Addendum to Essay #1 - Mandatory

Take a moment to reflect on the first essay you've written for this semester. How do you feel about it? How did it measure up after you examined it with the rubric? On the BACK of your essay, explain your thoughts regarding this paper. What--specifically--do you think you did well? What did you struggle with? Were your greatest challenges in writing lack of ideas or in-depth analysis OR more basic--dealing with editing for grammar, mechanics, sentence formation? It DOES make a difference. If YOU and I both see you need assistance in some areas, it will be something we can both address.

So . . .

Topics for Essay #1

1. O’Brien himself has said:

War stories aren't always about war, per se. They aren't about bombs and bullets and military maneuvers. They aren't about tactics, they aren't about foxholes and canteens. War stories, like any good story, is finally about the human heart. About the choices we make, or fail to make. The forfeitures in our lives.

Discuss the internal conflicts of at least three of the characters in the first two stories in The Things They Carried, how they resolve those conflicts and at what cost.

2. Jimmy Cross is the obvious protagonist of both "The Things They Carried" as well as "Love." In what way does his character develop and change from the moment the reader first encounters him to the end of the second story? Include in your discussion his loss of innocence, his alienation, and finally, how his encounter with Martha contributes to his development.

3. How does the role of the narrator change in the course of storytelling? Why does he choose to use third person in the first story and first person in the second? What seems to be the narrator's purpose in the first story? Why does he choose to insert himself in the second story? Explore and explain this deliberate choice the author makes.

4. For any literary work to last beyond a few years, it must have a common quality—or theme. It must present characters who are representative of all people in situations that most people face, whether those situations are literal or figurative. Theme is deeper than the events that make up plot; the elements of fiction combine to produce theme. Characters, irony, symbolism –taken together, these become the vehicles of theme; each element is relevant to the whole. The two initial stories of Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried contain themes we have come to think of as “universal.” Choose ONE of those themes and by using specific examples from both the first and second story, analyze what the author is saying about human nature or life.

Writing Prompts - Week 3

Remember: think deep, reflect, explain clearly and thoroughly. You need to only copy and paste the boldface capitol letters--not the entire prompt. Choose TWO of the following as your writing prompts this week:

1. STORY vs. ESSAY - Rather than simply state: "Men die unexpectedly in war," or "People in authority often find themselves isolated and disconnected from society and sometimes, even people who would be their friends," the author of The Things They Carried makes it more interesting and memorable and less didactic by creating a story in which he SHOWS this happening. Because he is a master storyteller, we connect with Jimmy Cross and better understand what he feels and what O'Brien means for us to see. What movie can you think of that deliberately revealed a truth about life? What was the truth it revealed and HOW was it shown?

2. IRONY - In "The Things They Carried," there is tremendous tension developed when the narrator begins to describe the tunnels that men like Lee Strunk must explore alone. When he emerges, there is celebration cut short by Lavendar's sudden death. The author has created irony by having the reader prepared for one man's death, but it is another man who is killed. We experience irony every day, of a milder sort. Relate an experience when you were prepared for one circumstance but encountered its opposite. If you would rather relate a literary irony or an experience of someone else's, that would be fine. REMEMBER to SHOW the experience; don't just TELL.

3. INTERVIEW - Find a thoughtful, older person who remembers the Vietnam War. If(s)he doesn't mind discussing his/her remembrance with you, ask him/her about the controversial nature of the war. What does he remember about the Vietnam conflict that set it apart from other wars? Did he/she know anyone directly involved in the war? Were their any lasting effects of the war? Write your response to this prompt AFTER you have had the discussion, along with your perception of the person you spoke to--did he/she seem effected?

4. THE HEART IN CONFLICT - Tim O'Brien, the author, has said that he writes about the heart in conflict and that he often uses war because it naturally and automatically puts the heart under pressure. What book, story, or movie have your read or seen in which the protagonist underwent the same thing? Discuss briefly.

Conventions of Writing About Literature - IMPORTANT!

Writing about literature is different from most essays that are assigned and written in English 1101. For one thing, the focus of the paper is on the analysis of the story, poem or play that has been assigned. Therefore, it is written in third person; there should be no first ("I") or second person ("you"). There are other important differences outlined below.



CONTENT

1. Always mention the title and author of the work(s) you are discussing early in your essay. Titles of books should be underlined or italicized; stories should be in quotation marks.

