Questions After 3/28

Above is a picture of Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson in "The Belle of Amherst."

Good evening :)

Just a reminder that the DC Poetry Project will be screening "The Belle of Amherst" tomorrow (Sat) from 12 noon to 2 pm in HU 002.  Hope to see you there!

Here are some poems by Emily Dickinson, the "Belle" herself:

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15395

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15393

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22829

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/180204

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/237186

Then, on Monday, we will head up to the library to work with Ms. Niyati Pandya.

Wednesday we will return to our regular classroom, and I believe that we may have a presentation!  In addition, I have made a change in readings.  Next week I would like to return to more chronological order with poems by Wheatley and John Dickinson as well as Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle,” Longstreet’s “The Dance,” Sedgwick’s “Cacoethes Scribendi,” andSchoolcraft’s “Mishosha.”

Here are a few questions for your journals:

-- Which types of writing are more effective for social criticism?  Why?

-- Discuss Douglass' depiction of religion.  

-- Consider the impact of his narrative's Appendix, especially its  "Parody."  Does "Parody" support his profession that he is not against Christianity?  Or does it undercut it?  Why?  Why not?

-- Discuss Douglass' initial attempt to escape.  How did its failure appear to affect him?  Why did he and Sandy realize that they had been betrayed?  Who do you think betrayed them?

-- Discuss Douglass' battle with Covey.  How does it affect Douglass?  How does it affect Covey?

-- What is it like for you to return to poetry with Wheatley, Emily Dickinson, and John Dickinson?

-- What is it like for you to turn to fiction with Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle"?

-- What do these works add to American literature?

-- What does Douglass' Narrative add to American literature?

Also, here is a link to Miriam's presentation:
http://prezi.com/e2aehsjeqv64/the-navajo-people/

What does she add to your understanding of Native American culture?  of the Navajo?

What was the most intriguing thing that you learned from her presentation?  Why?

What would you like to present on?

See you at the screening--or at the library!

Questions After 3/26 Class

Good evening :)

First of all, I want to send you the tutorials for Ms. Pandya's class on Monday.  If you have taken her class or another librarian's class before, just skim over the tutorials to review.

Here they are.  

https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/jHRBWP27FlYdKI/html

https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/gHCuqaifkJFQA5/html

https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/Xw3oOY8sM0j1uW/html

Also, on Friday, Miriam will present, and we will finish up Frederick Douglass' Narrative.  Next week we will move on to Harriet Jacobs' lifewriting and Phillis Wheatley's poetry.

Here are a few questions:

-- Compare/contrast Douglass' experience of slavery with Equiano's.

-- Compare/contrast how Douglass escaped slavery with how Equiano purchased his freedom.

-- Compare/contrast how each narrator engages with his audience.

-- Compare/contrast how each author presents his characters.

-- Compare/contrast how each author presents slavery.

-- How does Douglass depict the impact of slavery?

-- How does Douglass depict humans' desire for power and the effect of power?

-- How does he show that his narrative is truthful?

-- What is it like for Douglass to return to the country?

-- What is it like for him to live in the city?

-- What is it like for him to leave the South?

-- Compare the South & North at this time.

-- Here James Earl Jones reads excerpts from Douglass' speech for the 4th of July:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tTkHJWxfP0
What does this speech add to your understanding of the Narrative?
What does it add to your understanding of the Narrative's historical context?

How does Douglass represent America?  How does this speech fit into the concept of American identity?

-- What do you think about the idea of there being conventions in the slave narrative?  Is this a good thing?  Or a bad thing?  Why?  Why not?  How does this affect the truthfulness of a narrative?

-- If you are an education major, discuss the differences between teaching more traditional forms of literature and teaching life writing & narratives of exploration.

I am looking forward to seeing what you have to say!

