11-12 Humanities fall elective

11-12^th grade Humanities:

Self and Society: Defiance, Decisions, and Discontent in Literature and Film

It is only great souls that know how much glory there is in being good.

Sophocles

The Truth is rarely pure and never simple

Oscar Wilde 

2011-12, Semester One

Dates:  Sept. 8-Dec. 19

Days and Time: Mondays, Thursday, 12:40-2:10 p.m.

Teacher: Julia Taylor    

You can contact me anytime:  Julia@compass-school.org (also on FB, but I’m not a twitterer)

Overview:  This is a literature-based course that will explore themes such as defiance, deciding what is right, and the nature of good and evil.  We’ll use literature and some film to delve into questions such as what purpose does defiance serve, and what motivates people to defy or to comply? Or, how important it loyalty—and loyalty to whom—one’s self, one’s family, or one’s country? The texts we read and discuss will anchor us, but I will ultimately ask you to extend your thinking to yourself, so that you can use the texts to examine yourself and your ideals. Finally, Amir and I hope that our courses overlap so that you can connect your knowledge of different societies’ beliefs with what you see in literary characters.  

Goals and Assignments/Activities:

v Gain exposure to a variety of texts, both literature and film, and develop reading confidence (you can read a lot)  

• Assignment: see reading list below

v Explore questions about the characters, language, and themes in those texts.

• Assignment: Reading responses: The questions we ask will overlap and circle around each other in a ways that might make your head spin.   I’m not asking you to come away with definitive answers, but only to look closely at the characters we experience, and to explore some answers throughout the semester.  Reading responses will help you to focus and illuminate the texts and your ideas. (*see separate sheet for more details)

• Activity: Listening and note-taking. It will be crucial for you to listen and participate in discussions in order to deeply explore the texts and questions.  (*see separate sheet for more details)

v Use literature to look at yourself. 

• Assignment: Journal writing: As you read other people’s stories, I want you to think about your own stories-- about yourself, your family, your culture, and your friends.  Do you believe in goodness and evil?  How do you know you’re a good person (assuming you think you are).  What’s your own code of conduct, and how do you make difficult decisions?  What is your relationship to societal norms?  Do you tend to be rebellious or a follower?  Finally, what events in your life have made you who you are? 

v Gain awareness of non-western countries and the impact of events such as war and colonialism on such countries

• Assignment: Reading of Kite Runner and Little Bee (and hopefully, a guest lecturer; possible side reading about history of Afghanistan)

v Gain knowledge of ancient Greek theater 

• Assignment/Activity: Reading of Antigone (both in class and out) and mini lecture on theater history and form of plays (possible quiz) 

v Work on illuminating your ideas in writing; make connections between texts

• Assignment: Write in-class and out-of-class essays on texts we read
• Assignment: Drafting of final essay that extrapolates from BOTH classes’ texts and discussions

v Refine your group-discussion skills, including listening and contributing

• Activity: We’ll discuss what a quality discussion sounds and looks like

And then make efforts to create quality discussions in class

You’ll be assessed on your contributions

(if time allows, we’ll record a class and then watch it to assess ourselves))

You’ll need: (don’t ignore this!)

r A journal/notebook to write thoughts, notes, and sketches in

r Small and large post-its for marking passages or writing quick reactions in your book (these will help you write responses)

r Computer for typing essays; working printer or a functional flashdrive for school computers/printers

r The means to cheer yourself up after reading much sadness J