Dave Eggers on Conan

MWF Class 2/25: Peer Editing

1. Announcement Re: Reading and Writing Center
2. Self Reflection: What was the advice you received from the conference, and what revision work have you done so far? What do you still need to do? What questions do you have?
3. Peer Review.
4. Go Over Proper Works Cited page
5. Homework:
*Final draft due Mon 2/28.*
*Bring A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS to class Tues. Read ALL PREFACE MATERIAL

Unit 2 schedule MWF

SCHEDULE

W. 3/2: have read all preface material.

F. 3/4: have read to p.45

M. 3/7: reflection paper due. Have read to p. 104

W. 3/9:

F. 3/11: have read to p. 165

SPRINGBREAK

Unit 2 schedule T/TH

SCHEDULE

Thur, Mar. 03: have read to p. 45 (including all preface material).

Tues, Mar. 08: Reflection Paper due. Have read to p. 104.

Thur, Mar. 10: have read to p. 165

SPRINGBREAK!

introduction: Unit 2: A heartbreaking work of staggering genius

For unit, we will consider Dave Eggers’ critically acclaimed, best-seller A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS (AHWOSG). As we read, and hopefully enjoy, this book, we’ll consider questions such as: What are the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction? How can a writer best represent the “truth”? What are a writer’s limitations in terms of telling-the-truth? How can a writer best represent the “self” or “selves”? And, what is the “self;” how is it constructed? What are Eggers’ strategies for dealing with these things? What are his strategies for making us like him? What does any or all of this have to do with the current popularity of “Reality” Television, and the memoir genre?

Besides reading Eggers’ book, we will do our own personal writing, engage in class discussions, and supplement our ideas about the book by reading interviews with Eggers, book reviews, scholarly work about the book, etc. (Some of this supplementary material is already linked on the class blog)

George Saunders “The Battle For Precision”

The Guardian 3/19/05

When I was a child, I mostly disliked writers and writing. In our English textbook, which had one of those 1970s titles that connoted nothing (Issues and Perspectives, maybe, or Amalgam 109), the sentences were lazy and everyday, emanating from what I have since heard called “consensus reality”.

T/Th 2/24: Peer Editing

1. Announcement Re: Reading and Writing Center
2. Self Reflection: What was the advice you received from the conference, and what revision work have you done so far? What do you still need to do? What questions do you have?
3. Peer Review.
4. Go Over Proper Works Cited page
5. Homework:
*Final draft due Tues 3/1.*
*Bring A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS to class Tues. Read ALL PREFACE MATERIAL and to p. 45 for Thurs.

Works Cited Page info

For help formatting individual sources: http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/DocMLAWorksCited.html

MWF Class 2:45

1. 5 min. to think and reflect on Unit 1 Assignment
2. Discuss / Answer Questions re: assignment
3. 15 minutes Freewriting toward Unit 1 assignment
4. Review proper use of quotations, time permitting

HW:
First draft due Tues/Wed
Revised draft due Fri 2/25
Final draft due Mon 2/28

Westfield State Reading and Writing Center

When drafting your papers, it might be a good idea to make an appointment (or, drop by) The Reading and Writing Center in Parenzo 218. X5569

You can make an appointment over the phone, or on the internet (click the link below). The center also serves walk-in students.

http://www.wsc.ma.edu/prospective-students/academics/academic-resources/reading-writing-center/

MWF 2:45 Class 2/16/11

1. Thought Questions: What is the role of evil (as you define it) in what Riverbend describes in Baghdad Burning?

2. Sample Reflection Papers

3. Sample Thesis Statements

4. Time permitting: View summaries of research sources

HW: Source summary paragraphs on blog for Friday. Initial draft of unit 1 essay due Tues/Wed next week.

