Draft Due Date: October 26 (5%)
Final Revisions Due: November 9 (15%)
Description: The Art of the One Liner
Using ONE of the texts we've read thus far: The Alcatraz Proclamation to the Great White Father and His People, Escape From Alcatraz (film), Escape from Alcatraz (book), Howl and Other Poems, The Birdman of Alcatraz) choose ONE line out of the text to conduct a close reading that emphasizes one or two of the types of close readings (linguistic, semantic, structural, and/or cultural readings) that you've practiced in class and in your previous two essays.
You may choose any one line that you see fit, as long as it is 25 words or less. Your primary goal in this essay is to construct an argument about the representation of Alcatraz, using your line as a starting point for analysis.
Also, in choosing your line, look for examples that speak to some of the themes we've discussed in class, examples may include: style and structure, justice and injustice, violence, freedom, torture, incarceration, space and place, gender, masculinity, race, land, narrative framing, to name only a few. Finally, keep in mind these questions to help guide your selection: "How is Alcatraz related/depicted/described in this line?" and "Why is this depiction interesting or worth writing about?"
Your essay must have a clearly stated thesis: don’t be afraid to telegraph this statement by including language like: “This essay argues/examines __________."
Your essay will be evaluated on the clarity or your argument, the soundness of your evidence (which can make reference other lines from you text!), and how well you use the close reading techniques we've discussed in class. Be judicious in your choices, and make sure to select a line you can adequately analyze in 3-4 pages.
This essay should be in 11 or 12 pt Times New Roman font, with conventional margins. For other questions regarding stylistics or formatting, consult the link to Duke University’s MLA Style Guide on the course blog.
For any other questions, please email me.
Good Luck!
-Brian
Showing posts with label Announcements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Announcements. Show all posts
Friday, October 8, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Hamlet meets Alcatraz!!
Dear All:
Exciting news! The "We Players," a local Bay Area theater group, will put on a production of "Hamlet" on Alcatraz Island from October 2 to November 21. Free tickets are currently available, but probably won't last very long. If you are interested, click the link below and get a free ferry ticket to Alcatraz.
WE PLAYERS DESCRIPTION:
"We Players’ production of Hamlet will fully inhabit The Rock and stimulate awareness and conversation around the themes of incarceration, isolation, justice, and redemption. We Players’ designated audiences will have unprecedented opportunities to enter parts of the island ordinarily closed to visitors. In addition, the park’s regular visitors will encounter performance environments throughout the island that will enhance their experience of the space and its history and provoke contemplation of project themes."
WE PLAYERS WEBSITE:
http://weplayers.org/weplayers.swf
Exciting news! The "We Players," a local Bay Area theater group, will put on a production of "Hamlet" on Alcatraz Island from October 2 to November 21. Free tickets are currently available, but probably won't last very long. If you are interested, click the link below and get a free ferry ticket to Alcatraz.
WE PLAYERS DESCRIPTION:
"We Players’ production of Hamlet will fully inhabit The Rock and stimulate awareness and conversation around the themes of incarceration, isolation, justice, and redemption. We Players’ designated audiences will have unprecedented opportunities to enter parts of the island ordinarily closed to visitors. In addition, the park’s regular visitors will encounter performance environments throughout the island that will enhance their experience of the space and its history and provoke contemplation of project themes."
WE PLAYERS WEBSITE:
http://weplayers.org/weplayers.swf
Monday, September 6, 2010
Essay 2 Prompt
Draft Due Date: 9/23 (5%)
Final Revisions Due: 10/05 (10%)
Using the techniques we discussed in class, perform a close reading on ONE scene from The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). You may choose to examine the linguistic, semantic, structural, or cultural elements of this scene, but you must limit yourself to one and only one scene. A scene, for our purposes, can be considered a 30-90 second self-contained episode in the film; examples may include: the introductory credits, the marriage scene to Stella, the death of Reddy, etc. The choice of scene selections is entirely left up to you. However, be certain to choose a scene that you can thoroughly examine in 3-4 pages.
