Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Can't Stop, Won't Stop CD...Coldest Winter Ever
If you were absent and didn't get your copy of Can't Stop, Won't Stop, CD I have a copy for you.
For those who need to read essay responses to The Coldest Winter, email me. Also, students, please paste the question on the page with the essay response and read your completed essay before submitting it to me out aloud. Use Kurzweil. I have more copies if you need another. I'll be around for two finals tomorrow. I am not here Thursday, Dec. 18. I'm free at 2 p.m. 12/17, and I have an appointment with Kimmy. Following this appointment, if anyone wants to stop by my office let me know. Send me an email or call me.
I like this part of the semester, when students bring in their writing and we finally have a opportunity to workshop it and fine tune the process. It works better when we are revising, and assembling the portfolio but if you have gotten this far, if you are not behind on the reading and know how to write, then you will pass the course.
At the English 1B level there should be no shifts in voice or point of view, any SV Agreement problems, sentence fragments, and clarity issues, like wrong word "WW," missing word MWs. The works cited and bibliography has to be perfect. Oh, I also noted problems with signal phrases--they were absent. You have to introduce quotes.
We write in Standard English. If you want to use slang, quote a character from the book. At the English 1B level students should know the difference between plot summary and analysis. I thought we laid the groundwork for this in the early freewrites and class writing assignments. We practiced developing thesis sentences, summary, outlines and, essay planning and even how to read for information, how to use the index and table of contents.
Many students chose to not buy my books or bring them to class, but you were assigned the proper tools and if you still have them, pull them out now and use them to edit your essays.
Some students didn't cite the book at all or the author in the "Winter" essay. We are scholars, you always have to bring in other reliable, nondebateable, sources. Make sure you read the end of the book where Souljah is asked certain pertinent questions about the text, if you haven't already done so and haven't turned in your essay yet or have to revise it.
For those who need to read essay responses to The Coldest Winter, email me. Also, students, please paste the question on the page with the essay response and read your completed essay before submitting it to me out aloud. Use Kurzweil. I have more copies if you need another. I'll be around for two finals tomorrow. I am not here Thursday, Dec. 18. I'm free at 2 p.m. 12/17, and I have an appointment with Kimmy. Following this appointment, if anyone wants to stop by my office let me know. Send me an email or call me.
I like this part of the semester, when students bring in their writing and we finally have a opportunity to workshop it and fine tune the process. It works better when we are revising, and assembling the portfolio but if you have gotten this far, if you are not behind on the reading and know how to write, then you will pass the course.
At the English 1B level there should be no shifts in voice or point of view, any SV Agreement problems, sentence fragments, and clarity issues, like wrong word "WW," missing word MWs. The works cited and bibliography has to be perfect. Oh, I also noted problems with signal phrases--they were absent. You have to introduce quotes.
We write in Standard English. If you want to use slang, quote a character from the book. At the English 1B level students should know the difference between plot summary and analysis. I thought we laid the groundwork for this in the early freewrites and class writing assignments. We practiced developing thesis sentences, summary, outlines and, essay planning and even how to read for information, how to use the index and table of contents.
Many students chose to not buy my books or bring them to class, but you were assigned the proper tools and if you still have them, pull them out now and use them to edit your essays.
Some students didn't cite the book at all or the author in the "Winter" essay. We are scholars, you always have to bring in other reliable, nondebateable, sources. Make sure you read the end of the book where Souljah is asked certain pertinent questions about the text, if you haven't already done so and haven't turned in your essay yet or have to revise it.
Finals are over!
Today we had student presentations most of which focused on music, though Jennifer's looked at hip hop dance--specifically the group: Jabbawockrez (sp?) and Loren's spirituality. Ronnie shared an artist born in Hawaii whose work mixes genres: MCing, DJing and song writing. Kimmy spoke about Eminem, a rap artist, whom Arron agreed was one of the best writers this generation has produced. She shared two songs, one as Marshall Mathers, the other Eminem's nemesis.
Aerin was going to present something on hip hop visual art, including poetry and style, but changed her mind. Deon's presentation was on MC Lyte, who hails from Brooklyn like him and has done much to promote hip hop culture and help her family and by extension the community.
Aaron's poem, "Swagger," which he is going to send me and I'll post it, was a lyrical, poetic journey through hip hop culture with a shout out to the innovators--recent innovators--as in the past 30-40-50 years, who are credited with pushing the cultural movement into the 21st century. (I say recent, because while speaking to Boots Riley, the Coup, he said hip hop can be traced to "hambone.") Listen to http://www.wandaspicks.asmnetwork.org (9:30 a.m., Dec. 5, 2008).
Dominique is a dancer, but she didn't feel inclined to dance or demonstrate visually what Jenny was talking about in her presentation, but Deon started to, and then noticed how close the tables were to each other and changed his mind, but it was a nice thought.
It would have been instructive and appreciated if Jenny would have brought in the film, RIZE or a film like this, then played the segments which illustrated certain types of dances she mentioned.