2. Mention characters' names whenever possible. Be specific about character identification; that is, when you first refer to a character, add a simple appositive phrase to identify him or her. It does not have to be long nor interrupt the “flow” of your writing. Example:

In Tim O’Brien’s “The Things They Carried,” Kiowa, a soldier from Oklahoma, carries the New Testament and a hatchet, each representative of his mixed heritage.

3. Use illustrations, examples, and explanations to prove your assertions. Stick closely to the text of the work you are discussing. Read carefully and closely. Don't hesitate to quote briefly from the primary source for illustration -- a well-chosen quote can help to illustrate your point. However, be sure to use the quote as illustration -- not as the text of your essay.

4. Clearly state the central idea or thesis of your essay in the introduction. Be sure your essay has a thesis. Do NOT state your thesis by using writer-based phrases such as: The two poems I have chosen to write about are.... Rather, focus directly on your point: The snake is a potent symbol, often invoking fear, in Western mythology. Both Emily Dickinson and D. H. Lawrence invoke that fear in their poems, but with very different results.

5. Look up the definition of any word that you are not totally familiar with. Try to find the source of and understand any literary or historical allusion that the author uses.

6. Underline key passages, even key words, in the work you are studying, particularly those passages that have reference to your thesis. Be sure that any time you quote form an author's work, you quote exactly -- word for word and comma for comma.

7. In an essay about literature, it is most important to try to show your understanding of the work. Concentrate on writing a unified essay around a central thesis. Avoid going off on tangents. Stick to your main idea, develop it, prove it, deepen it by showing implications of your idea. Use class discussion as a springboard, but do not hesitate to go more deeply into the analysis. You may have been hesitant to speak in class, but do not be hesitant to incorporate your own thoughts and ideas into the paper.

8. Don't confuse the author with the narrator of the story or the voice of the poem.

WRITING CONVENTIONS – or How to write correctly about literature:

 Double space all work, unless otherwise directed. Use a 12 point, non-italic, common font such as Times New Roman, Garamond, Courier, or Comic Sans. Center your title. Follow MLA Guidelines for essay set-up.

 Titles of most long works, books, plays, newspapers, and magazines are italicized or underlined. Titles of poems, short stories, songs, articles, and titles that are parts of longer works are put inside "quotation marks." (EXCEPTION: the title of your own work should be neither underlined nor quoted).

 When you first refer to authors, use their full names; afterwards refer to them by last names.

 Use present tense verbs when writing about literature and maintain verb consistency.

 Avoid using 2nd person “you.” In academic essays write in the 3rd person unless the assignment calls for 1st person.

 Incorporate quoted material into your writing in one of 3 ways: (1) Interweave it into your own words: Poe’s use of the words “dark, “ ”dreary,” and “weary” suggests a somber mood (lines 11-13). (2) Introduce it with a “tag phrase” and comma: As Creon says, “The ship of state is safe” (I.8). (3) Introduce it with an explanatory sentence and colon: At the beginning of the play, Creon is concerned that the country is unified: “The ship of state is safe” (I.8).

 Document poems by line number; document plays by Act, Scene, and Line; document short stories by page number.

 When the quotation is followed by the parenthetical documentation, place periods and commas after the parenthesis. If the quote contains a question mark or exclamation point, it remains before the quotation marks, but a period (or comma) is still placed after the parenthesis.

Sammy asks, “Who is that customer?” (36).

Granny Weatherall says, “Nonsense” (177).

When the quotation marks are not followed by the parenthesis, then commas and periods go before the quotation mark.

 Use single quotation marks to quote a quotation within a quotation.

 Use slashes ( / ) to indicate the end of a line of poetry when you run the lines together in your own writing: “My young brother’s house is filled / I go there to sing / We have not spoken of you/ but our songs are sad” (lines 13-16).

Papers should be free of grammatical, mechanical, and punctuation errors: avoid comma splices, fragments, fused sentences; make sure subject/verb and noun/pronoun agree in number; use correct spelling; follow conventions of punctuation and capitalization (especially apostrophes).

NOTES: Metafiction

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED is unique because much of it is writing that focuses on writing, on storytelling. This is called METAFICTION. The following, more detailed information on metafiction comes from Associated Content:

A Definition of Metafiction - By Eric Martin
Metafiction is a style of writing that uses the act of writing as subject. A metafiction story might feature the author as a character. . . . In metafiction, the craft, the intricacies, and the sources of writing are put on display. . . .
metafiction is fiction that brings attention directly to the act of writing.
Is metafiction new?
No. If we consider metafiction to be inclusive of any fiction that uses writing as its subject, then it has been around for quite a long time. Wikipedia cites One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights) as a very early example of metafiction because the book directly considers the act and power of story telling.
What is special about metafiction?
The relationships between creator and created, reality and fantasy, between fiction and truth are all open to exposition in meta-fiction. This is a rather rich subject for reflection and even philosophy and so makes meta-fiction an approach ripe with potential and with depth.

