Essay 3 Portfolio: Writing about Plays

Today we wrote the "Ruined" essay. When submitting include: the essay, planning sheet, outline and any free writes connected the the assignment, both cyber assignments and in class writing.

Put everything in a word document and email to me: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com Attach and paste the document.

Students who started the essay in class, submit two drafts, the completed essay given to me and the final draft.

Post Questions one is considering

Today in class we talked about topics to explore re: Runined. Decide on your topic and complete the planninf sheet and develop a detailed outline. Bring both to class on Tuesday to share.

Each essay needs to have at least 3 sources. You do not need to cite all. Each essay also has a block quote, a shorter in-text citation and a free paraphrase.

We will write the essay on Wednesday morning.

Potential topics:

Compare and contrast the three couples: Mama Nadi and Chrsitian, Salima and Fortune, Josephine and Mr. Harari: rough diamond as insurance policy. A woman's body as a country and its spoils.

Look at the term "ruined" and how it is played out or defined in the persons or the characters analyzed.

Is Mama Nadi a villian or savior for the women? How so?

One could look at war as a metaphor. I think Salima says that she will not allow men "to war on her body or to hold their battles on her body" One could look at this sacrifice Salima makes and the larger statement Nottage makes here especially if one sees Salima as Congo and vice versa. Is Congo "runined"?

One could look at Sophie, the romantic who has suffered the most from these battles men host on women's bodies. Either Sophie is incrediblely forgiving or stupid or perhaps still in shock. What are the stages of shock? What I've heard is that shock allows its victim to function in the most dyer of circumstances.

I also think about Mama Nadi and Sophie are two aspects of the same person. How so?

Cyber-Assignments

Keep posting reflections on the play. If there is no link, post where the play is last mentioned.

We are in A-205 now, the other end of the A-building. It's a smaller room and students can see each other better.

Students are not completing the cyber-response reflections on Ruined. If you didn't respond last week, you are now two responses behind. Each class meeting reflect on the plot, characters, language, imagery, symbols. . . . See Writing about Literature. The reading went well today. If there was a word used you did not know, look it up and share here.

Students were to find an article about one of the themes addressed in the play. A response to the article will be one of the freewrites.

Today in class we continued reading Ruined. Homework is to respond in three paragraphs to the story, characters--world of the play. Take an aspect of the play you are unfamiliar with, like King Leopold and the relationship between Belgium and Congo, the war in Congo, colton, and find a scholarly article that broadens your understanding.

Visit http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/ and http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/congo-white-king-red-rubber-black-death/

I am still looking for a free link to the film The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. It was shown on HBO. Here is that link to resources: http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/the-greatest-silence-rape-in-the-congo/index.html

The Girl in Translation Essay is due today. I don't recall id anyone had a completed essay to get a peer review, so students will have that option this morning. We will look at Dramatic Literature and start reading Ruined. If you miss class, you will miss the reading.

We will write the essay in class for this genre. We will write it perhaps early next week. Read Chapter 6 in WaL (92). There is an example there of literary analysis. It would be great to go see a play. If we cannot go to a play together, go see one on your own.