Schedule for The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 9th ed. created and tested by
Dr. Jennifer Russo. Updated Fall 2014
Required Texts:
Meyer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 9th ed. New York:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0-312-59434-3 Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. Montclair State University custom revised 7th edition.
New York: Bedford/St. Martin. (note: This text can only be purchased from the MSU
Bookstore.)
Note: This schedule contains a specific calendar synched to a fall class. Please make sure to
change dates/days in the appropriate column.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(unless labeled “Hacker” or “Bb” (Blackboard) all readings from The Compact Bedford Introduction to
Literature, 9th Edition)
Unit 1: Literature Matters
WEEK
MONTH & READING ASSIGNMENT / LESSON
DAY
1
September
Introduction. “The Story of the Arrowmaker,” N. Scott
Momaday (handout).
2
Tues – 10
“Reading to form an interpretation” (Hacker L-3-9 also on
Bb). Close reading and note taking. Making arguments. Inclass reading and assignment. Lorine Niedecker poems
(handout).
Fri – 13
3
“Johannesburg Mines,” Langston Hughes (Bb). “That Girl
from Rosebud with No Feet,” Jimmie Durham (Bb).
“Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing (Poetry)”
(592-3). “Quotation Marks” (Hacker 282-7). “MLA
Papers” (Hacker 358-69). “MLA Essay Format” (Hacker
48-9).
Unit 2: Representation and Truth in Literature
Tues – 17 From A Wreath for Emmett Till, Marilyn Nelson (Bb). “A
Bronzeville Mother…,” Gwendolyn Brooks (Bb). From
Writing Beyond the Ending, Rachel Blau DuPlessis (Bb).
“Writing About Literature” (Hacker L-9-22).
Fri – 20
Tues – 24
4
“Sample Student Essay 1” (Bb). Peer Review.
“Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing
ASSIGNMENT DUE
Blog Post 1
1st Draft Essay 1 (bring TWO
hard copies to class)
2nd Draft Essay 1
1 (Fiction)” (53-5). “How to Tell a True War Story,” Tim
O’Brien (287-96).
Fri – 27
5
October
Tues – 1
Fri – 4
6
“When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer,” Walt Whitman
(1057). “‘Faith’ is a fine invention,” Emily Dickinson
(860). Critical Strategies for Reading (1569-92).
No Child…, Nilaja Sun (1498-1516).
No Child…, Nilaja Sun. “Questions for Responsive
Reading and Writing (Drama)” (1112-3).
Unit 3: Self and Other
Tues – 8
“Sample Student Essay 2” (Bb). Peer Review.
Fri – 11
7
Tues – 15
Fri – 18
8
Tues – 22
Fri – 25
9
Tues – 29
Blog Post 2
“Good Country People,” Flannery O’Connor (378-91) and
“Perspectives on O’Connor” (407-13).
“Bartleby, The Scrivener,” Herman Melville (121-49).
“A&P,” John Updike (539-44). “Saint Chola,” K.
Kvashay-Boyle (Bb).
“Battle Royal,” Ralph Ellison and student “Samples”
(233-247).
“this morning,” Lucille Clifton (1036). “Barbie Doll,”
Marge Piercy (Bb). “Incident,” Countee Cullen (Bb). “On
the Amtrak from Boston to New York City,” Sherman
Alexie (Bb). “On Oedipus the King,” Muriel Rukeyser
(1173). “Elena,” Pat Mora (Bb).
A Study of Langston Hughes (899-921).
Final Draft Essay 1 (4 pages)
1st Draft Essay 2
2nd Draft Essay 2
Blog Post 3
Final Draft Essay 2 (5 pages)
November
Fri – 1
A Study of Emily Dickinson (819-58). “Sample Student
Essay 3” (Bb).
10
11
Tues – 5
“Integrating sources” (Hacker 379-388). Peer Review
1st Draft Essay 3
Fri – 8
“The Pitch,” Seinfeld, Larry David (1097-1108).
2nd Draft Essay 3
Unit 4: Relationships: Family, Community, Nation
Tues – 12 “Incarnations of Burned Children,” David Foster Wallace
(483-5). “Popular Mechanics,” Raymond Carver (275-7).
“Fiesta, 1980,” Junot Díaz (149-159). “The Flowers,”
Alice Walker (81-3).
Fri – 15
Blog Post 4
“Those Winter Sundays,” Robert Hayden (551). “Marks,”
2 12
Tues – 19
Fri – 22
Linda Pastan (676). “A Valediction: Forbidding
Morning” (674-5) and “The Flea” (1038-9), John Donne.
“To My Dear and Loving Husband,” Anne Bradstreet
(976). “To the Virgins…,” Robert Herrick (612). “To His
Coy Mistress,” Andrew Marvell (613).
“Puerto Rican Obituary,” Pedro Pietri (Bb). The Literary
Research Paper (1628-35). “Sample Student Essay 4”
(Bb).
“America,” Tony Hoagland (1027-8). “Dulce et Decorum
Est,” Wilfred Owen (649). “America,” Allen Ginsberg
(Bb). “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner,” Randall
Jarrell (603).
Peer Review. Introduction to the Portfolio Assignment.
13
Tues – 26
NO CLASS – Happy Thanksgiving!
14
Fri –29
December
Tues – 3
Fri – 6
Conferences
15
Conferences
Unit 5: The Portfolio
Tues – 10 Portfolio Review & Workshop
Final Draft Essay 3 (5 pages)
Blog Post 5
1st Draft Essay 4
2nd Draft Essay 4
Blog Post 6 (response to Live Lit
reading – must be posted on or
before this date.)
Tues – 11
(Friday
Schedule)
Tues – 17
3:155:15pm
Portfolio Review & Workshop
End of semester conversation, reflection on course
expectations, Portfolio collection.
Final Draft Essay 4 (6-7 pages)
Portfolio
Helpful Information for Planning your Syllabus: In order to help you plan your calendar: The following link will take you to the academic calendar for Fall 2014: Fall 2014 Academic Calendar The final exam schedule for Fall 2014 can be accessed here: Fall 2014 Exam Schedule The link to Registrar’s page for withdrawal dates, etc.: Registrar Academic Calendar Fall 2014 3 September 1: Labor Day Holiday (No Classes)
September 2: Opening Day (No Classes) Note: Opening Day mandatory faculty meetings will take place.
Times TBA.
September 3: First Day of Classes
November 27-November 30: Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes)
December 10: Wednesday designated as a Friday (for Friday day classes only; Wednesday
day and evening classes do not meet)
December 11: Last Day of Classes (Sunday, December 7, for Friday evening and weekend classes)
December 12-18: Examination Period
December 18: End of Semester
4