lit syllabus quiz

What are the three overarching skills anchoring the course?

Close reading, analyzing what we read, and writing about what we read.

What six categories structure the course?

Character, setting, structure, narration, figurative language, and literary argumentation (writing).

What types of literature will students study?

Fiction, poetry, and drama from various periods.

What elements should students consider when reading literature?

Structure, style, theme, figurative language, imagery, and symbolism.

What are the three types of essays included in the course?

Expository, analytical, and argumentative essays.

What does Hemingway's iceberg metaphor mean in this course?

Only a small portion of a work's meaning is visible on the surface; much of its deeper meaning must be discovered through close reading.

How does the iceberg metaphor apply to literature?

Language points toward deeper truths instead of directly stating them, so readers must uncover meaning beneath the surface.

What is more important than simply identifying diction, syntax, rhythm, and tone?

Explaining how those devices convey deeper meaning.

What does it mean that language 'points' to truths rather than 'stating' them?

Writers often imply deeper truths that readers must discover through analysis rather than state them directly.

What major ideas about human life will the class explore?

Purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.

What threatens our pursuit of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment?

Failing to pay attention to the unseen, immeasurable, and indomitable forces that shape who we are.

What does Mr. Ekstrom hope students gain from literature?

A greater appreciation for the world and humanity, especially artists and writers.

Why shouldn't students rely primarily on internet literary analysis?

It prevents them from developing their own critical thinking, analysis, and discoveries.

What can students lose by immediately Googling a poem's meaning?

The opportunity for personal discovery and an untainted reading experience.

What is New Criticism according to the syllabus?

The idea that everything needed to understand a literary work is contained within the work itself.

Where should students primarily look for information needed to understand a work?

The text itself.

Why is 'paying attention' so important?

It allows students to close-read, think critically, develop original interpretations, and discover deeper meaning.

The syllabus indicates these skills are necessary to grow as what four things?

A reader, writer, thinker, and person.

What should you do before Googling the meaning of a difficult poem?

Reread it closely and work through the text yourself.

Why isn't simply identifying a metaphor enough?

You must explain how the metaphor contributes to the work's meaning.

What percentage of the grade is Writing?

45%.

What percentage is Reading Quizzes/Tests?

25%.

What percentage is Presentations/Public Speaking?

20%.

What percentage is Homework/Classwork?

10%.

Which category has the greatest impact on the final grade?

Writing.

Why could someone with excellent homework scores still have a low overall grade?

Homework is only 10%, while writing is 45%.

Are grades rounded?

No. Grades are not rounded up or down.

Is extra credit offered?

No, according to AV English Department policy.

When is homework due?

On the assigned due date.

What is the maximum credit for homework one day late?

70%.

What is the maximum credit for homework up to five days late?

50%.

What's the maximum score for a perfect 20-point assignment submitted one day late?

14 points.

What's the maximum score for a perfect 20-point assignment submitted four days late?

10 points.

Does the late policy apply only to major assignments?

No. It applies to small items like the signed syllabus sheet as well as larger assignments.

Who is responsible for arranging makeup work?

The student.

If you're absent one day, how long do you generally have to complete makeup work?

One day.

Can students make up missed work according to their own schedule?

No. They must follow the syllabus's makeup deadlines.

How long do you have to make up a missed test?

One week from the original test date.

If you miss a test Friday, when is the deadline?

The following Friday.

What happens if you don't make up the test within one week?

You receive a zero.

What happens if you miss a reading quiz?

You can complete a makeup assignment to earn the missed points.

What is the reading-quiz makeup assignment?

A short written analysis.

Where are reading-quiz makeup assignments submitted?

Turnitin.com.

If you miss a reading quiz Tuesday, when must the makeup be completed?

By the following Tuesday.

How much should you read if you're absent?

Approximately 20 pages of the assigned reading.

What is the alternative to the 20-page guideline?

One chapter.

Does being absent excuse you from a reading quiz when you return?

No.

Why should you continue reading during an absence?

So you don't fall behind and can stay on schedule with the class.

When will essay due dates be given?

In advance.

How are essays completed?

