Psych & Lit Course Expectations – Page 1 of 6
Psychology & Literature – Fall 2011
Tenafly High School
Ms. Hampson
Room 214
September 6, 2011
Introduction
Welcome to Psychology and Literature! We have a very exciting semester ahead of us as we travel into the depths of the human mind to examine character behavior and motivation in ways that you’ve likely never considered before. This course will explore such essential questions as:
1) What is psychology, and how can the concepts of psychology be applied to the study of literature?
2) What is personality? How can the study of a literary character’s personality reveal themes?
3) What is identity? How does a character’s sense of identity shape his or her actions?
4) What is abnormal psychology? What are anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders and schizophrenia?
5) Who was Sigmund Freud? What are Freud’s theories of personality, defense mechanisms, transference and psychosexual development?
6) Who was Carl Jung? What are his theories of archetype and the collective unconscious?
7) In what way is psychoanalysis (Freud) and analytical psychology (Jung) akin to literary study?
Course Description
1. Psychology and Literature is designed to give students experiences analyzing literary works in terms of their psychological themes, such as the nature of the self, the unconscious, the self and family, identity, and alienation.
2. The class will work on articulating central themes in selected texts and films.
3. Students will also analyze literature in terms of structure, symbols, images, meaning, etc.; and they will learn to recognize and consider the effects of alliteration, simile, metaphor, personification, and other literary devices.
4. The class will help students articulate various psychological theories and their relation to literature and experience.
5. All students will read at least two full-length works in the semester.
6. A research project/term paper is also required. We will talk in much more detail about this during the first marking period.
Course Goals
Over the course of this semester, you will:
1. improve your editing skills
2. strengthen your writing skills
3. develop your critical thinking skills
4. enhance your communication skills
5. identify connections between our literature studies and your world
6. read with a critical eye (read to learn)
7. read with an aesthetic eye (read for fun!!)
8. YOUR PERSONAL GOAL:______
______
______
______
Course Scope
· Our class will commence with written and creative assessments of the required summer reading. Since English test days are Mondays and Wednesdays, please be prepared for your summer reading in-class timed writing essay test at that time next week. We will talk more about this over the next few days.
· The Senior Term Paper (more information to follow over the coming weeks)
· Our course texts will include:
ü The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
ü One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
ü Selected works from Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
ü Various psychological case studies
ü Various primary and secondary sources for your term paper
ü Films depicting a range of psychological conditions (A Beautiful Mind, Awakenings)
*~*~*~*~COURSE REQUIREMENTS~*~*~*~*
Grading Categories
Term Paper (40% of semester grade)
Essays (in-class and take-home)
Creative Projects
Class Participation
Quizzes
Homework & Binder Checks
Please Note:
Since one of my goals as your teacher is to help you become the best writer you can be by the end of the school year, your in-class and take-home essays will weigh the heaviest into your marking period average.
In addition, your class participation grade weighs heavily into your marking period and semester averages. I believe that class participation involves much more than simply volunteering information in class discussions.
In order to earn the most points possible towards your class participation grade, you must:
ü Pay attention at all times. Those who choose to have side conversations with their friends instead of paying attention will notice a marked reduction in their class participation grade. If you’re on the border when grades close, your class participation grade will most likely determine whether you stay in one grade range or jump to the next level.
ü Be respectful of your peers and your teacher at all times.
ü Keep your binder current. Find out what notes and writing prompts you missed when you were absent and make up that work as soon as you can.
ü Abide by the classroom expectations and behavioral policies.
ü Make an effort to come to every class meeting. Keep in mind that you need to be in class in order to participate, so your attendance is a factor closely related to your participation.
ü Be in your seat with your binder, text, and a pen as soon as the period begins.
REQUIRED 3-Ring Binder
As a student in my class, you are required to maintain a 1” 3-ring binder in which you will organize your course paperwork as follows:
Section One: Class Notes and Handouts
Section Two: My Reading Journal
Section Three: Homework (non-Reading Journal)
Section Four: The Research Process (Term Paper)
Please note that you MUST have your binder organized and ready to present for the first homework check on Thursday, September 8th.
Your binder will be checked periodically and will count towards your homework and/or class participation grades.
Writing Workshop
Becoming a skilled writer is much like becoming a strong runner or a versatile guitarist: perfection doesn’t happen overnight. You’re not going to improve your PR (personal record) unless you run every day, and you’re not going to become a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist if you don’t practice for a few hours daily. Since the same can be said for the process of becoming a better writer, you will periodically meet with your classmates in small writing groups (“Writing Workshops”) in order to more closely examine your writing and work on becoming a better writer.
