1. AP Literature and Composition “It’s a Teach the Canon (or not) Tuesday!” February 10, 2009 Mr. Houghteling

2. Agenda: 1. Discussion of the Synthesis Essay: What it is and how we’re going to dominate. 2. Background notes on “The Canon.” Homework: “We’re Teaching Books That Don’t Stack Up”: Read and annotate for tomorrow.

3. Brainstorm: Create a T-Chart in which you list: Left Side: The Classics Right Side: Your ideal high school reading list.

4. The Canon “The canon” a term used to denote a selection of books, and, more widely, music and art, that has been the most influential in shaping Western culture. It asserts a compilation of the "greatest works of artistic merit.” The canon is often equated with “high culture” or cultural literacy.

5. Questions and controversies “Greatest works of artistic merit” is a value-laden concept. Who is to say what constitutes artistic merit? The Western canon, as a list, was made popular by Harvard in 1908; however, the texts included on that list were considered “classic” well before then. As such, they represent a specific type of list.

6. Questions and controversies Women and minority writers were not historically included in the canon; however, this has changed. The canon as a changing entity has brought its own controversies and questions.

7. Homework: Read “We’re Teaching Books That Don’t Stack Up” ANNOTATE Be ready to discuss the article during tomorrow’s class. Complete your Lit analysis review quiz.