World Literature

Cultural Literacy

In the Global Community

Course Emphasis

• Introduction to the Humanities• Study and Organization Skills

Notebook Requirements• Daily Class Participation

Attendance (Learning Log)Cooperative Learning

• Reading Comprehension and Literary Analysis• Writing Skills• Research Skills and Multi-media Presentations

Course Texts• Course anthology

Thomson, Eileen (ed.).World Masterpieces. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1998.

• Supplemental textSmith, Houston. The World’s Religions, Our Great Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991.

Key Concepts

• Cultural Literacy in the Global Community

• The Humanities

• Cultural Milieu

• Sacred and National Literature

• Epic

• Hero’s Journey

Sumerian Literature

• Cradle of civilization• The Epic of Gilgamesh• “The Story of

the Flood”• Archetype• Hero’s quest

Egyptian Literature

• Book of the Dead• Pastoral Poetry

Hebrew Literature

• Textual criticism and translations of the Bible

• Excerpts from Genesis“The Story of the Flood”

• Biblical hero Vs epic hero“The Story of David and Goliath”

• Psalms

Persian Literature

• Dualism--Good vs Evil

• excerpts from The Shanama

• selections fromThe Rubaiyat

Arabic Literature• Fact Vs stereotype• Five Pillars of Islam

faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage

• selections from The Koran

• selections fromA Thousand and

One Nights

Indian Literature

• Hindu conceptsBrahamandharma--dutykarma

• selections from The Rig Vedathe UpanishadsMahabharataPanchatantra

Siddhartaby Hernan Hesse

• Western description of Hinduism and Buddhism

• Illustrations of Buddhist concepts

Four Noble Truths Eight Fold Path

• Self-discipline, meditation, moral conduct

• Search for identity

Chinese Literature

• Philosophy Vs Religion

• Moral nature of social relationships

• Respect and obedience• Righteousness and

humane treatment

Chinese Literature

Selections from the teaching ofConfucius

The Analects

Chinese Literature

• Philosophy of Lao Tzu• Withdrawal from the

materialism of society• Simple life in

harmony with nature• Selections from the

Tao Te Ching

Japanese Literature• Religious traditions of

Buddhism and Shintoism

• Selections from Essays in Idleness by Yoshida Kenko

• Poetry

• Selections from The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon

• The No Theater

S.D.A.I.E.

• Reading and Study Guides

• Interactive Communication Strategies

• Advanced Organizers

• Graphic Organizers9-Square Story Charts

Quote Graphics • Socratic Seminars• Group Presentations• Thematic/Dramatic

Interpretations

Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English

Individualized Research Project

• Research paper Work scheduleWorking thesisBibliography cardsContent note cardsOutlineRough DraftWorks CitedFinal Draft

• Concrete Project• Oral Presentation

Speech Proficiency

Ways to contact Ms Gebet:

• From 10:02 A.M. to 11:03 A.M. or before and after school (925) 461-6600 x5804

• E-mail jgebet@pleasanton.k12.ca.us