Please remember that grades are used to measure writing, not the writer and not the effort. If you receive an essay grade with which you don’t agree, keep in mind that each essay is just one step in a year-long journey towards becoming a better writer. For that reason, you should pay more attention to the comments and suggestions for improvement than the grade itself.
Reading Quizzes & HW Checks
From time to time, you will have a brief quiz at the start of the period about the reading assignment and/or class notes. I rarely announce reading quizzes, so be sure to stay on top of the reading assignments. In addition, I will check the journal portion of your binder whenever reading assignments are due to make sure that you have completed your “My Reading Journal” log. (You will receive more information about the “My Reading Journal” log when we begin our reading schedule.)
*~*~*~*~BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS~*~*~*~*
Important Classroom Policies
1) You may bring a plastic bottle of water to class. No other beverages are permitted.
2) Do not bring any food into the classroom.
3) Do not bring any cell phones, pagers, or music players (MP3 players, iPods, etc.) into the classroom. No headphones or earpieces!
4) Be prepared for class and in your seat by the time class begins.
5) ALWAYS back up ALL major projects, essays, etc on a CD-Rom or other removable disk that you will use exclusively for this class.
Seating
We will begin the year seated alphabetically so I can learn your names. I will create a seating chart in the near future which will allow you to choose your seat and keep it for the term as long as you follow the classroom rules. I reserve the right to change your seating assignment.
Attendance/Tardiness
I expect you to be in your seat AND prepared for class by the time the opening bell rings. Prepared for class means that you are equipped with pen, text, binder, paper/notebook, AND assignment at the start of class. There will be no “locker runs” during class because this is disruptive and wastes too much valuable class time. I only get to see you for approximately 40 minutes a day, and I want to make the most of that time in order to best help you learn.
I will record absences/tardiness and report excessive absences/tardiness to the attendance office. As seniors, you should be well aware of the school attendance and lateness policies. As your teacher, I will enforce the school’s established attendance and lateness policies. You will get the most out of class when you are in class, so don’t disadvantage yourself by choosing to miss class if it can be helped.
Missed Tests/Assignments
Major assignments (tests, essays, projects, etc) are due at the start of class on the designated date. I will mark down a full letter grade for each day that the major assignment is late unless you have discussed a special circumstance with me ahead of time. You will receive partial credit for late homework only if you submit that assignment to me by the next class meeting.
Please see the Tiger Q for more information about Tenafly High School’s official policy.
Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is an ugly word. There are many things that you don’t want attached to your name, and “plagiarist” is right up there on the list. Do not even consider copying a paragraph or sentence from websites such as Sparknotes or Bookrags or, even worse, submitting a friend’s paper with your name on it.
I expect you to always submit your own writing.
Because your academic integrity and your future are too important to risk on a plagiarized paper, you should also be sure to properly cite (give credit to) the appropriate sources whenever you quote or paraphrase someone else’s work. (In our Writing Workshops, we will spend time on MLA citation, quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.) Please note that I will follow the school’s guidelines for handling academic dishonesty.
The consequences for plagiarism are severe.
An Important Note About Class Texts
Over the course of this semester, you will be borrowing texts from the high school English department in order to complete your assignments. Please remember that these books are on loan and must be treated with care. Do not mark up the pages or bend the corners because this will damage the book. In addition, I expect ALL books to be returned on-time. In most cases, I will collect the books immediately after the exam. If you do not have your book at collection time, you may lose points off your marking period grade. Additionally, you must either return your book to me by the next class meeting or you should see Mrs. Johnston in the Principal’s Office about paying for your lost book.
Since we will be studying many of the same pieces of literature that you will study in college, you are encouraged to purchase your own copy at a local bookstore so that you may highlight the text and take notes in the margins.
~*~*IMPORTANT*~*~
Get into the habit of visiting our class website each day for the latest announcements, homework assignments, project due dates, and resources. I recommend bookmarking our class website on your home computer for quick reference.Ms. Hampson’s English Website:
http://sites.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~lhampson/
Click on the “Psych & Lit” link on the left side of the home page.
Some Helpful Hints for Succeeding in this Course
THINK about what the author is trying to tell you.
QUESTION whether or not you agree with the author’s point of view.
CARE about your class studies.
RESPECT others, yourself, and your teacher.
LEARN more about yourself, others, and life through literature and the arts.
Remember to HAVE FUN!! J