Saturday, May 31, 2008

EWRT1B-21: library links to MLA citation

Remember that the De Anza library has links to how to cite sources in the MLA style: http://www.deanza.edu/library/citingsources.html

We'll also be going over more MLA citation in class.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

EWRT1B-21: essay 3 prompt

Here's the prompt for essay 3 in .pdf form:

Remember to read the section on writing a research paper in your book. It starts on page 1773.

And we'll start poetry next week! Yaayyyyy! (I'm sure all of you are cheering with unmitigated joy…) See the syllabus for what to read.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

EWRT1B-21: essay 2 discussion questions

Here are some questions to get you thinking about the intersections between Oedipus the King and Death of a Salesman. These are to help lead you to a possible thesis statement.

• What characteristics do Oedipus and Willy share? In what ways are they different?

• Are both Oedipus and Willy tragic heroes? Why or why not?

• Are the falls of Oedipus and Willy self created or do the other characters contribute in some way?

• What roles have Oedipus and Willy created for themselves? Are these roles different or do they share some similarities? How are these roles challenged by the events in the plays?

• What are the two plays saying about free will/choice and fate/outside influence?

• What do you think the intended effect on the audience is for these two plays?

• Do both plays have the classic elements of tragedy, such as reversal of fortune and recognition?

• What are these two plays saying about the nature of truth? About our ability to know truth?

• How does the staging of these two plays differ? What are some possible reasons for these differences?

• The plots of these plays differ in the specifics, but are the overall structures of the plots the same? How so?

• What world views do these two plays represent?

Monday, May 5, 2008

EWRT1B-21: Reading Response 5 and Arthur Miller

Reading Response 5: Who or what is responsible for the fall of Willy Loman? Use evidence from the play to back up your claim.

Here's the 1999 interview by Charlie Rose of Arthur Miller. This was for the 50th anniversary of Death of a Salesman. When Rose asks him to say what the play is about, Miller doesn't want to boil it all down to a sentence, but then he gives several answers which may help your understanding of what this piece of drama is about and trying to say. Though, as always, literature is not about neat little messages. It's about the experience of the art itself. Brian Dennehy comes in at 19:52 to talk about his take on Willy Loman.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

EWRT1B-21: quoting

Here's a link to my handout about guidlines for quoting, including how to quote from drama:

And here's the older handout about MLA citation if you lost it:

Here are some links to good pages about quoting: