Writing Across Cultures

Earlier this past week, you were asked to respond to the question: "why did you choose the popular culture topic you did for your project?" this assignment should have been written down, typed preferably, and composed as a first draft. Thursday, you were asked to go through your journal and examine the various writing responses we have made regarding the reading assignments in class. Choose one of these journal entries and expand the article to create a first draft. Monday, we will be visiting the lab to do any of the following: 1. Finish your work. 2. Edit, strengthen, rewrite or revise these two pieces. 3. Read your pop culture book. 4. Research your pop culture topic. Please collect and record sites you use on your works cited page. 5. Complete the fictional letter exercise started in class. All your writing and research at this point should be kept in your portfolio. The portfolio will be collected and graded next week. In it you should have a variety of writing pieces. T

For our course (and to prepare you for college), we will be conducting MLA/APA format and collecting resources and recording the sites and material that helps us conduct the appropriate research needed for a variety of writing assignments. To start us off, today in the library we will show you how to do this. With time remaining, please begin reading and researching your chosen book. Please keep the handout about responding as a personal/critical film analysis/and an open-ended analytic assignment. This is a sample and model for your own writing. Please read and keep this packet, as you will be able to refer to it later when you write your own creative work. Homework : Read your book. As you read, list questions, comments, or relevant information about topics that need to be examined further regarding your topic. This will prove helpful as you continue the writing exercises to come. Please bring your book with you to next class.

Link to the Pop culture webzine "Pop Matters." Read 1 FEATURE article, read 1 COLUMN article, and read 1 other article of your choice from music, to blogs, to books, to movies, to television, to any other article posted on the zine. For each article (3 total): 1 FEATURE, 1 COLUMN, 1 Personal Choice, please prepare the following: 1. Summarize the article. Be prepared to summarize the gist of the article to the rest of the class. Please make sure you note the author and title of the article. 2. Analyze the article. In your opinion is the article well written, correct, insightful, relevant, important, etc.? Then answer WHY? 3. Explain what drew you to read and analyze this article. Choose 1 of your three articles and prepare a "writing exercise" for it. 4. Suggest what might a writer do with this article. Why would the topic make a good subject, story, character, plot, setting, theme, genre, poem, non-fiction essay, play, film, editorial, performance art piece? How mig

4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning/developing 0=Failed Exemplary: Thoroughly developed characters, plot, structure, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses vivid description, effective diction and word choice, tone or voice, POV, imagery, and compelling dialogue throughout portfolio. Uses a variety of effective literary devices. Writing can be considered “art,” effectively communicating issues central to the human condition. Has few errors in spelling punctuation, syntax, and usage. Work includes evidence of several revised drafts. Work included in portfolio reflects a wide range of styles and genres. There is more than ten full typed pages of new work. Uses lab and class time to full extent. Participates consistently and insightfully in class discussions. Accomplished: Well developed characters, plot, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses good description, diction, dialogue, voice, POV, imagery, etc. but work may not be as insightful or artfully constructed. Uses some lite

Culture Scientists and Anthropologists define culture as learned behavior acquired by individuals as members of a social group. According to Edward Tyler in 1871: culture includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and other capabilities or habits acquired by a group. Culture is a learned behavior. Culture is also used to refer to a highly cultivated person versed in art, philosophy, etc. Culture includes insignificant behavior such as behavior traits, etiquette, food habits, as well as refined arts of a society. Culture can also be considered as the sum total of human knowledge and acquired behavior of humankind. Habits or behavior is generally transmitted from members to the young or outsiders until the outsider is also an insider, part of the group. Language : common way of communication. Language is a system of verbal and nonverbal symbols used to communicate ideas. The study of these symbols is what is known as semiotics . Taboos : strict mores or behavior that is looked