English 104. Dr. Carol Pippen
MWF 1:30 in VM 111 Office: VM 218
“Coming-of-Age Narratives” Office Hours: T 9:30 am
W. 2:30 pm
Office Phone: x 6506
A. Readings: One Writer’s Beginnings by Eudora Welty
An American Childhood by Annie Dillard
A Bird in the House by Margaret Laurence
A book of your choice that reflects your history or your interests
Two handbooks by Harvey
B. Memory Journal
Record your memories of home, neighborhood, school, etc. Be specific and use
NAMES. Be on the lookout for good essay topics.
For example: revisit your school reading as the Renaissance Learning Report does:
First grade:
Second grade:
Third grade:
1. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
2. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
3. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
4. The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
5. Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey
Fourth grade:
1. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
2. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
3. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
4. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
5. Stone Fox by John Gardiner
Fifth grade:
1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
2. Hatchet by Garey Paulsen
3. Holes by Louis Sachar
4. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Sixth grade:
1. Hatchet
2. Bridge to Terabithia
3. Holes
4. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
5. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
Seventh grade:
1. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
2. Holes
3. The Giver by Lois Lowry
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Eighth grade:
1. The Outsiders
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
3. The Giver
4. Holes
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Ninth-12th grade:
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
5. A Child Called ‘It’ by Dave Pelzer
Other subjects:
Birthdays Sporting Events
Vacations Hobbies
Relatives Local or World Events
C. Unit on Your Book Choice
Analysis of an issue in the book (3-4 pages)
Annotated Bibliography on the book (10 entries) 10%
Oral Report on the topic of your analytical paper (15 minutes) 15%
D. Writing Assignments
Analysis of an element of An American Childhood (3 pages, double-spaced, MLA
format)--at least two drafts required ACADEMIC PAPER/EXPOSITION 15%
Analysis of an element of A Bird in the House—(same format)-- at least two drafts
Required ACADEMIC PAPER/EXPOSITION 15%
A reflective paper from your memory journal. 20%
A paper on the book of your own choosing. (Letter C) 20%
****Class participation accounts for the last 5% of your grade.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
February 2-6
Begin each class with short writings in journal
One Writer’s Beginnings
February 9-13
Begin each class with short writings in journal—to continue throughout the semester
An American Childhood
February 16
Class discussions of writing topics
February 17-20
Conferences on drafts (sign-up form is outside of VM 218)
February 23
First Paper is Due in Class; be prepared to speak for a few minutes on your paper
February 25-27
Grammar and composition lessons
March 2-6
A Bird in the House
March 9
Class discussions of writing topics
March 10-12
Conferences on drafts (sign-up form is outside of VM 218)
March 13
Second Paper is Due in Class; be prepared to speak for a few minutes on your paper.
SPRING BREAK
March 23
Discussion of Memory Journal and Reflective Paper
March 25-30
Library Work on Annotated Bibliography for Book Choice; sign up for oral report
April 1-3
Conferences on drafts (sign-up form is outside of VM 218)
April 6
Third paper due on Memory Journal Reflections; be prepared to speak for a few minutes on your paper. Turn in Memory Journal too.
April 8-13
Oral reports on the book of your choice.
April 15-20
History Boys
April 22-27
Conferences on Drafts (sign-up form is outside of VM 218)
April 29
Annotated Bibliographies Due; poetry readings
May 4
Poetry readings
May 6
Fourth paper is due on an issue in your book choice; be prepared to speak for a few minutes….last class of the semester…no final
Attendance: You have three absences, excused and unexcused, before you affect your grade. The fourth absence will lower your final grade by 1/3; your fifth absence will lower your grade by another 1/3; and so on.
Honor Code: All students are bound by the standards of the Academic Honor Code that can be found at www.goucher.edu/documents/General/Academic Honor Code.pdf