Monty Python Can Teach You About Rhet & Comp

Monday, March 28, 2011

This week, read Chapter Four of Oscar. Journal #7 should be about Chapter 3. Your answer should do the following: 1. Briefly describe Beli's life. 2. The chapter is called the three heartbreaks of Beli Cabral. What are her heartbreaks? 3. What does the end of Chapter 3 makes you think about the rest of the book?

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Most stayed away. Those who came in were treated to one on one writing help. Since the class on which the upcoming assignment was based got scrapped, your only work for the weekend is Chapter 3 of Oscar. Stay tuned for a journal on Chapter 3 which will be forthcoming.

Monday, March 21, 2011 -- Brief and Wondrous Monday after Spring Break

Answer each question as completely as possible. Points will be awarded for how specifically your answer references the novel and displays comprehension of the events within. For at least, consider using at least one, or up to three direct reference to plot points that evince the answers.

1. What is fuku, and what is its effect on the other characters?
2. Contrast the narrators between the first two chapters.
3. Contrast pre-pubescent Oscar with adolescent/teenage Oscar.
4. Describe the "Dominican ideal of manhood" that Oscar must contend with. Why is it particularly difficult for him?
5. Describe the important familial confrontation that takes places in our own, beloved Cape/Atlantic portion of South Jersey. Why is it an important moment? Briefly describe what you predict will become of Lola.

Choose one of these questions and blow out your answer to a full page.

Please have Chapter 3 read by next week...it's loooooong, so don't underestimate it.

Rhetoric and Composition, Monday, February 28th & Wednesday. March 2nd

For Wednesday's class, be sure to read all given materials. Also, be sure you have spent time with the issues outlined on previous posts of the blog (Pakistan and Egypt). 

WRITE: Formal Essay #3:

Synthesis of the Reluctant Fundamentalist

This paper will be at least three pages long. Please do not just stop cold when you hit three pages, I have witnessed with this class a tendency to rush to an ending after you hit the required length.

Each family will work on the same topic (five possible topics in all). I am assigning it this way so that you may use your families for guidance and help. Topics will be assigned during class today. You will be given the last few minutes of class to brainstorm and discuss your topic with your family before heading off to write. Also, each family should be able to provide some interesting oral insights for each topic when we discuss them.

Use outside resources (consider looking at those that have been posted to the blog) to assist you in crafting your answer. Check out websites. Do a Google search. Read the interviews. Listen to the audio and podcasts. Attribute and cite these resources. Integration, relevance and attribution of sources will be graded. Use Hacker to guide your creation of an APA or MLA works cited page (Don't worry about perfection in this area, yet, we will go over this next month).

The Latest on Lahore

Rhetoric and Composition, Wednesday, February 24, 2011

Before tackling your assignments for this weekend, please spend some time on the PBS companion site for this issue. Click the post for the link. Look at the timeline, watch some of the supporting media. Read the words of journalists, activists and politicians. Now I know I have no way of policing this, but I would like you to spend some significant time educating yourself on this resonating, history-making moment. Read and watch what interests you. Challenge yourself to become well-versed in this complicated, but important issue. Impress your friends with your knowledge of current events and world issues. Maybe...now I know I'm getting altruistic here....maybe even get involved. Information from the video and website will and should be incorporated into subsequent work with Reluctant Fundamentalist.

Rhetoric and Composition, Monday, February 20, 2011

Stockton says, "To heck with Presidents...we don't care how many vampires you killed, Abe,  we got schoolin' to do!"

Today we start class with some fam time. Get in your families and review your last two journals to refresh your memories on them. Then one or two people from each fam should volunteer to read to the fam. Discuss the core questions of the topics at hand to warm-up for class-wide discussions.

As our discussions move to Changez, I am hoping you noticed the creepy comparisons of art imitating life or vice versea in Pakistan over the past few weeks. If the name Raymond Davis means nothing to you now, please rectify that. Is he the real life version of the nameless American within the novel?

Rhetoric & Composition, Weekend of February 17, 2011

READ: Clarity section of Hacker / RF should be completed by Wednesday, February 23.

WRITE: edit of formal essay #1

Don't Be Confused...

Costal's Rhetoric and Composition will meet this afternoon, Monday, February 14, 2011, as planned.