Gregg Painter
email me at gregg_painter@dpsk12.org
Introduction to Literature Course Description
This is basically an introduction to as many different genres of fiction and nonfiction as I can get to in a year. This includes reading and writing in as many genres as possible, which include nature/science writing, short stories, novels, poetry, plays, screenplays/film, autobiography, etc.
Work needs to be turned in on time, or points will be taken off. Work can be turned in late due to excused absences or work in a student's major, but this should be written on the top of late work.
Grades are based primarily on written work, but there are some projects or lessons not involving writing for which credit is given. There is also a participation grade given once every nine weeks.
Extra credit work is accepted twice a semester.
Introduction to Literature Syllabus
Here is the reading schedule for "The Things They Carried."
pp1-61 11/16
pp62-161 12/4
pp162-end 12/14
Intro to Lit assignment for Monday, November 9: Write a story along the lines of the first chapter of our novel, entitled "The Things they Carried." Use anaphora (repetition). Specifically, use the phrase "The thing I carry..." This should be one or two pages, typed and double-spaced. Both physical objects and psychological phrases can be among the things you carry, as Tim O'Brien does in his novel.
Advanced Placement Lit and Comp:
The Course and the Syllabus
http://static.dpsk12.org/gems/dsa/APLitSyllabus.doc
We will be starting Song of Solomon soon, so plan ahead and order a
used copy from Amazon, a new one from Tattered Cover, a borrowed one
from DPL (14 copies) or DSA (a few copies) or be 1st or 2nd or 35th in
line to get one from me. No late books! This one is an early Oprah
selection (one of her first three, from 1996!) so should be very easy to get.
Here is the reading schedule for "Song of Solomon."
Ch. 1-2 11/9
Ch. 3-4 11/16
Ch. 5-6 11/23
Ch. 7-9 11/30
Ch. 10-11 12/7
Ch. 12-end 12/14
Quizzes or essays may be assigned on any of these dates. We will, of course, be discussing the book in class as well. Students do get grades for some of these discussions, so speaking up is in the students' best interest. In smaller colleges especially, seminar participation is a huge part of the learning process, and, at this point, very few students are volunteering to share their opinions in discussions. I hope this will change with "Song of Solomon," a rich book most students have enjoyed over the years.
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Many students could use some supplemental work on grammar. Although DSA does very well on their CSAP writing scores, the opinion of the English Department is that students' general lack of knowledge of grammar basics hinders their ability to write the kind of sophisticated sentences which would better reflect their level of critical thinking skills.
Although we work on this in class, spending some time on some of these sites at home when time permits would benefit most students.
GRAMMAR SITES
General Grammar Info Sites
http://www.englishchick.com/grammar/grrem.htm
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/writing/proofread.html
General Grammar Quiz I:
http://www.testprepreview.com/modules/grammarpart1.htm
General Grammar Info and Quizzes
http://aliscot.com/bigdog/#top
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/lfried/quiz.cgi?quiz=look
http://eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/POS/pos2.htm
Advanced Grammar Tutorial
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/
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Like to surf? Here are a few of my favorite sites:
http://www.aldaily.com/ ; Three interesting links a day.
http://www.metafilter.com/ ; A dozen or so postings a day, with comments.
http://web.ncf.ca/ek867/wood_s_lot.html ; Emphasis on photography, poetry, other arts, and politics.
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/ ; Great writer from the San Francisco Chronicle.
http://www.salon.com/ ; General interest online magazine.
http://www.kafkadiaries.org/index.php?en ; If it's about Kafka, I'm interested!
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/ ; All linguistics all the time, and often pretty funny.
Gregg Painter
email me at gregg_painter@dpsk12.org
P.S. Self-promo: I play piano at the Mercury Cafe on 22nd and California the first Sunday of every month
for brunch, from 10 to 1.
Gregg Painter