April 19, 2012
I know you're hard at work right about now, so I want to remind you that under "Writing Assignments," you will find the guidelines for writing a literary analysis, as well as the rubric for it. Take a look at it, just to ensure that you're moving in the right direction. Remember that as a writer, you have the liberty to theorize about the theme of a work and its root, and make connections between these - as long as you can support your ideas with concrete examples. Enjoy writing!
April 11, 2012
Please read the following 2 pieces by Fanny Fern: "The Tear of a Wife" and "The 'Coming' Woman"
Be prepared to answer the following questions:
1. Identify one or more rhetorical strategies that Fern uses to connect with her audience - male and female - and to encourage them to adopt/consider her viewpoint.
2. Margaret Fuller said, "A house is no home unless it contain food and fire for the mind as well as for the body." How does Fern respond to this statement?
3. Hawthorne said, "America is now wholly given over to a mob of scribbling women." How would Fern respond to that?
4. How are difficult subjects introduced today? Think of a specific example.
Also - I can move the final essay due date to 4/27 - no later!!!
April 9, 2012
We're almost there! I know you're now working on your Poe essay, which should be a fun one. I have posted the final essay (test), which is due on April 23rd. Give yourself some time with this one, as it will require you to do lots of reflection - I recommend you go through your notebook and refresh your memory. What ideas stuck with you, changed you, opened your perspective, made sense in your life? Look through the website at the PPTs, and your text readings.
Remember that your rewrite is due on or before April 24th.
I have also posted the last homework assignment, which will involve a comparison between The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln and "I Have a Dream" by Dr. King. Please print the worksheet and bring with you a copy of Dr. King's speech.
Happy Writing!
March 22, 2012
The questions you are focusing on, as you watch The Scarlet Letter, are found in the PPT entitled Birth of a National Literature/Hawthorne. Additionally, make sure you have finished reading The Crucible and are prepared for a test this coming week. Enjoy!
Last day for make-up essay, if you decide to redo your lowest grade: April 24, 2012.
March 1, 2012
We're almost over the hump! Your 3rd writing assignment requires quite a bit of reading, so I want to make sure you start early. You will be reading Emerson's, "Nature" and Thoreau's "Walden". I believe you will enjoy these, as they'll force you to inventory our lives and all the clutter we cling to. The guidelines are now posted under "Writing Assignments". You also have the guidelines and tips for Literary Analysis, as well as the rubric. Remember we have Spring Break coming up, so as painful as it sounds - use that time to read and annotate the texts.
Tenets of Transcendentalism have been added to reading assignments. Please read over them, annotate and print a copy for Wed., 3/7.
February 13, 2012
It's time for Assignment #2 due 2/22/12! You will explore what it means today to be an American. Please review all we've covered and how that definition has changed over the years. Support your ideas with textual support, as always. Assignment guideliness and outline are posted under Writing Assignments.
Additionally, here are this week's reading and homework assignments:
For Wed., 2/15, read "The Declaration of Independence" on p. 448 and come up with a definition for the word "American," based on your reading and analysis.
For Friday, 2/17, read "Rip Van Winkle" on pg. 531 and answer the following questions:
1. How does Irving invent American literature in "Rip Van Winkle"?
2. Discuss/support your ideas with text: What is Irving's view of women?
3. Take a passage in the story and rewrite it from the perspective of Dame Van Winkle?
4. Compare Irving's view of the American Dream with Benjamin Franklin's.
January 2, 2012
Welcome Back! I'm so excited to explore American Literature before the 1900s. I believe looking at our roots will clarify many of the questions we have about the America we live in today. I've loaded the first couple of readings (Creation stories/questions to accompany Creation Stories, as well as PPTs on America Before Columbus and Native Americans). Please peruse, so that you can come prepared with basic background knowledge. This will take us through the first week of our term, and will lead us into the explorers and our present understanding of Columbus.
December 1, 2011
I just loaded the PowerPoint tips, as well as the Final Exam Essay - all under Reading Assignments. Please take a look and note the following deadlines:
Presentations due Wed., 12/7
Final Exam Essays due 12/12
ENC 1101/Maniscalco
Research deadlines
November 10: Thesis
statement due
November 16: Annotated
Bibliography due
6
sources minimum: combination of
Journals/Periodicals/Books
Ensure
that sources are relevant, reliable, and recent.
November 22:
outline/polished thesis(send electronically)
November 29: Rough
draft due (must bring a hard copy to class)
December 7: Final draft due/presentations
Paper Length and Documentation
While I
generally require ten to twenty pages for research, I am sure that you can
accomplish this essay in 1000 words using at least six sources.
Research Paper alone:
·
1000 words,
1-inch margins all around, 12-pt. font, TNR (SAME AS ALWAYSJ)
·
4 reputable sources—as always I
prefer peer-reviewed sources. Please be sure to triangulate your research.
·
All sources must
be sited in MLA format.
§ An annotated
bibliography is required for this essay.
§ Research
Paper + presentation
·
Please provide me
with an abstract (50-100 words)
briefing me on your paper before your presentation.
·
5-7-minute
presentation on your topic. And yes, I will be timing you!
·
There will be a
debriefing after every presentation and your ability to address concerns about
your topic will be a part of your presentation grade.