2(+) – From a New Historicist Perspective, describe the time period surrounding your book and how it influences your author’s intention. Page 3(+) – Discuss the common themes you find between the book’s historical context and the author’s historical context. Paper Requirements: MLA Style 3-5 pages. Include Rough Draft. Must have at least three sources that fit into the following categories: -Book -New Historicism -Historical Research on book and author Note: Do not get bogged down with researching New Historicism. It is only to be used as a tool for writing your response, and only a basic description of it somewhere in the beginning of your paper is required. Once you understand New Historicism, it will simply guide your response and ultimately make it easier to write.
Reading Response #2 Title: A Literary Analysis October 25th November 15th November 29th
Book Title #2 to Mr. Handrich Book #2 Finished Reading Response #2 is due
Response Description: While reading your novel, be aware of how the author develops and engages the elements of fiction: Setting Characters Plot Point of view Theme Symbolism Is there one that stands out, or is of particular significance in the novel? Prepare a literary analysis of one of these elements as your reading response. As you read, it will be helpful to keep notes of significant quotes, events, or characters that will help support your analysis. The foundation of this response is based on a form of literary criticism known as formalism. Research formalism and write this response from the perspective of a Formalist. Possible (but not required) Structure of Response Page 1(+) – What is formalism? How does it aid in understanding your book? Page 2-5(+) – From a Formalist perspective, outline a detailed literary analysis that emphasizes a specific element of fiction. Paper Requirements: MLA Style 3-5 pages. Include Rough Draft. Must have at least two sources that fit into the following categories: -Book -Formalism Note: Do not get bogged down with researching Formalism. It is only to be used as a tool for writing your response, and only a basic description of it somewhere in the beginning of your paper is required. Once you understand Formalism, it will simply guide your response and ultimately make it easier to write.
Book-talk with Ben Assignment December 6th January 3rd By end of Semester
Book Title #3 to Mr. Handrich Book #3 is finished Book-talk with Ben
Assignment Description: Students will find a time, either before school, during lunch, or after school, to discuss their book in detail with Mr. Handrich. Students will be expected to discuss their book from both a New Historicist and Formalist perspective, after which a more general discussion of the book will ensue. Although less formal than the reading responses, students will be expected to come to the meeting prepared; coming to this meeting with notes is encouraged! This last meeting is ultimately a chance for the student to talk one-onone with the teacher specifically about their book and generally about the joys of reading. Points will be taken off for any student who expresses their distaste for literature in this meeting (just kidding).