Friday, Dec. 19, 12 noon, for those who were not able to present their papers, come by L-226 and we will have a make up final for the hour 12-1. Portfolios are due now via email. If you need an extension talk to me. Aerin, your portfolio is incomplete. You are missing the narratives. They are not optional. You are missing the check-list. You also didn't include your contact information--another important detail.
Students need to fill out the checklist (I can email it to you and you can get a copy from the folder outside my office in the bin. Give me the check-list by Friday, if you did not give it to me today. Attach copies of your freewrites and other notes from class. Make sure your name is on everything. You can also email me the completed check list as a part of the portfolio.
Thanks to the students who gave me their freewrites regarding future plans and a class critique. This class was hard for me, just for the seeming absence of engagement. I assumed at English 1B that students has a certain level of writing and research skills. In some sense this was true, in others, it was not true.
I always find it hard to get students to read the textbooks. This semester it was harder than other times, which is why I tried to be creative in the assignments so that students would have to use Jeff Chang's "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" and "Total Chaos." I certainly agree that the writing is important, but I think what you have to say is more important that the writing, because I've read a lot of structurally correct writing which is empty of content.
The students this semester were engaging and astute, sharp and critical in their analysis of hip hop culture. There were so many places we could take this and some of my favorite moments were the Felicia Pride reflections, the artifacts, the discussion on key stakeholders, the lyrical analysis, the field trip to the gallery and the interaction observed between students and the art and the artist, the global movement process more than the writing that came from it, and today, the finale.
I'd hoped we would have had discussions on "The Coldest Winter Ever," but such was not the case. I also enjoyed the brief conversation on poetry and "nommo." Oh, it was fun reading "Angry Black White Boy" in class, and Intersection for the Arts is mounting it again in January.
I enjoyed learning more about hip hop culture. I don't think I've saturated myself like this in a movement in a long time: Mac B, Ebony and Johnny, The Living Word Project with Mos Def, Goapele, and graffiti artist contest in the park, The Living Word Project featuring: Animal Farm and War Peace, The Angry Black White Boy, Hybrid Project (12/12 and 12/18-21), both at Intersection for the Arts, Destiny Arts 20th Anniversary (12/13); AeroSoul. Concerts: Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, KRS-ONE, the Coup, Lil Wayne? Films: Slamnation, Slam, Wu Tang Clan (documentary). Lectures: Sister Souljah author event, "Midnight," "Women in Hip Hop," featuring MC Lyte, hosted by Chuck D as East Side Cultural Center and the concert later on at the Uptown, in Oakland.
Aerin was going to present something on hip hop visual art, including poetry and style, but changed her mind. Deon's presentation was on MC Lyte, who hails from Brooklyn like him and has done much to promote hip hop culture and help her family and by extension the community.
Aaron's poem, "Swagger," which he is going to send me and I'll post it, was a lyrical, poetic journey through hip hop culture with a shout out to the innovators--recent innovators--as in the past 30-40-50 years, who are credited with pushing the cultural movement into the 21st century. (I say recent, because while speaking to Boots Riley, the Coup, he said hip hop can be traced to "hambone.") Listen to http://www.wandaspicks.asmnetwork.org (9:30 a.m., Dec. 5, 2008).
Dominique is a dancer, but she didn't feel inclined to dance or demonstrate visually what Jenny was talking about in her presentation, but Deon started to, and then noticed how close the tables were to each other and changed his mind, but it was a nice thought.
It would have been instructive and appreciated if Jenny would have brought in the film, RIZE or a film like this, then played the segments which illustrated certain types of dances she mentioned.
Friday, Dec. 19, 12 noon, for those who were not able to present their papers, come by L-226 and we will have a make up final for the hour 12-1. Portfolios are due now via email. If you need an extension talk to me. Aerin, your portfolio is incomplete. You are missing the narratives. They are not optional. You are missing the check-list. You also didn't include your contact information--another important detail.
Students need to fill out the checklist (I can email it to you and you can get a copy from the folder outside my office in the bin. Give me the check-list by Friday, if you did not give it to me today. Attach copies of your freewrites and other notes from class. Make sure your name is on everything. You can also email me the completed check list as a part of the portfolio.
Thanks to the students who gave me their freewrites regarding future plans and a class critique. This class was hard for me, just for the seeming absence of engagement. I assumed at English 1B that students has a certain level of writing and research skills. In some sense this was true, in others, it was not true.
I always find it hard to get students to read the textbooks. This semester it was harder than other times, which is why I tried to be creative in the assignments so that students would have to use Jeff Chang's "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" and "Total Chaos." I certainly agree that the writing is important, but I think what you have to say is more important that the writing, because I've read a lot of structurally correct writing which is empty of content.
The students this semester were engaging and astute, sharp and critical in their analysis of hip hop culture. There were so many places we could take this and some of my favorite moments were the Felicia Pride reflections, the artifacts, the discussion on key stakeholders, the lyrical analysis, the field trip to the gallery and the interaction observed between students and the art and the artist, the global movement process more than the writing that came from it, and today, the finale.
I'd hoped we would have had discussions on "The Coldest Winter Ever," but such was not the case. I also enjoyed the brief conversation on poetry and "nommo." Oh, it was fun reading "Angry Black White Boy" in class, and Intersection for the Arts is mounting it again in January.
