This episode comes from Gregory's autobiography "N****" that was published in 1964. 

What makes this humorous essay effective? How does he make us laugh? Consider the framing device he uses. Consider the effectiveness of the dialogue and the decsription. Can we all relate to early love stories? What is the main point of the essay? What's the takeaway? How does the "elavated diction" convey the author's personality and tone of the piece? 

Walter Bowne reads this great essay from Langston Hughes. Notice his use of dramatically short sentences and his effective use of ethos and pathos, and how much emotion we feel toward him, and the irony of the end. Also, take notice of extended metaphors like "sea of shouting" and "waves of rejoicing." The essay contains a ton of vivid description to make the reader or listening feel like we're in that church with him: "jet black faces " and "work knarled hands." It also has a very effective "hook" at the beginning: It's an antithesis: I was saved, but not really. "It happened like this." It's a great set-up for what will happen, and the story has a frame: it's all about the church scene, and the consequence of this scene, and the irony that he was supposed to be close to Jesus but could not believe in Jesus anymore because He did not come to save him. This true story reveals many ironies and subtle humor: Adults work in a symbolic world and young people live in "reality." Adults use words like "see" and kids take that word very literally. The essay also has brilliant dialogue that reveals the personality of Westley and the earnestness of the preacher and Sister Reed. Essays like this work on our own expereince with religion and the rough intersections between the kid world and the adult world. We wonder: when has something like this happened to me? What can I learn from Hughes' experience? Should I, too, pressure my own chidlren to attend church? Should I be more atuned to the "literal" world of children? What is my relationship with God? 

On Episode #1, Walter Bowne introduces himself and this crazy course called "How Much Stuff Can One English Scholar Do in Ten Months?" aka, English III Honors with That Dude Who Teaches English. Welcome, scholars. Hold on tight.  

Walter Bowne provides an argument to prove that independent reading is a major way we can "get smart" and learn to love to read again.  Episiode #2

Mr. Bowne introduces AP Lang and Comp to his incoming scholars. 

COVID-19 has moved the lecture hall to the North Patio of my house. More details soon to come about this deeply disturbing story. 

Walter Bowne discusses the 20 reasons why reading The Scarlet Letter is worth it. 

Dickinson has a passport to other worlds. Through her poetry, we can gain a deeper knowledge of this world and perhaps the next.