WCU - Spring 2005 LIT 165 Assignments

~~ LIT 165 Assignments ~~

DATE DUE	ASSIGNMENT
FINALS WEEK	Hand in portfolios along with Independent Project. Portfolios should contain the graded Paper #1 and Paper #2. Bring your work to my office (Main 312) during the final exam period. M/W/F: Monday, May 1 (1 - 3 PM) in Main 312 T/R: Tuesday, May 2 (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM) in Main 312
WEEK 15	We are wrapping up the course. Concluding comments. Hand in Paper #3, fill out course evaluations.
4/25 - 4/27	M/W/F 2:00: Note—no class on Monday 4/25—optional conferences in Main 312. Paper #3 is due in class on Tues. 4/26 or Wed. 4/27. Please arrive promptly to participate in course evaluations.
WEEK 14	We're continuing work on *Waiting for Godot.*
4/18 - 4/22	Class discussion on *Waiting for Godot*. Read the handout "Before the Law" by Franz Kafka.
WEEK 13	We're beginning work on *Waiting for Godot.*
4/11 - 4/15	Complete reading *Waiting for Godot* by Wed., 4/13 or Thurs., 4/14, depending on your section. Homework: due Tuesday, 4/19 or Friday, 4/15: Go online (Wikipedia.com is a great source) and define the following terms: existentialism, nihilism, theater of the absurd, abstract expressionism.
WEEK 12	We're continuing with assigned readings.
4/4 - 4/8	M/W/F 2:00: In-class writing on "Cockroaches" and "Axolotl." If you missed class on Wed. 4/6/05, you can access the in-class writing assignment here. Read "Cockroaches" (p. 411) and "Axolotl" (p. 424) in Fantastic Worlds for 4/6 or 4/7. [T/R 12:30 class has a writing assignment due on Thursday, 4/7 in lieu of class. If you missed the assignment in class you can access it here.] Read "EPICAC" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. in Fantastic Worlds (p. 372)

WEEK 11	We're screening 1984 in class this week. M/W/F 2:00 class will also screen Gattaca. Follow up with a reading of Emily Dickinson's poem, "Much Madness is Divinest Sense."

WEEK 10	We're finishing work on Brave New World this week. M/W/F 2:00 Informal Writing (homework): Explore chapters 16 and 17 and write 1-2 paragraphs about who you think has the more compelling argument, Mustapha Mond, John (the Savage) or Helmholtz Watson. Due Wed. 3/23 or Thurs. 3/24. T/R 12:30 Informal Writing (classwork): The assignment sheet for the in-class writing assignment is available here.
*******	Extra Credit Opportunity: SUPPOSE, right here, right now, this summer, you have access to a time machine that can travel to an infinite number of potential futures in parallel universes. You punch in a random code and find yourself in the Brave New World. You stay awhile, observing the culture, the people, the curious scenery. When it's time to leave you feel different, like you've experienced something. When you return you realize what you've gained is an understanding of more than just this one potential future—you've realized many things about the present, our present. You try to capture and communicate what that something is in words, so you can share it with the rest of us….

WEEK 9	We're starting work on Brave New World.

3/14 - 3/18	Define "utopia" and "dystopia." Write up your definitions and bring them to class on Wed. 3/16. (Extra credit opportunity: Define "transhuman" and relate it to Brave New World.)

SPRING BREAK!	Enjoy!! Please read Brave New World over spring break.

WEEK 8	We're finishing work on the Inferno.

2/28 - 3/4	M: Read up to Canto XVII; Tu: Read up to XXIX; W: Read up to XXIX; Th: Read up to XXXIV; Fri: Read up to XXXIV..

WEEK 7	We're continuing work on the Inferno.