. . . metafiction [may be]defined as fiction that purposefully draws attention to its own nature (ie., fiction ie., "made-up" writing).

________________________________________

Writing Prompt #1 - week 2

Directions: Choose one of the following. Copy and paste the title of the one you choose onto your blog, then follow it with your response. Think deeply, deliberate carefully, respond thoughtfully and coherently.

1. Title: Things Carried - Make a list of objects you carry on a regular, daily basis. What are the items you must have with you when you leave your house? After you have made your list, try to look at it from a different perspective. What would those objects reveal about the person you are to someone else? Are there any that you carry that are unique to you? Are any of them similar to items other students carry? Are any items connected to your memory of another time, another place? Do you carry anything that represents something else to you? Which physical objects are necessary for physical survival? Which are necessary for your peace of mind or your emotional survival? YOU NEED NOT ANSWER ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS. INSTEAD, THINK, DELIBERATE, THEN WRITE A COHERENT REFLECTION OF YOUR MENTAL EXERCISE.

2. Title: Memories - Everyone has memories; we remember on both a long term and short term basis. We remember dates we learned in history [July 4, 1776; December 7, 1941]; facts from science [the scientific method; acid into water, not the other way around]; we automatically remember that an octagonal red sign with white letters tells us to STOP. We also have memories connected with emotion. Try to remember an early emotional memory from school, one that you may have experienced with someone else. What are the facts you remember about the experience? How are the facts connected to how you felt? Do your emotions get in the way, in remembering the facts? If you know someone who was with you, who had a similar experience, are his/her remembrances the same as yours? Is his/her remembrance colored by emotions? If so, how?

Elements of Fiction: A Necessary Review

Plot
Customary outline:
introduction
rising action
climax
falling action
resolution/denouement
NOT ALL STORIES FOLLOW THE ABOVE ORDER--NOR ARE ALL NOVELS OR STORIES TOLD IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER Example: The Things They Carried
Conflict
5 most common:
Man vs. man
Man vs. nature
Man vs. society
Man vs. himself
Man vs. fate
Protagonist
Antagonist

Characterization:
Round Character
Flat Character
Stereotype
Static Character
Dynamic Character
DIRECT
INDIRECT – involves INFERENCE –based on author’s indirect information—what the character says, does, what is said about him AND your own knowledge and observation

Setting – time and place – the location

Irony
3 types:
Dramatic irony
Verbal irony
Irony of situation

Symbolism – a symbol is often an object, color, name, number or other device an author uses to suggest or represent MORE than it actually presents

Point of View
3rd person omniscient - the author/narrator (sometimes the same; sometimes NOT in THE THINGS THEY CARRIED) - is able to relate to the reader what the characters (specifically Jimmy Cross) is feeling and thinking
1st person - in the 2nd story, "Love," the narrator is part of the story and tells it from his perspective, using the personal pronoun "I"

PERSONA - a persona is a character the author creates and uses as a often his voice in the novel, but . . . he is NOT the author; Tim O'Brien, the author, creates the character of Tim O'Brien the soldier in Vietnam

CATHARSIS - a release of emotions

Theme – is greater than the story itself – Theme reveals a truth about life—not just life in the story, but life in the real world, life in the present.

ughhh. . .

I have fun with the background on blogspot; I don't stick with the basic ones -- OBVIOUSLY. I go to www.pyzam.com web page and download free templates from there. I liked the dark woods I had previously used, but as Tyler pointed out this morning, students can't copy and paste easily. The background comes with the text--and that can eat up ink. Sooo... I changed it to something that could easily be printed or copied and pasted. It's not my first choice, but I'll stick with this one, for the sake of functionality. Sorry if it was a problem for anyone else. I should remember that the KISS method works best for us all!! (KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid!) Stay warm and dry!

