Weekly Reading, Watching, and Discussion Assignments
Part I: Original
Essay Posts
A.
For
every separate reading or film in the unit you will post a short essay by Friday
at midnight. Each post will consist of a 350-word (325-375 words) essay that
synthesizes the following 5 questions/statements:
1.
Determine
the one central question that the author/film is asking you to consider,
and why you consider that to be the primary question.
2.
Breakdown
the answer to that question into its major points: How does the author/film go
about defending that central question.
3.
Give
your best interpretation of the text/film. Explain it to me as if I had not
encountered it before! Being able to teach it is crucial, as it demonstrates
your understanding and application of the material.
4.
What
does the text/film reveal about the mindset of the era and culture?
· Please go beyond
surface level/common knowledge stuff here. For example, while it is true that our
culture still has problems with sexism and racism, these things are generally
accepted as true. So, saying something like, “This film showed that racism
still exists,” is not a profound analysis. Try to discover something unique or idiosyncratic
about the author or film’s concept that goes beyond the glaringly obvious.
5.
At
least one other thing that grabs your attention or seems really cool or
important.
·
Provide the word count of each essay!
B.
This course involves readings on society and politics, and at the
risk of sounding sound cynical and mean-spirited, there are some things that I
have grown weary of over the years, and that I DO NOT want to see in any of your work.
1.
This is not an opportunity to say whether you like the
reading or not, or whether you find it boring, or stupid. This is an assessment
of the author’s argument.
2.
Always be respectful of the author/filmmaker, even if you strongly disagree.
At this point in our intellectual journeys we should be well beyond
disparaging, belittling, or one-dimensional criticisms (known as a “missing the
point” logical fallacy, in which the reader jumps on one small detail while
missing the larger picture/argument).
3.
Avoid all ad hominem logical fallacies. Saying things like “she is a
liberal,” or “he is conservative” as some reason why the author is wrong, has
nothing to do with the author’s argument or the merit of what he or she is
saying.
4.
I
am also not interested in
listening to “political rants” of any kind, in any of your essays or responses.
5.
As
I said, we should be well beyond these elementary forms of writing and
thinking, yet they are still quite common. If I see any of these items in your
postings I will A) send you an email to cease and desist, and B) deduct your
grade accordingly. These readings and assignments are meant to pique,
challenge, and reflect, nothing more.
C.
After
you have posted your essay, you will be able to see other students’ essays. By
Sunday night at midnight please provide a short 200-word response (190-210
words) for each reading/film that reflects on other students’ essays.
1.
In
your Discussion Response, simply hit the “reply” button to your own original
post, and include the following:
2.
Tell
me at least 1 thing from 3 other essays that you understand or take away now
from other classmates’ essays that you did not think about or quite get before and
why you find each new idea significant.
3.
So,
that is three things total, each one from a different student. Feel free to put
more if you’d like.
4.
Please
identify the student’s name from whose essay you gained an insight.
·
The
purpose here is to reflect on the week’s discussion of the texts, to integrate
it into your own intellectual development.
·
This is not the
time, place, or platform to air out any disagreements with someone’s posting; rather it is an
intellectual reflection, so stick with the positive.
·
Provide the word count of each response!
D.
Late-Work
Policy: Assignments turned in after the midnight deadlines will be reduced by 20%
for each day late.
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