Daily Update
I have to admit that if you missed class today, you will probably feel a little bit behind when you start thinking about your research essay. Although today's class was probably not the most exciting class we've ever had, we did go through the essay assignment in great detail, and I answered several extremely good questions from students about how to move forward with this assignment.
That said, all is not lost! Take the first step by going to Angel and downloading the essay assignment. Read through it carefully and note any questions you have. Then--and I really, truly mean this--email me with your questions. It is so much better to clarify what you're supposed to do for the essay NOW instead of working hard on a 6-8 page essay that you will end up having to significantly revise or rewrite because you were approaching the assignment incorrectly. Please, PLEASE read it carefully and write me with any questions.
Homework Reminder
Your homework for Wednesday is to read Appendix A in Literature for Composition. As I mentioned in class today, you do not need to read the entire appendix in great detail. Carefully read the introductory pages, then skim the rest. Choose one or two of the critical approaches to read in depth. There is a quiz on Wednesday, but if you've read the intro and have a good working knowledge of one or two of the approaches, you'll be fine.
Critical theory, like what's discussed in Appendix A, can be extremely useful to you in your current role as a literary critic. That said, some of it is quite dense and difficult to understand. That's why I want you to look carefully at what makes most sense to you, and leave the rest for another time!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Peer Review
Daily Update
Today's super exciting class focused on peer review of your Essay 3 final drafts. Then you turned them in. Remember: if I don't have your essay, it's LATE.
Also, be sure to bring in the copy of your essay without your name, if you haven't already done so.
Homework Reminder
Read chapter 9 for Monday (there will be a quiz). It's a short chapter about research. Enjoy!
Also, you have until Monday to bring in your extra credit poem. (See the details from Wednesday's post if you don't know what I'm talking about.)
Today's super exciting class focused on peer review of your Essay 3 final drafts. Then you turned them in. Remember: if I don't have your essay, it's LATE.
Also, be sure to bring in the copy of your essay without your name, if you haven't already done so.
Homework Reminder
Read chapter 9 for Monday (there will be a quiz). It's a short chapter about research. Enjoy!
Also, you have until Monday to bring in your extra credit poem. (See the details from Wednesday's post if you don't know what I'm talking about.)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Poetry, beautiful poetry!
Daily Update Today's class was a celebration of the more personal side of poetry (and art)--the side where no one is asking you to find literary devices or do deep academic analysis. I wanted to discuss how poetry can be personal and meaningful and moving and profound--something that speaks to us as individuals, as part of life, of being human.
We started out discussing the homework for today--the little snippet of a poem titled "The Golf Links." I enjoyed your analysis of the poem and your reactions to it. That's a great example of a poem that has quite a lot of meaning packed into four short, simple lines.
Following our discussion of "The Golf Links" we looked at seven pieces of art, ranging from painting to sculpture to photography, from several different "schools" of artistic thought. I'll post the pieces below if you weren't in class. We talked about our initial reactions to the art--why we liked/didn't like the pieces and why.
After our art chat, I played a short clip from the film "Invictus," where Nelson Mandela--played by Morgan Freeman in the film--reads the poem "Invictus" by British poet William Ernest Henley. This is an example of a poem that inspires or moves me--not only because of the poem itself but also because of Henley's experiences writing it and Mandela's experiences reading it. It's a remarkable poem in a lot of ways, I think.
I know this already seems like a lot to have covered in one class period, but we still had five or six minutes left to play a game called "Exquisite Corpse" in celebration of April as National Poetry Month. The poems you created as a class were quite interesting! I've also posted them below.
Homework Reminder The final draft of Essay 3 is due on Friday. Be sure to STAPLE your first draft (with my comments) to the final draft. Additionally, you also need to bring a clean second copy of your final draft with all identifying information removed. This is for a department-wide assessment of English 103 and 104. It should be the same essay, just without your name appearing anywhere on it. Bring this on Friday as well, or I will continue to harrass you about it until you do!