Aiken English 1102 Spring 2010 Syllabus

A book is a portable form of magic. ~ Stephen King

English 1102 - CRNs: 22562; 22558; 22709 -- Syllabus and Policy Statement:

Contact Information:
• Office Hours: Mon/Wed: MSC - H/SS: Rm. 248 10 AM – 12 AM & by appointment
Tues/Thur. MSC - H/SS: Rm. 248 – 11 AM – 12 AM & & by appointment
• Blog: www.AikenEnglish1102.blogspot.com
• email: sharon.aiken@maconstate.edu The best way to contact me is via email. I try to check my email first thing each morning and respond by early evening. Please check my blog and your email daily for announcements, particularly in the event of inclement weather.
• phone: 478-471-2893
 Conferencing with a teacher concerning questions regarding assignments, essays, revisions, and concerns is one of the most effective means students have of clarifying issues. I genuinely want you to be successful in this course; however, there is a high standard expected of college graduates, as there should be, and I will not inflate anyone’s grade. No matter how hard you may work or how deserving you may be, if a paper is poorly written, it will fail. Failure is an option.

Required Texts and Materials:
 Lunsford, Andrea A. The St. Martin’s Handbook. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2008 or other collegiate grammar text
 Tim O’Brien: The Things They Carried for our study of fiction
 Mary Oliver: A Poetry Handbook
 John Patrick Shanley: Doubt
 David Auburn: Proof
 If you do not have a current blog, you will need to go to blogspot.com, create an account, and have it up and running by Monday, January 11, 2010, at which time I will ask for the web address
 pocket folder, binder, or notebook of your choice to be submitted at the end of the semester
 blue or black pens (NO hot pink, neon orange, lime green) for in-class writings—not pencils
Suggested Texts:
 King, Stephen. On Writing -- the second half of the book
 a good collegiate dictionary

Class Description: This is a composition course that develops writing skills beyond the proficiency required by English 1101; English 1102 emphasizes interpretation and evaluation based on an introduction of fiction, drama, and poetry, and incorporates a variety of more advanced research methods. An oral communication component is also required.

Class Goals: By the end of the course, each student will:
 Be able to research a work of literature using the Web and traditional library resources
 Gain further experience using MLA citation methods
 Be able to write a clear, in-class explication of a poem
 Be able to write an effective analysis of a work of fiction and a work of drama
 Gain further experience in using Web-based course assignments

Class Policies:
1. You must have passed English 1101 with a “C” to be enrolled in this class.

2. You may miss two class days without penalty; if you miss more than four class meetings, your grade is up to my discretion. Be on time. If a student is late on a regular basis, I may advise the student to drop; I have the discretion to penalize constant tardiness by either adding a missed day to the number of absences or lowering the overall course grade. If tardiness disrupts my class, the lab door will be locked, and you will be counted as absent.

3. Assignments are to be handed in on time, typed. Title all assignments and use MLA format. *Do NOT title your essay as the work read in the text. You didn’t write “A Worn Path;” therefore, your essay analysis of the story’s should not be titled by that name; it would be more appropriate to title it The Importance of Place in Welty’s “A Worn Path.” Use the name of the work in the title, if you like, but NOT as the title.

4. If you miss a daily assignment, you may not make it up; if you miss a major assignment, that grade will be based on my discretion. You must complete all major assignments to pass the class. Since all writing assignments in 1102 will be based on reading selections, there will be frequent, unannounced quizzes.

5. I will give letter grades; if you have a question about a grade, drop by my office or ask me after class; if you wish to challenge a grade, do so in writing, no sooner than a day after getting your paper back, and no later than three class days after I return that assignment.

6. If you plagiarize an assignment, that grade will result in a zero. If you cheat on a test, you will get a zero. Plagiarism occurs when a writer uses the ideas, wording, organization, etc. of another writer without proper citation, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes having someone “help” you write the paper, buying the paper online, or lifting ideas, sentences, and paragraphs from another text. Keep an electronic copy of all assignments and be prepared to send it to me immediately if asked. Please go to the MSC Library site for further information on avoiding plagiarism. Students should know that failing the class is the common penalty for plagiarism.

A plagiarism prevention service is used in the evaluation of written work submitted for this course. As directed by the instructor, students are expected to submit their assignments, or have their assignments submitted, through the service in order to meet the requirements for this course. The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

7. POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: “As a Macon State College student and as a student in this class, you are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the MSC Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is included in the MSC Student Handbook and is available online at http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook.pdf”

8. POLICY ON DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS: “Students seeking academic accommodations for a special need must contact the MSC Counseling and Career Center (478-471-2714) located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus.”

