Archives for September 2015

HW12D due 9/21: Draft and The Raven

September 17, 2015 By

1. Our First Poem–Consider this an exercise in getting to know one another and an exercise in conscious manipulation of sound in our poetry. First choose the subject for you poem. That subject must be the feeling/emotion with which you are most closely acquainted. Let’s consider feelings/emotions as people. Which one do you know best? Give it life in poetic form. The one condition in this poem is that you must use one or more of the poetic devices we have talked about (i.e. alliteration, assonance, and consonance). Pay attention to the sound of your piece. Don’t overdo the alliteration as you could achieve an effect that you didn’t intend.

Every other aspect of the poem is up to you. But you must make creative decision consciously! Meaning, if your poem is literal, then it is literal for a reason. If you rely heavily on imager, then you do so for a reason. And so on. Number of stanzas and length of stanzas are up to you. Remember, poetry is the best words in the best order! This is a draft with the final, typed version to be due on Tuesday.

2. The Raven–Print, Read and Annotate the poem. Most of you I am sure have read it already…good! Focus your annotations on sound…all techniques employed to affect the sound of the piece.

HW10 due 9/21: Where are You Going…

September 17, 2015 By

1. Research and take notes on Joyce Carol Oates.  These notes should be written in the notes section of your binder.  As you are researching Oates, consider what details are important to understanding/appreciating her writing.  Note those details.
2. Read and annotate Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where are you Going, Where have you Been?” (click the link for a copy of the short story). Review the annotating expectations in the course syllabus. Focus your annotations on thematic observations. I am very interested in what you annotate and why you annotated it!
3. Have a great weekend!

HW12H due 9/21: The Encounter with Nothingness

September 17, 2015 By

1.  Read and annotate William Barrett’s The Encounter with Nothingness (Second reading in the packet). Be sure to read all three parts (the third part being Science and Finitude). Barrett’s reading will give us just a nugget of context before we move ahead. Remember, you must annotate all readings for this class! Failure to do so will result in a zero!  You will learn how to provide some focus to your annotations.  Ultimately, focused annotating prepares you for your reading responses, formal essays, and class discussions.  To annotate is to supply with critical or explanatory notes:

  • identifying lines that resonate with you, confuse you, or make you want to know more
  • asking questions of general thematic/philosophical value
  • tracking the development of a theme that may connect to one or more of the philosophical readings or other fiction.

2. Forum Response–#1: The Encounter with Nothingness

HW12D due 9/17: Handouts and Six Words and Letter to Rilke

September 16, 2015 By

1. Print out the following, put them in a folder and have them with you everyday in class!

2. A Letter to Rilke–(In your poetry journal) This letter should be a response to Rilke’s first letter. The more authentic your response, the more meaningful this exercise. The tone/voice of the letter should reflect your own tone/voice as related to the content of your letter. Let’s see how you do without a length requirement; I only ask that it be a meaningful composition.

3. The three rules of Poetry Seminar:

  • Take your time
  • Don’t be afraid
  • Always have a notebook with you (Fry)

HW12 due 9/17: Man’s Search for Meaning In-Class Essay

September 15, 2015 By

Per Man’s Search for Meaning, what is Viktor Frankl’s view of the human condition?

Ultimately your objective for this essay is to craft a thesis reflecting Frankl’s view of the human condition. TONIGHT, you can write out the thesis for this essay.

The following are major players in his argument:

  1. Frankl titles Part II of his text “Logotherapy in a Nutshell.”  Scholars suggest his thesis here can be reduced to the Freidrich Nietzsche quote (Remember, Frankl himself cites it on numerous occasions):

“He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”

  1. Inner life/value and spiritual freedom
  2. Discovering meaning in life in three different ways:
  • By creating a work or doing a deed
  • By experiencing something or encountering someone (Love)
  • By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering

*In this essay do not merely write that Frankl believes we can attain meaning in three different ways. That is a gross simplification of his existential view and logotherapy. While I do not expect to see mastery in this essay, I do expect to see sophisticated control of his argument.

Your essay should demonstrate control/understanding of both Part I and Part II of the text. So both parts of the book should be explored in your essay. This essay is unlike English essays of the past!  Your thesis is actually what you believe to be Frankl’s argument. There should be no critical discussion!

Be sure to bring in your copy of Man’s Search for Meaning and your notes!

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