Also, I offered you an extra credit opportunity: for 5 points of extra credit, bring (by Monday at the latest) a copy of a poem that inspires or moves you--one that you particularly like or has a special meaning or significance to you. This should be a poem other than one we've read in class this semester. Enjoy!
Art selections from class:
Claude Monet, Water Lilies 1916
Rafaello Monti, Veiled Lady c. 1860
Jackson Pollock, Lavender Mist 1950
Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 1912
Ansel Adams, The Tetons and the Snake River 1942
Edvard Munch, The Scream c. 1893
Exquisite Corpse Game--The Poems
The hot sun rose in the black sky.
The hot dog pants in the cold house.
The angry boy punch his crazy mom.
Malad tears quacking to the happy face.
~~~
The beautiful sun screams loudly in the night.
The classroom is a boring place.
A cold night, a silent night, a scary place.
The yellow bird sang on the tall tree.
~~~
A lone wolf runs with a furious pace.
The deformed duckling waddles into the dark abyss.
~~~
The happy man ran up the majestic mountain.
The cold day was windy and blowing trees.
Tepid sunlight rains beautiful bliss.
That crazy person that painted that ugly painting.
~~~
Empty duckling running to the aqueous duct.
The rude girl laughs at the crippled woman.
And there you have it! You are all poets (other than whoever wrote "The classroom is a boring place"--and yes, I really do know who it was!). See you on Friday!
We started out discussing the homework for today--the little snippet of a poem titled "The Golf Links." I enjoyed your analysis of the poem and your reactions to it. That's a great example of a poem that has quite a lot of meaning packed into four short, simple lines.
Following our discussion of "The Golf Links" we looked at seven pieces of art, ranging from painting to sculpture to photography, from several different "schools" of artistic thought. I'll post the pieces below if you weren't in class. We talked about our initial reactions to the art--why we liked/didn't like the pieces and why.
After our art chat, I played a short clip from the film "Invictus," where Nelson Mandela--played by Morgan Freeman in the film--reads the poem "Invictus" by British poet William Ernest Henley. This is an example of a poem that inspires or moves me--not only because of the poem itself but also because of Henley's experiences writing it and Mandela's experiences reading it. It's a remarkable poem in a lot of ways, I think.
I know this already seems like a lot to have covered in one class period, but we still had five or six minutes left to play a game called "Exquisite Corpse" in celebration of April as National Poetry Month. The poems you created as a class were quite interesting! I've also posted them below.
Homework Reminder The final draft of Essay 3 is due on Friday. Be sure to STAPLE your first draft (with my comments) to the final draft. Additionally, you also need to bring a clean second copy of your final draft with all identifying information removed. This is for a department-wide assessment of English 103 and 104. It should be the same essay, just without your name appearing anywhere on it. Bring this on Friday as well, or I will continue to harrass you about it until you do!
Also, I offered you an extra credit opportunity: for 5 points of extra credit, bring (by Monday at the latest) a copy of a poem that inspires or moves you--one that you particularly like or has a special meaning or significance to you. This should be a poem other than one we've read in class this semester. Enjoy!
Art selections from class:
Claude Monet, Water Lilies 1916
Rafaello Monti, Veiled Lady c. 1860
Jackson Pollock, Lavender Mist 1950
Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2 1912
Ansel Adams, The Tetons and the Snake River 1942
Edvard Munch, The Scream c. 1893
Exquisite Corpse Game--The Poems
The hot sun rose in the black sky.
The hot dog pants in the cold house.
The angry boy punch his crazy mom.
Malad tears quacking to the happy face.
~~~
The beautiful sun screams loudly in the night.
The classroom is a boring place.
A cold night, a silent night, a scary place.
The yellow bird sang on the tall tree.
~~~
A lone wolf runs with a furious pace.
The deformed duckling waddles into the dark abyss.
~~~
The happy man ran up the majestic mountain.
The cold day was windy and blowing trees.
Tepid sunlight rains beautiful bliss.
That crazy person that painted that ugly painting.
~~~
Empty duckling running to the aqueous duct.
The rude girl laughs at the crippled woman.
