EWRT1B-16: write a poem!

For Wednesday, write a poem based on the instructions given at the beginning of "Theme For English B" (981). Try using some of the means and meanings of poetry we have gone over to create your poem. Aim for about a page. Overall though, the goal here is to have fun. Don't restrict yourself too much. As I said in class, I think one has a better appreciation for poetry when one tries to actually write a poem.

And here's an animation of Emily Dickinson's poem "I heard a Fly buzz–when I died–" (940).

EWRT1B-16: research paper bibliography

Remember that the research paper bibliography is due Monday. You should have at least five sources listed and the sources should be put into MLA works cited style. Keep in mind that these are just the sources you have found so far. You may not end up using all of these in your paper. I just want to see that your research has begun and I want to be able to comment on your use of MLA style.

The research paper outline is due June 2nd. This is different than the syllabus.

Some tips about doing research:
• Use specific terms. As Lena Chang pointed out, you are more likely to find useful information if you are specific. For instance, if you want to to find out about medical practices like the one in "The Yellow Wallpaper," searching for "medical cures for women" is probably too broad. Searching for "rest cure" or "S. Weir Mitchell" might be more fruitful.

• Use details from the story. Like the last suggestion, use specific terms, events, people, etc. that are mentioned in the story. For instance, one way to learn about heroin in Harlem during the time of "Sonny's Blues" would be to do a search for Charlie Parker. He's the musician Sonny loves and Parker dealt with heroin addiction his whole life.

• Use terms from the articles. Sometimes in scholarly articles authors come up with their own terminology. These unique terms need to be cited if you mention them in your paper. Yet more than likely, an author will use terms that are common to the area of study you are looking at and using these terms may help you to focus your research. For instance, the study of ancient Greek and Roman arts is called "classicism." Or, Chinese immigrants used to refer to the U.S. as "Gold Mountain."

• Use the works cited lists of scholarly articles. All scholarly articles should have works cited lists. You can use these to find other articles that may help you for your paper. I do this all the time. In my own experience, if several critics of a work mention the same article, then I know that the article is an important one and that I need to read it. It's the article that everyone else is responding to; it's the start of the conversation.

EWRT1B-16: more research advice

Bowdoin College has a lot of great advice on-line about writing, and about research writing in particular. The focus of the advice is on history papers, but almost all of it applies to literature papers. The real difference is that in history research papers you have to do research to find your primary text(s). In your paper, you already have the primary text–the piece of literature you are analyzing. Here's a pdf of the research process with a nice graphic that shows the circular nature of the process. Here's a general overview of research papers. I also want to add this: there is advice about how to develop good questions. The key, not surprisingly, is to be specific.

EWRT1B-16: library day

Remember to meet in the library on Wednesday, May 19th.

The De Anza library has a lot of helpful information on its website. Here's a page with information about citing sources and evaluating research material. Here's a page listing all the library's academic databases. And here's a page listing more general research databases.

Happy hunting!

Also, remember the new due date for the research paper outline: June 2nd.

EWRT1B-16: essay 3- research paper

Here is the hand-out for essay 3, the research paper.

The proposal for the paper is due Monday, May 17. The proposal should state which piece of literature you will be doing research about and what focus you are choosing for your research. Your focus will be based on what your question is about the literature. The research then becomes the answer to your question.

I am fully aware that you may change your project as you work on your research. As you learn more, you may find a new focus that interests you more than the one you describe in your proposal. If this happens, it's fine. In fact, it's part of the discovery process in doing a research paper. So don't get too bent out of shape thinking you have to come up with the perfect focus in your research paper proposal. Still, as always, being specific is more useful than being vague.

EWRT1B-16: midterm

The midterm is 100 points total and consists of two parts.

• Part 1- Short answer. Four questions about the readings in the class (short stories and plays). Five points each.
• Part 2- In-class essay. There will be a series of prompts for you to choose from. The prompts will ask you to connect one of the plays with one of the short stories. The prompts deal with common themes and characterization. 80 points.
  

You may use your book and a dictionary, but no notes. Please bring paper, but an examination book is not necessary.

To study, look over the reading responses. Check out the prompts listed here on the blog. Also, look over any notes you have. The essay prompts are taken from concepts we discussed in class. I'd suggest starting with the plays since there are only two of them and making a list of similarities between them and the short stories. Again, look for similarities of theme and character.

Arthur Miller interview

Here's an interview with Arthur Miller in which he talks specifically about Death of a Salesman and its structure. Brian Dennehy, who played Willy Loman for the 50th anniversary performance of the play, appears also and talks about his take on Willy's character.

EWRT1B-16: reading response 5

Reading Response 5- choose one:

• What is Willy Loman’s main conflict? What causes this conflict?
• Does Linda protect Willy or enable him? What is her role in the play?
• Based on evidence in the play, what is Biff’s future? What is Happy’s?
• Choose your own focus of analysis.

EWRT1B-16: essay 2

Here's a pdf of the handout for essay 2.