Class Blog: Once a week (with a few exceptions), you are
required to complete a critical engagement of the readings on our course blog
site. The class has been divided (see the blog) into Group A and B according to
last name. The first week, Group A students will write a main post and Group B
students will respond to 1 author from Group A. The next week it flips. So on
and so forth. The main posts need to be a 400 words minimum. The response
should be 200 words minimum. Put your name atop of each post so I can easily
tell who is writing. These blog entries should be thoughtful considerations of
the text and evidence of your engagement. Don’t summarize the plot of the text.
You don’t need a thesis. Approach this as a forum to interact with the
readings, and an ongoing dialogue with your classmates about these texts. Read
your fellow peers’ entries and engage with their ideas as you formulate your
own. While the forum is informal, I expect your entries to be somewhat
polished; no net-speak people. I will deduct points if these are too short,
irrelevant, posted late, or otherwise unsatisfactory. The blog is worth 10% of
your grade.
The main posts are due by MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY and the response posts are due Wednesday
before class begins and you can
write on any of the readings from that week. Here are some approaches
to writing your blog:
--Ask questions. What are you confused about? In addition to posing
the initial question, take the next step by looking up a key term/issue/concept,
etc. and add a brief summary and/or link to your blog post.
--React. What do you love or hate about a particular reading? If
something strongly moves you in one direction or the other, the blog is a place
to sort out your reactions. The key here is to be as specific as possible, even
citing a certain sentence or image or passage. It’s not enough to simply say
you liked or didn’t like the reading.
--Devices. What themes are you noticing? Repetitions? Motifs?
Symbols? Imagery? Metaphor? Tone? Voice? Dialogue? Protagonists? Any of these
areas would be suitable to discuss in greater detail in your blog.
--Make connections. How does this reading compare or contrast with
other readings we’ve done in the class. What do you make of those junctions or
disjunctions?
--Meaning. What are you taking away from the story? What do you think
the story means in the larger context of the class or the world? What does it
say about human nature, labor, class, feminism, race, religion, ethics,
American-Jews, the immigrant experience, etc.
These are
not the only ways to approach the blog, but potential avenues to pursue if you
are feeling stuck. That said, what I am really looking for is deep engagement
with the readings.
Like the rest of you, I really enjoyed this read as well. I was instantly captivated by the first page of the story; especially since it was all in graphic comic format. The stylistics and use of metaphor were used very well to create a vast range of personifications throughout the characters. It had such great symbolism as well- with the Nazi's being cat, and the Jews being the mice. It is pretty self explanatory why he would use those animals to personify the two. It's funny you both mention "Animal Farm", I too couldn't help but find some similarities while reading this book. The story has a very interesting narrative technique. The interview that is constantly taking place throughout the story really helps the reader develop an intimacy with Spieglemen, the main character. The familiar themes such as guilt and isolation were evident in this read as well, as should have been suspected. All in all, a wonderful piece of literature that I couldn't put down.
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