American Literature Class

Taught by Prof.Greene

~3 Exams:
Baseline Exam(25% of Final Grade)
Mid Exam(25% of Final Grade)
Final Exam(25% of Final Grade)
~Homework(25% of Final Grade)
Grade Table:
Topic

n% of Final Grade

Homework

25%

Baseline Exam

25%

Mid Exam

25%

Final Exam

25%

Total

100%

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

Syllabus:
Week

Topic

Week 1

Introduction- How & Why We Read

Analyzing The Plot-Romeo & Juliet (I & II)
Analyzing Metaphorical Symbols-The
Great Gatsby (I)

Week 2

Analyzing Metaphorical Symbols-The

Great Gatsby (II)
Looking at Language Techniques-The
Catch in the Rye (I & II)
Character Relationships-The Odyssey (I)

Week 3

Character Interactions-Oedipus (I)

Love,Avenge,& Revenge-Hamlet (I & II)
Author Decisions-Frankenstein (I)

Week 4

Author Decisions-Frankenstein (II)

Author Focus-Jane Eyre
Character Desire-If One Finger Brought Oil (I
& II)

Week 5

Autobiographical Elements-To Kill A

Mockingbird (I & II)
Moral Actions-Slaughterhouse Five (I & II)

Week 6

Love Loves Hate-Beloved

Author Focus-Langston Hughes
Author Focus-Sylvia Plath

Name __________________

Date _________

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

Week 1 Homework 1:How & Why We Write

1.What is the purpose of writing?
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2.What does writing allow us to do? What advantages does writing have to it (invented by the
Mesopotamians) that ancient drawings that hominids drew could not explain?
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3.What is the use for grammar and linguistics in writing?
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Task
Write a ~1-2 Paragraphs on the prompt given:
Prompt:

What tools do writers use (that you are currently aware of) that allow readers to connect to the
story? How are these tools effective?
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*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

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Name __________________

PG1/1
Date _________

Week 1 Homework 2 : Romeo & Juliet I

1.How does the political side of Romeo & Juliet,as discussed by Prof.Green affect their
relationship?
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2.Choose either Romeo or Juliet.Who do you think Romeo/Juliet should be loyal to? (The
prince,the parents,the friar,etc.)
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3.How does Romeo develop throughout the play? What interactions cause this?
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4.What niche does the feud play in the development of Romeo & Juliets relationship?
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*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

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5.How does the death of Romeo & Juliet affect Verona?
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PG1/2
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Essential Question(s)
6. Who is responsible for Romeo & Juliets death? Are there multiple people who all share the
blame?To what extent?
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Task
Write a ~1-2 Paragraphs on the prompt given:
Romeo and Juliet is the tragic story of 2 lovers whose love is externally affected by the negative
relationship between their two families.Due to the complications caused by the obstacles
(i.e.Romeo is exiled by the Prince,Juliet drinks temporary sleeping poison to avoid double
marriage by her Parents),they eventually both die.
*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

Prompt:

How is Romeo & Juliets romance intervened by external sources? Describe Romeo & Juliets
relationship-how it struggles through these external,and perhaps internal,sources-and how
Identity play a role in their relationship.
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PG2/2
Name __________________
Date _________

Week 1 Homework 3 : Romeo & Juliet II

1.What did Shakespeare do to the narrative element that changed the whole story from Arthur
Brookes The Tragicall Historye Of Romeus & Juliet ?
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2.How would you describe Romeo & Juliets relationship?(I.e.Tragedy,In effect for a good
cause)

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

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3.Why would Juliet say something neutral/slightly negative:
Too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be Ere one
can say It lightens.
about their (Romeo & Juliet) relationship when in the same scene,she says:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,my love as deep;the more I give to the thee,the more I
have,for both are infinite? What does this say about Juliet? What does this show about their
relationship?
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4.How would you describe Romeo & Juliets relationship from the point of a youth?
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Name __________________

PG1/1
Date _________

Week 1 Homework 4 : The Great Gatsby I

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

1.Should Gatsby have gone on regretting the past,longing for it-or would it have been wiser for
him to forget about Daisy and start over?
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2.What piece of the characters give an autobiographical memoir of Fitzgerald's view of the
American dream? What does it tell us about Fitzgerald?
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3.Given the negative light among which Tom Buchanan is looked upon by Nick,why would Daisy
choose to stay with Tom?
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4.In the title,Fitzgerald/Nick chooses to represent Gatsby as The Great Gatsby? Is Gatsby
really great? If so-what makes him so from the point of view of Nick?
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*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

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____

PG1/2
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Essential Question(s)
5.Compare Gatsby & Tom and the events and the parties they hold.Who is more empathetic,in
view of both Nick,and the people who attend the parties?
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____

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

Name __________________

PG2/2
Date _________

Week 1 Baseline Exam

American Literature

Directions: Fill in the best possible choice for the multiple choice questions
Following along what Mr.Greene said,

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course

*If >2 Homework(s) are not submitted by Due Date,it is mandatory to drop the course
*If test is not handed in immediately on the date taken,it will receive a failing score of 0
and it is mandatory to drop the course