Course Length: 10, 90 minute class periods

 

Course Description: This two-week summer camp course will focus on the shifting style of narrative and perspective in American short stories throughout the 20^th century. Special attention will be paid to how the Chinese-American experience fits within the context of this period as we will read three stories by writers of Chinese descent.

 

Course Skills: By the end of the course, students will have learned skills in line with 9^th and 10^th grade literacy standards such as critical reading skills, citing strong textual evidence to support analysis, determining the meaning of unknown words through context, and exploring diverse cultural experiences and points of view.

 

Course Objectives:

 

-Students will be able to analyze major literary themes and their relationship with history

-Students will gain confidence discussing literature in a group context

-Students will be able to use specific details to support their ideas

 

Method of Instruction: Students will be given a brief introduction to both the historical and literary context in which each work was written. Vocabulary and other necessary annotation will be provided for the student to help guide them through more difficult vocabulary and references. Students will be work both individually and in groups.

 

Student Assessment: Students will be expected to hand in a written critical response to the material discussed in class each day. In addition, at least two sessions will feature student led discussion.

 

Short Stories to be Read:

 

Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour”

Sui Sin Far, “In the Land of the Free”

William Carlos Williams, “The Girl with the Pimply Face” and “Use of Force”

William Faulkner, “That Evening Sun”

Ernest Hemingway, “The Old Man and the Bridge”

Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”

Flannery O'Connor, “Everything That Rises Must Converge”

Sandra Cisneros, “Eleven”

Gish Jen, “Who’s Irish?”

Nicholas Yu, “Third Class Superhero”