I enjoyed learning more about hip hop culture. I don't think I've saturated myself like this in a movement in a long time: Mac B, Ebony and Johnny, The Living Word Project with Mos Def, Goapele, and graffiti artist contest in the park, The Living Word Project featuring: Animal Farm and War Peace, The Angry Black White Boy, Hybrid Project (12/12 and 12/18-21), both at Intersection for the Arts, Destiny Arts 20th Anniversary (12/13); AeroSoul. Concerts: Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, KRS-ONE, the Coup, Lil Wayne? Films: Slamnation, Slam, Wu Tang Clan (documentary). Lectures: Sister Souljah author event, "Midnight," "Women in Hip Hop," featuring MC Lyte, hosted by Chuck D as East Side Cultural Center and the concert later on at the Uptown, in Oakland.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Final Dec. 16 in C-104 8-10 AM
Today we met and reviewed essays. Your final is tomorrow, Dec. 16, 8-10 AM in C-104 (our classroom). Bring an abstract for your classmates with the title and topic of your research presentation (element).
Some of your Coldest Winter essays were poorly written, both structurally and grammatically. I had to give students feedback so they could re-write the essay. It was my hope that students could write a critical analysis without having to revise it. Such has not been the case. If you need an extension on the portfolio due date, it is certainly possible.
Most of you have not taken advantage of the academic resources available, most notably me, but this is a mute point. If you pass, please make sure that your get help earlier in the semester before finals week.
Some of your Coldest Winter essays were poorly written, both structurally and grammatically. I had to give students feedback so they could re-write the essay. It was my hope that students could write a critical analysis without having to revise it. Such has not been the case. If you need an extension on the portfolio due date, it is certainly possible.
Most of you have not taken advantage of the academic resources available, most notably me, but this is a mute point. If you pass, please make sure that your get help earlier in the semester before finals week.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
LOST?
Some students are confused. This is what happens when you skip class. Read the blog. The checklist I handed out today can be picked up from my office. The assignments are taken from the blog. If you don't remember the assignment, just read the blog. It is there, go back to August 2008. The syllabus is there too along with my email address: professorwandasposse@gmail.com
Your final essay, "The Coldest Winter Ever," is due ASAP, no later than 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15. I might not be able to give you feedback if you turn it in then. Some of the essays I am reading are pretty drafty. Students need to edit their essays before submission and if it is a research essay, include the works cited. You should have no more than one citation per page. Each essay should be minimally 4-5 pages long, this includes the works cited page.
This course is about the research process and critical analysis of texts. You are scholars, so your works cited page and bibliography should be correct, no mistakes.
Get help on your essays today, tomorrow and next week. The writing center is open and tutoring is available. My eyes should not be the first professional eyes that have seen your early draft. I don't have time to spend three hours with one student going back and forth on drafts. What you turn in should be as polished as possible.
The goal is a passing grade the first draft. I read essays this morning that did not reflect the type of writing I would expect at this level. Luckily the essay was turned in early, which means there is time to revise for a passing grade.
Some students are really behind...really behind, other students stopped coming and then showed up today LOST. You get out of the course what you put into it and many of you didn't take advantage of academic resources. Many students don't own the books, or academic writing resources?!
I am still appalled 16 weeks later!
If you pass the course, learn from this close call and use the Writing Center, Tutoring services and of course, your professor's office hours for one-on-one consultations.
I have been very available this semester and only a few students came to see me, none of them on a regular basis. This will show in your grade. Only one of your classmates, just one and he came in week 9 or 10.
Come to the study hour Monday, Dec. 15, 9-1, L-226, with your papers digitized. If you can't come, I look forward to your paper presentation of your research on one of the hip hop culture elements. Fill out the checklist and bring that in also.
Your final essay, "The Coldest Winter Ever," is due ASAP, no later than 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15. I might not be able to give you feedback if you turn it in then. Some of the essays I am reading are pretty drafty. Students need to edit their essays before submission and if it is a research essay, include the works cited. You should have no more than one citation per page. Each essay should be minimally 4-5 pages long, this includes the works cited page.
This course is about the research process and critical analysis of texts. You are scholars, so your works cited page and bibliography should be correct, no mistakes.
Get help on your essays today, tomorrow and next week. The writing center is open and tutoring is available. My eyes should not be the first professional eyes that have seen your early draft. I don't have time to spend three hours with one student going back and forth on drafts. What you turn in should be as polished as possible.
The goal is a passing grade the first draft. I read essays this morning that did not reflect the type of writing I would expect at this level. Luckily the essay was turned in early, which means there is time to revise for a passing grade.
Some students are really behind...really behind, other students stopped coming and then showed up today LOST. You get out of the course what you put into it and many of you didn't take advantage of academic resources. Many students don't own the books, or academic writing resources?!
I am still appalled 16 weeks later!
If you pass the course, learn from this close call and use the Writing Center, Tutoring services and of course, your professor's office hours for one-on-one consultations.
