Quiz Questions from last week, and Zizek Think-Piece

Hey Guys,

Here are the questions from last week that everyone answered in their Notebooks last week:

1. What does Billy Dream that he is when he is high on Morphine?

2. How does the scene with the punched prisoner mimic a scene with the Trafalmadorians? Specifically, what words are exchanged that are similar?

3. While Billy is talking with Valencia in the hospital, what does she talk about that reveals something about her personality? What does it reveal about her?

4. In Chapter 5, at which two points does he insert himself? The author, not Billy Pilgrim, but Vonnegut?

5. There's time travel, and there's the alien abduction. Billy comes unstuck in time in 1944 (in the snow with Weary), and then abducted in 1967 (the night of his daughter's wedding). Why are these seperate events? What function does time travel have, that the abduction does not?

Answer these in full short responses, in your notebook.

*****

Also, since I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to distribute incendiary material, I'm going to attach the Zizek article that I mentioned in class that helped me feel better about the current state of things in America. Plus I think it is a good think piece about a very real concern today.

http://inthesetimes.com/features/zizek_clinton_trump_lesser_evil.html

Homework for Week 10 and Week 11 EDIT!!!!!!!

Hey Class,

Here's a brief review about the Homework that's due on Wednesday:

1. Continue Reading "SH5" through chapter 7

2. Thesis Statement, AND TYPED  outline of your argument details - your Paragraph Topics

3. READ TWO ARTICLES ASSIGNED FOR ESSAY # 3

I know you all know what that looks like, but here's link to a good example:

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE

See you guys weds!!!

-

Essay #3 Prompt

Hey Guys,

Here is the prompt for Essay #3:

Essay #3 will be based on the novel Slaughterhouse Five and THREE articles: "How America's Leading Science Fiction Authors Are Shaping Your Future," "Changing Memories to Treat PTSD," and one essay or piece of research that YOU must find yourself. I don't want a google article, so use the Library database.

Slaughterhouse Five tells the realistic story of Billy Pilgrim's World War Two experiences, juxtaposed with the science fiction elements of time-travel and alien abduction. How does Vonnegut use the combination of these two elements to illustrate the effects of war-time trauma on soldiers? How is Billy trying (or not trying) to deal with his trauma? Furthermore, what comment is the novel making on our "choices" as people, or members of our society?

- Answer all questions clearly and directly.
- Use direct quotes from the novel and the three articles
- You may also include personal experience and observations as evidence if they are relevant.

Final Draft Due Thursday,
November 23, 2016

- 4.5 - 7 pages
- Use proper MLA format
- Include extensive quotes (At least 2 quotes per paragraph) and paraphrases from the three sources
- Include a correctly formatted works cited page

ESSAYS for HW, and for use in Essay #3

Hey Guys,

Here are a couple of essays that you are going to read over the weekend, annotate, and use as source material as you build your argument for essay #3.


"Changing Memories to Treat PTSD" by Cari Romm

"How Americas Leading Science Fiction Authors are Shaping Your Future" by Eileen Gunn

We'll talk about them in class a little today, and then I'll post some discussion questions to help you as you read through the articles.

See you soon!!!

HW for Week 7

Hey Class, so here is the Homework for week 7:

1. Make sure to read chapter 5 of Slaughterhouse 5. It's only one chapter, but its a beefy one, and it's a really important one for the story.

2. Based on the prompt from the previous post, choose an injustice (whichever you feel the most drawn to) and think about what subject you want to focus on. Then, for the sake of preparation for Weds in class essay, write a thesis statement (detail an "injustice", and tell me why it is a problem). Or don't, but the draft you write in class NEEDS A CLEAR THESIS STATEMENT so form one over the weekend

- It would be wise of you to also make a brief outline of your argument's paragraphs so that you have a skeleton of what you want your essay to consist of. Pre-writing will not be required for this essay, although it would definitely influence my grading of your paper if you chose to draft some and turned them in with the final product

THEN, find a newspaper article or an essay or an excerpt from a book that discusses your "injustice." You are going to be required to use references/quotes from the article on Weds, so make sure you find an article that YOU CAN PRINT UP or PHOTOCOPY. You need to be able to reference the article or essay or book excerpt while writing the essay, so bring the article to class. I will be checking to make sure you printed it out and brought it Weds, and it will be part of the overall grade, so make it happen. 

So the short version of your hw this week:
1. Read
2. Write a thesis for your In Class essay and Print an Article or Essay of some sort to reference in said essay.

Send me your questions
David

In Class Essay (Essay #2) Prompt

Essay #2 Prompt (in class):

There are social injustices everywhere in today’s culture, and it is very hard to look past any of them. That said, some injustices are still swept under the rug and ignored by mainstream media, or skewed in a way that may make the idea unimportant. Think of injustices such as (but not limited to) sexism, racism, ageism, bullying, religious intolerance, political intolerance, or anything else that you find personal stake in and that you think is worthy of a wider discussion. Argue why you think it is an important issue, and talk about what exactly needs to change to help the issue see more light so it can have a chance at someday being diffused. Be as specific as possible. Be as detailed as possible. Be as angry as you like.

Make sure your essay is no less than than two and half full double spaced pages. Essay must have a clear introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email, talk to me to set up an appointment for office hours, or flag me down if you see me power walking out of the parking lot and ask me a question then.

*****

I will specify what your hw is for tonight, in preparation for this essay.

HW For Week Five

Hey Class,

Here's a reminder of the homework for this week:

1. Buy the Books - Especially the novel, because you are expected to read the first two chapters over the weekend.

2. Short Response #3:  Read the first two chapters (at least START the second chapter; I know it's a lot at once) of Slaughterhouse Five, and write a short response that reflects  how you feel at that point of the novel. In addition to that reflection, I want you to pick one of the themes that we discussed today in class (Free Will vs Fate / Time / Wartime and its effects / The Fool Character or Scapegoat / etc.) and apply it to the book. Which theme did you find? Find an example to maybe share in class. Even if not to share, find an example.

3. Short Response #4: Read Chapter 9 of "They Say I Say" (Link emailed to you for precaution) titled "Aint so / Is not", then do  the two activities at the end of the section.

THESE SHOULD BOTH BE TYPED, MLA FORMATTED.

If you have any questions, let me know!

And I'll be 100% next weds; thank you to everyone for coming ready to work. We'll go full writing mode next week.

David