W  8/29

1^st day of class

F 8/31

 “American Scholar” + reading log

 Reading log description

I take this to be some sort of guide for what Emerson might want us to be as readers and writers: what does he want? what might we do, even as we study Emerson, to be or become Emersonian?

M  9/3

Labor Day: no class.

W  9/5

 “Divinity School Address” and “The Method of Nature” + reading log

 What does Emerson understand religion and spirit to be? What is nature (think what method implies)? Any links between his view of nature and his view of spirituality?

F  9/7

.Further reading: biographical and cultural context.

Read the Martin Bickman chapter (handout) "The American Scholar vs. American Schools" + read the Barbara Packer essay "Ralph Waldo Emerson" in our text (p. 725- 738) for an overview of his work

 Any insight thus far from his life or culture we can begin to apply? What about his life/culture do you want to know?

M  9/10

 Tutorial [meet in my office]:

Victoria, Alisha, Misty

W  9/12

 Nature + reading log

F  9/14

Further reading: transcendentalism, biography

M 9/17

Tutorial [meet in my office]:

Rachel, Kelsey

W 9/19

 “Intellect” [linked here: http://www.emersoncentral.com/intellect.htm

and “Circles” + log

F  9/21

Link #1 due

 post to blackboard discussion

M  9/24

Tutorial: optional (come by my office); work on reading

W 9/26

“Friendship,” “Experience” and “Threnody” + log

[Friendship linked here]

F  9/28

 Further Reading: biography

[include letters and journal]

M  10/1

 Tutorial: optional; come by for questions on reading and suggestions as you work towards the writing due Friday.

W  10/3

“Fate” [in place of log, work on draft of link 2]

F  10/5

Full draft of link # 2 (will workshop)

[meet in library]

M  10/8

Post link #2 to Blackboard by class time (no meeting)

W  10/10

“Shakspeare; or The Poet” and “Quotation and Originality”

[meet in library]

 what is Emerson's view of originality? how does he apply that to the poet or writer? any surprises--or consistencies?

F  10/12

 Further Reading: Dillard, The Writing Life (at least half way)

[meet in library]

M  10/15

Tutorial: initial ideas for research + finish The Writing Life

[meet in library]

W  10/17

Further Reading: One additional Emerson essay of your choice + reading log

F  10/19

No class: Fall break

M  10/22

 Tutorial: Research and exploration

[optional: stop by and see me in my office for questions and updates]

W  10/24

Critical Readings:

"The Problem of Emerson" (in Norton);

F  10/26

 Further Reading:  book review of critical resource

 Assignment: Select a book of criticism about Emerson (where he is a central focus). Read any introductory chapters and at least one of the main chapters. Write a 1-2 page assessment of the argument: a paragraph describing/summarizing its thesis; a paragraph or 2 focusing on one or more key examples that the author explores; a paragraph assessing the strength of the argument and explaining how you or another scholar might use this resource, how it could be applied to another study of Emerson.

M  10/29

Tutorial [in library]: meet to discuss work in progress, continue research (for working bibliography)

W  10/31

  Link #3 due: meet in library

 post to Blackboard

F  11/2

Further reading: letters, journals

--Read/browse the section in our book that reprints chunks of Emerson's journals and letters--look for anything interesting and relevant.

.What from Emerson's biography/letters/journals might be of relevance to your project--what might you look for?

M  11/5

Tutorial: I will be in my office, stop by if you want feedback on your research and work in progress

W  11/7

Further reading: present a critical resource you are likely to use in essay: prepare for a 5-10 minute presentation to the group, summarizing and evaluating the argument, explaining and showing us how you plan to use this in your project

 This is a critical source of importance to your thinking and your writing--will show up in your essay and play a role.

F  11/9

Workshop: initial draft due

 3-4 pages minimum; posted to Blackboard. Don't fret with the introduction or the thesis--try to get into the reading and see where it goes; we will use this to determine what is working, what needs to be worked.

M  11/12

Tutorial: In my office--we will work on issues in your draft/writing thus far.

 10.30: Misty and Kelsey

10.50: Alisha and Rachel

11.15: Victoria

W  11/14

Reading: my essay on Emerson and education, "Living Learning" plus keep working on your drafting

F  11/16

Workshop: further draft due

 Should be minimum 5 pages

M  11/19

Further reading: Ceremony

Just start reading (to take a break from your writing--or at least, put it aside for a couple days)

Meet in the library: we will talk briefly about the novel and touch base on your work in progress.

 Any Emersonian echoes here?

W  11/21

No class: Thanksgiving

F  11/23

No class: Thanksgiving

M  11/26

Tutorial: Come with the latest version of your essay, ready to ask questions and discuss your work in progress.

 We will begin working on: the strongest paragraph; a weaker paragraph; thoughts about your introduction

W  11/28

Further reading: Ceremony

+ workshop: complete and nearly final version of paper due (will work on editing)

F  11/30

Capstone essay due.

Essay will be due (in Blackboard) by 5pm. Those who want/need additional tutorial can meet with me in office.

M  12/3

Finish Ceremony

Meet in library: will discuss the novel; discuss the annotated bibliography (required for department portfolio); begin to consider your presentation

W  12/5

Prepare conference presentation; remediation of your essay

F  12/7

[last class]

Conference

 Your presentations will take place in the Hickman Room beginning at 12. Plan on a 10 minute presentation.