2/25/05	Read up to Canto XVII (17) in the Inferno.
2/22/05 and 2/23/05	Informal Writing (classwork): (1) Discuss how you think the Inferno connects with our general course theme, "imaginary worlds." (2) Select a Canto (up to or beyond X, if you're reading ahead) that strikes you, then (a) summarize it, (b) interpret one or more passages, and (c) write at least one question you have. Your question can be any type (interpretation or comprehension). You can write additional questions about other portions of the book as well.
2/22/05 and 2/23/05	In the Inferno, read up to Canto XVII (17) by Friday 2/25. In the Inferno, read ahead to Canto XXIX (29) by Monday 2/28 and to Canto XXXIV (34) by Wednesday 3/2.
2/22/05 and 2/23/05	Read up to Canto X in the Inferno.

WEEK 6	Your first paper will be due this week. Also, we're beginning work on the Inferno. Read through Canto V.

2/15/05 and 2/16/05	Paper #1 is DUE. Reading assignment: Start reading the Inferno, and get as far ahead in it as you can. I encourage you to make use of some of the web resources I've linked to. At the least, by Thursday/Friday (2/17 or 2/18), read at least up to Canto V.
2/14/05	Bring a draft of your essay to class for a writing workshop.

WEEKS 4 + 5	Read the assigned pages in Fantastic Worlds: see the dates below.

2/10/05	Bring a draft of your essay to class for a writing workshop.
2/4/05 or 2/8/05	Informal writing (homework): Imagine you are a painter. Describe a painting you've created that you would like to "enter," as Niggle enters his painting. Write a narrative about your visit. Read "The Birthmark" in Fantastic Worlds. Informal writing (classwork): Four questions assigned in class. (2/4 or 2/8) Topics for your first formal paper are due on Tues. 2/8 or Wed. 2/9. The assignment sheet is available online.
1/31/05 and 2/3/05	Read "Leaf by Niggle" in Fantastic Worlds. (Optional: Read "On Fairy Stories" by J.R.R. Tolkien, available online).

WEEK 3	Read the assigned pages in Fantastic Worlds: see the dates below.

*******	Extra Credit Opportunity: Think of an item/object you own, or one you'd like to own, that has a special meaning or importance to you. Imagine how this object was first created and imagine its journey to you. Write two tales describing that journey (they don't need to be equal in length or equal in any other way). One should be "realistic" (this is how it "probably" happened) and one can be completely imaginary and perhaps even intentionally fanciful. When you finish the two versions, write a separate paragraph to reflect on: (1) which tale is more "interesting" to you; (2) which seems more "true"; and (3) which do you think you'll be more likely to remember longer?
1/26/05	Still working on The Myth of Narcissus, The Myth of Acteon, and the Myth of Narcissus
1/24,25/05	Read the next three stories in Fantastic Worlds: The Myth of Narcissus, The Myth of Actaeon, and the Myth of Narcissus

WEEK 2	Read the assigned pages is Fantastic Worlds: see the dates below.

1/20,21/05	No new assignment.
1/18, 19/05	Read pp. 3-39 in Fantastic Worlds. Also read Genesis (Old Testament) (tale) (FW 41); The Blackfoot Genesis (Native American) (FW 47); The Eye of the Giant (African, Ghana) (FW 53); How I Brought Death Into the World (African, Nigerian) (FW 56) In class writing: In a paragraph, discuss whether you are personally inclined to read "Genesis 1-3" literally or metaphorically.


WEEK 1	Read the handouts. Read pp. 3-39 in Fantanstic Worlds
1/14/05	Writing Assignment: Informal 1-2 pgs. The two readings "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" and "The Zebra Storyteller" both have something to say about the role of the imagination in our lives. I'd like you to explore what you think is the role of the imagination in our practical lives. How do you use imagination? What are the dangers, if any? What are the benefits?
1/12/05	Write a 1-2 page response to "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" and "The Zebra Storyteller." You can go in any direction you choose--you can write a personal response, an interpretation, an analysis; you can respond in some way creatively to one or the other or both. The main requirement is that you read and think (or explore your feelings) and put some energy into your written response. (I will collect this on Friday!—so sorry I forgot to collect them today.)