This Week

Dear All,

I just wanted to reiterate that for Wednesday's class, I'd like you to post your dialogue to your blog.  I have also asked that you add your own thesis statement in response to Balko and Zincenko at the end of your dialogue.  Please also be sure to comment on one of your classmate's blogs this week.  You do not have to read "I Tweet, Therefore I Am" for Wednesday's class since Chapter 12 is enough reading in itself for that day.  However, please do read the essay for Thursday's class, along with an additional reading that I'm adding for that day called, "Mind Over Mass Media" on page 640-643 in your books.  I'd like to have a discussion/debate about the effects of electronic media in Thursday's class.

Assignment for Monday

Dear All,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm asking that you to complete an informal writing response for Monday's class.  You don't have to post it on your blog yet.  Please print it out and bring it to class.  See the Writing Prompts page for details.

I look so forward to reading your essays next week!

Next Class

For next class, we will wrap up our discussion of "Shooting an Elephant," and then go on to discuss the writing process form Chapter Two.  Your only assignments are to read the very short "Tips for Writing a Personal Narrative" and to start working on your essay draft.  Please also just continue thinking about the symbolism and allegory in "Shooting an Elephant."  I'd like to finish up by discussing this as well as whether or not you think it is effectively written as a narration/description essay and why.

See you soon!

~Ms. Murray

p.s. I fixed the typos in the Narrative/Descriptive Essay handout (so sorry about that), and you can find the revised version by clicking on the link in the post below.

Narration and Description Essay

Here is your Essay #1 assignment.  I will bring this handout to class on Monday and we will discuss it together, but feel free to get started brainstorming your essay as you read the first part of Chapter 2 of Back to the Lake, which explains ways of brainstorming.  We are sticking to the syllabus for Monday's class, so please also read George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant," which you will find on the Readings page.  I will assign a writing prompt for this piece, which I think is a great example of a narrative and descriptive essay.

Thanks for an interesting discussion today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I am also posting another extra credit assignment due by next Wednesday.
 

Important Notes About Class

This is a reminder that for next class, Wednesday, September 18, I have asked that you go back to proofread and edit your Narration blog post.  Be sure to double check that you have answered the assigned prompt correctly and completely.  Please also comment on at least one blog post written by a classmate (you can find and follow each other on google+, by looking at my circles, or you can find the list of class blogs on the right sidebar here).  If you have not yet linked to me on google+, please try to do so.

Please stick to the assigned Description reading in Chapter 5 for Wednesday's class.  You don't have to read the two descriptive pieces, "Little House in the War Zone," "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," and "My Name" for Thursday's class.

As discussed in class, please also feel free to use your blogs for your own writing.  Also, feel free to post on them regarding classwork, even when I haven't assigned a post.  For example, if you were really happy with or inspired by your free-write today, you may want to type it up and post it.

See you on Wednesday!

Rolling Stone Article

As I promised in class, here is the Rolling Stone story about Dzhokhar "Jahar" Tsarnaev, the younger of the Boston bombers.  You are not required to read this, but I do suggest it if you have a chance.

President Obama's Address to the Nation Regarding Syria

Please watch the speech above and read this interesting and informative post about President Obama's call for action against Syria by Thursday, September 12th's class.  The article discusses the allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons to kill its civilians and nicely explains the simplest details, such as who and where Syria is and why the nation is in a civil war.  Do you think President Obama's call for action is appropriate? I will continue to post additional videos/articles regarding this issue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

The Cycle of Hate

Below is a link to your assigned reading for Wednesday, September 11th, titled "Where does the hate come from?"  This article was published this past April in response to the Boston Marathon bombing.  Please read this carefully, take notes on it, and be prepared to discuss in class.  As you read, consider your own opinions about what Falguni A. Sheth has written about how "violence begets violence" and "force begets force."  Please feel free to comment at any time on these posts.  (There is a writing prompt assignment posted for this reading.)

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/16/on_boston_look_to_martin_luther_king_for_guidance/
(You can also find this reading in the Readings tab above)