Writing Across Cultures

Your portfolios are due today. LAB: Your portfolio should have the following: A 1-2 page reflection: what has worked or not worked for you in your portfolio? What do you need more help with? What would you like to see more of in the class/course? Do you need any specific feedback concerning your writing or a piece of your writing? Explain anything you think I should know about your portfolio this marking period. Evaluate your progress so far this year. A copy of your final summary draft for The Namesake .  A copy of your essay: "How it feels to be me..." (Zora Neale Hurston exercise) Any of the following: Complete or revise your "identity poem" draft  Complete or revise your story draft where you use multiple based on the structure of  The Namesake . (Sept. 19, 21, 23) Complete or revise your "name" poem. (Sept. 19, 21, 23) Nurture versus nature creative response Labels creative response Melting pot creative response Object identificat

Your portfolios are due today. LAB: Your portfolio should have the following: A 1-2 page reflection: what has worked or not worked for you in your portfolio? What do you need more help with? What would you like to see more of in the class/course? Do you need any specific feedback concerning your writing or a piece of your writing? Explain anything you think I should know about your portfolio this marking period. Evaluate your progress so far this year. A copy of your final summary draft for The Namesake .  A copy of your essay: "How it feels to be me..." (Zora Neale Hurston exercise) Any of the following: Complete or revise your "identity poem" draft  Complete or revise your story draft where you use multiple based on the structure of  The Namesake . (Sept. 19, 21, 23) Complete or revise your "name" poem. (Sept. 19, 21, 23) Nurture versus nature creative response Labels creative response Melting pot creative response Object identificat

During period 1, please work on your portfolios. Print out and secure work that you have finished. Write your reflection. Workshop and revise any pieces you would like feedback on. Complete or compose last minute drafts. During period 2, please select a chapter and sketch a mind-map of Gilgamesh's journey for that chapter. Be prepared to summarize key events in the chapter with the class. You will be working in groups for this assignment. Help each other help our class. Consider the 4 functions of myth. How does the  Epic of Gilgamesh rate? Let's discuss. Then, let's hold the epic up to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey . We'll read about the hero's journey and examine how the epic rate with those ideas as well. With time remaining (unlikely, but possible) we'll discuss the literary elements of epics. Characteristics of  Epics Great length (obviously longer than a dithyramb (choral song), ode, lyric, narrative, or dramatic poem)  Dignified

Classroom: In his book Pathways to Bliss , Joseph Campbell defines four functions of myths: Evoke existential thought (answer: what is the meaning of my life?) Present an image of the cosmos (and your relation to it) Validate society or culture (& its rules) Make sense of a person's stages of life (birth, adolescence, adulthood, old age, death) Let's read. As you read The Epic of Gilgamesh , look for these 4 functions of myth in the epic. We will discuss the epic next class. You should be able to discuss how you understood the 4 functions of myth while reading Gilgamesh . Please watch the end of the video on Mesopotamian Culture. Complete your graphic organizer notes. Context: Mesopotamian Culture LIBRARY LAB:  Please return to the library lab. Prepare your workshop. You will want to share your original work (items in your writing portfolio) with at least 2 other students. If you used Google docs to write your drafts, then share your work with other

LAB: Please work on your portfolio pieces (or your summary paper). See previous posts for specific details. At the end of the period, we will pick up The Epic of Gilgamesh from the library. CLASSROOM: Mythology comes from the Greek 'mythos' for story or speech of the people, and 'logos' for reason or word . Myths are closely linked to religion and folklore. They usually include divine beings, supernatural events, and allegorical meanings. Myths that deal with the creation of the universe (or aspects of it) are cosmologies or creation myths. Myths that deal with heroes or historical figures that take on a "superhuman" quality are legends. While myths that tell stories about animals or inanimate objects are fables. A word about myths: Myths usually run along cultural lines--embodying a specific world view or belief of that culture. They are often the basis of religion or religious belief. Myths often explain origins, natural phenomena, or a

I will be using the following rubric when assessing your portfolios. A portfolio is due each quarter and comprises the major part of your quarter grade (along with attendance, participation/homework, reading, quizzes/tests, presentations and class activities). Please note that you will  be expected to conduct some revision each marking period, along with a short 2-3 page reflection. These pages do not count for the # of pages indicated below. Please also note that your portfolio grade is a combination of quantity AND quality . Scores are determined by an average score based on the holistic rubric. Some papers/assignments are also required and should be included in your portfolio. This marking period the summary paper for The Namesake should be included in your portfolio. 4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning 0=Failing Exemplary : Thoroughly and artistically developed characters, plot, structure, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses vivid description, effecti

Here they are in order (and # of votes...) Mythology 76 Psychology 81 Media Studies 94 Gender/Feminism, LGBTQ 106 Popular Culture 107 Philosophy 112 Sociology/Political Science 114 Race/Minority Literature 115 Mystery/Detective Fiction 131 Dystopian/Utopian Literature 150 Science Fiction/Fantasy 155 African Literature 159 Middle East Literature 170 Asian Literature 173 North America/Native American/Canadian Literature 185 South/Central American Literature 186 European Literature 191 British Literature 193 Pacific/Island Literature 198 Australia/New Zealand Literature 204

Literature Survey: Please RANK in interest oder (1 being most interested, 20 being less interested) units you would most prefer to study this year in this course. Please note that all units will include reading/writing at a college level: Lowest scored units will be delivered first. It is likely that we will not be able to cover all units during our time together. ___Dystopia-Utopian Literature ___Race & Minority Literature ___Gender, Feminism, & LGBT Studies  ___Psychology ___Philosophy ___Mythology ___Popular Culture ___Media Studies ___African Literature ___British Literature ___European Literature ___Asian Literature ___North America/Native American/Canadian Literature ___South & Central American Literature ___Australia/New Zealand Literature ___ Pacific/Island Literature ___Middle East Literature ___Sociology/Political Science ___Science Fiction/Fantasy Fiction ___Mystery/Detective Fiction

