Discussion for Tuesday: Final thoughts on The Bell Jar

As we finish The Bell Jar and finalize Project #2, what final thoughts do you have? Specifically, what do you think about the ending? What do you understand better about earlier parts of the novel now that you have finished it and come to understand Esther’s character and experiences? Write a comment–roughly 150 words–here by Tuesday, and reply to another comment–100-150 words by Thursday–to help us wrap up our discussion.

A few other points:

I will post on Tuesday another comment-and-reply request for the texts we’re discussing in class this week.

Remember that if you want to meet with me to discuss Project #2, there are appointments available on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you meet with me for one of those appointments, I will extend your deadline for Project #2. So far, about a third of the class has signed up. If you are interested but no times fit your schedule, please let me know as soon as possible and I will see if I can add in a time to accommodate you.

I look forward to meeting with you, and to reading your comments and projects!

Literary Arts Festival–THURSDAY, 4/10 at 5:30!

LAF-poster1 2014

Please consider attending the Literary Arts Festival tomorrow. Bring your friends and family! Share the LAF poster with them!

If you attend the festival (or a significant portion of it–I’m not expecting anyone to skip class, abandon children, or not show up to work), and write a blog post about it, you will receive extra credit for our class–a 100% on a quiz added to your quiz grade, for example.

Are you on Twitter? It would be great if you could tweet the event, using the hashtag #LAF2014.

Take pictures, too! Share them in your post, on Twitter, or anywhere else you think is appropriate.

 

Announcements for blogging and events

For homework this week, I’m asking you to NOT WRITE A POST!

Instead, I’m asking that you write comments in reply to my post about Quicksand, and comments in reply to my post about The Bell Jar. These comments will serve as a conversation to help us wrap up our discussion of Quicksand, and to get us started with The Bell Jar.

In class on Thursday, we’ll split the time between the two novels. We’ll also talk briefly about two upcoming events:

*the Literature Roundtable, which is an event designed to bring together students and faculty to discuss a shared reading, Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel. It’s on Wednesday, April 9, at 11:30am in N119. Anyone who attends and blogs about it on our site will receive extra credit.

and

*the Literary Arts Festival, which is on Thursday, April 10, at 5:30pm, in the Midway Auditorium, 240 Jay Street (the entrance next to where you go for our class), featuring poet Cornelius Eady and his band, Rough Magic. As with the Literature Roundtable, anyone who attends and blogs about it on our site will receive extra credit.

 

Class today is ON! (unless otherwise noted)

As much as I don’t want anyone to risk their safety to come to City Tech today, I will hold class unless the College announces otherwise. Since we don’t meet face-to-face next week (Thursday is a Monday schedule), I don’t think it would be appropriate to cancel class. It’s pretty awful out, but if you can make it in safely, please do. You have three absences to use at your discretion, so this may be one of them if you think you can’t travel to City Tech today. I just want you to know that if the college is open, I’ll be here to talk about Gilman!

I’ll also hand out the next batch of readings, though they’re all available online if you want to print them for yourself. I’ll be advising about which sections to focus on, so you might miss that if you don’t confer with your classmates or come get copies from me.

I also wanted to point out that our very own Andie Lessa is featured on the OpenLab homepage in the feature called In the Spotlight! This honor was bestowed on her because of her great blog work last semester–check it out! Keep in mind that we could be featured In the Spotlight if our work is exemplary, so let’s aim for the stars!

OpenLab workshop: Wednesday, 1-2:00, G604

If you’re having trouble getting started on the OpenLab, or you want to learn more about using the OpenLab, please consider coming to a workshop on Wednesday from 1:00 to 2:00 in G604 (that’s in the General Building, on the 6th floor. It’s a classroom off the main computer area).

I’ll be at the workshop to answer any questions I can. Since a few of you are planning to attend this workshop, I will be there instead of my office during my office hours on Wednesday (1:30-2:00). Please look for me in G604 rather than in my office. My Thursday office hours should be as scheduled, though please let me know if you plan to attend between 12:30 and 1:00 on Thursday, since I might still be in a meeting at that time.

I certainly understand if you have classes or other commitments at 1:00 on Wednesday. If you do need help using the OpenLab and are not in class or at work, etc, I strongly encourage you to attend.

Welcome to Introduction to Women Writers

Welcome to Women Writers! This hybrid course will meet virtually on City Tech’s OpenLab throughout the week and then face-to-face on Thursdays at 2:30.

If you are a student registered for this course and do not yet have an OpenLab account, please sign up for one, and take advantage of the help materials related to signing up. Once you have an OpenLab account, please join the course by clicking “join now!” under the avatar on the course profile.

All of the materials you need to begin the course will be available for you to begin your first assignment on Tuesday, 1/28. Please check back then for additional instructions.

See you in person on Thursday, and online before then!