Topic outline

  • General

    GENERAL INFO AND COURSE MATERIALS FOR ENGLISH 9H, "PORTRAITS OF THE ARTIST":

    • COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS (DOWNLOAD AND READ)
    • BLOG/DISCUSSION LEADERSHIP GUIDELINES AND ADVICE (DOWNLOAD AND READ)
    • BLOG/DISCUSSION SIGN-UP SCHEDULE (will be posted once everyone signs up)
    • FILES AND LINKS GIVING YOU GOOD ADVICE ABOUT WRITING ANALYTICAL PAPERS, SUCH AS WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STRONG AND WEAK THESIS; HOW TO TAKE YOUR USE OF TEXTUAL EVIDENCE (QUOTATIONS) TO THE NEXT LEVEL; HOW AND WHY TO USE A "COUNTER-ARGUMENT" IN A PAPER; ETC.
    • "How 2 Not Write Bad" and other files and links giving you good, clear advice about how to avoid common punctuation errors and other mistakes (things your previous English teachers may not have told you)
    • Swarthmore gives severe penalties for plagiarism (academic dishonesty).  See my note on what plagiarism is and why you nevertheless SHOULDN'T be afraid of collaborating with others and borrowing good ideas from them (but be sure to give credit where credit is due).

    FOR THE COURSE SYLLABUS (CLASS ASSIGNMENTS), SCROLL DOWN BELOW THIS INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL.
  • GENERAL RESOURCES FOR YOUR WRITING FOR 9H THIS SEMESTER

    We'll discuss these in class at varied points during the semester; download and save all these files.

    For guidelines that apply to specific paper assignments, see above and also consult the syllabus.

  • Sept. 1 and Sept. 3

    Week 1 9H Moodle readings to print or download and bring to class.

    Sept. 1:  Read Cain and Gaiman essays ahead of time, before our first class.  See the pdfs below.  Have both pdfs available for class, in either digital or print form.

    Sept. 3:  Read Arabian Nights introductory stories (pdf below).  Afterwards, check out Prof. Schmidt's study questions (pdf).  Have both pdfs accessible for class.

    NOTE:   PLEASE BRING A DIGITAL DEVICE (SUCH AS A LAPTOP OR PAD/TABLET OR PHONE) WITH INTERNET ACCESS TO EVERY CLASS.  If you prefer to print some of all of the course materials, of course, you're welcome to do so.  

    I ALSO RECOMMEND CREATING AN ENGLISH 9H FOLDER IN YOUR COMPUTER OR OTHER DEVICE TO STORE ALL YOUR DOWNLOADED COURSE MATERIALS, INCLUDING YOUR PAPERS AND COPIES OF THE PAPERS RETURNED TO YOU WITH MY COMMENTS.  (YOU WILL REVISE ONE PAPER OF YOUR CHOICE AS PART OF THE FINAL EXAM FOR THE COURSE.)


  • Sept. 8 and Sept. 10

    Week 2

    Student discussion leaders for this week should first consult the Guidelines for posting on the blog and leading discussion (see the main Course Materials section above).  ALL BLOG POSTS SHOULD BE POSTED ON THE ENGLISH 9H BLOG BY 8PM THE NIGHT BEFORE CLASS.  BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR CLASSMATES:  POST ON TIME.

    Remember that on days when students will lead part of the discussion, it's the responsibility of all the other students and the professor to check the 9H Blog sometime between 8pm on the night before a class and 9:30am or so before class.

    The Blog/Discussion sign-up sheet (see Course Materials), when complete, will indicate who will be doing what for each week of the semester.

  • Shakespeare: selected sonnets, Sept. 15 - Sept. 24


    Use the link below to connect to shakespeares-sonnets.com for sonnet texts and annotations.

    Use Prof. Schmidt's guide to interpreting sonnets, with particular emphasis on how to appreciate and discuss the music, meter, and structure of sonnets.  Online you can easily find further information about sonnet form, including its "Italian" and "English" variations and their history.  We'll spend part of several class sessions learning how to hear and analyze how Shakespeare's music and rhythms "fit" the argument of a sonnet, so that music and meaning match (or contrast in dramatic ways).  We'll also learn how to understand why the sonnet's structure is a key element in its dramatic action, its argument.

    Sonnet assignment schedule (also bring Prof. Schmidt's sonnets guide to each class):

    • Sept 15:  sonnets 12, 23, 30
    • Sept. 17:  55, 61, 65, 73, 87
    • Sept. 22:  116, 129, 130, 138
    • Sept. 24:  review; further work; and conclusions

    BELOW IS ALSO THE RESOURCE TO USE TO UPLOAD YOUR FIRST PAPER FOR ENGLISH 9H.  I should receive it by Friday at 5pm, Sept. 25.

  • Sept. 29 - Oct. 8

    Amadeus, the movie (weeks 5 and 6, Sept. 30 through Oct. 9). Use the link here to access the streaming video.  Amadeus is 3 hours long, so plan ahead.

    We'll show excerpts of particular scenes in class, but you should watch the entire movie before our first class meeting on Sept. 30.

  • Oct 20 - Nov. 3

    Frida Kahlo (2.5 weeks)

  • Ruth Ozeki, _A Tale for the Time Being_ (2013)

    5 classes:  Nov. 5 — Nov. 19

    Nov. 5:  read all of Part I (pp. 1-108)

    Nov. 10:  Part II (109-258).  This is the longest reading assignment; allow extra time.

    Nov. 12:  Part III (259-355)

    Nov. 17:  pp. 357-420 (Part IV, plus Appendices, Bibliography, Acknowledgments)

    Nov. 19:  re-read selected passages (tba); review our discussion and make conclusions.  Optional: check out one or both of the essays below, by Schmidt and Sunshine.


  • class on Tuesday, Nov. 24th: study hall

    Class today with be a study hall, where students can get help on drafts of their papers and/or work quietly on their own.

    For best results, have a solid draft of your entire paper before this class, not a rough outline.  Bring to class either in digital or print form.

    Due date:  upload below by Wed., Nov. 25, 5pm (note change).

  • Topic 13

  • Steve Martin, 2 plays

    Dec. 1 (Patter for the Floating Lady) 

    Dec. 3 (Picasso at the Lapin Agile)

    Dec. 8 (final Martin discussion; also read 2 short items for our concluding reflection and discussion of "portraits of the artist": 

    • William Deresiewicz's essay on the "death of the artist" and the rise of the "creative entrepreneur"; and
    • a New York Times article on a controversial mural in Brooklyn protesting the silencing of Muslim women--yet this mural has drawn protests from Brooklyn residents, who want it painted over

    We'll also discuss details about the final exam (including how to prepare for taking an open-book and open-notes, self-scheduled exam like this one).  Note that one of the parts of the exam will involve your turning in a revised copy of either your essay #1 or essay #2.


  • Dec. 10-19