T/Th 2:15 Class: Conference Times

Thurs 2/17
12:45 (Ely outside of Subway): Cam W. ________________
2:15 (In class room) Meagan, James, Hannah, Steve
3:00 (My office Parenzo 11) Jen, Kevin, Bryan _____________
4:00 (Ely outside of Subway): Jeff _________________


Fri 2/18
11:00 (Ely outside of Subway) _______________
11:45 (Ely outside of Subway) Cameron D, Jackie
12:30 (Ely outside of Subway) Clark, Ava

Sample Reflection: The Icognito Voice

             In Riverbend’s blog she is setting the scene for her readers. She describes of aspect of her everyday life. She is a young female who is determined to show people the effects of the war in Iraq. Riverbend establishes her character within the blog. Unlike most novels with made up characters, Riverbend is a real person who experience everything that she writes about. Riverbend is not able to reveal her identity because it can place her family and her friend in great danger.  Also with her identity concealed she can be able to express her views about female rights, the government and its political figures without getting prosecuted.

t/Th 2:15 Class -- Tues 2/16

1.Free-Writing: (and sign up for conferences)

Apply this quote from the writer Eckhart Tolle to Baghdad Burning:

War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if the war is won, will create a new enemy, a new evil equal to and often worse than the one that was defeated. There is a deep interrelatedness between your state of consciousness and external reality. When you are in the grip of a mind-set such as "war," your perceptions become extremely selective as well as distorted. In other words, you will see only what you want to see and then misinterpret it.

ECKHART TOLLE, A New Earth

 

or, this idea (paraphrased from St Thomas Aquinas:

Evil is the product of two contrary goods.

 2. Discuss Reflection Papers, View Sample Reflection Paper

3. Sample Thesis Statements

4. The "Ingredients of the Unit 1: Baghdad Burning essay 

HOMEWORK:

For Thurs/Fri:
1. Complete initial draft due at conference time

 For Thursday 2/24 in class:
1. Have Complete Revised Draft of Essay
2. Turn in two summaries of sources you are using in your paper. The summary must be in your own words, and you must address how you will use the source to support your Thesis Statement

REVISED CALENDAR

Thurs 2/17 and Fri 2/18: Group Conferences
Mon 2/21: President's Day Holiday
Tues 2/22: Monday Schedule
Thurs 2/24: Revised draft and article summaries due (Reflection Paper)
Tues 3/01: Final Version Unit 1 Essay due (Reflection Paper)

* Next we will read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius*

Sample Reflection: Women's Roles NEVER will be the Same

         Riverbend tells about the day when she, her brother E. and her cousin go to Karrada. There they are looking for some items her uncle can use on his trip to Jordan. The problem in Karrada is not that they cannot find anything, but it is that women have to go through a series of steps to actually be able to go out. We also learn about M. who is a family friends friend and about the tragedy her and her mother had to endure.

CONFERENCE TIMES T/Th 9:45 class

The following are what I have written down for conference time for the t/th 9:45 class:

Thurs 2/17:
9:10 (meet in classroom) Josh  _________________
10:00 (meet in classroom) Marissa, Emily, Jill

11:10 (meet in Ely beside Subway) Cassie, Joe, _____________

1:30 (meet in Ely beside Subway) Femary, Jake, ______________


Fri 2/18
11:00 ((meet in Ely beside Subway) Cody, Andrew, ______________
11:45 (meet in Ely beside Subway) Julie, Molly, __________________
12:30 (meet in Ely beside Subway) Ashley, _________________

3:40 (meet in Ely beside Subway) Derek, _________________

Sample Thesis Statements for Baghdad Burning

After reading Baghdad Burning, Americans will realize all the misconceptions we have of the Iraqi citizens, and look beyond believing the narrow minded CNN reports as well as Fox news.

American troops in Iraq are anything besides perfect, and have made plenty of stupid mistakes throughout the war which has resulted in the death of many innocent Iraqi lives.

