World Literature – Short Story Unit 2008

2nd Period Reading and Assignment Schedule

 

Essay Assignment Information:

  • Five essay assignments will be given during the 5-week unit – you are required to do three (3) of them.  You may choose ANY THREE during the unit.  There will always be a choice of topics each week. 
  • Assignments will be distributed on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week, and will be due the first day of class the following week (usually Monday). 
  • IMPORTANT:  It is up to you to keep track of how many essays you have completed and how many you still need to do.  Please ask me if you are unsure of your status at any time during the unit.  If you skip the first two assignments, you are REQUIRED to do the last three.
  • Essays earning grades of 79 and below are eligible for rewrite assignments, but you must meet with me first to set up a plan.  It is up to you to arrange a meeting with me for your rewrite assignment.
  • A SUPER QUEST covering the entire unit is scheduled for Monday, 5/12.  To do well, it is essential that you read ALL of the stories and stay focused during class discussions.

 

WEEK 1 – Self-Discovery (Week 1 essay due Tuesday, 4/15)

Monday, 4/7 (D)         Focus on self-discovery

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/8, read “A Sunrise on the Veld,” by Doris Lessing (Zimbabwe) – page 308 in your World Literature anthology

Tuesday, 4/8 (E)          Discuss “Sunrise on the Veld”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/9 (Happy Birthday to ME!), read “A Story from Rosendo Juarez,” by Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina) – page 531

Wednesday, 4/9 (F)    Discuss “Rosendo”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/10, read “Araby,” by James Joyce (England) – page 796

Thursday, 4/10 G)       Discuss “Araby”

·         For tomorrow, 4/11, read “Downtown” by Fumiko Hayashi (Japan) – page 483

Friday, 4/11 (A)          Discuss “Downtown”

·         Assignment:  Week 1 essay due Tuesday, 4/15

 

WEEK 2 – Obligations and Happiness (Week 2 essay due Monday, 4/21

Monday, 4/14 (B)       NO CLASS

Tuesday, 4/15 (C)       Week 2 essay due; focus on obligations and what it means to be happy

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/16, read “The Heavenly Christmas Tree,” by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Russia) – page 121

Wednesday, 4/16 (D) Discuss “Heavenly Christmas Tree”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/17, read “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy (Russia) – page 126

Thursday, 4/17 (E)      Discuss “How Much Land”

·         Assignment:  Week 3 essay due Monday, 4/21

Friday, 4/18 (S)           NO CLASS

 

WEEK 3 – Pressure and Lies (Week 3 essay due Monday, 4/28)

Monday, 4/21 (F)        Focus on pressure and lies

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/22, read “The Lie,” by Kurt Vonnegut (USA) – handout

Tuesday, 4/22 (G)       Discuss “The Lie”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/23, read “Marriage is a Private Affair,” by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria) – page 328 in the World Literature anthology

 

 

Wednesday, 4/23 (A)  Discuss “Marriage is a Private Affair”

·         Assignment:  For Friday, 4/25, read “Forty Five a Month,” by R. K. Narayan (India) – page 495

Thursday, 4/24 (B)      NO CLASS

Friday, 4/25 (C)           Discuss “Forty Five a Month”

·         Assignment:  Week 3 essay due Monday, 4/28

 

WEEK 4 – Promises, Promises (Week 4 essay due Monday, 5/5)

Monday, 4/28 (D)       Week 3 essay due; focus on promises

·         Assignment:   For tomorrow, 4/29, read “Prince Huo’s Daughter,” by Jiang Fang (China) – page 393

Tuesday, 4/29 (E)        Discuss “Prince Huo’s Daughter”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 4/30, read “The Rain Came,” by Grace A. Ogot (Kenya) – page 335

Wednesday, 4/30 (F)  Discuss “The Rain Came”

·         Assignment: Week 4 essay due Monday, 5/5

Thursday, 5/1 (S)        NO CLASS

Friday, 5/2                   HEADMASTER’S DAY – NO SCHOOL

 

WEEK 5 – Fantasy, Reality, and Conformity (Week 5 essay due Monday, 5/12)

Monday, 5/5 (G)         Essay 4 due; focus on conformity

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 5/6, read “The Third Bank of the River,” by Joao Guimaraes Rosa (Brazil) – page 543

Tuesday, 5/6 (A)         Discuss “Third Bank”

·         Assignment:  For Thursday, 5/8, read “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Colombia) – page 577

Wednesday, 5/7 (B)    NO CLASS

Thursday, 5/8 (C)        Discuss “Very Old Man”

·         Assignment:  For tomorrow, 5/9, read “The Guest,” by Albert Camus (France) – page 269

Friday, 5/9 (D)            Discuss “The Guest”

·         Assignment:  Week 5 essay due Monday, 5/9 – Story Unit SUPER QUEST on Monday!

 

Monday, 5/12 (E)       Week 5 essay due; Story Unit SUPER QUEST