Literature

you may study a (Black) national literature, distinguished writer, text, or any group of works that present a coherent framework for analysis. Focus on under-researched areas, like Black writing in Latin America are, especially encouraged. Critical analysis of a work, for example, may explore such issues as race, gender, class, identity, form, style, culture, characterization, or the interplay of such elements in the narrative or meaning construction process. Since this is not a ‘literature appreciation’ class, whether you like or dislike a particular work or writer, for example, is peripheral. Pay attention, therefore, to substantive issues as they are raised in or by each text. The term paper and exams must be solely authored, just as all assignments must be completed to pass this course.

For a virtual tour of the Lascaux Caves, click https://archeologie.culture.fr/lascaux/en Click the play button to start the tour. As it progresses, small labels will pop up at the bottom left. Click on them for more information regarding specific imagery. This is an exercise in looking and putting your visual findings into words.  To that end, explore the tour of the Lascaux Caves.  When you feel you have a good sense of the place, tell us about what you have discovered simply by looking closely.  You can focus on a particular space or a single drawing, or possibly a sequence of spaces.  Identify what part of the tour you would like to address; explain why that particular aspect struck you.  You can talk about how it relates to something you encountered in the lecture video or in the reading, or perhaps is an entirely new facet not covered in the other course materials. In addition to the tour itself, consider the auxiliary pages that address the site or the discovery or archaeological research. Lastly, think about what larger theme or question your discovery relates to.  Following the “How to Look at a Building” section, you could focus on how, say, a particular drawing might have been made; how the drawing relates to the surfaces of the cave; what the significance might have been for those who made it, etc.  You could even discuss how the tour itself is constructed since that relates to the meaning of Lascaux to us today.  How would this tour feel if you were the one to discover the caves, or if you came here as part of a class tour? Requirement: can be about a long paragraph, maybe 200-300 words, and you can include a picture if that helps.

Creating an Alphabet BookRATIONALE: Alphabet Books represent an interesting blend of educational content and often elaborate illustration, typical of picture books. However, each often has at least two underlying goals:? to educate and? to entertain children (young and old)But, how do authors do that? What makes a great Alphabet Book? That’s what you will have to grapple with as you create your own Alphabet Book. Remember to keep the content, illustrations, and audience in mind. Have a great time.GOAL: To Create an original Alphabet BookProject: Children’s Picture Book (Counting or Alphabet)Requirements:1. Create a children’s picture book, either a counting or an alphabet book2. Let your imagination go!!!!3. Build the book around a distinctive themeTheme? endangered species4. Use an appropriate method to create the booka. You are not expected to produce a book that looks like it was professionally printed.b. It should be a PowerPoint presentation with one letter (or number) per slide.5. The book must be completed by the due date.6. Along with the book, you must present the answers to the following:i. An introduction that describes your choice of topic (what you chose and why)ii. An explanation of the choices you made in illustrating the book1. What were you trying to accomplish with the illustrations.2. How the process of creating the illustrations worked out for you (easy, difficult, etc.)7. Submit the Power Point presentation for me to grade.You may have to scan graphics into your book or use the free graphics available on the web. If you take graphics from a “non-free” site, please include a caption citing the source.

Instructions Assignment 1: The Annotated Bibliography Objective:  Assess sources for your research for your final presentation (for credibility, reliability, and relevance) and list references in proper APA format. That means the sources you use for this assignment should be directly related to the species that you chose in Forum 1 of the class. The species of choice was the “Virginia Big-Eared Bat.”Assignment Instructions:  The Research Project/Presentation for this class is divided into three major Assignments, 1) annotated bibliography, 2) outline and 3) final presentation. The first part is the annotated bibliography. An annotation is a summary and evaluation, and your annotated bibliography will include a summary and evaluation of some of the sources (or references) you will use for your presentation. To prepare for this assignment, I recommend that you do the following: Read these directions carefully. Review the sample annotated bibliography provided to you below. Read the grading criteria below. The grading criteria is a detailed evaluation that I will use to assess your performance. It will also help you understand what is expected of you as you prepare your assignment. The reason the annotated bibliography is included as part of the research project is that writing an annotated bibliography is important in that it provides excellent preparation for the final presentation. One of the issues regarding any type of research, especially in biology, is the credibility of the sources used, particularly those obtained from various websites. By forcing you to evaluate each of your potential sources carefully, the annotated bibliography helps you determine if in fact the source you chose is credible and helps you determine how relevant it is to your topic and understand the topic better which will help you develop your presentation. For this project, you will assess three sources to include:1) a complete citation for each source,2) a summary of each source, and3) evaluation of each source. Three sources are required for this assignment (i.e., you are to write an annotation for each source).  Use this TEMPLATE to summarize and evaluate each of your three sources.    <------ REQUIREDCitation: Written in APA reference list format. For more help with formatting, see the APA handout. Summary: What is the purpose of the source, review article, original research? What topics are covered? This section is generally 4-6 sentences that summarize the author's main point. For more help, see this link on paraphrasing sources. Evaluation: After summarizing the article (or research paper or book), it is necessary to evaluate it and state where you found it – its source (e.g., journal, website, etc.).  Briefly answer the following questions in 4-6 sentences: What is the format or type of source (e.g., peer-reviewed journal paper, website, book)? How reliable is the information in the article, and how credible is the source (e.g., a website's sponsoring organization, journal or book publisher) and the author(s)? For more help, see this handout on evaluating resources. Evaluation:  Please review the Annotated Bibliography Grading Criteria that describe how your annotated bibliography will be graded.

