Writing Across Cultures

The Hyphen: A hyphen is a single - mark on the keyboard. It is located between to the 0 and the = key. The hyphen is used to join two words together and to sep-ar-ate syllables in a single word. Hyphenated words can be tricky in English, so look up a word if you aren't sure it should be hyphenated. Do NOT USE hyphens as DASHES (see below). When to use it?: Compound verbs are either hyphenated or appear as one word. If you do not find the verb in the dictionary, hyphenate it. Example: To air-condition the school will be expensive. Usually (not always), we hyphenate when two or more adjectives are used in a sentence when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. Example: friendly-looking woman, grumpy-sounding teacher. When adverbs not ending in -ly are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate. If the combination is used after the noun, do not hyphenate. Example: The well-known poet accepted his award. Most of the time we use a comma, not a hyp...

llamas overlooking Machu Picchu Work on the lab this morning (40 minutes) to continue writing your Magical Realist story. For those of you who need a deadline, please write your story draft (1st draft, etc.) by Monday, Feb. 4. A short story does not have to be long. In fact as long as the story is compelling, it can be as short as a page. Many magical realist stories are longer due to the establishment of setting and character. But if you recall the works of Julio Cortazar or Borges or any of the short stories we have read for South America, you might get the right kind of length for your draft. Don't sweat it. A good story is a good story--no matter the length. At the end of period one, please read the following about Peru and the Incas . As you read, open another tab and listen to some Peruvian pan flutes ... Then we will pick up The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer and return to room 238 to begin reading it together in class.  HOMEWORK: More information ...

During period one, you will take a test on 100 Years of Solitude. Those of you finishing before the end of period one, should read the Peruvian story "Los Papas" and complete the questions (HOMEWORK). After our test and discussion on 100 Years of Solitude , please go to the lab and begin writing your own magical realist story draft. (Some of you have started this already.) Use the setting exercise we did last marking period and establish a story that has a specific magical realist setting. Use details and description to present the reader with "real" settings and characters. Start out your story with one of the graphic organizers, if you need one. Consider the major plot events that will occur over the course of your story. Plan as much as you can, knowing that you can always change your mind or redirect your focus as you are writing. Obviously, you will want to play around with some of the techniques common to magical realist stories. Having trouble? 1. M...

Chile & Peru Cesar Vallejo : Peru Poems: Masa (Mass) Black Stone on Top of a White Stone Black Messengers Under the Poplars Tiempo, Tiempo (spanish) Pablo Neruda : Chile Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines morning And Now You're Mine Bird Lemon Ode to the Onion Pablo Neruda documentary (part one, you can find the other parts online)

Other South American countries: Please use the fact and opinion sheet to research the culture of any TWO countries below. Hand this in when we are done with the assignment (TBA). Guyana is probably best known in our own popular culture as being the site of the Jonestown massacre. Here's a clip . A reminder that the profession of journalism carries with it a responsibility. Venezuela Popular culture: The Holy Thugs of Venezuela (short documentary film) Miss Universe 2012: Irene Esser Paraguay Uraguay Bolivia Suriname French Guiana The Falkland Islands

Today, please use the time given to you to prepare and work on your portfolio. Portfolios are due Friday. No late portfolios will be accepted. Remember that you will need a reflection, your comic-book script (and at least 1 page illustration), and a revision in your portfolio. You may begin working on any of the assignments/prompts we've been working on. A magical-realist story WILL be due in the next portfolio, so if you have the time and inclination, please work on that as well. HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude . Black History poem drafts are due by Friday as well. These assignments are extra credit. There is no mid-term in this class.

Concrete poetry (also called shape or visual poetry)uses the typographical arrangement of words to convey an effect. Here are a few examples in English: Noigandres : a group of Brazilian writers/artists Augusto & Haroldo de Campos , Décio Pignatari , Ronaldo Azeredo, Ferreira Gullar and Wlademir Dias Pino who used words as part of a visual work to allow the words and arrangement of the letters to become part of the poetry, rather than just unseen signifiers for the abstract idea. Augusto de Campos: Manifesto on Concrete Poetry  (several examples of de Campos' concrete poems ) HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude. Work on your portfolio. Complete your comic book scripts. Use your setting exercise to write a magical realist story (due next portfolio, but you can start a draft--over mid-term week, you will be writing a draft anyway). Extra Credit: write an inspiring poem for Black History. More poems: Name Calling  The Gospel of B...

1st Period: The Lab 2nd Period: Brazil Use your time wisely and effectively. Work on your portfolio during 1st period. You may also spend your time reading 100 Years of Solitude . By the end of this week (Friday), please read up through pages: 289 or 313. You should aim to complete the novel by Wednesday of next week, January 16.  Please read a little about Brazil (see links below). Take notes about some of the details you find so that you can share your thoughts with the class next period. Portfolios are due January 18. No late portfolios will be accepted this marking period. Your portfolio should include a reflection, at least one revision of a previous work, and a comic book script & 1 illustrated page in addition to other exercises and work we have completed.  Brazil Brazil : has a long and interesting history and culture. Information about Brazil can be found here . And this clip shows you a bit of what it looks like. Please read about the following ...

Setting exercise:  When you juxtapose the various pictures into a common culture, you may wish to remember that when we talk about culture we are talking about: behavior traits, etiquette, food habits, as well as refined arts of a particular society.  Habits or behavior 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 down upon in a culture (usually sexual)  Regardless of culture, all cultures include: a primary means of subsistence a primary family a system of kinship a set of rules of social conduct religion (belief) material culture (tools, weapons, clothing)  forms of art When you design your setting, please keep these elements in m...

Today, after our setting exercise and discussing the first part of the novel 100 Years of Solitude , please make your way to the lab to work on portfolio items and/or your setting magical realism story. HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude . If you did not make it through the first 131 pages, please begin again on page 132 and continue. Please read up to page 153 for next class.

When we write we should be trying to make a point or explain an observation about the human condition as it relates to ourselves and our characters or fictional world. In 100 Years of Solitude the themes of time and solitude (isolation) (see previous posts) are central to understanding the point of this book. By considering these themes, we, as readers and students, can at least try to grasp what Marquez is trying to teach or tell us about ourselves as human beings. Ah, the power of literature! The novel's central theme is solitude or human isolation. The Buendia Family, as our protagonists, represent the human condition. Protagonists usually represent the common man or woman (Everyman). Critics have noted that the Beundias "are solitary individuals living together as strangers in the same house. As such, they personify the predicament of the human race." Other themes include fate . An individual in this book is not free to control his/her own destiny....