Dr. Szlyk

Questions After 3/24

 Welcome back :)

Today we went over the stand-alone paper.  Here are some useful links for you.  First is a link to our library's handouts on MLA:

 http://libguides.montgomerycollege.edu/mla

Next is a link to a handout on signal verbs:
http://academic.ursinus.edu/writing/signal.html

Finally, here is a link to a handout on the templates from They Say, I Say.

http://www2.bgsu.edu/downloads/enrollment/file108404.pdf

For Wednesday, please start reading The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.  We watched the following videos about his life, so they may be helpful to watch:

This video from the Biography Channel is contemporary but short:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su-4JBEIhXY

OTOH, the video from the National Park Service is comprehensive but dated:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfydkNcLyFk

 

Here are a few questions for you.

-- How do the videos prepare you to read Douglass' Narrative?

-- Which theme fits his Narrative best?  Why?

-- How does Douglass represent his childhood?

-- How does Douglass portray slavery? slaves?  masters and mistresses?

-- Discuss Douglass as a narrator.  What is most believable about his narrative?  What is least believable?  What is most compelling?  Why?

-- If you have read the Narrative before, what have you learned from re-reading it?

-- If you have studied slavery before but not read the Narrative, what does it add to your understanding?  why?

-- Have you read other slave narratives (besides Equiano's Interesting Narrative)?  If so, compare/contrast them to Douglass' (and Equiano's).

-- Have you seen 12 Years a Slave or Django Unchained (or another movie about slavery)?  If so, how did it prepare you to read Douglass and Equiano's narratives?

-- Where does Douglass' narrative fit into American literature?  American identity?  the idea of America?

-- Have you been to any historical sites connected with slavery?  If so, how did these visits prepare you to read Douglass and Equiano's narratives?

See you in class!

Dr. Szlyk

Starting Up Again After Break

Above is a photo of the Frederick Douglass House in Washington, DC.

Good evening :)

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable break!

Tomorrow (Monday) we return to American Literature I.  I have already returned the essay part of the the exams to you, so I will return the objective part of the exam.  We will also go over the stand alone essay that will be due on April 21.  It will require some research, and on March 31, we will go to the library to meet with librarian Niyati Pandya.  

For Wednesday, we will return to Life Writing, moving onto the slave narrative with the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.  If we have time on Monday, we will prepare to start this very important work of life writing and American history.  I may also talk a bit about Equiano's Interesting Narrative and other autobiographies in our textbook.

Here are a few quick questions to start off the second half of the semester.  Feel free to create your own questions.

-- What are some of the themes that have arisen so far in American Literature?  Why are they important?  Which works embody them?  Why?

-- Choose one theme and a work that develops this theme.  Discuss how the work develops this theme.

-- Which themes have we ignored?  Why?

-- Which themes may not be as important?  Why?

-- How does Frederick Douglass' narrative continue the themes we have highlighted in the first half of the semester?

-- How does his narrative bring us into the literature/culture of The United States?

-- Compare and contrast his narrative with Franklin's or Equiano's.

-- How does Douglass bring others' voices and experiences into his narrative?

-- What is American about Douglass' narrative?  (Compare/contrast this work with Equiano's Interesting Narrative or other works from before 1776).

Keep up the good work!

Dr. Szlyk

Final Set of Questions Before the Midterm

 

Above is one of William Blake's paintings.  Below is one of his poems as it was published in his lifetime.  (Blake was not only a writer but also an artist and a printer.)

Good evening :)

Today we had our first presentation, Andrew and Nate's presentation on poetry.  I am sending you their presentation for you to look over as it will be on the exam.

We also went over the sample midterm from 2010.  Here are some questions that may help with the short answer.

-- List five elements of American literature among the readings that we have looked at so far.  Why did you choose these elements?

-- What has surprised you about these elements?

-- How do these elements build on what you have learned in other literature classes?

-- List five elements of Native American myths/stories that you have observed so far.  Why did you choose these elements?  what has surprised you about them?