Horace – “The Art of Poetry” Ars Poetica (Critical Tradition 82-94)* + You can read the whole verse letter in our textbook, but I also suggest researching to find his key concepts and quotations. Longinus – from On the Sublime (Critical Tradition 95-108)* + You can read the entire selection.  I suggest focusing on sections 1, 7, 9, 10, & 44. Dante – “Letter to Can Grande Della Scala” (Critical Tradition 120-123) Assignment: Select a piece of literature.  Write a paper in which you first, briefly summarize the piece of literature and explain the writing.  Then, apply the works of three of our figures—from Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, and Dante—to respond to the literature.  Use their words and concepts to respond to the literature.  Write at least one paragraph for each theorist.  Use quotations from their work. Thinking about the assignment: Choose a piece of literary fiction.  A poem or short story will work best.  It can be one we’ve used in class (such as McCrae’s poem, “Flanders Fields,” or Chopin’s short story, “Story of an Hour”) or one of your own choosing.  Use the work of Aristotle, Horace, Longinus, and Dante to critically respond to the piece of literature.  According to their writing, how would three of these figures approach the literature?  What would they have to say about the poem or story?  Using their theories, what claims could you make about the piece of literature?  Demonstrate and explain your ideas. Writing: For the opening of the paper, basically summarize the poem or story and briefly explain the writing. (Approx. one paragraph) Then, introduce your theorists and state their overall responses to the piece of literature (your poem or story). Try to connect these into an overall argument.  (Approx. one thesis paragraph). Next, in the body paragraphs, apply for the theorist’s work in a response to and an interpretation of the literature. Be sure to use quotations.  (At least one paragraph for each theorist) Finally, offer a conclusion that restates the topic and finishes your overall argument. Use MLA format.  Page length requirement: 3-5 MLA pages Rubric Essay Rubric COMPOSITION ESSAY GRADING RUBRIC Criteria Description and Letter Grade Correspondence Criteria Letter Grade An insightful essay with original ideas. Shows critical analysis in interpretive argument required by the assignment. The thesis is specific, complex, & arguable; the thesis is pursued in analytical paragraphs. Paragraphs are organized & focused; paragraphs use reasoning to explain & demonstrate ideas; paragraphs construct & present the argument. Logical transitions are effectively used. Quotations fully integrated: expertly introduced, explained, & analyzed. Language is sophisticated with complex & varied sentences.  Format and grammar are correct. Sentence-level writing is basically error-free. “A” Outstanding achievement; significantly exceeds standards. Essay responds to the assignment with original ideas and work. Offers an interpretive argument that shows a good understanding of the text with cogent analysis. The thesis is clear, argumentative, & pertinent to the essay, though may need clarification. The thesis is consistently pursued throughout the essay & clearly developed in each paragraph. Shows critical analysis. May have minor conceptual inconsistency. Quotations are fully integrated & textual evidence & support are appropriately utilized.  Use of quotations is clear, but may need to be developed in critical analysis. Logical transitions are provided. Sentence-level writing may have mechanical difficulties or stylistic problems, or occasional word choice errors, awkward syntax, punctuation errors, etc. “B” Commendable achievement; exceeds standards. The essay offers a response to the assignment that shows an understanding of the basic ideas; may have some factual, interpretive, or conceptual errors. General central thesis; may not define some central terms. Thesis or argument may be unoriginal.  Only partially develops argument or partially shows critical analysis; some ideas are generalizations or abstractions, are underdeveloped or are unsupported. Makes limited use of textual evidence. An effort to present quotations effectively; quotations may not be fully integrated throughout. Some awkward transitions; some paragraphs that are weak or underdeveloped. Sentence-level writing may have unclear or awkward sentences; imprecise use of words or over-reliance on informal language, first-person, or the passive voice; one or two major grammatical errors (pronoun agreement, subject/verb agreement, comma splice, etc.) “C” Acceptable achievement; meets standards Essay shows an inadequate command of course materials or has significant factual and conceptual errors; does not respond directly to demands of assignment; confuses some significant facts. The thesis is vague or not central to the argument; does not a present interpretive argument; central terms not defined. Frequently only narrates; fails to introduce, explain or analyze quotes; needs to developing or explain ideas or terms; makes awkward use of textual evidence; tends to narrate or summarize; the illogical arrangement of ideas; paragraphs undeveloped, unfocused, or without topic statements. Sentence-level writing has major sentence-level problems with grammatical or syntactical errors that interfere with the expression of ideas. “D” Marginal achievement; below standards Incomplete or non-passing essay. The writer has not written on the assigned text or has not answered the assignment or fulfilled the assignment requirements. Thesis missing or not evident. Interpretive argument not presented or developed; may report or list facts or provide misinformation. Uses no quotations or fails to cite sources; plagiarizes material. Without organization, structure, or logic; incoherent paragraphing. Sentence-level writing shows numerous grammatical mistakes and stylistic problems. Writing needs development.

