Monday

Great books discussion of the novella's ending. Students will complete pre-reading, take during discussion notes, and revisit their responses post-reading. I will collect these notes.
HW: Spend some time searching for either an American author you want to read more of, a genre of American fiction that you enjoy, or titles related to a topic of interest.

Tuesday

Finishing the Kelly McGillis' production of Grand Isle, the film adaptation of the novella. Why does McGillis purposefully delete the final scene between Marieqita and Victor? What purpose does that scene serve within the novella?
HW: Continue to consider what American novel you would like to read for your junior theme research project.

Wednesday

Today we will begin by watching minute 25-30 of the American Experience documentary, "1964." (The whole documentary is here.) We will then turn our attention to three texts, two web pages that provide an overview of Betty Friedan's work, and one chapter from a book by that same author. How do these materials revive in American women the same ennui that disturbs Edna Pontillier?
HW: Read up through and including the first half of page 26 in chapter one of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique, "The Problem With No Name.".

Thursday

Finishing your small group discussion of chapter one of The Feminine Mystique. Once done, each group should analyze the text for credibility and usefulness (in terms of what the chapter is, who created it and why, and why it matters).
HW: Read the passages from Chopin's The Awakening that illustrate "the problem with no name," and add to it the passages you find--those after page 60 in the text.

Friday

Meeting in Library to meet with Ms. Novak, the librarian who will be assisting our class' research, who will conduct a brief book talk about locating and evaluating American novels.
HW: Review your questions on the Awakening reader's guides. For the objective section of Wednesday's final, the questions will derive directly from the reading guides. So review them this weekend, bring any remaining questions you have to class Tuesday for final review.