Class Tues 2/15 9:45

1. Thesis Statements Revisited -- picture / writing activity & apply to Baghdad Burning
2. Conference Sign-Ups
3. Discuss Reflection Papers
4. The "Ingredients" of the Unit 1 Essay

HOMEWORK:

For Thurs/Fri:
1. Complete initial draft due at conference time

 For Thursday 2/22 in class:
1. Have Complete Revised Draft of Essay
2. Turn in two summaries of sources you are using in your paper. The summary must be in your own words, and you must address how you will use the source to support your Thesis Statement

REVISED CALENDAR

Thurs 2/17 and Fri 2/18: Group Conferences
Mon 2/21: President's Day Holiday
Tues 2/22: Monday Schedule
Thurs 2/24: Revised draft and article summaries due (Reflection Paper)
Tues 2/28: Final Version Unit 1 Essay due (Reflection Paper)

* Next we will read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius*

MWF Class Feb. 14

CLASS MEETS IN WILSON 101 COMPUTER LAB TODAY

1. Continue Individual research (15 minutes)

2. In groups: discuss your findings, and send me a list of your Best sources: aprox 4-5 scholarly, 2-3 public.
(in your list: cite sources in MLA format, and write a 2-3 sentence description of the source, including how it could be useful) (15 minutes)

3. Time permitting: Discuss / Share reflection papers.


HOMEWORK:

For Wednesday:
Pick 1 source found by you or your group and read it. Take lots of notes, and write a 2 paragraph response to it in which you explain how you might use it for your Baghdad Burning essay. Post this to your blog.

For Friday:
Do the same for a second source.

Revised Unit 1 Schedule MWF

Mon 2/14: Meet in Wilson 101 Computer Lab to continue research
Wed 2/16: Regular class, preparing for Unit 1 essay, wrapping up BB
Fri.   2/18: regular class

Mon. 2/21: President's Day Holiday
Tues. 2/22: Monday schedule, in-class writing, small group conferences (initial draft due at conference)
Wed. 2/23: in-class writing, small group conferences (initial draft due at conference)
Fri.    2/25: Revised draft due, Peer-editing

Mon. 2/28: Final draft due

Writing Questions 2/10/11

1. Consider Riverbend as a character. How would you describe her voice? Her personality? What motivates her actions? etc. What evidence can you find to suport your ideas?

2. Evaluate Riverbend's credibility as a writer / reporter. How does she establish this credibility? Do you think she's conscious of trying / needing to make herself credible. Find evidence from the book to support your ideas.

3. How would you describe Riverbend's goals as a writer? Offer evidence to support.

Research Assignment:
1) find 4-5 scholarly sources, 2-3 public sources based on your subtopic
2) as a group, discuss your sources and decide on 4-5 total scholarly sources, and 2-3 public sources. Send me an emial with the source citation info, and a sentence or two description of each. MAKE SURE TO TELL WHAT SUBTOPIC IT BELONGS UNDER

Email: jchristian@wsc.ma.edu  (or, you can write the info as a comment on this blog)

HW:
Reflection Paper based on today's writing questions due Tues
Finish Book for Tues
Initial draft of Unit 1 Essay due Thurs / Fri at CONFERENCE (we'll be signing up before the end of the period)

MWF (2/9/11) 2:45 Class

CLASS MEETS IN THE LIBRARY TODAY, WED

CLASS MEETS IN BATES 4 COMPUTER LAB (in the basement) ON FRI

HW:
Finish Baghdad Burning for Monday
Reflection Paper Due Monday (if you choose)

Sample Reflection Paper (2/9/11)

Reflection Paper 2

                In my reading of Baghdad Burning: Girl Blog from Iraq I’ve noticed how the occupation has affected Riverbend and her family. Through the progression of the occupation you see how it affects her family and their thoughts, feelings and the way they interact with each other.

Class 2/8 (Tues) 2:15

CLASS MEETS IN ELY LIBRARY TODAY, SECOND FLOOR CLASSROOM

Also, CLASS MEET IN BATES 4 COMPUTER LAB THURSDAY

Research Assignment:

You will be divided into groups of 3-4 based on your research topics.

As a group, you will need to locate at least 4 good scholarly sources (meaning sources you evaluate and find relevant and helpful), and at least 4 non-scholarly sources that speak directly to your research topic (these can be newspapers, magazines, websites, etc)

We'll continue this research in the computer lab Thursday.

On Tuesday of next week (2/15) you and your group will give a short (5-10 min) presentation in which you introduce and summarize the sources you have found.