I have been very available this semester and only a few students came to see me, none of them on a regular basis. This will show in your grade. Only one of your classmates, just one and he came in week 9 or 10.
Come to the study hour Monday, Dec. 15, 9-1, L-226, with your papers digitized. If you can't come, I look forward to your paper presentation of your research on one of the hip hop culture elements. Fill out the checklist and bring that in also.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
King of the BINGO Game
Please post your responses to the Ralph Ellison story here. If you have not emailed me your essays for critique, please do so, so you can get feedback before you turn in your portfolio. I do not want to see essays for the first time in the portfolio, the exception are narratives 1 & 2.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Resources for Coldest Winter Ever Essay Questions
Here is a link to the Rules of the Game essay by Amy Tan.
http://www.literacymatters.org/content/lessons/tan/rules.pdf
It's from this site: http://unjobs.org/authors/amy-tan
For a critical analysis of Ralph Ellison's King of the BINGO Game visit http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/ellison/bingo.htm for analysis.
On the author: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/ellison_r_homepage.html
You can also visit http://www.questia.com/app/direct/SM.qst
http://www.literacymatters.org/content/lessons/tan/rules.pdf
It's from this site: http://unjobs.org/authors/amy-tan
For a critical analysis of Ralph Ellison's King of the BINGO Game visit http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/ellison/bingo.htm for analysis.
On the author: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/ellison_r_homepage.html
You can also visit http://www.questia.com/app/direct/SM.qst
FINALS not optional
Well, this must just be a semester where students don't have time to visit professor office hours. You final is Tuesday, Dec. 16, 8 to 10 AM. We'll meet in the classroom, C-104, but this is negotiable depending on technology needs.
We meet in L-202E on 12/11 to write our essay on the Coldest Winter Ever. Decide what question you'd like to respond to so you can ask clarifying questions tomorrow. We'll meet in L-226 tomorrow morning.
Oh Monday, 12/15, I am hosting a study hall from 9-12 noon. If you have a final that ends at 12 noon, and want to come by my office, I can stay, just let me know in advance. I will also be around 12/16 after our final, if you need to talk.
Portfolios
The portfolio narratives for English 1B
There is an example of a portfolio in the comment section of this post. You can see more examples, just ask, I have lots of them.
1. The first narrative essaywill look at the 18 weeks, the themes we looked at this semester, as we explored hip hop culture and its impact on American society and the global community. Talk about what you've learned and discovered this semester about writing and yourself, college and life, which have transformed or changed you.
What have you learned about the discipline you are studying: reading and writing that you plan to carry forth into your lifelong pursuit of learning.
Please also comment on the texts and whether or not they were helpful in this process. You can also talk about the instruction, culture of the class and the teacher.
2.Essay 2 has students look at the writing process and discuss their own writing process: the topics chosen, the information used, revision strategies, writing as a process. This should include a definition of the difference between editing and revising and a value statement on the place for both in composition.
What have you learned about yourself as a writer? Take two essays and talk about the planning, research and revision strategies you used. It helps to choose an early paper and compare to a later paper. Often you can more easily see the differences in your writing and a better example of mastery of certain concepts. Also discuss skills you need to improve and how you plan to address that.
I am really interested in discourse about audience and how that shapes or determines how the writer approaches her topic.
I am also interested in discussion of the revision process, and whether or not seeing writing as a work in progress or a draft, liberates or stagnates the creative process. (Students are to use examples from their writing to illustrate these points.)
I'd also like students to think about and give at three specific ways how they have grown as writers and thinkers this semester. Each essay should be minimally 1-2 pages (250-500 words).
Student essays
The essays should include: the Dyson/Hurt essay critique on violence, misogyny, homophobia, etc., the essays on the elements of hip hop culture: music, theatre, graffiti or visual art, dance, literature, education and other performance art, like DJing and beatboxing.
The last essay is the one that takes it's topic from The Coldest Winter Ever. We will write that essay on Thursday, Dec. 11. You can come to class early. I have the room reserved from 8 AM to 12 noon. It is open book, open notes. You need a planning sheet, an outline and at least scholarly source, plus the novel, outside the book. Adam Mansbach's essay in Chang's Total Chaos works. (I might have left some essays out, this list is not exhaustive. If you need other essays, let me known in advance.
Students can submit a graded essay from another discipline this semester if the other instructor doesn't mind to exchange for an assignment. You have to talk me me first. You can also submit another essay for extra credit. This essay has to be one where you used research and has to be minimally 4 pages long plus a works cited page (5 pages minimally).
We will work on the narratives during the optional Study Hall, Monday, Dec. 17, in the smaller writing lab, L-226. We will also practice this as a freewrite tomorrow.
You have a copy of the assigned essays this semester. See below. The check-list is the same with grades posted next to the assignment. I'll post one later. We will look at this the last day of class. Our final is Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 10 to 12 noon. We will meet in the Writing Center, L-226. If you need technology, let me know next week.
