"There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience. And then there is California." - Edward Abbey

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Schedule

Course Schedule

Palisades Park

Course: English 209--California Literature
Instructor: Ann Warren
Office: NEA 273
Phone: (310) 233-4247
Office Hours: Mon-Thurs. 9-9:30 a.m., and by appointment
E-mail: annw708@earthlink.net

Course Schedule: Week 1 Course Schedule: Weeks 2-5 Course Schedule: Weeks 6-9 Course Schedule: Weeks 10-15 Course Schedule: Final Exam

Course Schedule

Week 1 Aug. 31-Sept. 6 INTRODUCTION
California Indian Beginnings
Go to Lecture 1
Go to Discussion Questions 1
 Reading: Yokut Creation Myth
Achomawi Creation Myth
Maidu Creation Myth
San Luiseno Creation Myth
Week 2 Sept. 8-13 EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST
Go to Lecture 2
Go to Discussion Questions 2		 Reading: Crespi, "The Naming of Santa Ana and Los Angeles"; read through the August 3 entry
de la Perouse, A Visit to Carmel
Royce, A Frontier Lady
Brewer, "Los Angeles and Environs"; read through page 14
Week 3 Sept. 14-20 RISE OF A CALIFORNIA LITERATURE
Go to Lecture 3
Go to Discussion Questions 3		 Reading: Twain, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"
Harte, "The Outcasts of Poker Flats"
Bierce, "Moxon's Master"
Week 4 Sept. 21-27 RISE OF A CALIFORNIA LITERATURE
Go to Lecture 4
Go to Discussion Questions 4		 Reading: Baum, The Wizard of Oz

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 5 Sept. 28-Oct. 4 EARLY 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 5
  •            Paper 1 due
Reading: Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 6 Oct. 5-11 EARLY 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 6
Go to Discussion Questions 5		 Reading: Fante, Ask the Dust

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 7 Oct. 12-18 EARLY 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 7
Go to Discussion Questions 6		 Reading: West, Day of the Locust

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 8 Oct. 19-25 LATE 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 8
Go to Discussion Questions 7 		Reading: Didion, and any one of the following from The White Album:
  • "James Pike, American" 51
  • >"Holy Water," 59
  • "Many Mansions" 67
  • "The Getty," 74
  • "Bureaucrats," 79
  • "Quiet Days in Malibu," 209
Week 9 Oct. 26-Nov. 1 LATE 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 9
No Discussion Questions due this time 		Reading: Boyle, Tortilla Curtain

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 10 Nov. 2-8 LATE 20C FICTION
No new lecture this time
Go to Discussion Questions 8 		Reading: Boyle, Tortilla Curtain

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 11 Nov. 9-15 LATE 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 10
No Discussion Questions due this time
  •            Paper 2 due
 Chin, Donald Duk

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 12 Nov. 16-22 LATE 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 11
Go to Discussion Questions 9 		Reading: Viramontes, Under the Feet of Jesus

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 13 Nov. 23-25 LATE 20C FICTION
Go to Lecture 12		 Reading: Mosley, Devil in a Blue Dress

Note: This is a novel; you should read the whole thing.

Week 14 Nov. 30-Dec. 6 MOVIE
No new lecture this time
Go to Discussion Questions 10
  •            Paper 3 due
 Watch Chinatown

Note: This is not required. But it's a great classic movie about California, with amazing performances by Faye Dunaway, John Huston, and most of all, Jack Nicholson. If you haven't seen it, it will be a real treat!

Week 15 Dec. 7-13 CATCH YOUR BREATH TIME No reading assignment for this week
Week 16 FINAL EXAM
  •            Final Exam due
 The final exam is due on or before Monday, December 14th.

No late exams will be accepted, as I must turn in grades immediately.

California, the department-store state. The most of everything and the best of nothing.
~ Raymond Chandler