-- List five elements of poetry that you have observed so far.  Why did you choose these elements?  What has surprised you about them?  What is not surprising?

-- How does Puritan poetry fit into Andrew and Nate's history of poetry?

-- How did Andrew and Nate's history help you understand Puritan poetry more fully?

-- List five elements of life writing that you have observed so far.  Why did you choose these elements?

-- How does life writing belong with literature?  How does it belong with history?

-- List five elements of narratives of exploration that you have observed so far.  Why did you choose these elements.  

-- How have our presentations and videos helped you with American literature?  What would be some good topics for future presentations?

-- List five facts or opinions that you have learned from class discussion.  Why did you choose them?

-- List five things you've gained from keeping your journal.  Why did you choose them?

I will be choosing among these questions for my short answer section.

Let me know if you have additional questions!

Dr. Szlyk

Next to Last Set of Questions for En 211

 Good evening :)

Today we went over the exam a little bit more and then finished up Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative.

On Wednesday we will begin our presentations, which will help with the review process.

Writing journal entries may also help.

-- What are the themes of EN 211?  Which readings fit into which themes?  Why?

-- What would Ben Franklin have to say to Olaudah Equiano?  Why?

-- Here is a link to Prof. Brycchan Carey's article on Equiano, his birth place, and the truthfulness of his narrative:
http://www.brycchancarey.com/Carey_1650-1850_2008.pdf

what convinces you that Equiano was born in the US?  what convinces you that he was born in Africa?  Why?

-- Does it matter where he was born and whether he added fictive details to his life story?  Why?  Why not?

-- Take a look over Equiano's depiction of his childhood.  Why do you believe it?  Why do you not believe it?

-- Discuss the impact of slavery on young Equiano.

-- Take a look over Equiano's depiction of the Middle Passage.  Why do you believe it?  Why do you not believe it?  

-- What seems to motivate Capt. Pascal?  Do you believe that Equiano was fair to him?  Why?  Why not?

-- Discuss Equiano's relationships with Europeans.

-- Discuss his relationships with Africans.

See you on Wednesday!

Dr. Szlyk

Fifteenth Set of Questions for EN 211

Good evening :)

Today we held more of a review session.  Here is a link to the midterm prompts:

http://en202.blogspot.com/2014/03/midterm-prompts-for-en-211-spring-2014.html

I am also attaching a copy of the midterm from the last time I taught EN 211.  Note that our readings may be different from the ones that my class looked at back in Spring 2010.

For Monday, please finish up Equiano's Interesting Narrative.

I am going to do something a little different for our journal.  Instead of posing questions, I will list readings, authors, and key concepts.  I would like you to write down what you know about 5-10 of these items.  This is open book, of course.

“How the World was Made” (Cherokee)

“The Story of the Creation” (Akimel O’odham)

"Looking for Indians" (Cheryl Savageau, Abenaki)

the Navajo creation myth of the Emergence

creation myth

Trickster tales

Tricksters -- Coyote, Raven, Rabbit

"Coyote and Bull" (Nez Perce)

"Coyote and Eagle Go to the Land of the Dead" (Wishram)

"Raven Brought Fire to the People" (Haida)

"Raven and His Grandmother" (Aleut)

"Rabbit and Fox" (Iroquois)

"Coyote's Adventures in Idaho"

"Coyote Goes to Missoula" (not folktale)

Powhatan & Piscataway Indians

Christopher Columbus

Cabeza de Vaca

Samuel de Champlain

Capt. John Smith

narratives of exploration

American landscape

Native Americans

settlers

Mary Rowlandson

captivity narrative

slave narrative

Puritans

Jamestown

Anne Bradstreet 

Anne Bradstreet's poems

Edward Taylor's poems

Edward Taylor

"The Day of Doom"

Jonathan Edwards

The Great Awakening

Benjamin Franklin

Colonial America

The United States of America

Olaudah Equiano

Remember that this is open book!

Dr. Szlyk