Your portfolios are due Tuesday, Dec. 16, the day of the final, unless other arrangements are made in advance. I do not want to see any essays for the first time in your portfolio. They should all have a grade, so email me your posted ungraded essays, so I can grade them and get them back to you. I would also advise those of you who are stressing unnecessarily to come talk to me about your writing. I am available and since most of you did not come see me this semester, now is the time to do so. Also, Elements of Style will help you tremendously with your writing-- the tips there will help you write elegantly.
They are to be digitized and saved on a CD, travel drive, diskette or emailed (MS Word 2003). No exceptions. The only paper copies are the freewrites and reading logs. Do not give me your originals. I can make copies, if you can’t. Oh, there are no regular class meetings next week. You come to class only on the date of the final.
Final Presentations:
You will present one of your research essays the day of the final--it is your choice which element you'd like to share your scholarship on. The only essay you cannot share is one you've already presented. Lit Hop is okay also.
You will not read the essay. Make sure you at least have a photo of the person you chose who uses hip hop for social change. Prepare an abstract or a short summary for your classmates. If you need me to make copies, send the document to me in advance. Please rehearse your presentations so they are succinct and to the point. You can invite guests and food is allowed. If someone wants to organize a potluck let me know.
Here are the main essays again. This list is not exhaustive. I will give you a handout with all the writing assignments, which we went over in class 2-3 weeks ago, by Thursday, Dec. 11. This will serve as the table of contents for the portfolio:
1. Hip Hop Theatre: planning and draft due Nov. 20 for peer review; final due Nov. 25. We started already reading from Total Chaos and The Angry Black White Boy. The question: What is hip hop theatre and how do your examples support your definition? Total Chaos is a resource.
2. Hip Hop Music: Dec. 2 planning and draft due for peer review; final Dec. 4.
What is hip hop music? For this essay students can survey an artist whose work embodies hip hop culture. You could take an angle like: Women in Hip Hop. The musical survey needs to cover the range of the work. The artist has to be a key stakeholder in the genre.
3. Hip Lit: “The Coldest Winter Ever” –in class essay. We’ll write it Dec. 11 (in L-202E. Bring your outline and planning sheets)
Question: How is this book classic hip hop literature?
4. Hip Hop Visual Arts –already done
5. Hip Hop as a Global Movement – already done
Group Presentation Grade—already done
6. Hip Hop Spirituality—Soundz of Spirit, http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808614830/info Nov. 18, 2008. Assignment posted. Question: What is Hip hop spirituality?
7. Hip Hop Poetry—films and other multi-media (written in class) First week in Dec. in class. Assignment posted. We will look at hip hop poets such as Saul Williams and groups like Youth Speaks. I am looking for a link to the show: The Infinite Mind about the meaning of poetry. I'll share with you in class.
8. Freewrites: The Message and Know What I Mean posts and other responses on-going
9. Hip Hop Dance—I forgot to include this so you can substitute dance for another genre.
We meet in L-202E on 12/11 to write our essay on the Coldest Winter Ever. Decide what question you'd like to respond to so you can ask clarifying questions tomorrow. We'll meet in L-226 tomorrow morning.
Oh Monday, 12/15, I am hosting a study hall from 9-12 noon. If you have a final that ends at 12 noon, and want to come by my office, I can stay, just let me know in advance. I will also be around 12/16 after our final, if you need to talk.
Portfolios
The portfolio narratives for English 1B
There is an example of a portfolio in the comment section of this post. You can see more examples, just ask, I have lots of them.
1. The first narrative essaywill look at the 18 weeks, the themes we looked at this semester, as we explored hip hop culture and its impact on American society and the global community. Talk about what you've learned and discovered this semester about writing and yourself, college and life, which have transformed or changed you.
What have you learned about the discipline you are studying: reading and writing that you plan to carry forth into your lifelong pursuit of learning.
Please also comment on the texts and whether or not they were helpful in this process. You can also talk about the instruction, culture of the class and the teacher.
2.Essay 2 has students look at the writing process and discuss their own writing process: the topics chosen, the information used, revision strategies, writing as a process. This should include a definition of the difference between editing and revising and a value statement on the place for both in composition.
What have you learned about yourself as a writer? Take two essays and talk about the planning, research and revision strategies you used. It helps to choose an early paper and compare to a later paper. Often you can more easily see the differences in your writing and a better example of mastery of certain concepts. Also discuss skills you need to improve and how you plan to address that.
I am really interested in discourse about audience and how that shapes or determines how the writer approaches her topic.
I am also interested in discussion of the revision process, and whether or not seeing writing as a work in progress or a draft, liberates or stagnates the creative process. (Students are to use examples from their writing to illustrate these points.)
I'd also like students to think about and give at three specific ways how they have grown as writers and thinkers this semester. Each essay should be minimally 1-2 pages (250-500 words).
Student essays
The essays should include: the Dyson/Hurt essay critique on violence, misogyny, homophobia, etc., the essays on the elements of hip hop culture: music, theatre, graffiti or visual art, dance, literature, education and other performance art, like DJing and beatboxing.
