|
Login to
MyGateway
Other Links:
FC
Library
CE
6
View
open classes
for
Spring 2010
(updated hourly)
| |
|
Page updated:
19-Oct-2009 01:50 AM |
|
|
Weeks
1-2
closed |
Thread 1: Welcome
Message
Post your Welcome message and then reply to another student.
|
|
Week 3
closed
|
Thread 1: Critique of
"A Look into the Alien World of Freshwater
Aquariums"
Based on the criteria for Essay 1, offer your critique of "A
Look into the Alien World of Freshwater Aquariums" a sample student essay on the Wiredprof.com website. Point out its
strengths and weaknesses and how well it achieves the objectives of the
assignment. Your initial commentary posting is due by midnight
Wednesday
(02-SEP-2009). Be sure to respond to at least one other classmate's response
by Saturday of this week to receive full credit.
Thread 2: "Diaper
Duty" Critique
Based on the criteria for Essay 1, offer your critique of "Diaper
Duty" a sample student essay on the Wiredprof.com website. Point out its
strengths and weaknesses and how well it achieves the objectives of the
assignment.
Your initial commentary posting is due by midnight
Wednesday
(02-SEP-2009). Be sure to respond to at least one other classmate's response
by Saturday of this week to receive full credit.
|
|
Week 4 |
No Discussion Postings this week.
Please use your time to work on revising and editing your draft of Essay 1 and
to study for the 2 quizzes. |
|
Week 5
closed |
Post your initial response
(commentary) to both of the 2 discussion threads for the Thoreau readings by
Wednesday,
16-SEP by midnight. Then, respond to at least one other student by
Saturday, 19-SEP midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: Self-Reliance and "Civil Disobedience"
Thoreau makes
reference to “self-reliance” in both direct and indirect ways. Find at least 1
passage and comment on how it relates relate to his essay on “Civil
Disobedience.” Do your best to find a passage that no
one else in class has located.
Thread 2:
Biblical Allusions in "Civil Disobedience"
Thoreau’s essay,
"Civil Disobedience" is filled with biblical allusions. Find and explain how he
uses at least two (2) of them.
|
|
Week 6
closed |
Post your initial response
(commentary) to both of the 2 discussion threads for the Thoreau readings by
Wednesday,
23-SEP by midnight. Then, respond to at least one other student by
Saturday, 26-SEP midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: "Life Without Principle" and Money
A good deal of
“Life Without Principle” is devoted to a critique of money. Comment on
Thoreau’s views of money and the extent to which it is
relevant to our modern society.
Thread 2: "Life Without Principle" Quote
Please
debate the relevance or "Truth" of this quote from Thoreau's essay. Look deep
into what he is saying and keep in mind the larger context of his essay.
"If a man walk in
the wood for love of them half of each day, he is in danger of being regarded as
a loafer; but if he spends his whole day as a speculator, shearing off those
woods and making earth bald before her time, he is an esteemed industrious and
enterprising citizen."
|
|
Week 7
closed |
Post your initial response
(commentary) to both of the 2 discussion threads for the Thoreau readings by
Wednesday,
30-SEP by midnight. Then, respond to at least one other student by
Saturday, 03-OCT midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: Krakauer's Narrative Structure
Within the first couple
chapters, even on the book cover, we know what has happened to Chris
McCandless. If this book is supposed to be a biography of McCandless, why do
you suppose Krakauer gives away the ending of the book by telling us that
McCandless dies? Debate your theories with your classmates.
Thread 2: Impressions of McCandless
What are your impressions of Chris McCandless after reading the first 6 chapters
of the book? Be as descriptive as possible. Discuss also how your impressions
inform you about where Krakauer's text might lead.
|
|
Week 8
closed |
Post an initial response (commentary) to
only two (2) of the three (3) discussion
threads by Wednesday, 7-OCT, at midnight for credit. Then, respond to at least one
other student by Saturday, 10-OCT at midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: McCandless' Contradictions
In chapter 5 we read about McCandless' stay in Bullhead City, Arizona, a
“haphazard sprawl of subdivisions and strip malls” (39). How do you explain
that apparent contradiction between his existence here versus elsewhere? Are
there other incidents described in the book where McCandless acts in ways
that seem to contradict his ideals? Describe them.
Thread 2:
Ron Franz
Analyze and comment upon the relationship between
McCandless and Ronald Franz, who “renounced the Lord” (60) when he found out
that McCandless was dead.
Thread 3: Adventurists
In Chapters 8 and 9, why does Krakauer tell us about the events of four
other ill-fated adventurists and idealists? (Gene Rosellini, John Waterman,
Carl McCunn, and Everett Ruess) What is Krakauer’s purpose in including
their stories in this book about McCandless?
|
|
Week 9
open |
Post your initial
response (commentary) to the
Into the Wild discussion
threads by Wednesday, 14 OCT at midnight for credit. Then, respond to at least one
other student by Saturday, 17 OCT midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: Point of View
On
page 142 when Krakauer is describing his ascent up Devils Thumb, he begins to
write in the second person (using “you”).
Discuss why he does this and what you think he gains from doing so.
Thread 2:
Starvation
Towards the end of Chapter 18, Krakauer writes:
"Some
people who have been brought back from the far edge of starvation, though,
report that near the end of the hunger vanishes, the terrible pain dissolves and
the suffering is replaced by sublime euphoria, a sense of calm accompanied by
transcendent mental clarity. It
would be nice to think McCandless experienced a similar rapture." (198)
Comment on Krakauer’s
attitude toward Chris in this passage.
Thread 3:
Research Topic Pool
Brainstorm and post 3 possible controversial issue topics for the Research Essay
(see online assignment). Replies are
fine but not required. This is largely a place to brainstorm ideas, so
think of any topic that has some controversy to it. The narrower you can make
the topic proposal, the better.
The controversial issues must be stated as a "should" question. Follow
this example:
Should high
schools pass out free condoms to teenage students?
Your posting must be made
by midnight
Saturday
(17-OCT-09)
to receive credit this week.
|
|
Weeks 10-11
closed |
Post your initial
response (commentary) to the
Into the Wild
discussion
threads by Wednesday, 14 OCT at midnight for credit. Then, respond to at least one
other student by Saturday, 17 OCT midnight to receive credit.
Thread 1: Research Topics
Post your chosen topic for the controversial issue research essay.
Remember to include the following 2 parts:
A) Controversial issue stated as a "should" question. Follow this example:
Should high schools pass out
free condoms to teenage students?
B) State your working thesis, which is just a mirror version
of the research question above. Again, follow this example:
High schools should pass out
free condoms to teenage students.
After posting, remember
e-mail me an exact copy so that I, too
can evaluate your question and working thesis.
The posting and email are due no later than noon
Sunday, 25 OCT so that your classmates have time to critique your thesis
and ideas.
Next, you must respond to 2 classmates: Evaluate the
question and thesis of two other classmates. Help them to be sure both the
question and the thesis are worded correctly and that they are clear, direct,
and specific. Give special attention to critiquing their word choice and
phrasing. Responses are due by
midnight Saturday, 31 OCT.
|
|
Week 12
closed |
Post your initial
response (commentary) to the
Into the Wild
discussion
threads by Wednesday, 14 OCT at midnight for credit. Then, respond to at least one
other student by Saturday, 17 OCT midnight to receive credit.
|
|
Week 13
closed |
|
|
Week 14
closed |
|
|
Week 15
closed |
|
|
Week 16
closed |
|
|
Week 17
closed |
|
|