9. If you have a D average based on the major assignments, no participation or daily grade average can bring that average up to a C. [Division Policy]

10. I expect common sense and courtesy, including the following:
• Unless there are extenuating circumstances, please turn your phones on OFF before entering the class. If there are circumstances that necessitate your keeping your phone ON, please clear that with me in advance.
• It is unprofessional, rude, and ill-advised to wear electronic devices either in your ear or dangling from it during lecture or class participation.
• Don’t surf the Web, text, or otherwise use an electronic device while I’m teaching OR when a member of the class is speaking or giving a presentation.
• Work on assignments for other classes someplace else.
• Please avoid distracting other students (or me) – I am usually distracted enough for us all.

11. REQUIRED: You will need to keep your all of your various writings [paragraphs, drafts, revisions, and final drafts], neatly, in chronological order in a folder of your choice. These will be submitted to me prior to the final exam. It is the policy of this department that I keep your writing for one semester. Therefore, should you want these returned, please see me at the end of Fall Semester 2010. Suggestion: I would suggest to anyone taking this course that you keep a personal folder with copies of all your writing, as it is a representative of the unique individual you are.

12. There is always a possibility that we may be affected by inclement weather. In the event that weather conditions make travel conditions hazardous, be aware that class may be cancelled for the day and a class assignment may be given via email. Check your email or my blog, as I will typically notify you in advance, if at all possible. NOTE: I live in rural Jasper County; if schools are closed in Jasper County, it is a safe bet that MY classes at MSC will not be held.



1102 Assignments:
 Fiction Essays - 3 30% (10% each)
 Blog of written reflections and responses – 2 per week 10%
o You will be responding twice a week to specific writing prompts that I will provide
 Combined average of daily quizzes 10%
 Written explication of poem 10%
 Oral explication of poetry 10%
o You will not be asked to write poetry
o You will select a poem at random from a list provided by me
 Drama 10%
 FINAL ESSAY 20%

Tentative Schedule – Please note that unannounced pop quizzes are not listed (yes, I know that should be obvious, but . . .):

Jan.6; week 1: review syllabus, texts, policies, expectations; reflective writing; the elements of fiction

Jan. 11: Last day to make class schedule changes

Jan. 11; week 2: “The Things They Carried,” and the elements of fiction; reflective writing

Jan. 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Jan. 19; week 3: reflective writing; discussion of stories: “Love,” “Spin,” essay #1 assigned

Jan. 25; week 4: Essay #1 DUE; reflective writing; discussion of any or all of the following stories: “On the Rainy River,” “Enemies,” “Friends,” “How to Tell a True War Story,” “The Dentist,” “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” “Stockings,” “Church,” The Man I Killed”

Feb. 1; week 5: reflective writing; continued discussion of stories; essay #2 assigned

Feb. 8; week 6: Essay #2 DUE; reflective writing; discussion of any or all of the following of stories: “Ambush,” “Style,” “Speaking of Courage,” “Notes,” “In the Field,” “Good Form,” “Field Trip,” “The Ghost Soldiers,” “Night Life,” “The Lives of the Dead;” Essay # 3 assigned (possibly with accompanying criticism)

Feb. 15; week 7: Essay #3 DUE; reflective writing; an introduction to poetry in class notes, discussion and analysis, assignments and from Mary Oliver’s A Handbook to Poetry and selected poetry TBA

Feb. 22; week 8: reflective writing; an introduction to poetry in class notes, discussion and analysis, assignments and from Mary Oliver’s A Handbook to Poetry and selected poetry TBA

Mar. 1; week 9: reflective writing; written explication of poem assigned and due, Essay # 4

Mar. 3: Last Day to withdraw from regular session class with a “W”

Mar. 8-12: MACON STATE SPRING BREAK

Mar. 15; week 10: reflective writing; oral presentation of poem, counts equally as essay – usually takes 2 weeks

Mar.22; week 11: reflective writing; oral presentation of poem, counts equally as essay – usually takes 2 weeks

Mar. 29; week 12: reflective writing; Doubt by Shanley

Apr.5; week 13: reflective writing; Doubt by Shanley; essay #5 assigned

Apr. 12; week 14: Essay #5 DUE reflective writing; Proof by Auburn

Apr. 19, week 15: reflective writing; Proof by Auburn

Apr. 26 & 27: make up days . . . just in case

April 28-May 4: Final exams for regular session classes; refer to the MSC Academic Calendar for exam date & time; NO EXAMS WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED UNLESS THERE IS A CONFLICT IN FINALS