Handwritten and in class.

How much time is provided for an essay?

One class period.

Why are essays handwritten and completed in class?

To prevent plagiarism and outside assistance such as ChatGPT or material transcribed from YouTube.

What does Mr. Ekstrom want to see in essays?

Students' own original thought and critical thinking.

Name two types of outside assistance the essay policy is designed to prevent.

ChatGPT and transcribing material from YouTube.

When do you write an essay if you're absent on essay day?

The next class period you attend.

What if the essay was being written during a block period?

You write it during the next block period.

If you miss Monday's essay and return Tuesday, when do you normally write it?

Tuesday, assuming it wasn't a block-period essay.

How does the handwritten essay policy connect to the course's philosophy?

It requires students to rely on their own thinking and analysis rather than outside interpretations or technology.

What two devices are specifically discussed?

Phones and laptops.

Where must phones and laptops be on technology-free days?

Stored in the student's backpack/case.

What abilities can excessive screen time affect?

Sustained focus and the generation of ideas.

What are examples of technology-free activities?

Introductory/reading workdays, discussions, Socratic Seminars, in-class essays, SSR, and speeches/presentations.

Can Socratic Seminars be technology-free?

Yes.

Can introductory and reading workdays be technology-free?

Yes.

Why have technology-free days?

To promote attention and engagement in classwork.

Will an 89.9% automatically become a 90%?

No. Grades aren't rounded.

What's the maximum credit for perfect homework submitted one day late?

70%.

What's the maximum credit if that homework is submitted several days late but within five days?

50%.

If you miss a reading quiz, can you simply take the original quiz whenever you're ready?

No. You complete the designated short written-analysis makeup assignment within one week.

What should you do about reading during an absence?

Continue the assigned reading at approximately 20 pages or one chapter.

Will Mr. Ekstrom track you down about missed work?

No. It is the student's responsibility.

Is having your closed laptop sitting on your desk acceptable during a technology-free day?

No. It must be stored in your backpack/case.

After identifying imagery, syntax, or personification, what should you do?

Explain how those choices contribute to the work's deeper meaning.

Why would Mr. Ekstrom object to a student basing their interpretation on analyses found online?

It interferes with the student's opportunity to develop an original interpretation through close reading and self-discovery.

How does the iceberg metaphor challenge the idea that a theme must be explicitly stated?

Most meaning can exist beneath the surface and be implied rather than directly stated.

What's the relationship between close reading and critical thinking?

Close reading requires careful attention to the text, which develops critical thinking and allows deeper meanings to be discovered.

Why can ambiguity in literature be valuable?

It requires readers to think, analyze, and develop interpretations rather than simply receive an answer.

What's the difference between identifying and analyzing a literary technique?

Identifying says what the technique is; analyzing explains how and why it contributes to meaning.

How are attention, original thought, and self-discovery connected?

Careful attention allows you to form your own interpretations, which leads to intellectual and personal discovery.

What kind of student is likely to succeed in this class?

Someone who reads closely, keeps up with assignments, thinks independently, participates respectfully, pays attention, and analyzes rather than simply identifies literary devices.

How many times more heavily weighted is Writing than Homework/Classwork?

4.5 times.

Reading Quizzes/Tests + Presentations/Public Speaking = ?

45%.

Writing + Reading Quizzes/Tests = ?

70%.

Which two categories total exactly 30%?

Presentations/Public Speaking (20%) + Homework/Classwork (10%).

If you can identify literary devices but can't explain why they matter, what skill do you need to develop?

Literary analysis—explaining how the writer's choices contribute to meaning.

How do the iceberg metaphor, New Criticism, avoiding online analysis, and handwritten essays connect?

They all emphasize independent close reading and original analysis. The iceberg represents deeper meaning beneath the surface; New Criticism says that meaning can be discovered within the text; avoiding online interpretations encourages self-discovery; and handwritten in-class essays demonstrate the student's own critical thinking.

What is Mr. Ekstrom's basic philosophy of literary analysis?

Don't just identify what the writer does. Use close reading to explain HOW and WHY the writer's choices create deeper meaning.