Welcome to the Beat Generation

 

Course Syllabus

 

English 101

 

Prep College Week

 

 

 

Philippe Ernewein, M.A.

 

Core Knowledge HS

 

Denver Academy

 

PErnewein@DenverAcademy.org

 

 

 

Class Meetings:                                 Texts:

 

M, T, Th, F 12:30-1:20                     Ann Charters (ed.), The Portable Beat Reader

 

Office Hours:                                       Jack Kerouac, On the Road

 

M, T, F 7-8 am                            Allen Ginsberg, Howl and Other Poems & Kaddish

 

or by appointment                                 Variety of related hand-outs

 

 

 

Course Description

 

This class is an introduction to the poetry, fiction, and non-fiction of the writers from the Beat Generation.  This course will involve writing and reading on a daily basis.  An example of “best writing” and a PowerPoint presentation are requirements for this course.

 

 

 

Objectives

• To understand the political, social, and artistic climate during the time of the Beat Generation.
• To appreciate the continued interest in the Beat phenomenon forty years after the style became famous.
• To engage in and influence the ongoing critical debate about Beat ideas, Bohemianism, popular culture, and writing by being active creators of corroborating or competing texts.

 

 

 

Course Requirements

• Daily attendance                                                          
• Complete reading assignments/pony cards
• PowerPoint presentation or Broadside creation
• Example of “best writing”

 

 

 

Definitions

• “Best writing”= typed copy of the golden nuggets captured during the free write sessions.  Minimum one-page, typed & double-spaced.
• PowerPoint= 10 slides, exploring one of the following topics: the Beat Generation, Atomic Bomb (& aftermath), an individual representative of the Beat Generation or the lasting influence of the Beats.

 

Schedule

 

Welcome to the Beat Generation: Winter 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Monday

• Introduction: “What is the Beat Generation?”
• Review syllabus
• Kerouac’s rules of writing
• Timed writing
• Homework: visit rememberit.org/30 minutes journal

 

Tuesday

• Share first free writing
• Poetry In Motion video
• King Crimson's Beat
• Timed Writing
• Homework: visit rememberit.org/30 minutes journal

 

Wednesday

• Share free writing
• ML: Ginsberg
• Video:  Ginsberg & Howl
• Homework: find "Beat" poem

 

Thursday

• Project update
• Dylan/Ginsberg connection
• Listen to "Idiot Wind"
• Timed Writing
• Conferences/workshop
• Homework: visit rememberit.org/30 minutes journal
• Finalize “Best Writing” & PowerPoint/email Pernewein@denveracademy.org

 

Friday

• Post “Best Writing”/PowerPoint
• Share examples of “Best Writing”
• Visit “The Scroll”