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Blog Posting 1: So Long a Letter
Due by 5pm on Friday 2/9
Address one of the following questions:
1. In Mariama Bâ's So Long a Letter, the protagonist sends letters to a friend in America. What difference does it make that she is sending them to America? How does American identity and how do ideas about America emerge in the letters?
2. Conversely, what do we learn about Senagalese identity because the heroine is describing it to her friend who has left for America?
3. At the close of her letter, Ramatoulaye asks, "The word 'happiness' does have meaning, doesn't it?" (Bâ 89). What does happiness mean in the novel?
Your 250-word posting will assert an argument that analyzes at least two quotations from the novel. In doing so, consider her language and word choice and tone as she conveys identity and national identity. Your posting should also analyze at least one image of an object or location to which Bâ refers.
Remember to proofread.
Your posting should include a list of Works Cited, including all sources you consult, including So Long a Letter using correct MLA format. You can check the “Formatting Quotations” guide here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
Blog Posting 2: Persepolis
Due by 5pm on Friday 3/2
In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi adopts the graphic form to narrate the protagonist's development. Your second posting will use the templates from They Say/ I Say to assert a thesis interpreting the significance of at least one frame from pages 47 ("The Heroes")-153 ("The Soup"). Include in your posing an image of the frame or frames you interpret.
After selecting your frame or frames, assert a thesis that responds to one of the following questions, analyzing at least two quotations from the book to support your argument.
1.) What does the frame and its style teach us about the protagonist or another character at this moment in the book? Why is this important to the book as a whole?
2.) Why is it significant that a moment differs in the book and the film? What do we learn as a result?
3.) What does Satrapi leave out of or unsaid in a frame and how would the scene and book be different if it were included?
Remember you do not need to summarize the book; assume others have read it.
Your blog posting will be at least 250 words. Remember to use your own words and cite all sources you consult using correct MLA format. Also remember that MLA style does not include commas in parenthetical citations. You can also check the “Formatting Quotations” guide here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
Blog Posting 3: Rushdie Stories
Due by 5pm on Friday 3/30
In your third blog posting, you will respond to one of the following questions, focusing on either Salman Rushdie's story "The Free Radio" or "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," or aspects of both stories. Use the templates in They Say/I Say to assert an argument that you will support with your own analysis of at least two quotations from the story or stories you address.
1.) How is at least one of Rushdie's stories relevant in today's world? What in them should readers know? What allows us to better understand our world and what light does our world shed on that of the stories?
2.) What is the role of power in at least one of Rushdie's stories? How is it similar to or differ from the ways we have seen power function in at least one other text we have read this term? Why is this similarity or difference significant?
3.) What role or roles does gender play in at least one of Rushdie's stories? How does one or both stories address masculinity?
Your blog posting will be at least 250 words and is due by 5pm. Remember to use your own words and cite all sources you consult using MLA format.
Blog Posting 4: Untouchable
Due by 5pm on Friday 4/6
In Mulk Raj Anand’s novel Untouchable the protagonist Bhaka takes us through his day. Use the templates in They Say/I Say to assert an argument that you will support with your own analysis of at least two quotations from the novel.
1.) How is Untouchable relevant in today's world? What in them should readers know? What allows us to better understand our world and what light does our world shed on that of the novel?
2.) What is the role of power in Untouchable? How is it similar to or differ from the ways we have seen power function in at least one other text we have read this term? Why is this similarity or difference significant?
3.) What role or roles does gender play in Untouchable? How does it address masculinity?
Your blog posting will be at least 250 words. Remember to cite all sources you consult using correct MLA format.
Blog Posting Instructions
Throughout the term you will post on the dates indicated on the syllabus. You must also comment on at least one of your peers’ blog postings within 48 hours of the date in which each blog posting is due. Our blog will be limited to members of our class and not available to the public. The instructor will provide an assignment for the postings indicated on the syllabus, but you are also welcome to post and comment whenever you feel inspired to do so.
Your blog entries must be at least 250 words and analyze quotations from the text as well as an image, sound, or video clip that you will include or indicate with a link.
Blog postings provide an opportunity to shed light on the contexts that inform the texts we will read. You should build from the topics we have addressed in class and in our projects, taking the readings a step further and posing questions for your classmates to consider. The blog is also a place where you can receive feedback as you develop your projects.
You must use MLA citation format to acknowledge the sources to which you refer or the images or media you incorporate in your posting.
To be counted as one of your four required comments, a comment must be posted within 24 hours of a blog's due date. You can post additional comments at any time.
For MLA style see https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
For quoting practices see: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/563/01/
and https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
For avoiding plagiarism see: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/930/10/
Blog Rubric
The instructor will evaluate your blog postings using the following rubric. Grades will be posted on Blackboard.
4: Exceptional. The blog post has a focused thesis and coherently integrates examples with explanations or analysis. The post demonstrates awareness of its own limitations or implications, and it considers multiple perspectives when appropriate. The entry reflects in-depth engagement with the topic. It also demonstrates correct use of grammar, punctuation, and MLA style.
3: Satisfactory. The blog post is reasonably focused, and explanations or analysis are mostly based on examples or other evidence. Fewer connections are made between ideas, and though new insights are offered, they are not fully developed. The post reflects moderate engagement with the topic. It contains some errors in use of grammar, punctuation, or MLA style.
2: Underdeveloped. The blog post is mostly description or summary, without consideration of alternative perspectives, and few connections are made between ideas. The post reflects passing engagement with the topic. It contains many errors in use of grammar, punctuation, or MLA style.
1: Limited. The blog post is unfocused, or simply rehashes previous comments, and displays no evidence of student engagement with the topic.
0: No Credit. The blog post is missing or consists of one or two disconnected sentences.
Adapted from https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/a-rubric-for-evaluating-student-blogs/27196