English
Order Description
Assignment Background: We have studied a number of themes so far this semester, many tied to family and religion. It is essential that you are able to identify and analyze themes in literature because it is the first step in being able to critically analyze the purpose of the various documents you come into contact with every day, especially in academia. Beyond that, this skill will help you to identify motives in advertisements, as well as those consuming the people around you. In the end, once you master theme identification and examination, your analytical super-powers will help you fight crime and injustice around the globe.
Writing Prompt: For this essay, you will choose two of the assigned selections (one from SECTION 1 and one from SECTION 2 of your syllabus) and identify one common theme that can be found in BOTH of your selections. Because we have not yet finished reading the novel, you may not choose that as part of this assignment. Your essay must analyze how the common theme is demonstrated in each story. This should be a cohesive essay that Compares and Contrasts the representation of the theme in the two readings.
*Your essay must include quotes from the readings to demonstrate your assertions.
Length Requirement: Essays must be at least 500 words, but may not exceed 1000.
Citation and Formatting Requirements: The purpose of this assignment is to make a connection between the two pieces of literature, so you must include passages from the reading with proper MLA in-text citations. No Works Cited page is required. If you fail to make connections with the text and leave out quotes and/or citations, your essay will be incomplete. All essays must follow MLA formatting rules. If you need an MLA format instruction sheet, please let me know. Remember, in academic writing, you should not include first or second person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours, you, your, yours) or contractions. And, your essay should include a clear and focused thesis statement that names the theme and the titles of the stories included in your discussion.
Due Date and Submission Requirements: Essays will be due as instructed on the Syllabus, and should be submitted (in Word doc/docx or RTF format) through the assignment link on Canvas by the due date, or as a hard-paper copy at the beginning of the week’s class meeting.
Please see below for Syllabus (section 1/2)
Weeks Assignments—To be completed BEFORE class
Section 1: Human Relationships
Week 1
Th 1/21 Intro to the Midwest—People, Income, Livelihood
In Class: Video
Introduction to 1950’s Chicago
Week 2
Th 1/28 Video, “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
Week 3
Th 2/4 Topic: African American Traditions in Middle America
Discussion of “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
Topic: African American Traditions (and Obstacles) in Middle America
Read: “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, p. 47-49
Read, “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, p. 38-41
Read: “Accountability” by Paul Laurence Dunbar
In Class: Video, “I Am Human” by Maya Angelou
Week 4
Th 2/11 Topic: Race and Religion
Read: “Salvation” by Langston Hughes, p. 10-13
Read: “The Mormon Experience” Supplemental Documents from Canvas
Discuss Movie Analysis Assignment and Assign Due Dates
Introduction to Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic
Week 5
Th 2/18
Topic: Gender Expectations in the Heartland
Read: “I Stand Here Ironing” by Tillie Olson, p. 2-9
Due: Topic Reflection Paragraph–Submit through Discussion Board on Canvas before class
Due: 2 Movie Analysis Presentations and Written Movie Reviews
Section 2: The Land Ethic and Small Town America
Week 6
Th 2/25 Topic: The Land Ethic and Farming
Read: “Dust Bowl History and Stories”, p. 18-27
In Class: Video, The Dust Bowl Era
Novel Discussion: Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic.
Read: Destiny of the Republic, Part 1
Due: 2 Movie Analysis Presentations and Written Movie Reviews
Week 7
Th 3/3 Topic: Land Ethic
Read: A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, p.14-17
Topic: Farming
Read: “So God Made a Farmer” by Paul Harvey, p. 89
Due: Millard Reading Analysis 1—Submit Online Before Class
Due: 3 Movie Analysis Presentations and Written Movie Reviews
Week 8
Th 3/10 Topic: Small Town America
Read: “A Clean Well-Lighted Place,” by Ernest Hemingway, p. 109-116
Read: “Paper Pills” by Sherwood Anderson (from Winesburg, Ohio), p. 105-108
Novel Discussion: Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic.
Read: Destiny of the Republic, Part 2
Due: Topic Reflection Paragraph–Submit through Discussion Board on Canvas before class
Due: Response Essay 1–Submit online before Sunday (10/18) 11:55 p.m.
Due: 2 Movie Analysis Presentations and Written Movie Reviews
Spring Break March 14-20: Be Safe. Be Smart. Enjoy the Break.
The Professor will be off-line and the college will be closed.