Sample Reflection Paper

Reflection Paper # 1

Theme: Americans view upon Iraqis

            While reading the first forty-eight pages of Baghdad Burning, the reader is presented with several interesting and intriguing themes.  One of the major themes that caught my eye is Americans perception of the people in Iraq.  Riverbend expresses her feelings about the assumptions and judgments that American people make on her fellow neighbors.  Not only does Riverbend talk about Americans point of view on Iraqis, she also replies back in a very sarcastic manner that sets Americans perception of Iraqis straight.

HW Due Mon / Tues

1. Have read to at least p. 120 in Baghdad Burning
2. Reflection Paper due (this is mandatory if you have not turned one in already)
3. Make a post on your own blog in which you name a theme in Riverbend's writing, and trace it through your reading so far. Offer 7-10 quotations and page numbers as examples.

Example Reflection Paper: Baghdad Burning

Reflection Paper I

            Every night I fall asleep worrying about classes, softball, and what television shows that I might miss. Due to the fact that I live in the United States, I do not have to fear terrorist attacks or home raids on a regular basis; however, for Riverbend, the anonymous author of “Baghdad Burning,” is constantly anticipating a bombing, shooting, or a terrifying and deadly home invasion.

Blogging Assignment

on Wednesday / Thursday complete the following:

1) Create a blogger account at blogger.com and choose a theme for your blog.
2) Create a Welcome POST
3) Import a "Links" sidebar and link to Riverbend's Blog
4) Import a "Blogroll" sidebar, name it Student Blogs, then link to the class blog and each other's
5) For Homework: Write a blog post that tracks a particular theme of Riverbend's blog through what you have read so far

Baghdad Burning assignment

Baghdad Burning essay assignment

English 102, Jack Christian

INTRODUCTION: For this essay, you will track a theme that you identify in Baghdad Burning and trace its development through Riverbend’s blog posts. In doing so, you will want to use specific quotations and examples to show how Riverbend handles this theme over the course of the book, and, potentially, how the theme you discuss takes on more complexity, nuance, or sophistication as the blog-posts progress.

In analyzing and arguing for this theme, you will be required to use at least 3 outside sources, which may be comprised of international and national news publications, and scholarly work. You must make ample use of at least 1 scholarly essay.

When using news publications, please view them critically. A good strategy might be to compare and contrast, for example, how a New York Times article addresses a topic relevant to your discussion of Riverbend: i.e. use the news sources alongside your reading of Riverbend.

GENRE: This essay is a Documented Argument. It will be your job to present a unique reading/analysis of Riverbend’s blog that is supplemented by research.

LENGTH: 5 pages double-spaced.

AUDIENCE: Your audience is the scholarly community interested in furthering knowledge and understanding of the War in Iraq, Iraqi Writing, and Iraqi People.

KEY GOALS: 1) Present a thoughtful, detailed, and sustained analysis of Baghdad Burning. 2) Locate relevant news and scholarly articles and 3) Incorporate that information into your own writing (essentially: to integrate your own ideas with those of others). 3) Complete the writing and revising process, and incorporate peer and instructor feedback. 4) Practice correct use of MLA Format.

Week 2         M      01/24         Reflection Paper Due

                      W      01/26         Meet in Computer Lab

                       F       01/28         Discuss Themes of BB

                                                  HW: read to page 120 of Baghdad Burning by Monday

Week 3         M      01/31         Reflection Paper Due  / Discuss Themes / Identify research topics

                      W      02/02         Meet in Library?

                      F        02/04         Research Presentations

                                                  HW: Read to p. 220 BB by Monday

Week 4         M      02/07         Reflection Paper due / Research Presentations

                                                  HW: 1) Read “Writing a Literary Research Paper” p. 110 – 142 in Writing about Literature for Wed. 2) Finish BB by conference time

                      W      02/09        

                      F        02/11         CONFERENCES

Week 5         M      02/14         CONFERENCES

                      W      02/16         Reflection Paper Due, Revised Draft Due

                                                  Peer-Review, Copyediting workshop

                      F        02/18         Copyedited Final version due

                                                  Introduction to Essay II

                                                  Begin God of Small Things (GOST)

Click here for T/TH calendar

Welcome Class

This is our class blog where we will share links with each other.