English 102CD
Western American Literature
Dr. Susanne George Bloomfield
Fall 2000
COMPOSITION 102:"COWBOYS AND INDIANS"
SYLLABUS
8/22 Discussion: Requirements, Assignments, and Expectations
8/24 Discussion: Theoretical Backgrounds to Composition and Literature (Handouts)
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8/29 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Look up the definitions of "Myth," "Legend," and "Stereotype" in at least two different general reference sources, for example, a comprehensive dictionary or an encyclopedia, and explain the differences. Give bibliographic data in correct MLA form for each source (See Handbook).
Composition Strategy: Keeping Track of Your Research.
Editing Review: Correct Bibliographical entries
8/31 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Find an article, chapter, or essay in a book, magazine, or journal regarding the history or culture of Sioux Indians, Native American Stereotypes, or Indian Boarding Schools, make a copy of it, and write a "Summary." Condense the information in the text, use quotations from the text as support, and conclude with your analysis of the article. What is the thesis? How is it organized? Is the author's argument well supported? What is used for support? Is the text convincing or informative? Biblio.
Composition Strategy: Analyzing Thesis, organization, and content
Workshop: Analyze the organization, content, and effectiveness of one article in your group.
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9/5 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Read several issues of a 19th century newspaper between 1880 and 1900 to find news stories about Native Americans: the Kearney Hub (1873-1893), Kearney Western Ear (1883-1889), Omaha World-Herald (1893-current), Omaha Bee (1871-1900), Omaha Weekly Republican (1861-1883), North Platte Telegraph (1881-1946), Rocky Mountain News (1894) or the New York Times (1860s-current). Write a "Summary" of one at least one article and analyze the attitudes towards Native Americans displayed in the text. [Summarize. Quote. Analyze. Biblio.]
Composition Strategy: Voice
Editing Review: Punctuating Quotations
Video: Indian Boarding Schools
9/7 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: American Indian Stories (pp. 7-99)
Critical Perspective: Historical
Composition Strategy: Serializing
Video: Indian Boarding Schools (continued)
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9/12 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: American Indian Stories (pp. 101-153)
Critical Perspective: Biographical, Archetypal
Composition Strategy: Classifying; Formulating a Thesis
9/14 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: American Indian Stories (pp. 155-195)
Critical Perspective: Formalistic, Sociological
Composition Strategy: Comparing
Workshop: Thesis due
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9/19 Workshop: First Rough Draft due
Editing Review: Commas
9/20-21 Complete Rough Draft due at Individual Conferences
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9/26 Paper due
Library Presentation by Mary Barton
9/28 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Find an article, chapter, or essay in a book, magazine, or journal regarding the history, culture, myths, or stereotypes of Cowboys and write a "Summary." [Summarize. Quote. Analyze. Biblio.]
Discussion: Introduction to Cowboy myths and Shane
Editing Review: "Waltzing" with quotes
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10/3 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Shane Backgrounds (pp. 1-56)
Composition Strategy: Historical, Biographical
10/5 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Shane pp. (61-171)
Critical Perspective: Formalistic
Composition Strategy: Description
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10/10 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Shane (pp.172-274)
Critical Perspective: Psychological, Archetypal
Composition Strategy: Narration
10/12 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Shane Criticism pp. 278-353 (students will be assigned one article in section)
Composition Strategy: Comparing and Contrasting
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10/17 No Class: Fall Break
10/19 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Shane Film criticism pp. 357-417
View scenes from Movie
Critical Perspective: Reader-Response
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10/24 Workshop: Thesis due
10/26 No Class: WLA Conference: Write Rough Draft
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10/30-31 Complete Rough Draft due at Individual Conferences
11/2 Paper Due
Discussion: Contemporary Views of Native Americans; Internet Sites; Introduction to Sherman Alexie (Audio Tape of Interview)
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11/7 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Read an issue of Indian Country Today that will be handed out in class. Analyze the content of the paper and write a "Reader-Response" to the newspaper itself or one particular article. Give quotes for support. Biblio.
Editing Review: Active/Passive Verbs
11/9 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Lone Ranger and Tonto pp. 1-75
Critical Perspective: Fiction/Autobiography
Composition Strategy: Images and Symbolism
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11/14 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Lone Ranger and Tonto pp. 76-148
Critical Perspective: Short Story Cycle
Composition Strategy: Diction
11/16 Read and Be Ready To Discuss: Lone Ranger and Tonto pp. 149-223
Critical Perspective: "The Personal is the Political"
Composition Strategy: Defining, Summarizing, Serializing, Classifying, Comparing, and Analyzing
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11/21 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Find a movie review of Smoke Signals and write a "Summary." [Summarize. Quote. Analyze. Biblio.]
View Scenes from Movie Smoke Signals
Editing Review: Colons and Semi-colons
11/23 No Class: Thanksgiving Recess
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11/28 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Find an article, chapter, or essay in a book, magazine, journal, or Website that supports the topic for your final paper and write a "Summary." [Summarize. Quote. Analyze. Biblio.]
Editing Review: Effective Sentences
Workshop: Thesis due
11/30 *Research and Write (250-500 words): Find another article, chapter, or essay in a book, magazine, journal, or Website that supports the topic for your final paper and write a "Summary." [Summarize. Quote. Analyze. Biblio.]
Editing Review: Diction
Workshop: Rough Drafts due--Revising content
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12/5 Workshop: Rough Drafts due--Revising Organization
12/7 Workshop: Rough Drafts due--Editing Style and Grammar
Review: Theoretical Backgrounds of Composition and Literature
Finals Week: Thursday, December 14 at
Final Paper Due
12/14 at 9:30