Do I contradict myself?
\nVery well then I contradict myself,
\n(I am large, I contain multitudes.)<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —Walt Whitman, \u201cSong of Myself: #51\u201d (1855, 1867)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Students will submit two close reading essays (3-4 pages each or about 750 to 1,000 words) with short companion videos (about 1 minute in length), posted PRIVATE at the course website.\u00a0 These critical essays will focus on a poem or short piece of writing from one of the featured authors and must include at least one relevant quotation from Edward Hirsch\u2019s book on American poetry.\u00a0 Students must interpret a different author each time. Essays must analyze text, context, and subtext, relying on at least three sources and incorporating Chicago-style footnotes.\u00a0 The essay posts must also include 2 to 3 images, properly captioned and credited with embedded companion videos that use a clear voice-over reading from the document paired with a music track, relevant images, and a credit slide.\u00a0 Students MUST submit at least one full or partial DRAFT of their essays to Prof. Pinsker before EACH due date, and they MUST visit the Writing Center before at least ONE of the close reading assignments.\u00a0 Essays will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose. The first close reading is due by 5pm on Monday, September 29<\/strong>.\u00a0 The second is due by 5pm on Monday, October 27<\/strong>.\u00a0 Late essays will be penalized up to 5 points per day.<\/p>\n Students will submit two research journal entries (2-4 pages each or about 500 to 1,000 words per entry), posted PRIVATE at the course website by Monday, November 17 at 5pm<\/strong>.\u00a0 These narrative posts will detail research efforts for the final essays, with one entry focusing on the search for relevant primary sources and the other focusing on the search for relevant secondary sources.\u00a0 Journal entries do not require footnotes, but they should include Chicago-style bibliographies of at least six (6) sources for each entry.\u00a0 Submitting drafts is optional in this case. Entries will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis and quality of prose. Late entries will be penalized up to 5 points each day.<\/p>\n By Monday, December 8 at 5pm<\/strong>, students will submit by email attachment an 8 to 10-page critical essay that analyzes at least THREE poems or writings from authors on the syllabus or featured in Edward Hirsch,\u00a0The Heart of American Poetry <\/em>(2022). \u00a0Good essays will develop a strong thesis statement that analyzes the respective strategies of the authors in connection with how they attempted to reach either similar audiences or to develop similar themes.\u00a0 Essays should be typed and double-spaced as Word or PDF documents with title page and Chicago-style footnotes (no bibliography required).\u00a0 Essays must include at least THREE quotations from the Hirsch book and use a variety of other sources developed from the research journal posts.\u00a0 Students MUST submit at least one DRAFT (full or partial) to Prof. Pinsker BEFORE the deadline. Essays will be graded on research effort, depth of analysis, and quality of prose. Late essays will be penalized up to 5 points per day.<\/p>\n Class Participation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a025 percent<\/p>\n First Close Reading Essay\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a020 percent<\/p>\n Second Close Reading Essay\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 20 percent<\/p>\n Research journal posts\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a010 percent<\/p>\n Final Critical Essay\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a025 percent<\/p>\n[PRINTABLE SYLLABUS<\/a><\/span>]<\/h3>\n
Required Books <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Featured Texts<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Additional Readings and Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nClose Reading Essays<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nResearch Journal posts <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nFinal Critical Essay <\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
\nGrade Distribution <\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nSchedule<\/h2>\n