American Literature

Discussion Post #5: The Life of an American Slave    Prompt: In this discussion, you will explore the life of the American Slave through various slave narratives we have read. Consider three slave narratives in the text (Equiano, Douglas, Harper, Jacobs).  Referring to at least 3 of these works, describe what it is like to be a slave.  Be specific and use direct textual evidence. What are the contradictions? What are the inconsistencies? Directions: In a discussion, create a well-developed paragraph with textual evidence expressing your findings or observations.  Your discussion should rely heavily on textual evidence to support various ideas presented The discussion must be documented in correct MLA style and documented when necessary Discussions are two parts: an initial post and a reply to at least one student in the course.

TOPIC : Write an essay in which you relate A Doll’s House to Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story “The Yellow Wallpaper” (MLM 231-244). How can these works of literary fiction inform and reflect each other? Indeed, Perkins Gilman argues in her book Women and Economics that “woman should not be confined to the household and made economically dependent on men” (MLM 231). Her story “The Yellow Wallpaper” shows an outcome of such dependence. Do you think that Ibsen and Perkins Gilman wanted to achieve similar aims in their works? If so, why? If not, why not? For Essay #3, you will be composing a 4-page essay on Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House. The following requirements must be followed, regardless of which essay topic you choose: 1. You must cite the text using correct MLA formatting. 2. You must fully analyze all of the quotes you choose to incorporate into your essay. At minimum, you should have three quotes. 3. You should reflect on the language of the play. In other words, do not overlook intriguing word choices, unusual pauses (i.e. what is not said), and striking repetitions. 4. You need both an introduction and a conclusion. 5. You need a combination of analysis and evaluation, making sure not to devolve into plot summary (which is neither analytical nor evaluative). 6. Your essay needs an original and persuasive thesis.

This assignment is based on the novel Hamlet: Second Norton Critical Edition by William Shakespeare and edited by Robert S. Miola. Pay close attention to when one scene starts and ends so that you know exactly where you are, and this will make the citing accurate. When it comes to citing… *** Your response must incorporate direct evidence from the text, formatted in MLA style. When citing from Hamlet, list ACT, SCENE, and LINE(s), separated by periods, enclosed in parentheses (page numbers not included), at close of quoted sentence. Example: In stating “Frailty, thy name is woman,” Hamlet emphasizes his anger and disgust with his mother over her hasty marriage to his father’s brother (I. 2.146).**** You must answer all eight questions I have listed below. You don’t have to go crazy answering them, but make sure you include quotes in each answer for each question to support your words. Answer the question well and fully developed, backed up with quotes. Most of the questions are focused on ACT 5 SCENES 1-2, but I also added pdf’s of ACTS 1, 2, 4 – to guide your comprehension of the story. Please answer all aspects of the eight questions, with quotes supported and cited from act 5. 1. Act IV, Scene 7: a. What specifically is Laertes so angry about? (more than one reason); b. Find specific lines in this scene that show Claudius’ manipulation of Laertes; c. What specific plots do Laertes and Claudius decide upon with regards to Hamlet? 2. Act V, Scene 1: a. What do we learn from the gravediggers about Ophelia’s death and burial? What does this reveal about class? b. What do you feel is the point of the gravedigger’s riddles and songs? Are they just comic relief or is there a deeper message? c. Consider Hamlet’s attitude towards the jester, Yorick? Why does he allude to Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar here? 3. Act, V, Scene 1: a. How does the violent argument between Hamlet and Laertes at Ophelia’s gravesite develop their characters and the plot? b. What prompts Laertes to jump into Ophelia’s grave?  c. In this scene, Hamlet talks of his great love for Ophelia. Is his reaction further proof of his love, or a reaction mainly to Laertes’ display of grief?  4. Act V, Scene 2: a. What developments in Hamlet’s character are presented through the story of what happened on the boat? b. How do you explain Hamlet’s lack of guilt when sending Rosencratz and Guildenstern to their deaths? Do you feel Hamlet was justified in forging the king’s orders and dooming R &G? c. Why does Hamlet accept this wager and agree to the fencing match? What does Hamlet mean by his dialogue beginning with “Not a whit. We defy augury…”  (lines 189-193). Do you think he feels confident about the duel? *make sure to read the annotations for help in analyzing lines 189-193. MORE ON BACK>> 5. Act V, Scene 2: a. Why do you feel Hamlet asks for forgiveness/then go on to defend his actions to Laertes as madness in lines 195-212 (beginning (“Give me your parson, sir…”)? How might this reveal a significant shift in his character? b. What does Laertes say is his motive in still resenting Hamlet? How does this contribute to the presentation of revenge in the play? (lines 213-219). c. Do you think Hamlet realizes that he might not come out of this fight alive?  6. a. Do you think Gertrude kills herself knowingly in drinking from the poisoned cup? When Gertrude drinks from the cup, Claudius asks her not to drink and she refuses. Why does she disobey Claudius? Why doesn’t  Claudius do more to stop Gertrude? c. Do you think Gertrude is aware of Claudius’ guilt in killing Old King Hamlet, her former husband?  7. a. Very briefly summarize what happens during the duel between Laertes and Hamlet, then closely analyze the final exchange of dialogue between Hamlet and Laertes. b. How do revenge and forgiveness play out here? (lines 288-305, beginning with “It is here, Hamlet…”).   8. a. Analyze the final exchange between Hamlet and Horatio (lines 306-332) and what is revealed about each character.  b. Describe and analyze the final exchange between Fortinbras, Horatio, and the Ambassador (lines 333-end of play). How has revenge been served and/or not served by the play’s conclusion?

