Miss Marple Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I had enrolled the boys in concurrent Freshman Comp 1 at the local university. I picked the online instructor that my oldest son had years ago. He had an excellent experience and I found it worthwhile. However, when the boys logged on yesterday we discovered that the instructor was one that I absolutely DID NOT WANT! I have heard horrible things about her: she does not believe in concurrent status (and grades accordingly), she expects e-mails that are asking questions to be in "proper form" which includes an introduction, body, and conclusion (e-mails have traditionally not been relegated to "formal" writing) and she obviously used another instructor's syllabus because she forgot to erase the other instructor's name and there were several obvious misspelled words leaving me to going "HUH?" The uni Comp department is known to be agenda driven (of the liberal slant) which I had hoped to avoid by doing the class online. So I will be teaching English this semester. My plan so far - considered after 3 cups of coffee this morning - is to work through Baron's SAT/ACT Grammar workbook, doing some of Jensen's Writing, and at least 1 book (the uni class scheduled Fahrenheit 451 which we've already done). The uni class also watches 2 full length movies. I'd love suggestions for a different book (still needs to be rather short like F451) and maybe a play. I've got so many choices and am having trouble narrowing it down :p The boys have enjoyed the Hunger Games series, LOTR series, Narnia, etc. They are 18 and almost 17 years old. We've done a lot of the classics already but not a lot of modern classics. thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Sounds like a prof I'd flee too. Possible books One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich To Kill a Mockingbird The Caine Mutiny Animal Farm 1984 The Heart of Darkness Frankenstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Sounds like a prof I'd flee too. Possible books One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich To Kill a Mockingbird The Caine Mutiny Animal Farm 1984 The Heart of Darkness Frankenstein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks, Sebastian, those are good ideas. Just a few days ago I saw a reference to 1984 somewhere and I explained it to the boys that it was a reference to that book. I think they might really like it. We've done Frankenstein and Animal Farm although it's been several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 There are certainly some meatier dystopian novels that they might enjoy. A Canticle for Leibowitz comes to mind. Lori D has written some excellent posts which could probably help. I am not sure how the tags work these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 1984 is definitely a good choice. My son talked for days on end about that book and he has to be fairly inspired to do that. It would work well with the other Dystopian books they have read and Jane's right, Lori D. has an awesome thread somewhere on that topic. It was very helpful. Does the uni really only require one book for a Freshman Comp. class? Jane, I put A Canticle for Leibowitz on request at Paperback Swap over a year ago. No luck. Do we need to own it if we enjoy Dystopian literature? I have never read it. So sad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Jane, I put A Canticle for Leibowitz on request at Paperback Swap over a year ago. No luck. Do we need to own it if we enjoy Dystopian literature? I have never read it. So sad. Need? I am not the person to ask since Dystopian is not my thing. That said, it is one of the few books of the genre that I have read. It is post-Apocalyptic and brilliant as far as I am concerned. Read the Wikipedia article on the book (if you can handle spoilers) and see what you think. Another Dystopian novel that I liked is Stand on Zanzibar. Maybe fans of the genre can comment on these books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Does the uni really only require one book for a Freshman Comp. class? Yes, that's the only full length book required. They do some short stories and short non-fiction readings. I think it's funny that they show more movies than books :) I guess that might reflect a bit on the type of student they typically have. My second son took Comp 1 during his freshman year (we didn't do it concurrently) and he had a fabulous time - and that boy hates to write. But the teacher was able to engage him and make him enjoy the process. So...I think I'm just going to wait and let the last 2 take it when they actually hit college rather than concurrently. They certainly won't do worse than what's offered here :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 Thanks for the suggestions, Jane. I'll add those to the list. I have so many books on my shelves that these younger 2 haven't read, but I can't seem to pick just one :) Maybe I'll let them choose...within a list that I make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Miss Marple, I am utterly confused. Did you change your name or have you always been Miss Marple? I equate your avatar with a different name. Oh dear. I think I have spent too much time on here today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swimmermom3 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 It is you! Thank goodness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marple Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 It is you! Thank goodness. Yes, it's still me :) When the opportunity came that allowed us to change our names I decided that CynthiaOK was pretty boring. Miss Marple suits my personality :p (and is one of my favorite literary characters - I didn't think The Count of Monte Cristo would work but it would have been my first choice). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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