SCHEDULE OF READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS (Subject to Change!)
REMEMBER: You are responsible for printing out a hard copy of the readings each week. Please make sure to come to class with the readings in hand!
Week One
Monday, January 31
- Introduction, Review of Syllabus
- Readings to Discuss: “Happiness” by Raymond Carver, “Happiness” by Amy Lowell, “Happiness” by Dead Prez, “Happiness is a Warm Gun” by The Beatles (handout)
- Writing Diagnostic
Wednesday, February 2
- Readings to Discuss: Selections from Aristotle’s Ethics (selections from Book One)
Week Two
Monday, February 7
- Readings to Discuss: Selections from Aristotle’s Ethics (selections from Book Ten)
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
- All entries will be posted on our class wiki. You must select one word or phrase that you are not familiar with, but interests you, and write a paragraph defining it. Do not do any research—this paragraph should reflect a definition or understanding you came to through your reading experience. We will continue to update and edit these definitions through out the entire semester.
Wednesday, February 9
- Readings to Discuss: Gilbert, Chapter Two: “The View from In Here”; Ehrenreich, “Introduction”
- Writing Due: Response Paper 1 (1-2 pages typed, to be handed in)
Week Three
Monday, February 14
- Readings to Discuss: Plato, from The Republic, Book One
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Wednesday, February 16
- Readings to Discuss: Plato, from The Republic, Book Seven
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Week Four
Monday, February 21
NO CLASS—President’s Day!
Wednesday, February 23 (classes follow a Monday schedule)
- Readings to Discuss: continue with Plato; Freud, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, Chapters I and II
- Writing Due: Response Paper 2 (please post on the Blog by Monday, February 21, no later than 5PM)
Week Five
Monday, February 28
- Readings to Discuss: Freud, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, Chapters V and VI
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Wednesday, March 3
- Readings to Discuss: Recent New York Times articles
- Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #1 Due (3-5 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
- Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Six
Monday, March 7
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES
(Please bring your most recent draft of Paper #1)
Wednesday, March 9
- Readings to Discuss: Gilbert, Chapter Eight: “Paradise Glossed”
- Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #1 Due (3-5 pages typed)
Week Seven
Monday, March 14
- Readings to Discuss: Gilbert, Chapter Nine: “Immune to reality”; Chopin, “The Story of an Hour”
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Wednesday, March 16
- Readings to Discuss: Ehrenreich, Chapter Six: “Positive Psychology…”; Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants”
- Writing Due: Response Paper 3 (please post on the Blog by Tuesday, March 15, no later than 5PM)
Week Eight
Monday, March 21
- Readings to Discuss: Ehrenreich, Chapter Seven: “How Positive Thinking…”; Hawthorne, “The Birth-mark”
Wednesday, March 23
- Readings to Discuss: Carver, “Cathedral”
- Writing Due: Response Paper 4 (please post on the Blog by Tuesday, March 22, no later than 5PM)
Week Nine
Monday, March 28
- Readings to Discuss: Munro, “Too Much Happiness”
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Wednesday, March 30
- Readings to Discuss: Brown, “Forgiveness”
- Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #2 Due (3-5 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
Week Ten
Monday, April 4
- Readings to Discuss: Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
- Writing Due: Entry for Class Lexicon (semester-long dictionary)
Wednesday, April 6
- Film: Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
- Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #2 Due (3-5 pages typed)
Week Eleven
Monday, April 11
Readings to Discuss: Ellison, “Living with Music”; Davis, “Happiest Moment” and “Happy Memories”
Wednesday, April 13
- Readings to Discuss: Selections by Audre Lorde
- Writing Due: Response Paper 5 (please post on the Blog by Tuesday, April 12, no later than 5PM)
Week Twelve
Monday, April 18
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK!
Wednesday, April 20
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK!
Week Thirteen
Monday, April 25
NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK!
Wednesday, April 27
- Readings to Discuss: Selections by Gertrude Stein
- Writing Due: Response Paper 6 (please post on the Blog by Wednesday, April 20, no later than 5PM)
**Please make sure to comment on at least one post during the break**
Week Fourteen
Monday, May 2
- Readings to Discuss: Bernstein, “The Difficult Poem”; Selections by Myung Mi Kim and Joan Retallack
- Writing Due: Digital Project Proposals
Wednesday, May 4
- Readings to Discuss: Selections by Anne Waldman
- Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #3 Due (5-7 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
Week Fifteen
Monday, May 9
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES
(Please bring your most recent draft of Paper #3 and your digital project)
Wednesday, May 11
- Readings to Discuss: Selections by Eileen Myles
- Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT PAPER #3 (5-7 pages typed)
Week Sixteen
Monday, May 16
- Presentations of Digital Projects
- Readings to Discuss: TBD
Wednesday, May 18
- Readings to Discuss: TBD
LAST CLASS/ Grades
Good Luck!
