Hi class,

Great discussion today.  As mentioned in class, Essay 2 is due at the beginning of Wednesday’s class, in both hard copy form and online.  You can get the handout on brainstorming and outlining for Essay 2 here: 10-2essayoutlineexercise.  It’s your responsibility to make sure that your final draft is printed and stapled by 11:30 am sharp!  If you’re late, unfortunately your paper will be marked late too.

No homework other than finishing your Essay – in addition to which, you should bring your Course Packet.  We’ll be beginning discussion of “At The Mountains of Madness.”  Blog posting will resume after Wednesday’s class.  Please make note of the revised blog schedule, under Course Schedule – particularly, when your assigned group is supposed to post.

best wishes for the final stretch of Essay 2!

Professor Kwong

Hi class,

Hope you’re well.  A quick reminder that the only homework this weekend is to work on Essay 2, due 11/9, online and at the beginning of class.  Use your notes from class as a guide.  Bring Moreau and “At the Mountains of Madness” (in the course packet) to class on Monday.

best,

Professor Kwong

Dear class,

Thank you for bringing your A-game to class today.  Some truly excellent discussion which I hope continues.

For homework:

-note that Essay 2 is due on 11/9 now, NOT 11/7!  See the updated reading schedule for details.

–read ch. 19-22 of Moreau.  As you near the end, see if you can pinpoint the climax (point of highest dramatic tension) in the novel.  Where and when does it happen?  Why do you think Wells chose that moment to place at the climax?

Also, continue to compare Prendick-narrator to Prendick-character.  At what points does Wells use zero focalization, and what points internal focalization, to tell the story?  Why does he move from one to the other at the moments that he does?  How does Prendick’s character development shed light on any of the themes (e.g. colonialism, race, science vs religion, savagery vs civilization)? As usual, come prepared to discuss these questions.

2.  Blog by Tuesday at 5 (if in Blog group 1) or comment by beginning of class (if not).  I have noticed a drop in the punctuality of the blogs – remember that it’s your responsibility to keep track of when the blog is due, please.  I unfortunately no longer have time to send courtesy reminders.

Blog group 1: 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. 19-22 of Moreau, that addresses any of your guiding questions, or seems to offer insight to any of the themes we’ve touched on in class.  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. 19-22 to any snapshot we discussed from ch. 1-18.  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 character (major or minor) from ch. 19-22. In a second paragraph, briefly explain how your monologue offers insight into answers to one of your guiding questions.

3. Begin writing Essay #2, if you haven’t already.  Bring what you have to class on Wednesday.

Happy Halloween!

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!