HOMEWORK:

for thurs: keep researching
for tues: finish Baghdad Burning, prepare group presentation, reflection paper due

Class Tues 2/8 9:45

CLASS MEETS IN ELY LIBRARY TODAY, SECOND FLOOR CLASSROOM

Also, CLASS MEET IN BATES 3 COMPUTER LAB THURSDAY

Research Assignment:

In the library, I will divide you into groups of 3-4 based on your research topics.

As a group, you will need to locate at least 4 good scholarly sources (meaning sources you evaluate and find relevant and helpful), and at least 4 non-scholarly sources that speak directly to your research topic (these can be newspapers, magazines, websites, etc)

We'll continue this research in the computer lab Thursday.

On Tuesday of next week (2/15) you and your group will give a short (5-10 min) presentation in which you introduce and summarize the sources you have found.

HOMEWORK:

for thurs: keep researching
for tues: finish Baghdad Burning, prepare group presentation, reflection paper due

Class Monday 2/7 (2:45 - 3:35)

1) Continue work on Thesis Statement
2) Time permitting: students present research

HW:
1) CLASS MEETS IN ELY LIBRARY ON WED
2) CLASS MEETS IN BATES 4 COMPUTER LAB ON FRI
3) For Wed, come to library knowing what theme you want to focus on in BB (and, therefore, what direction to take your research)
4) For Monday, finish BB.
5) Reflection Papers due Monday

Fri 2:45 Class

1. Considering Thesis Statements / Considering Reflection Papers
2. Students Present Informal Research Findings

HW:

1. Read to p. 220 in Baghdad Burning
2. Reflection Paper due Monday (if you choose to write one this week)
3. On blog, post three excellent potential thesis statements for Unit 1 Assignment
4. Class to Meet in Ely Library on Wednesday
5. Class to Meet in Bates Basement Computer Lab Friday

Thurs 2:15 Class

I. The Reflection Paper 

1. What it is / what it isn't

2. Considering Thesis Statements (brainstorm, practice, discuss, more practice)

3. Time permitting: brief review of using quotations

4. Ultimate synthesis of learning! (i.e. more practice writing)

 

II. Unit 1 essay on Baghdad Burning

(note: think of the Unit 1 Essay as a longer version of the Reflection Paper, with the additional use of outside sources)  

 

HW: 

1. READ TO P. 220 of BB

2. Reflection Paper

3. Know what larger theme you want to address in BB and in your research, i.e. "Women's changing roles in Iraq"

Thurs 9:45 class

 1. in-class writing (answer questions)
2. Discuss
 3. Go over sample reflection paper and discuss reflection papers
4. assign Unit 1 Essay

Questions:
1. Consider "Why I blog."  What did you find interesting about the article? What questions do you have about it?
2. How does "Why I blog" inform your reading of Baghdad Burning?
3. What questions do you have about BB?
4. Brainstorm terms, people, ideas that you would be interested to find out more about in BB.

Reflection Papers = Literary Analysis

The over-riding goal of literary analysis (i.e. your Reflection Papers) is to demonstrate some new understanding of the text that is unique, specific, and debatable.

Analysis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For other uses, see Analysis (disambiguation).

Look up Analysis or analysis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Analysis is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it. The technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle (384–322 B.C.), though analysis as a formal concept is a relatively recent development.^[1]
The word is a transcription of the ancient Greek ἀνάλυσις (analusis, "a breaking up", from ana- "up, throughout" and lysis "a loosening").^[2]

Analysis as an independent subject was created in the 17th century during the European scientific revolution.^[3] As a formal concept, the method has variously been ascribed to Alhazen,^[4] René Descartes (Discourse on the Method) and Galileo Galilei. It has also been ascribed to Isaac Newton, in the form of a practical method of physical discovery (which he did not name or formally describe).

In analyzing literature, the over-riding goal of analysis writing is to demonstrate some new understanding of the text.

Click HERE for a link concerning thesis statements 

Ex. Riverbend blames those who are in power for the situation in Iraq.

vs.

Through a variety of subtle strategies, Riverbend systematically leads her readers to agree with her that the true blame for the situation in Iraq rests on the shoulders of American leaders, and the Iraqi "puppets" they have brought to power.