Additional Extra Credit Opportunity

This is an extra credit opportunity. You can earn five extra points for each of the additional writings that you do up to 15 points total. The writings are not to be done in comment boxes but rather typed and turned in on the day of the final examination, December 12.

For additional extra credit worth 5 points each, you may consider the following:

Write a one-page bio on one of the author's in the "Minority Experience" or "Men and Women" sections.

Write a one-page review of a professional critique of one of the stories.

Write a one-page analysis of why a particular story appears in one or both of the thematic categories, using textual evidence.

For these writings, you should consider using sources such as ProQuest, Literature Resource Center, New York Times Featured Author, and The Internet Public Library (Literary Criticism).

Questions and Answers for "Storyteller"

This is an extra credit activity.

Please post the two questions that you created for "Storyteller" and also answer them in detailed paragraphs that provide textual evidence. After posting your own questions and answering them, answer two of your classmates' questions, using the same kind of detailed

Questions and Answers for "Gimpel the Fool"

This is an extra credit activity.

Please post the two questions that you created for "Gimpel the Fool" and also answer them in detailed paragraphs that provide textual evidence. After posting your own questions and answering them, answer two of your classmates' questions, using the same kind of detailed support.

Homework for Wednesday, November 21

For Wednesday, consider one of the following additional exercises regarding "A Worn Path" and write a detailed response.

1. How does the title relate to the short story itself? Why did the author (Welty, who is shown on the left) choose that title? What does the title highlight about the story?

2. What social classes are represented in the story? To what extent is each depicted? How does the author feel about them?

Questions and Answers for "A Worn Path"

Please post your two questions about "A Worn Path" here. Once you've posted your own, please answer two of your classmates' questions in detailed, supported responses.

Monday's Assignment

Good job to those of you who participated in the last post. Note that I've changed the look of the blog and added some helpful links for you. I hope that the papers are going well.

For Monday by midnight, please submit your own two questions for "The Sky is Gray" and answer any two of your classmates' questions. In your answers, please provide specific evidence from the story.

Good luck.

Here Are a Few Helpful Links for Writing About Literature

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/618/01/

http://www.umd.umich.edu/casl/hum/eng/jonsmith/writing.html


http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/literature.htm

Outlines and Reading Assignment

Hey folks,

Thanks to those of you who've already posted your thesis statements and commented on your classmates' theses.

In the previous post, I did forget to mention two things:

1. Please e-mail me your essay outline. Again, your outline should include the skeleton of your paper complete with thesis statement, topic sentences, and tentative textual evidence.

My address is tjohnson@greenriver.edu
(This is due by Thursday at midnight.)

2. Read pp. 20-45. These two chapters provide helpful information for developing your essay and include sample essays and research tools (don't forget you need to include two secondary sources).

Look for another post regarding the Gaines story by Friday. It won't be due until Monday, but some of you may want to finish sooner.

Remember if you have any questions about your essay, please let me know.

Good luck.

Thesis Statements

First, please post your thesis statement. Second, review two of your classmates' thesis statements. In the review, note whether the subject and focus are asserted well and also whether the thesis passes the so-what test. In other words, would you be interested in reading the whole paper.

Considerring "The Red Convertible," please write a detailed two paragrph response on the Native American life conveyed in the story.

Also please provide one question of your own. After you post your response and question, be sure to respond to two of your classmates' questions.

This is due on Monday at midnight.

Good luck.

Considerring "Battle Royal," please write a detailed paragraph on the grandfather's influence on the narrator.

Also provide one question of your own. After you've posted your own response and question, please respond to two of your classmates' questions.

This is due by Saturday at midnight.

Good luck.

Homework for Friday and Monday

Hey folks,

I'm sorry about class yesterday and inconvenience the cancellation might have created. This note is to give you the homework readings for Friday and Monday. The new posts will correspond to the readings.

For Friday: Read "The Battle Royal" and do two of the questions after the story. Also, please prepare one question of your own about the story.

For Monday: Read "The Red Convertible" and do two of the questions after the story. Also, please prepare one question of your own about the story.

Good luck.

"The Man Who Was Almost a Man" Response

In one detailed paragraph, explain how the gun changes Dave.