Tentative Schedule
 
Date Before class, you should During class, we will In class, you will turn in
Week One
August 25 (M)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Course Introduction
 
 
  		  ~ make introductions and go over the syllabus.
~ discuss labels, “political correctness,” and authenticity.
~ identify the challenges of reading Appalachian literature. 		 
August 27 (W)
 
 
 
Unlearning Stereotypes
 
 
 
 
 
 
  		~ read Stereotypes packet (handout).
 
  		~ consider an overview of Appalachian history and culture.  
~ discuss stereotypes of Appalachia and Appalachians in contemporary U.S. culture.
~ analyze excerpts of films and TV shows that depict Appalachian stereotypes. 		 
Week Two
September 1 (M)
  		  ~ No Class in honor of Labor Day!  
September 3 (W)
 
 
 
 
  		~ read Ballard, "Where Did Hillbillies Come From?" (reserve).
 
  		~ analyze excerpts of films and TV shows that depict Appalachian stereotypes.
~ discuss reading. 		  Short Writing 1.
Week Three
September 8 (M)
 
  		~ read Shelby, “The ‘R’ Word: What’s So Funny (and Not So Funny) about Redneck Jokes” (reserve). ~ analyze excerpts of films and TV shows that depict Appalachian stereotypes.
~ complete our discussion of stereotypes.
~ discuss reading.
~ introduce terms of literary analysis and cultural studies. 		~ Short Writing 2.
September 10 (W)
 
 
 
 
  		~ read Ball, “The Quilt” (reserve).
~ read Horton, “In Search of the Appalachian Quilt” (reserve).
 
 
  		~ discuss the readings.
~ assign Cultural Analysis Project. 		 
Week Four
September 15 (M)
 
Early Appalachian Literature: Regionalism or Local Color?
 
 
 
 
 
    		~ read Davis, Life in the Iron Mills (handout).
 
 		 ~ discuss the early tradition of Appalachian literature.
~ discuss regionalism and local color in U.S. literary history.
~ discuss the reading.
~ discuss connections between dis/ability and class. 		~ Short Writing 3.
September 17 (W)
 
 
 
  		~read Murfree, excerpt from In the Tennessee Mountains (reserve).
~ read Baylor, excerpt from Behind the Blue Ridge (reserve). 		~ discuss readings.
~ discuss setting. 		~ Short Writing 4.
Week Five
September 22 (M)
 
Appalachian Literature of the Early Twentieth Century 		~ read Miles, excerpt from The Spirit of the Mountains (reserve).
~ read Hall, excerpt from Aunt Jane of Kentucky (reserve). 		~ discuss readings.
~ discuss character. 		~ Short Writing 5.
 
September 24 (W)
 
 
  		~ read Furman, excerpt from The Quare Women (reserve). ~ discuss readings.
~ discuss point of view. 		~ Short Writing 6.
Week Six
September 29 (M)
 
  		 
  		~ discuss early Appalachian poetry.
~ analyze poems in groups. 		~ Paper I.
 
October 1 (W)
 
 
 
  		~ read Still, River of Earth. ~ discuss the novel.
~ discuss coal mining in Appalachia. 		~ Short Writing 7.
 
Week Seven
October 6 (M) 		~ read Still, River of Earth. ~ discuss the novel.
~ discuss plot. 		 
October 8 (W)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  		~ finish River of Earth.
  		~ complete our discussion of River of Earth.
~ discuss the role of land and landscape in Appalachian Literature.
~ discuss poetry selections. 		~ Short Writing 8.
 
Week Eight
October 13 (M)
 
 
 
    		~ begin Arnow, The Dollmaker.
 
 
 
  		~ discuss Appalachian out-migration.
~ watch excerpt of The Dollmaker.
~ discuss the novel. 		 
October 15 (W)
 
  		~ read Arnow, The Dollmaker. ~ no class—trade for Appalachian Heritage Month event.  
Week Nine
October 20 (M)
  		~ read Arnow, The Dollmaker. ~ discuss the novel.
  		 
October 22 (W)
 
 
 
 
  		~ finish The Dollmaker.
  		~ complete our discussion of The Dollmaker.
~ discuss post-War Appalachian history.
~ discuss theme. 		~ Short Writing 9.
 
Week Ten
October 27 (M)
 
Contemporary Appalachian Literature
  		~ read Smith, Saving Grace. ~ discuss the novel.
~ explore the role and manifestations of Christianity in Appalachia. 		~ Short Writing 10.
 
October 29 (W)
 
  		~ finish Saving Grace. ~ discuss the novel.
~ discuss symbol.
 
  		 
Week Eleven
November 3 (M) 		~ read Kingsolver, The Bean Trees. ~ discuss the novel.
~ discuss structure. 		~ Short Writing 11.
 
November 5 (W)
 
 
 
 
 
    		~ finish Kingsolver, The Bean Trees. ~ discuss the novel.
~ discuss contemporary Appalachian lives outside Appalachia.
~ consider human rights in literature. 		 
Week Twelve
November 10 (M)
  		  ~ watch film (TBA). ~ Paper II.
 
November 12 (W)
 
  		  ~ finish film (TBA).  
Week Thirteen
November 17 (M)
 
 
  		  ~ discuss film.
~ work on Group Project.
 
 
  		~ Short Writing 12.
 
November 19 (W)
 
 
  		~ consider meeting in groups to work on your Group Projects. ~ No class—trade for Appalachian Heritage Month event.
  		 
Week Fourteen
November 24 (M)
  		  ~ present Group Project. ~ Presentation of Group Project.
November 26 (W)
 
Thanksgiving Holiday 		  ~ enjoy some time with your loved ones!  
Week Fifteen
December 1 (M)
  		~ read Clay's Quilt. ~ discuss the novel.  
December 3 (W)
  		~ read Clay’s Quilt. ~ discuss the novel. ~ Cultural Analysis Project.
 
 
 
Week Sixteen
December 8 (M)
  		~ finish Clay’s Quilt. ~ discuss the novel.
 
  		~ Short Writing 13.
 
December 10 (W)
 
 
 
  		~ read contemporary poetry in Poetry Packet III. ~ discuss poems.
~ complete Course Evaluations.
~ wrap up the course. 		~ Short Writing 14.
FINALS WEEK   ~ Take the FINAL EXAM at the assigned time (TBA in class).  
In the interest of student privacy, grades will not
be released in advance of official notification from
the Office of Records and Registration.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Possible Group Presentation Topics