Archives for March 2017

Due 4/3: Siddhartha and Surprise!

March 31, 2017 By

1. Siddhartha–Read and annotate With the Samanas and Gotama. Among other things, focus your annotating on connections to The Alchemist.

What a great experience this week, folks! I look forward to the Siddhartha experience and all that that entails as we move ahead. We have come upon a number of Leon traditions: E-Media Fast, Mandala, and………….the One and Done essay:

2. SURPRISE! Keep in mind Right View, Intention, and Speech! 🙂

(Due Friday, 4/7) The Alchemist Essay (2 pages)– ANYTHING OVER 2 PAGES WILL NOT BE READ. Make every word, every sentence, every paragraph count! Be sure to print out and read the rubric closely. This is a close-reading essay, meaning you should focus on one or two very specific aspects of the novel and build your argument only around that. For instance:

  • Symbolism of the sheep
  • The dichotomy of the old woman and the old man
  • Nameless characters
  • Symbolism of the oasis
  • The role of the Crystal Merchant
  • The role of fate (keeping in mind the great lie)
  • Symbolism of the desert
  • Etc…

You have just one draft for this essay: the final draft. Any prewriting and editing along the way is up to you. This 2 page essay gives me an opportunity to see just what you have learned thus far this year. So, I expect to see the following:

  • Necessary intro that prepares your thesis
  • Thesis that clearly articulates point(s) of analysis and a compelling/substantive argument
  • Topic sentences that clearly articulate an insightful assertion
  • Properly introduced evidence
  • Evidence that meaningfully illustrates/illuminates your point and is worth discussing.
  • Analysis that is focused on the evidence and is insightful/substantive.
  • A writing style that relies on active verbs and very few passive to be or to have verbs.
  • Structurally sound sentences.

Due 4/4: Transcendentalism

March 31, 2017 By

1. Transcendentalism–Print, read, and annotate the following poems by Walt Whitman:

Song of Myself
I Sit and Look Out

2. (Due Thursday, 4/6) Transcendental Poem–As for all poetry, be aware of how you are using words to create image/meaning. Thematically, you should weave characteristics of Transcendental poetry into your poem. We will know more about Transcendentalism after Monday’s class (and of course after reading the Whitman poems above).

Due 4/3: Nausea

March 31, 2017 By

1. Nausea–Read and annotate through p. 30. Keep the following in mind while annotating:

“The strangest thing is that I am not at all inclined to call myself insane, I clearly see that I am not: all these changes concern objects. At least, that is what I’d like to be sure of.” (2)

“Something has happened to me, I can’t doubt it any more.” (4)

Also keep in mind that this novel chronicles Roquentin’s existential illness and his road to understanding and “recovery.”

2. Class Forum–Remember to bring a printed copy of your response to class.

Due 3/30: Browning

March 29, 2017 By

1. Reading–Read and annotate Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s How do I Love Thee? and A Curse for a Nation. Again, here is a link to the Poetry Seminar Packet (which includes all poems for the class).

Due 3/30: Nausea

March 29, 2017 By

1. Nausea–Read and annotate up p. 11.

2. Schopenhauer–Be prepared to discuss both essays tomorrow.

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