LIT 3040:  Sport in Literature
MW 9:35-11:30
Winter 2011-2012
Tentative Course Schedule

NOTE:  This schedule may change as needed.  Your presence in class ensures correct assignments


WEEK 1WEEK 2WEEK 3WEEK 4WEEK 5WEEK 6

WEEK 7      WEEK 8WEEK 9WEEK 10      WEEK 11




Week 1
W 11/3            Introduction to the course; Review syllabus and Texts:
         Read and discuss Raymond Carver's "Little Things"; 
                        How do we read critically?

                       For Next Time:              
                       Matheson in Runner's Literary Companion, 237-244
                        Do Reading Journal Entry #1 by posting a 300 word response
                        to Blackboard for Oates story by class time on Monday, 12/5.  
                        What is the central conflict of this story?  How is it overcome?

M   12/5          Discuss Oates and Matheson; Discuss Essay 1:  Responding to  Short  Fiction
                       (Purpose,Audience, etc.); What is "sport" and what are its characteristics; What
                        is the importance of sport in culture?   What does it convey about that culture?
                  
                       For Next Time: 
                        Runner" by James Tabor 231-236 in Runner's Literary Companion; be
                         prepared for reading quiz

                       
Week 2
W 12/7             NO CLASS

                        For Next Time:  
                       Companion  and Do Reading Journal Entry #2 by posting a 300 word response
                        to Blackboard by class time on Monday, 12/12.  
                        What do you see as an important theme in this story and how is that theme
                        related to one of the other stories that we have read so far?



M  12/12          Round Robin Discussion of Oates, Tabor, Buelcher, and Bambara;
                       
                       
         For Next Time: 
                       and Free Will in William Faulkner’s 'Barn Burning'”  by Joie Tavener
                        Faulkner



Week 3
W  12/14          Complete Invention Work for Short Fiction Analysis; Wrap-up Round Robin
                        Discussion; Discuss Hero's Journey;

                        For Next Time: 
                       
M 12/19           First draft of Short Fiction Analysis due; Film: Invincible
                        (dir. Ericson Core, 105 min.); take notes while watching film (save for final
                       exam). Quiz:  The Natural;  briefly discuss opening pages of novel
                     

                      For Next Time:  

                  
Week 4          

W 12/21           Peer Critique of Short Fiction Analysis ; Discussion of The Natural; QUIZ;
                        What is an anti-hero?

                      
                       For Next Time:  
                        to Blackboard by class time on Monday, 1/9 : 
                        What do you see as an important theme in the novel thus far?


M  1/9              Final Draft of Responding to Short Fiction Essay due with reflection;
                        Film:  Raging Bull (Martin Scorcese; 129 min.);

                       For Next Time:  
                       Blackboard  to the following question by classtime on W 1/11:
                        Identify what you see as an imporant theme from Raging Bull and explain how
                        it is connected to the idea of "anti-hero."  Explain how the director emphasizes
                       this theme or idea of anti-hero through his use of film techniques.

Week 5
W 1/11              Continue discussion of The Natural; Discuss Responding to Novel Essay

        For Next Time:  
                       posting a 300 word response to Blackboard  to the following question by
                       class time on W 1/18:  Identify a theme that you see emerging from this
                        particular section of the novel and connect it to events in the earlier chapters
                        of the work.


M 1/16            NO CLASS MEETING, MLK, JR. DAY


Week 6
W 1/18             Continue discussion of The Natural; 
                For Next Time:   


M 1/23            First Draft of Responding to Novel Essay due; Exchange for Peer
                        Critique; Complete Discussion of The Natural

                        For Next Time: 

                        Natural
                        Identify a theme that you see emerging from this section of The Natural and
                        explain why you think it is an important idea in the novel thus far.  Connect it to
                        the events in the earlier chapters of the work.
                       

Week 7                      
W 1/25            Peer Critique; Gender and Sport and Discuss Responding to Poetry;
                        Conventions of Poetry

               For Next Time:  
                        Crossing Boundries
          


M 1/30            Final  Draft of Responding to Novel Essay due with reflection; Discuss poems
                       
                For Next Time:


                       Crossing Boundries.  This must be posted to Blackboard by class time on W
                       2/1

                  
Week 8                     
W 2/1              Introduce Responding to Poetry essay; Discuss poems

                        For Next Time: 
                        thematic similarities/differences of the two  poems you chose.                         
                        Komunyakaa’s 'Facing It'” by Carol Miller



M 2/6             Discuss poems

                       For Next Time : 


Week 9
W 2/8               1st draft of Poetry Essay due; exchange for critique; Film:  Million Dollar Baby

                       For Next Time: 

                       theme in Million Dollar Baby?  How is this theme emphasized through the
                       specific techniques incorporated by the director (Clint Eastwood).Your post
                       should be a min. of 300 words and posted to Blackboard by class time on M 2/13
                        
                       

M 2/13            Complete Film; Peer Critique, Poetry Essay; Begin discussion of drama
                       and Fences; Race and Sport  (Dramatic Reading of a Scene in Class)

                       For Next Time:  


Week 10

W 2/15            Final Draft of Poetry Paper Due with reflection; Continue discussion of Fences

         For Next Time: 
                       Crossing Boundries
                       words and must be posted to Blackboard by class time on M 2/20: How does
                       Sanchez's poem connect to a merging theme in Fences?

    
                       


M 2/20            Review for Final Exam; Complete discussion of Fences

                        For Next Time: 
                        Raisin in the Sun"              
         

       
Week 11 
W 2/22            Final Exam take home essay due;  Complete reflective essay in class.