The last essay is the one that takes it's topic from The Coldest Winter Ever. We will write that essay on Thursday, Dec. 11. You can come to class early. I have the room reserved from 8 AM to 12 noon. It is open book, open notes. You need a planning sheet, an outline and at least scholarly source, plus the novel, outside the book. Adam Mansbach's essay in Chang's Total Chaos works. (I might have left some essays out, this list is not exhaustive. If you need other essays, let me known in advance.
Students can submit a graded essay from another discipline this semester if the other instructor doesn't mind to exchange for an assignment. You have to talk me me first. You can also submit another essay for extra credit. This essay has to be one where you used research and has to be minimally 4 pages long plus a works cited page (5 pages minimally).
We will work on the narratives during the optional Study Hall, Monday, Dec. 17, in the smaller writing lab, L-226. We will also practice this as a freewrite tomorrow.
You have a copy of the assigned essays this semester. See below. The check-list is the same with grades posted next to the assignment. I'll post one later. We will look at this the last day of class. Our final is Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 10 to 12 noon. We will meet in the Writing Center, L-226. If you need technology, let me know next week.
Your portfolios are due Tuesday, Dec. 16, the day of the final, unless other arrangements are made in advance. I do not want to see any essays for the first time in your portfolio. They should all have a grade, so email me your posted ungraded essays, so I can grade them and get them back to you. I would also advise those of you who are stressing unnecessarily to come talk to me about your writing. I am available and since most of you did not come see me this semester, now is the time to do so. Also, Elements of Style will help you tremendously with your writing-- the tips there will help you write elegantly.
They are to be digitized and saved on a CD, travel drive, diskette or emailed (MS Word 2003). No exceptions. The only paper copies are the freewrites and reading logs. Do not give me your originals. I can make copies, if you can’t. Oh, there are no regular class meetings next week. You come to class only on the date of the final.
Final Presentations:
You will present one of your research essays the day of the final--it is your choice which element you'd like to share your scholarship on. The only essay you cannot share is one you've already presented. Lit Hop is okay also.
You will not read the essay. Make sure you at least have a photo of the person you chose who uses hip hop for social change. Prepare an abstract or a short summary for your classmates. If you need me to make copies, send the document to me in advance. Please rehearse your presentations so they are succinct and to the point. You can invite guests and food is allowed. If someone wants to organize a potluck let me know.
Here are the main essays again. This list is not exhaustive. I will give you a handout with all the writing assignments, which we went over in class 2-3 weeks ago, by Thursday, Dec. 11. This will serve as the table of contents for the portfolio:
1. Hip Hop Theatre: planning and draft due Nov. 20 for peer review; final due Nov. 25. We started already reading from Total Chaos and The Angry Black White Boy. The question: What is hip hop theatre and how do your examples support your definition? Total Chaos is a resource.
2. Hip Hop Music: Dec. 2 planning and draft due for peer review; final Dec. 4.
What is hip hop music? For this essay students can survey an artist whose work embodies hip hop culture. You could take an angle like: Women in Hip Hop. The musical survey needs to cover the range of the work. The artist has to be a key stakeholder in the genre.
3. Hip Lit: “The Coldest Winter Ever” –in class essay. We’ll write it Dec. 11 (in L-202E. Bring your outline and planning sheets)
Question: How is this book classic hip hop literature?
4. Hip Hop Visual Arts –already done
5. Hip Hop as a Global Movement – already done
Group Presentation Grade—already done
6. Hip Hop Spirituality—Soundz of Spirit, http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808614830/info Nov. 18, 2008. Assignment posted. Question: What is Hip hop spirituality?
7. Hip Hop Poetry—films and other multi-media (written in class) First week in Dec. in class. Assignment posted. We will look at hip hop poets such as Saul Williams and groups like Youth Speaks. I am looking for a link to the show: The Infinite Mind about the meaning of poetry. I'll share with you in class.
8. Freewrites: The Message and Know What I Mean posts and other responses on-going
9. Hip Hop Dance—I forgot to include this so you can substitute dance for another genre.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Meeting?
I've reserved L-202E for Thursday, Dec. 11. I couldn't get it for today. We will meet in the smaller lab L-226 today. We met there last week. I can review essays while you watch the Slamnation film. We'll write an essay about poetry in class next week and continue our discussion of The Coldest Winter Ever. The Sister Souljah event is tomorrow and Saturday, Dec. 12/5-6. The 12/5 event is at the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street in San Francisco. The 12/6 event is at East Bay Church of Religious Science. Call Marcus Books in Oakland or San Francisco for the times.
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVHE-oYRKts
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/LAST-POETS/last_poets2.html
I went to see Wu Tang Clan last night at the Regency Grand Ballroom in San Francisco. They have a song that references Niggas Are Scared of Revolution. Find it and compare.
Remember I spoke about the African concept, NOMMO? Well here is more information about the concept of words as a life force. I forgot to mention MUNTU, the Bantu term for human being. MUNTU is connected conceptually to NOMMO. The person becomes human when you name him or her. I was looking for something on-line and couldn't find it. But the book: "MUNTU: African Culture in the Western World" http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0802132081/ref=sib_dp_ptu#reader-link is a great resource and you can find it in your public library. This is an excerpt.
