Dear class,

Thanks for those of you who contributed to the discussion today.  I hope that the reasons for coming prepared, with hard copies of the text, are clear.  It is unfair to your fellow students (as well as to me!), if class discussion slows down because people have to read over other people’s shoulders.  It also means that only a few students are doing the hard work of contributing to class discussion, while the majority sits back passively.  I expect this to change next class.

For homework, you should:

-read Ch.8-14. As you’re reading, I encourage you keep looking for passages or quotes that directly answer your own guiding questions, as well as questions we’ve discussed in class. I also encourage you to pay particular attention to the setting of the island.  At what parts of the island do specific events take place?  What details does Wells include when describing the island? Why do you think Wells chose to set this story on an island?

Heads up: there will be a basic reading quiz.

-upload a .jpeg of an annotated page from Ch. 9-11 to the appropriate dropbox (see Assignments Dropboxes) by 11 am on Wednesday.

–read the Essay #2 assignment carefully.  Be on the lookout for snapshots that might be relevant to the assignment description, as well as snapshots that help answer your guiding questions.

-either blog by 5 pm Tuesday (if in Group #5) or comment by 11:30 am Wednesday (if not).  Blog group 5, as usual, you have a choice of Clue, Connect, or Create posts, with the expectation that you should do a different category than you did in the first round of blogging.  Using notes from class + our own guiding questions, write a post that does any of the following:

–Clue: focuses on one “snapshot” from ch. 8-14 of Moreau, that features the physical environment in some important way; features an instance of fantastic hesitation; and/or seems to address one of your guiding questions.  (If it does all 3, all the better!) Referring to specific elements of fiction, explain how the scene might offer a clue to answering one of your guiding questions.

–Compares/connects any “snapshot” from ch. 8-14 to any snapshot we discussed from ch. 1-7.  Try to make one claim about why comparing those snapshots help you answer your guiding question.

–Create a paragraph-long monologue from the perspective of one minor character from ch. 8-14. In a second paragraph, briefly explain how your monologue offers insight into answers to one of your guiding questions.

Dear class,

Thanks for your hard work today.  I’m excited to begin our Novel unit.  As mentioned in class, the Essay 2 assignment description will be up on Friday. [UPDATE 10/20: Essay 2 assignment description is now available under Handouts.]

In the meantime, please read the Introduction and chapters 1-7 of Moreau. Use the lessons we’ve been practicing over the last few weeks: formulate interpretation-based questions to guide your reading, about any of the Elements of fiction.

Blog group 4 is slated to post by 5 pm on Sunday, 10/23.  Group 4: as usual, you have a choice of Clue, Connect, or Create posts, with the expectation that you should do a different category than you did in the first round of blogging.  Using notes from class + our own guiding questions, write a post that does any of the following:

-focuses on one “snapshot” from the first 7 chapters of Moreau, that seems to feature a mixture/combination of realistic details and surrealistic, supernaturalistic, or just plain weird details.  Explaining how the combination might offer a clue to answering one of your guiding questions.

–Compares/connects any “snapshot” from the first 7 chapters to any snapshot from our readings so far  Try to make one claim about why comparing those snapshots help you answer your guiding question.

–Create a paragraph-long monologue from the perspective of one minor character from the first 7 chapters of the novel. In a second paragraph, briefly explain how your monologue offers insight into answers to one of your guiding questions.

As usual, commenters should take care to post by the beginning of class Monday.

[UPDATE 10/20: A reminder that you need to obtain the right edition of Dr. Moreau – the same one available in the bookstore. I have updated the ISBN number in Course Policies to reflect this.  The bookstore only has 2 copies left.  

If you show up and there are no copies left, speak with a sales associate about filling out a pre-pay form and ordering the out-of-stock book. Provide your name and phone number, and the bookstore will call you when the book is available for purchase. When the book arrives, the bookstore will hold a copy behind the counter for you to purchase.] 

Have a great weekend!

Dear Class,

Thanks for your hard work today.  As mentioned in class, on Wednesday, we will be spending an hour writing an open book essay assignment.  The prompt will ask you to compare a snapshot from Mukherjee with a snapshot from Joyce.   The essay should 1) analyze the interplay between Elements in each Snapshot, and 2) offer a thesis about how comparing the snapshots helps us understand the authors’ approaches to common themes.

As you’re reviewing your notes, then, remember that the point of this essay is not just to point out similarities and differences between the snapshots (and certainly not to summarize).  The point is to make a claim about the significance of those similarities and differences.  How does paying attention to the snapshots’ similarities, OR differences, give you insight into Joyce’s and Mukherjee’s thematic concerns?  Perhaps they arrange their Elements differently, but arrive at similar insights.  Or, perhaps they seem to arrange their Elements similarly, but arrive at different conclusions about the same subject.

Finally, please bring your copy of The Island of Dr. Moreau, as we will end the class with a brief introduction to that novel.

I look forward to beginning our novel unit, and hope you do too!

best,

Professor Kwong

Dear class,

Thanks for your work today.  Next week we have no class (hurrah!), so we’ll reconvene on October 17th. For that date, you should prepare the following:

-Finish reading and annotating “The Dead” (45 mins-1 hr)

-Pick one snapshot from Joyce’s story and one from Mukherjee’s story that you think deserve close comparison.  Perhaps they feature a common setting, or a similar relationship dynamic between characters, or a similar symbolic act/object.  Come prepared to discuss why those snapshots might merit comparison. (15 mins)

-Blog (if you’re in Group 3) or comment (if you’re not). (20-30 mins)

-Review class notes (remainder of prep time)

-Bring your in-class writing exercise AND the Mukherjee story to class, as we will do some work with both

Blog group 3 is slated to post by 5 pm on Sunday, 10/16.  Group 3: as usual, you have a choice of Clue, Connect, or Create posts, with the expectation that you should do a different category than you did in the first round of blogging.  Using notes from class + our own guiding questions, write a post that does any of the following:

-focuses on one “snapshot” from pp.70-85 of “The Dead,” explaining how it offers a clue to addressing any of our guiding questions (remember, these aren’t just questions about information but questions seeking interpretation!)

–Compares/connects any “snapshot” from pp. 70-85 of “The Dead” to any snapshot from our American Literature selections (NOT Mukherjee).  Try to make one claim about why these snapshots deserve close comparison.

–Create a paragraph-long monologue from the perspective of one minor character from “The Dead.”  In a second paragraph, briefly explain how your monologue offers insight into that character, based on your reading of pp.70-85 of “The Dead.”

As usual, commenters should take care to post by the beginning of class Monday.

Have a great holiday!

best,

Professor Kwong