Answer the following questions: ·         Which of our class readings have you enjoyed the most so far? Why? Be specific. What questions would you like to ask the authors—and your classmates—about their habits surrounding grocery shopping and cooking? When you reflect on our class readings so far, which ideas are new to you? Which ideas are familiar?” I attached the readings below: Please use references, does not have to be completely APA style as this is a short response on a discussion forum for an online class.  Read the following resources about writing: Narrative Essays at https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/narrative_essays.html Why and how to Create a Useful Outline at https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/how_to_outline.html  Read the following essays: The Pleasures of Eating at https://www.ecoliteracy.org/article/wendell-berry-pleasures-eating Excerpt from The American Way of Eating

Directions:  Write a well-developed and well-organized essay about drama / theater, and the play that we studied–Trifles.   Prompts:   1.  Women’s rights / the treatment of female characters 2.  How men and women interact / see things differently / the nature of marriage  3.  The concept of power or powerlessness Reading Required 1.  To write about Trifles  you should read the entire play.  Additionally, you should review the relevant websites that are available on Canvas / Modules / Drama.  This play is in your textbook and there is also a link under Modules.   Paragraph Rubric Each paragraph needs to have the following:   I.  Strong first sentence II.  Sentence / punctuation variety & adequate detail III.  Organized writing & objective voice (no pronouns) IV.  At least one quote–toward the middle of the paragraph V.  Required sentences VI.  MLA formatting and no mistakes Paragraph Design  You will write a six-paragraph essay that will have the following: Paragraph #1: Includes a clear and exciting hook; 1 – 2 sentences about drama / theater; 1 – 2 sentences about the playwright; 3 – 5 sentences to summarize your play; 1 – 2 sentences, thesis & essay map.   Suggested length:  10 – 12 sentences.   Paragraph #2:  This paragraph is about modern theater–use any of the links (from last week) under MODULES; you may also use the pages in your textbook if you like.  You must include at least one quote.    Suggested length:  8 – 12 sentences.   Paragraph #3:  This paragraph is biography–use “Susan Glaspell” link under MODULES.  You must include at least one quote.  Suggested length:  8 – 12 sentences.     Paragraph #4:  This is body paragraph one.  Here you will write in support of your thesis.  Review and reference specific moments in the play to “prove your point.”  What characters are must convincing?  What do they say that supports your position?  Are there any stage directions OR symbols that you deem important?   Suggested length:  10 – 12 sentences.     Paragraph #5:  This is body paragraph two.  Here you will again write in support of your thesis.  Review and reference different specific moments in the play to further “prove your point.”  What other characters are must convincing?  What do they say that supports your position?  Are there any stage directions OR symbols that you deem important?   Suggested length:  10 – 12 sentences.  Paragraph #6:  Conclusion.  It is time to gradually “step away” from the play.  How and in what ways is the play important today?  Remind me of your major points but do not repeat them.  In the middle of the paragraph, include either a useful quote OR a rhetorical question.    Suggested length:  8 – 12 sentences.  Resources:  Please use the following resources:   a.  Trifles (in your textbook)  b.  The introductory material in your textbook / the “Dramatic Vision” handout (under Modules) c.  Discussions forum for the play d.  Biography.com & AVL (under USEFUL URLs)    e.  Your handwritten notes (from Modules research)    f.  Any / all resources under MODULES / Drama