LAB: Please turn in your homework (3 of the 9 questions for the short story "The Overcoat" by Nikolai Gogol. ) After our announcement , please continue working on your summary workshops. Today in the lab, please complete at least 2 more summary workshops with your peers. Summary Workshop Review each other's  The   Namesake  summaries. Offer ideas based on these points: Is the summary accurate and complete? Does it include all the author’s main points? Are they in the right order? Did you remember not to include details, examples, your opinions, and information that isn’t in the original selection? Did you write the summary in your own words? Did you use transitions so that it reads smoothly? If someone else read your summary, would they see and be able to understand all of the important points the author presented in the original selection?  Did you write in complete sentences, with proper syntax, sentence structure, grammar, and mechanics for college

ANY REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE/LANGUAGE THAT IS  NOT  COMMON KNOWLEDGE MUST BE CITED OR GIVEN CREDIT. How do I set up a works cited page for: MLA  Format &  Chicago Style Formatting Books/texts Video/films Internet sources Paintings Interviews Magazines T.V. Programs/Radio Musical Sources/Album Peer Review Process: When reviewing another's paper, look for strengths. Give specific and exact feedback or criticism. Those of you thinking of going into the sciences will meet Peer Reviewing again. Here's an illustration: Sounds like hard work! And it is, but it's also worth it. One of our goals in college is to study a subject so much that we learn it, grow from the experience, meet other like-minded people, and become experts in our chosen field. It all starts with planning, time management, critical thinking skills, and writing or sharing our findings in coherent and effective ways. Your peers can help you do this provided both of you are fo

Classroom: Let's complete: "An Open Letter to Women Writers of Color" and respond to the letter. Epistolary poems have been around since the Roman poets Horace and Ovid. Ovid wrote a series of fictional love letter poems from historical & mythological women in his cycle: Heroides . Court poets of the middle ages picked up on the idea and many Renaissance and Neoclassical poets used the form. Alexander Pope's Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot is just one example of many. The "letter" poem uses direct address and is often addressed to a named (or unnamed) audience. Read a few examples of the form: Letter poems: Langston Hughes: "Letter" Dear Mama, Time I pay rent and get my food and laundry I don’t have much left but here is five dollars for you to show you I still appreciates you. My girl-friend send her love and say she hopes to lay eyes on you sometime in life. Mama, it has been raining cats and dogs up here. Well, that is all so I

EQ: Write a summary essay for the novel  The Namesake . LAB: Read the article and case study on summaries. Complete your summary paper for the novel  The Namesake  by Jhumpa Lahiri. See the double-sided rubric handout for details about how the formal paper will be graded. We will workshop these papers next week, along with any fiction/poetry you have written for your portfolio. NOTE: Please include an MLA formatted citation page with your paper draft. You will need to cite sources that you use or used for this paper. Your primary source is your text (novel), along with the chapter about summaries from our classroom text/manual: What It Takes: Academic Writing in College  by Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen, the Howcast video  "How to Write a Summary" , and Sandra Jamieson's article from  Drew University Online Resources for Writers  entitled, "Summary Writing." If you consulted other online or library sources, please include them as well for your w

EQ: Write a summary essay for the novel  The Namesake . LAB: Read the article and case study on summaries. Using your notes, summaries, and text, write a summary paper for the novel  The Namesake  by Jhumpa Lahiri. See the double-sided rubric handout for details about how the formal paper will be graded. *Refer to the chapter and materials/blog notes about summaries to assist your writing! Your summary should have an  introduction ,  body , and  conclusion . I suggest you organize your summary by chapter (1 paragraph per chapter for the body of the essay would be appropriate, for instance). Transitional words should help the flow of your essay and further organize your main ideas. NOTE: You will need to cite sources that you use or used for this paper. Your primary source is your text (novel), along with the chapter about summaries from our classroom text/manual, the Howcast video  "How to Write a Summary" , and Sandra Jamieson's article from  Drew University On

EQ: Write a summary essay for the novel The Namesake . LAB: Using your notes, summaries, and text, write a summary paper for the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. See the double-sided rubric handout for details about how the formal paper will be graded. *Refer to the chapter and materials/blog notes about summaries to assist your writing! Your summary should have an introduction , body , and conclusion . I suggest you organize your summary by chapter (1 paragraph per chapter for the body of the essay would be appropriate, for instance). Transitional words should help the flow of your essay and further organize your main ideas. NOTE: You will need to cite sources that you use or used for this paper. Your primary source is your text (novel), along with the chapter about summaries from our classroom text/manual, the Howcast video "How to Write a Summary" , and Sandra Jamieson's article from  Drew University Online Resources for Writers  entitled, "Summary Wr

LAB: The deadline for signing up for dual enrollment is tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 5. If you do not sign up for dual enrollment by that time, you will not be able to sign up for the course and will not receive college credit. Those of you who have signed up for dual enrollment, will gain access to MCC's facilities throughout the course. More information for you will be forthcoming. In either case, you will need to submit a portfolio for your marking period grade. Please work on your portfolio. Make sure you have completed and printed your summary for The Hoober Bloob Highway . We will meet in small groups to examine our summaries during period 2. Portfolio Assignments/Creative Drafts: Complete or revise your "How it Feels to be Me" essay draft  Complete or revise your "identity poem" draft  Complete or revise any creative piece based on discussions, journal exercises, etc. Complete or revise your story draft where you use multiple based on the stru