Writing Workshop #1; Chp. 3-4 of The Namesake

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The Namesake: Chapters 3 & 4, discussion/comment:
  • Jhumpa Lahiri has said of The Namesake, "America is a real presence in the book; the characters must struggle and come to terms with what it means to live here, to be brought up here, to belong and not belong here." Does The Namesake allow you to think of America in a new way? Do you agree that America is a real presence in The Namesake? How is India also a presence in the book?
  • How is Gogol's sister different from Gogol? What might Lahiri be doing with her narrative in describing her differently? What is the effect on the reader? How does Gogol react to his sister in these chapters?
  • How does the family change in these chapters? What scenes, passages, or lines do you remember that indicate this?
  • How is Gogol's experience in school a source of conflict for him? How does his experience in school echo your own? Is "school" and growing up in America a similar rite of passage for everyone? (i.e., is it universal?)
  • Lahiri has said, "The question of identity is always a difficult one, but especially for those who are culturally displaced, as immigrants are . . . who grow up in two worlds simultaneously." What do you think Gogol wants most from his life? How is it different from what his family wants for him, and what they wanted when they first came to America to start a family? How have expectations changed between generations in your own family? Do your parents want something different for their own children from what you want? Explore.
Writing Workshop #1: A few rules/procedures to follow to ensure success:
  • Before you submit a piece, please take the time to look over and correct your grammar/mechanics. Run the file through https://grammarly.com
  • Give your writing pieces working titles. 
  •  Make sure you have a heading on the top of your paper. See MLA formatted heading if you have questions.
  • Indicate the DRAFT # in your MLA heading.
  • It is important that you indicate the kind of feedback you would like to get on your piece from your peers. Choose from either general feedback (what the reader thinks about your work overall), specific feedback (indicate what it is you want...ex. feedback on the effectiveness of character/characterization, dialogue, description, narrative structure, plot, theme, setting, tense, POV, literary devices, style, conflict, diction, tone, mood, imagery, etc.) or a specific problem (I don't know if the story is finished, I don't know if my point or theme is coming across, I don't know if this scene is needed, I don't know how to best describe this, I don't know if my character is compelling, is this a good opening line or ending scene, etc.) 

This morning, please read this article about writing workshops. Refer to the handout on writing workshops and giving feedback to your workshop peers. Keep this handout for future reference during this course.

  • You should respond to all peer drafts in the shared workshop folder. Place your comments IN the Google doc for participation credit. 
  • Please allow comments on writing projects to be as clear and thorough as possible. Use the handout to help you examine your peer's writing. 
  • Use the time given to you during the writing workshop to examine/read/comment on your peers submitted drafts. 
  • If you find yourself done with nothing new to comment on, use the remaining workshop time to revise/edit your own writing--or continue a writing project of your own.
  • Use your time productively.

Writing time for 30 minutes. Continue your writing/workshops. Continue to provide feedback and comments to your group in your workshop folder. 

 HOMEWORK: Please read chapters 5 & 6 of The Namesake. Complete any rewriting/revision you would like based on your workshop comments today. 

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