Further, your essay must have a clearly stated thesis: don’t be afraid to telegraph this statement by including language like: “This essay argues/examines ___________.” Your essay will be evaluated on the clarity or your argument, the soundness of your evidence, and how well you use the close reading techniques we discussed in class. , be judicious in your choices, and make sure to select a scene you can adequately analyze in 3-4 pages.
This essay should be in 11 or 12 pt Times New Roman font, with conventional margins. For other questions regarding stylistics or formatting, consult the link to Duke University’s MLA Style Guide on the course blog.
For any other questions, please email me.
Good Luck!
Final Revisions Due: 10/05 (10%)
Using the techniques we discussed in class, perform a close reading on ONE scene from The Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). You may choose to examine the linguistic, semantic, structural, or cultural elements of this scene, but you must limit yourself to one and only one scene. A scene, for our purposes, can be considered a 30-90 second self-contained episode in the film; examples may include: the introductory credits, the marriage scene to Stella, the death of Reddy, etc. The choice of scene selections is entirely left up to you. However, be certain to choose a scene that you can thoroughly examine in 3-4 pages.
Further, your essay must have a clearly stated thesis: don’t be afraid to telegraph this statement by including language like: “This essay argues/examines ___________.” Your essay will be evaluated on the clarity or your argument, the soundness of your evidence, and how well you use the close reading techniques we discussed in class. , be judicious in your choices, and make sure to select a scene you can adequately analyze in 3-4 pages.
This essay should be in 11 or 12 pt Times New Roman font, with conventional margins. For other questions regarding stylistics or formatting, consult the link to Duke University’s MLA Style Guide on the course blog.
For any other questions, please email me.
Good Luck!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Welcome!
This is the course blog for the UC Berkeley Fall 2010 course English R1A/10, "Alcatraz." This course emphasizes research and composition skills, with a focus on Alcatraz Island. Instructor: Brian Gillis (gillis at berkeley dot edu) Office hours: Tuesday 11-12:30 and by appointment. Location: People's Cafe at 1796 Shattuck Ave.
Over the course of the upcoming semester, you will write 3 blog entries that concern our weekly readings. You will also be responsible for 3 "comments" to be directed at another student's entry. Comments can be posted by you directly in the "Post a comment" section below. You may write more than 3 comments, if you see fit. Each blog should be 4-5 paragraphs in length, and the comments may be as long as a paragraph or two. The longer blog posts should be based on the reading or movie viewing assigned for that day, and should focus on a particular topic or theme by posing a question (or questions) for the class to consider. After you're finished writing your entry, email me your 4-5 paragraphs; I'll then look over your submission and post it on the blog for the rest of the class to read. Please have the submission in my inbox (gillis at berkeley dot edu) by 5:30 p.m. the day before our next class meeting. This will allow your classmates to look over it before our class.
Finally, a sign-up sheet will circulate during the first week of class, and you're welcome to choose any date (or text) with which you feel comfortable. If you have questions, please email me, or just leave a comment below.
Happy Blogging!
Over the course of the upcoming semester, you will write 3 blog entries that concern our weekly readings. You will also be responsible for 3 "comments" to be directed at another student's entry. Comments can be posted by you directly in the "Post a comment" section below. You may write more than 3 comments, if you see fit. Each blog should be 4-5 paragraphs in length, and the comments may be as long as a paragraph or two. The longer blog posts should be based on the reading or movie viewing assigned for that day, and should focus on a particular topic or theme by posing a question (or questions) for the class to consider. After you're finished writing your entry, email me your 4-5 paragraphs; I'll then look over your submission and post it on the blog for the rest of the class to read. Please have the submission in my inbox (gillis at berkeley dot edu) by 5:30 p.m. the day before our next class meeting. This will allow your classmates to look over it before our class.
Finally, a sign-up sheet will circulate during the first week of class, and you're welcome to choose any date (or text) with which you feel comfortable. If you have questions, please email me, or just leave a comment below.
Happy Blogging!
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