Course Syllabus

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Instructor  Larry Silverman
Home Phone  206-697-3876
Office Phone  206-934-2915
Office Number 
BE4125
Phone Hours  Call and leave a message anytime
Office Hours  12-1 pm Monday-Friday or by appointment
E-mail  larry.silverman@seattlecolleges.edu
Start Date  Spring Quarter begins on Monday, April 6, 2015.

 

Required Texts

Women of the Beat Generation by Brenda Knight

The Portable Beat Reader by Ann Charters, editor

 

Course Description

This course will focus on the literature of the Beat Generation Writers - those writers who first burst on the literary scene during the late 1940s and continued to hone their craft through the 1950s and 1960s. To fully appreciate the impact of these writers, we will explore American society during this post World War II time period and the connection between this particular society and its literature. Videos such as David Halberstam’s The Fifties (a series of several videos), What Happened to Kerouac, Burroughs: The Video, and The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg will help us comprehend this time period. You will be able to access all assigned videos through the class web site.  As we examine the relationship between society’s mores, dominant beliefs and the counterculture, non-conformist philosophy as espoused by The Beats, we will read excerpts of material written by female Beats as contained in Women of the Beat Generation. The Portable Beat Reader contains excerpts of material created by Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and other lesser-known, but still important Beat authors.  The Beat Generation Web Site listed at the end of the modules will be a valuable resource this quarter. 

 

Course Objectives

  • Gain a greater understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of the Beats
  • Gain a greater understanding of the post World War II era that spawned the Beats
  • Improve ability to critically analyze prose and poetic forms
  • Improve overall writing performance
  • Appreciate cultural diversity, gender differences, and sexual orientation
  • Demonstrate an ability to learn in a computer-based mode

Tentative Schedule

 
How we will have discussions:

In this on-line format, because there is no face to face element, students can feel estranged from the class. As a partial remedy, I am asking you to post reactions to material, questions, issues of concern and any other point related to the class to the Message Board each week. You can go to that site and note what other students in the class are thinking. You can engage in whatever conversation you want about the course, the readings, and the assignments. It will help you to know that there are others in our version of cyberspace grappling with the same issues. You will receive points for your postings.  

 

Course Requirements

 

A Weekly Time Commitment:

You need to commit a regular time every day, Monday through Friday, to this course. Plan on an hour or two each weekday and additional time on weekends if needed.

 

Contact Between Students and the Instructor:

Because I can't see you, I can't see confusion on your faces or respond to body language. I have to depend on your written contact with me to resolve any issues that arise during the academic quarter. Please e-mail me at larry.silverman@seattlecolleges.edu or for more immediate issues text me at the 206-697-3876 phone number when you have a question, comment, or concern. That contact can help assure that you are doing an assignment appropriately.

 

Grading Policy

I will use a point system to determine your final grade. You may accumulate points in these ways:

 

  • Complete Hopes and Fears Assignment by Thursday, April 9 at 7 pm to receive full credit.  The maximum number of points for this assignment is 15. Post your assignment to the Message Board for Week One or under the Hopes and Fears explanation.
  • Complete each week's assignments by the due date noted in order to receive full credit.  Week One assignments are due by 7 pm, Sunday, April 12.  Each weekly assignment will be due on a Sunday by 7 pm with the exception of Week 7 which will be due on Monday, May 25th due to the Memorial Day Holiday.
  • Post two responses to material we have read or viewed each week to the Weekly Message Board. Each response that is at least 125 words and submitted by the due date and time will be eligible for a maximum of 10 points each based on the degree of analysis and relevancy to the current discussion. Late responses will be penalized two points per day, including weekends.  The maximum point total for the entire quarter for this type of assignment is 220.
  •  Write a two to four page word-processed response to each new set of questions posted by the instructor each week. Each response, worth a maximum of 25 points, must be submitted by the due date and time for full credit.  Your grade will be based on level of analysis, level of details, course relevancy, and grammatical and mechanical correctness.  This writing is submitted through the Weekly Drop Box.  Late responses will be penalized three points per day, including weekends.  The maximum point total for the entire quarter for this type of assignment is 250.
  • Find one additional web site that is related to the Beat Writers topic of the week and post that link and an analysis of the appropriateness of its content to the Weekly Message Board by the due date and time. Write a 125-200 word analysis paragraph. Each response is worth a maximum of 10 points. Late responses will be penalized two points per day, including weekends.  The maximum point total for the entire quarter for this type of assignment is 110.
  •  Write a self-evaluation due at the end of our quarter. The essay is worth a maximum of 105 points. More information on the format, scope, and due date and time of the self-evaluation will be provided later in the quarter.
  •  Complete other assignments that may arise.
  • There are a total of 700 points for all the assignments noted above.
  • The grade breakdown is as follows:
  • 98% of the total number of points           4.0
  • 93-97% of the total number of points      3.5-3.9
  • 88-92% of the total number of points      3.0-3.4
  • 83-87% of the total number of points      2.5-2.9
  • 78-82% of the total number of points      2.0-2.4
  • 73-77% of the total number of points      1.5-1.9
  • 68-72% of the total number of points      1.0-1.4
  • Below 68%                                               0.0

     

 Miscellaneous

 

Weekly Writing Tasks:

When you submit writing to me, please use size 12 font, 1 1/2 line spacing, and 1" margins.  Include your name on each submission.  Each week there will be a module on a Beat writer or special topic.  As I noted previously in the syllabus, I expect you to write 2-4 pages each week in response to the assigned questions. That structured writing goes into the Drop Box noted under each week.  Use the Message Board each week to explore other issues not covered in the assigned questions, or to expand on an issue that piques your interest.  Everyone in the class will be able to see all the messages posted.

 

Special Disclosure:

 I reserve the right to make alterations to our schedule and procedures as needed.

 

Special Information: 

Below are all the activities for our class this quarter.  You should access each activity by clicking on Modules on the left of the screen or on the activity listed below and then doing the assignment for each week.  I will make each Module available as we progress through the quarter.  The Announcements section will be used for special information as we proceed through the quarter.  You should check it regularly.

If you have any questions please contact me.You have my office and home phone numbers and my school e mail address.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due