·        Write a character study of one of the main characters from Karen Bender’s “Eternal Love”. Find the story in the following link https://mookiejt.neocities.org/eternallove.pdf. Also, Here’s a nice discussion of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=198&v=hOcRBZK3smI&feature=emb_logo Write about the traits of the character and support your conclusions by pointing out things that: ·        the character says ·        the character does ·        other characters say about the character ·        other characters do in relation to the character Discuss how the character’s attributes help drive the action in the story or play. You may also want to discuss whether the character is “round” or “flat” and why you think so.

Write a three-page response to Twenty Years at Hull-House, by Jane Addams. Please respond to these questions in your paper: What was Chicago like when Jane Addams established Hull-House? What was Addams’s motivation for establishing Hull-House? In your opinion, how important is social work (à la Hull-House) in society? Should it be the responsibility of private organizations (like Hull-House), government, or some combination of the two? Use specific evidence from the book to answer the prompt. Your paper should be focused primarily on analysis, not summary. Use parenthetical citations for the book and footnotes for other sources (if necessary). Please keep direct quotations from the book to a minimum. Twenty Years at Hull-House can be a challenging read, but please read enough of it to answer the questions in the prompt. Your paper should be a complete essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. (You learned how to do this in high school!) The paper should be double-spaced in 12-pt font with standard one-inch margins. Proofread your paper carefully before turning it in.

Part of writing an effective analytical research paper involves using evidence directly from your primary texts (the literature itself) as well as the works of other critics and scholars (secondary texts). Therefore, you will need to be able to analyze these secondary works, and to accurately quote, paraphrase and summarize these outside sources in your own essays. This assignment helps build these research skills. In fact, the article you analyze here (and the literature on which it’s based) could even become part of your research paper topic in future weeks, if you choose. For this assignment, choose a critical article from one of the GMC library databases (in Galileo, search the letter “L” under Databases A-Z) that makes a clear argument about any one of the stories you’ve read FOR THIS WEEK. The article you choose must provide MORE than basic biographical information and plot summary; it must make an opinionated argument about some aspect of the literary work. Your complete analysis should be at least 650 words in length. Analysis In your analysis, you should clearly identify the author’s thesis and main points by briefly SUMMARIZING the article. Your summary section should be no more than 250 words. No quotations in this section. You should then provide a critique of these main points and EXPLAIN how this article’s argument is relevant or convincing to you (or not), and why. This section should be at least 400 words, but can be longer. You should also include in the analysis section a QUOTE and a PARAPHRASE from the article, with appropriate in-text citations. MLA Style Your paper must be formatted according to MLA format (this includes having a header, double spacing, etc.) All quotations, paraphrases and summaries MUST be cited using MLA format. You must include a works-cited page at the end of your paper. For more information about MLA style, you should view the Purdue OWL’s pages on MLA: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html. Mechanics, Grammar, and Punctuation All written assignments should be mechanically and grammatically correct with proper punctuation. For more information on each of these, you should view the Purdue OWL’s General Writing Resources page: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/general_writing_introduction.html Structure The introduction should include a clear thesis statement. It should also clearly identify the title of the article you’ve chosen and the author’s name. Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence that relates back to the thesis. The information in each paragraph should relate to the topic sentence. In the body paragraphs, you may want to focus on individual points made by the author. This assignment is will be assessed using the Article Analysis Rubric

