On the Road: Blog # 1

Read chapters 3 & 4 and  respond to the following prompts to the best of your ability.  Be aware of your language, use evidence from the text, display analysis, and cite when required.  

Chapter 3
1.  How is the diction in the first paragraph representative of the Beat Generation?  Use a quote as support.

2.  Kerouac says the Mississippi River has a "rank smell that smells like the raw body of America itself" (13).  Is this a compliment or criticism?

3.  As Kerouac watches people drive home on pg. 14 he realizes something.  What is it?  How did we see this talked about in my thesis?

4.  How does Kerouac celebrate the truck driver on pg. 14?  Use a quote as support.  How does this explain his thoughts on blue collar folk?

5.  All this travel is super fun and exciting.  But it's also taxing.  Find one quote to support this observation.

6.  There's a biting line about what America has become on pg. 17.  Cite it.

7.  There are several examples of Kerouac comparing himself with tourists in this chapter.  Find one and cite it.  Why does he do this?  Isn't he a tourist?

8.  Kerouac kisses his "shirt good-by" and is not fussed at the loss (21).  What does this say about his take on materialism?

Chapter 4
1.  Bring to class, on paper, 3 quotes that represent Kerouac's unique style and pace as a writer.  They will probably be relatively lengthy.

Blog # 1: Gatsby

Please read Chapters 5 & 6.  Then write one well-informed observation with a quote as support. After you post this, wait until fellow Lit students post something, and respond to one of their observations.  Be insightful and ferociously intelligent with your remarks.

Due: Wednesday, before class

Blog # 1 - Beloved

Please read 87 - 124 and make one well informed observation (including a quote) - 1 paragraph.  Be careful with your language, we'll look at a couple of these in class...so don't make silly mistakes.
Then, respond to another student's comment.

Have fun kiddos...

Blog # 1 - Benito Cereno

Please write a well-informed observation about Benito Cereno and support it by incorporating a quote.

Then, write a response to another student's observation.  If nobody has posted, post your observation and then make a response later.

Due: Tuesday, 1.29 (before class)

Thoreau Blog # 2

Please read Walden and do the following:

1.  Make an insightful observation

2.  Come up with an intriguing question

3.  Comment on another student's post

Due: Before class on Thursday, 1.10

Blog #1 Self-Reliance

Please read the text and then post an insightful question and an intriguing comment.  Be specific in respect to what you are referring to.  Then, I'd like you to respond to what someone else has posted on the blog.  If nobody has posted yet, log back on later and do so.

Due: Wednesday, 12.12 (before class)

Blog # 1 - Thomas Paine

Please read your Thomas Paine selection and respond to the following prompts.  Use complete sentences and incorporate quotes when required.

1.  What is so gosh darn American about his high intelligence and economic limitations?

2.  What is so distinctive about his writing style?  Use a quote as support.

3.  Considering the historical context, how is the following quote so progressive?  "...for I answer roundly, that America would have flourished as much, and probably much more, had no European power taken notice of her" (4).

4.  Paine compares Britain to "savages" (5).  How does this contradict the quote you just worked with above.  Or, do you disagree with my observation?  What you reckon?

5.  The following quote could be heard today: "...dependence on, Great Britain tends directly to involve this continent in European wars and quarrels, and set us at variance with nations who would otherwise seek out friendship, and against whom we have neither anger nor complaint" (6).  I would argue you could replace Britain with America and we now have something to think about.  Which countries have suffered due to their close alliance with the United States?  Or, do you disagree?

6.  Which rhetorical strategies does Paine employ to win over his audience?  Be specific and use quotes as support.

7.  It's interesting, but I would argue, for how "simple" his style is acclaimed to be... it's rather difficult!  What do you think?

Due: Before class on Monday, 11.19