The NOMMO concept is in line with the idea of words becoming flesh or the reason why hip hop artists primary reason for asserting themselves in public spaces was to assert their humanity and to declare their presence in a hostile and unfriendly and unwelcoming world. This is still the case. Hip hop culture, we have seen is a culture associated with youth rebellion. It has been and continues to be a tool for revolution or change. Now, in its 4th decade, hip hop is seen in the more established realms of society. Rosa Clemente, hip hop ran for Vice President this year on the Green Party ticket with Cynthia McKinney. Van Jones, hip hop is an attorney and has a book about the green movement on the NY Times Best Seller's List.
Words, words, word....POWER.
See http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_762504546/Nommo.html
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVHE-oYRKts
http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/LAST-POETS/last_poets2.html
I went to see Wu Tang Clan last night at the Regency Grand Ballroom in San Francisco. They have a song that references Niggas Are Scared of Revolution. Find it and compare.
Remember I spoke about the African concept, NOMMO? Well here is more information about the concept of words as a life force. I forgot to mention MUNTU, the Bantu term for human being. MUNTU is connected conceptually to NOMMO. The person becomes human when you name him or her. I was looking for something on-line and couldn't find it. But the book: "MUNTU: African Culture in the Western World" http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0802132081/ref=sib_dp_ptu#reader-link is a great resource and you can find it in your public library. This is an excerpt.
The NOMMO concept is in line with the idea of words becoming flesh or the reason why hip hop artists primary reason for asserting themselves in public spaces was to assert their humanity and to declare their presence in a hostile and unfriendly and unwelcoming world. This is still the case. Hip hop culture, we have seen is a culture associated with youth rebellion. It has been and continues to be a tool for revolution or change. Now, in its 4th decade, hip hop is seen in the more established realms of society. Rosa Clemente, hip hop ran for Vice President this year on the Green Party ticket with Cynthia McKinney. Van Jones, hip hop is an attorney and has a book about the green movement on the NY Times Best Seller's List.
Words, words, word....POWER.
See http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_762504546/Nommo.html
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Coldest Winter Ever Essay Questions
We will be writing our Coldest Winter Ever essays next week. In the meantime, keep reading. We will talk about chapters 4-6 tomorrow, 7-11 Thursday, Dec. 4, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 12-20. I have a discussion section at the end of my book, which I will give students copies of next week. We'll write the essay on Thursday, Dec. 11.
Each essay needs to be minimally 4-5 pages long with a bibliography and a works cited. There should be no more than one citation, in text or paraphrase, per page. If you use a block quote, then for a short essay (3-4 pages), just one block quote for the entire essay. If the essay is 5-6 pages long then I could see two especially if you were citing poetry or lyrics from a song.
Tuesday we'll look at the portfolio essays and assembly, essay revisions and last minute questions about the writing process.
The questions I am looking at are:
1. Sister Souljah's characters, Winter and Midnight, have a lot in common, yet are very different. Just on the surface their names, Midnight and Winter, ice, cold, darkness, are similarities both share. Winter is the harshest time of the year, it has the shortest days and its a time when one can perish easily if caught outdoors.
In an essay look at the characteristics of the winter season and compare and contrast them with the character Winter's life. The novel occurs in the year between her 17 and 18th birthday. In a short year, a lot happens for both she and her family, also Midnight. One could say that for Midnight, the sun comes up, whereas for Winter the sunsets.
What makes Winter's life as chilly as it becomes? Initially it sounds warm, and then tragedy strikes. But within the tragedy the sun tries to peek its head, however, Winter ignores it. Is she naive or stupid?
Talk about her choices which come back to haunt her like her decision to let her pregnant friend stay in prison, her decision to steal from the church and the doctor who was helping her, and finally to live with a man who sold out her dad.
Why does she refuse to see the consequences of her actions?
2. Midnight is the nemesis to Winter. Talk about how he is dark to her light, rich to her shallow, wise to her naivete, hot or warm to her cold.
3. Why is The Coldest Winter Ever a hip hop novel? What makes it hip hop: it's themes or issues raised, characters, scenes, language? You need support from at least one scholarly article on the topic of lit hop. If you need assistance let me know. Jeff Chang's Total Chaos has an essay on Lit Hop. You can also check in the library databases.
4. Look at themes in the novel. Time is one that is mentioned a lot when Winter speaks of becoming an adult. Her father is serving time. Both Midnight and Sister Souljah ask her what she plans to do with her life and her time on the planet. This is a question she is asked at the group home too.
Time is something Winter has a lot of when her world crashes--time to think. Time's lapse is how she measures events in her life, like life before Long Island, the time before pregnancy, etc.
Another theme is drugs. It's really clear what the author feels about drugs and drug dealers.
Spirituality is a third theme. Winter seems to be digging her own grave even though her mother is the only one who actually gets laid to rest.
Child parent relationships and role models is another theme. Who is Winter's role model? is she entirely responsible for ending up the where she does? Why not?
Winter and Santiaga are a great portrait of a father/daughter relationship and why both parents are important in a child's life, and in the case of Winter, her father's absence is her ruin. And her mother's dependence on her husband and his absence and her ruin is an affirmation to Winter that she needs a man to support her. What does she say about her father's life and the "game" he is involved in?