And there you have it! You are all poets (other than whoever wrote "The classroom is a boring place"--and yes, I really do know who it was!). See you on Friday!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Evaluating Literature--and Homework!
Daily Update
Today in class we took a quiz on LC chapter 8 for the first 15 minutes or so of class. Following the quiz we discussed the various approaches to morality, truth, and realism that were outlined in chapter 8.
Once we'd put chapter 8 to bed, we moved on to a very brief discussion of citing poetry in MLA. If you missed this, you should find a way to look up how to do this. Email me if you get totally lost, or we can talk on Wednesday.
Finally, I handed back your essay drafts. If you have questions about your draft, please, PLEASE email me! I would be more than happy to clarify any of my comments or suggestions.
Homework Reminder
Check Angel for your homework. It shouldn't take you very long, but we'll spend time discussing your work in class on Wednesday. See you then!
Today in class we took a quiz on LC chapter 8 for the first 15 minutes or so of class. Following the quiz we discussed the various approaches to morality, truth, and realism that were outlined in chapter 8.
Once we'd put chapter 8 to bed, we moved on to a very brief discussion of citing poetry in MLA. If you missed this, you should find a way to look up how to do this. Email me if you get totally lost, or we can talk on Wednesday.
Finally, I handed back your essay drafts. If you have questions about your draft, please, PLEASE email me! I would be more than happy to clarify any of my comments or suggestions.
Homework Reminder
Check Angel for your homework. It shouldn't take you very long, but we'll spend time discussing your work in class on Wednesday. See you then!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Peer Review
Daily Update Today's class was dedicated to peer review. I would really like to know whether you find this process helpful, both as a reader and a writer. Please email me with any feedback on this process!
Homework Reminder If you haven't turned in your draft of Essay 3 to me, it's now late! For Monday, read LC chapter 8. Carefully read pages 267-271. Then, choose one of the poems from the chapter and one of the short stories and read each of those very carefully. You will have a quiz on Monday, which will cover both the first pages of the chapter and the poem/story of your chosing. Read up! See you on Monday.
Homework Reminder If you haven't turned in your draft of Essay 3 to me, it's now late! For Monday, read LC chapter 8. Carefully read pages 267-271. Then, choose one of the poems from the chapter and one of the short stories and read each of those very carefully. You will have a quiz on Monday, which will cover both the first pages of the chapter and the poem/story of your chosing. Read up! See you on Monday.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
O Captain, My Captain!
Daily Update Today was movie day in class. We watched clips from two films: Freedom Writers and Dead Poet's Society, both of which show groups of high school students from very different backgrounds and how they use poetry and writing to negotiate their feelings of hopelessness in life. While the students from Freedom Writers are certainly from a far more dangerous, at-risk situation, both films show the potentially transforming power of literature, writing, and thinking. My point in showing these film clips was to encourage you to think about your own relationship with the written world. Literature can be affirming and enriching, but if you feel no connection to it, then studying literature is little more than drudgery. Look for a way in to the poetry you're studying write now. Find a way to be inspired or moved by these poems. Work to find personal meaning in the poetry, to revel in the language. The more these poems mean to you, the easier it'll be to write about them--and the stronger your writing will be. Homework Update Your first draft of Essay 3 is due on Friday. Remember to bring THREE copies of your essay! I'll send you away to make copies if you only bring one. Also, for the love of all that is good, STAPLE your drafts!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Poems, more poems, and thesis statements
Daily Update We continued our discussion of poetry today by reading two similarly themed poems about teachers and students. You looked at each poem carefully, looking for literary elements, then after a class discussion about each poem, I set you all to work writing thesis statements. I'm going to look over these thesis statements tonight, then we'll look at them on Wednesday and discuss strengths and weaknesses of each thesis. It's important to get a strong thesis statement from the outset, especially to help you feel more comfortable writing a solid essay. I know a lot of you are nervous about poetry, so hopefully the work we're putting into preparing will pay off as you write your essays. Homework Reminder Your only homework is to work on Essay 3. Please, please make use of this opportunity!
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