Please use your weekly reading notes as a basis to construct an essay for reading reflection. Each reading note should have about 250 words for each reading,  so collectively and adding your reflection, this assignment should be about 1000+ words. The first part consists of the summary of EACH reading for week 2-4 and then the second part is your reflection of all readings. The total is 1000-2000 words. The assignment includes:1. Summarize each reading that uses the rhetoric pieces as a template to answer the following questions:1) which article you read,2) according to the author(s), why the topic is important, and what is the key point the author(s) wants to make? 3)  what are the pieces of evidence, supporting arguments, or recommendations that the author(s) presented in this reading?4) who are the target audiences that the author(s) intended to deliver to? 2. Write your own reflections on the readings, which answers, but not limited to, the following questions: 1) Why this topic is important to sustainable and resilient community design?2) How would this topic be built upon environments that are equitable and just? and vice versa?3) How would this topic related to climate change impacts and solutions to cope with climate change?

Please answer the following question through the reading I gave. Responses should be about two-three paragraphs in length and be accompanied by images. These should illustrate your points and be taken from the lecture/reading material – or something associated with these ideas. Cubists transformed the traditional representation of reality (Apollinaire’s “nature” and “resemblance”) into near-abstraction. What role was played by geometry and the fourth dimension as well as new theories of linguistics (iconic and symbolic signs; Picasso’s “adjectives”)? Discuss the differences between Analytic and Synthetic Cubism using the elements in Still Life with Chair Caning (1912) as an example. Is the painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon the beginning of Cubism? Why or why not? Evaluate the portrayal of gender and African art. (Use your lectures notes, Apollinaire’s “Cubist Painters” (especially sections II-IV and VII), the textbook, and the essays in Art Since 1900.)

1. Make an argument for two different ways in which digital technology has impacted cinema. In your answer, make sure to clearly define what dimensions of cinema you are addressing (preproduction, postproduction, film styles and genres, shooting on digital, distribution, marketing, exhibition, etc.). And, make sure to use specific film examples from this week (at least 2) to prove your specific argument. Moreover, in order to demonstrate your knowledge of historical changes over time, please also refer to one other film or film movement from earlier weeks in the quarter. These earlier films or film movements should help you prove your argument about the changes and impact (or lack thereof) of digital technology in cinema.   2. Using both chapters from  Halberstam’s reading and the lecture video, please explain the concept (or genre) of Pixarvolt? What are the dominant narrative themes in this genre? Make sure to discuss the film Chicken Run, and provide, at least, one other film example to explain. How does this form of the politically revolutionary film differ from others we’ve seen and discussed this quarter? How does it relate to others we’ve studied? Please refer to, at least, two specific films from earlier this quarter to construct your answer.    3. Using the Empire Files episode: “The Rise of History’s Biggest Empire”, Bogg’s chapter, “Media Culture in the Imperial System”, Pardy’s essay, “Selling Marvel’s Cinematic Superheroes through Militarization,” and our last lecture video, explain what Bogg’s means when he says ‘the role of media culture is to legitimate empire’. How can we connect Bogg’s argument about the legitimating empire to Pardy’s discussion about ‘militainment’? In other words, how does the imperial ideology of cinema connect to militainment? In your answer, please use the film The Avengers and, at least, one other film to make your argument. You can use either a film discussed in the lecture or in the readings, or you can incorporate your own example not discussed in this class (please just make sure to provide a brief synopsis of the film and how it works as an example). Finally, somewhere in your answer engage the question about how this militarized media culture may impact you and your life (as a viewer, as a student, as a citizen of the world, etc.).

In the Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde uses satire to expose what he sees as the prejudices, classism, bigotry, and intolerance rampant in Victorian society. Write an argumentative essay that discusses the parallels between the social issues Wilde highlights in his play and what you see as parallel issues in our modern society.

Explain in a substantial paragraph (12-14 sentences) what was at the heart of the Realism movement.  How did it manifest itself in literature?  Who were some of the proponents?  What were some of the Realism works? In the second paragraph, write your thoughts on the movement.  You may use the first person to speak to Realism’s merits or lack thereof.  It is a style that you enjoy?  What do you specifically like or dislike about it?  give a title