Since the last essay was due you will have read, viewed, or received: WEEK 3 Monday, January 4 – Sunday, January 10: Readings (Primary Texts) for Week 3: Reading #1: Zitkala-Sa’s “A Warrior’s Daughter” (34-42) Reading #2: Bobbie Ann Mason’s “Shiloh” (542-552) Reading #3: Gerald Early’s “Life with Daughters: Watching the Miss America Pageant” (532-548) Reading #4: Toni Morrison’s chapter from The Bluest Eye (9-32) Reading #5: Glenden Brown’s “Femininity and Toughness: What Rodeo Queens Tell Us about America” (254-259) Reading #6: National Geographic Special Issue on Gender January 2017 *NOTE: All these PDF readings are available in RESOURCES. You may also write about any texts or YouTube Clips from our course during Weeks 3. Remember to keep gender analysis as your main focus. You may write about one of these texts, or make meaningful comparisons between two or more. You may also include relevant personal experiences. In your 5 FULL page essay, you should include a thesis statement. A thesis statement makes the writer’s point at the beginning of the essay. To be clear about your purpose, develop a specific thesis, which you then explore, support, and illustrate using specific examples and arguments. A thesis statement is the controlling idea of a piece of writing. Most college essays contain a thesis statement, usually a single sentence, that appears early in the text, most often at the end of the first paragraph. The thesis acts as a roadmap, alerting the reader to the major aspects of your paper that will follow. Depending on your writing situation, you can begin writing a paper with a clear thesis in mind, or you may discover your thesis later and revise accordingly. *Include a proper MLA heading, creative title, running header, consistent double-spacing, 12 pt. font (Times New Roman or Arial) with standard spacing between sentences and on the margins. See http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ *Make sure to use specific evidence and “direct quotations” from the stories, essays, and/or YouTube clips to support your claims. Include vivid particulars to illustrate your points. Here are two basic forms of MLA format when the author’s last name is Zitkala-Sa: The narrator of “A Warrior’s Daughter” explains, “Tusee is taking her first dancing lesson” (Zitkala-Sa 35). In Zitkala-Sa’s story “A Warrior’s Daughter” the narrator explains, “Tusee is taking her first dancing lesson” (35). *You do not need a Works Cited page or separate title page for this essay. *The only sources to which you should refer are the ones we consider in class. Do not perform any outside “research” for this paper. The paper should be well organized with a strong introduction and a powerful conclusion. Use transitions between paragraphs. Check for spelling, punctuation, run-on sentences, variety of sentence structure, and intellectual vocabulary. The length of the paper should reach at least 5 FULL pages and a maximum of 6 FULL pages. Some questions to consider: What specific behaviors signify gender roles? Do certain aspects of living appear gendered? Where do you locate symbols of gender formation? How are characters conditioned to become “masculine” and “feminine”? How do certain characters resist these definitions? What questions does this text raise about gender roles? Where do your own opinions come from about gender roles? What values of your own regarding gender did you bring to the text while reading? Can you relate specific personal and relevant experiences to the story, film, or article? What particular life events and situations (from family, friends, or the “news”) came to mind when you read this story? Does the story remind you of people in your life? How does this story make you feel and why does it make you feel this way? What specific scenes, lines, or passages can you associate with particular circumstances of your own personal history? (You may use the first-person “I.”) What is the author or director attempting to suggest by portraying certain roles of boys, girls, men, and women? What is the main message or “moral” of the story in regard to gender? What is the author trying to teach readers about gender roles? How does the author go about transmitting a message? What particular situations, events, dialog, scenes, passages, and specific details most strongly or subtly reveal the operation of gender roles? How does this story, film, or article reflect gender roles in our own contemporary society? How does a character’s gender role reflect her or his psychology? What particular forces and events shape the way male and female characters act? What in a character’s past helps explain her or his behaviors? What inner drives dominate a character? What main personal goals does the character hope to achieve? What outer symbols represent a character’s interior? What kinds of representations does this story offer about gender roles? What versions of “masculinity” and “femininity” are promoted? How do men and women follow or resist “traditional” roles? How does the character’s gender role determine his or her experience? What images and “appropriate” behaviors are associated with women and men? How are men and women defined by their bodies? How does a character’s surroundings shape and determine her or his life? How is the character’s life influenced by her or his immediate environment? To what extent does a character overcome adversity? Are there common elements between the readings and YouTube clips.

Write a three-page response to Twenty Years at Hull-House, by Jane Addams. Please respond to these questions in your paper: What was Chicago like when Jane Addams established Hull-House? What was Addams’s motivation for establishing Hull-House? In your opinion, how important is social work (à la Hull-House) in society? Should it be the responsibility of private organizations (like Hull-House), government, or some combination of the two? Use specific evidence from the book to answer the prompt. Your paper should be focused primarily on analysis, not summary. Use parenthetical citations for the book and footnotes for other sources (if necessary). Please keep direct quotations from the book to a minimum. Twenty Years at Hull-House can be a challenging read, but please read enough of it to answer the questions in the prompt. Your paper should be a complete essay, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. (You learned how to do this in high school!) The paper should be double-spaced in 12-pt font with standard one-inch margins. Proofread your paper carefully before turning it in.