4. The Coldest Winter Ever introduces us to a game, where there are rules, gamekeepers and consequences for those who break the rules or loose the game. Amy Tan, the Joy Luck Club, has a short story called, Rules of the Game, which involves chess and a child who decides she doesn't want to play the game, a game which is an analogy for assimilation into American society. Ralph Ellison has a short story called, King of the BINGO Game which takes place in New York, just as The Coldest Winter does at a time in American history when black people are migrating from the south to the north for better jobs and economic opportunities and often, as is the case in this story, the winter is colder than the one they left.
Talk about the rules of the game as Winter understands them. What's at stake, what does her hand look like and when she looses, was the deal fair? Is the game any different than that experienced by the indigent black man in the Ellison story or the little girl in the Tan story?
If you choose this question, I have to supply you with the stories. The King of the BINGO Game is a film based on the story by the same title.
For all the essays, I want you to read a literary analysis of the book, and find biographical information about the author. This will be a part of your works cited page.
Just for discussion, what do you think of the author's use of her name in the book and the addition of herself as a character?
Each essay needs to be minimally 4-5 pages long with a bibliography and a works cited. There should be no more than one citation, in text or paraphrase, per page. If you use a block quote, then for a short essay (3-4 pages), just one block quote for the entire essay. If the essay is 5-6 pages long then I could see two especially if you were citing poetry or lyrics from a song.
Tuesday we'll look at the portfolio essays and assembly, essay revisions and last minute questions about the writing process.
The questions I am looking at are:
1. Sister Souljah's characters, Winter and Midnight, have a lot in common, yet are very different. Just on the surface their names, Midnight and Winter, ice, cold, darkness, are similarities both share. Winter is the harshest time of the year, it has the shortest days and its a time when one can perish easily if caught outdoors.
In an essay look at the characteristics of the winter season and compare and contrast them with the character Winter's life. The novel occurs in the year between her 17 and 18th birthday. In a short year, a lot happens for both she and her family, also Midnight. One could say that for Midnight, the sun comes up, whereas for Winter the sunsets.
What makes Winter's life as chilly as it becomes? Initially it sounds warm, and then tragedy strikes. But within the tragedy the sun tries to peek its head, however, Winter ignores it. Is she naive or stupid?
Talk about her choices which come back to haunt her like her decision to let her pregnant friend stay in prison, her decision to steal from the church and the doctor who was helping her, and finally to live with a man who sold out her dad.
Why does she refuse to see the consequences of her actions?
2. Midnight is the nemesis to Winter. Talk about how he is dark to her light, rich to her shallow, wise to her naivete, hot or warm to her cold.
3. Why is The Coldest Winter Ever a hip hop novel? What makes it hip hop: it's themes or issues raised, characters, scenes, language? You need support from at least one scholarly article on the topic of lit hop. If you need assistance let me know. Jeff Chang's Total Chaos has an essay on Lit Hop. You can also check in the library databases.
4. Look at themes in the novel. Time is one that is mentioned a lot when Winter speaks of becoming an adult. Her father is serving time. Both Midnight and Sister Souljah ask her what she plans to do with her life and her time on the planet. This is a question she is asked at the group home too.
Time is something Winter has a lot of when her world crashes--time to think. Time's lapse is how she measures events in her life, like life before Long Island, the time before pregnancy, etc.
Another theme is drugs. It's really clear what the author feels about drugs and drug dealers.
Spirituality is a third theme. Winter seems to be digging her own grave even though her mother is the only one who actually gets laid to rest.
Child parent relationships and role models is another theme. Who is Winter's role model? is she entirely responsible for ending up the where she does? Why not?
Winter and Santiaga are a great portrait of a father/daughter relationship and why both parents are important in a child's life, and in the case of Winter, her father's absence is her ruin. And her mother's dependence on her husband and his absence and her ruin is an affirmation to Winter that she needs a man to support her. What does she say about her father's life and the "game" he is involved in?
4. The Coldest Winter Ever introduces us to a game, where there are rules, gamekeepers and consequences for those who break the rules or loose the game. Amy Tan, the Joy Luck Club, has a short story called, Rules of the Game, which involves chess and a child who decides she doesn't want to play the game, a game which is an analogy for assimilation into American society. Ralph Ellison has a short story called, King of the BINGO Game which takes place in New York, just as The Coldest Winter does at a time in American history when black people are migrating from the south to the north for better jobs and economic opportunities and often, as is the case in this story, the winter is colder than the one they left.
Talk about the rules of the game as Winter understands them. What's at stake, what does her hand look like and when she looses, was the deal fair? Is the game any different than that experienced by the indigent black man in the Ellison story or the little girl in the Tan story?
If you choose this question, I have to supply you with the stories. The King of the BINGO Game is a film based on the story by the same title.
For all the essays, I want you to read a literary analysis of the book, and find biographical information about the author. This will be a part of your works cited page.
Just for discussion, what do you think of the author's use of her name in the book and the addition of herself as a character?
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