HW for March 31st - Linda Hogan

photo by Diana V. Almeida (pp.62-67)

Reading prompts by our invited guest (and photographer) based on Linda Hogan's texts (pp. 62-27 in the anthology):

How does historiography shape power relations? 

In which ways paying attention may transform our relationship with the living world? 

What are the boundaries of individual identity?

 

HW for March 24: Erin Mouré

 Here is an interview with Eirin Mouré

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2010/02/poetries-languages-and-selves-the-being-of-erin-moure/

In the light of this and any other factors, namely the preface to Sheep's Vigil by a Fervent Person (anthology, pp. 57-58), comment on text II's "transelation" by Erin Mouré (p. 61)

HW For March 21st (poetry day!)

 Answer this question fully or partially:

Bearing in mind the categories that Steve Mentz proposes in order to "deterritorialize" our academic humanities (anthology pp. 190-123), which of them do you think applies to the excerpt of Anderson's Azorean Suite and how? ; or do you see Anderson's writing as fitting in bettwer with the following precepts of Gary Snyder's "Unnatural Wriring"?

HW for March 17 - Questions for Scott Edward Anderson

 This is our guest

This is his homepage, https://www.scottedwardanderson.com/interviews-and-reviews. On Moodle, there are two poetry collections by him, including Azorean Suite, from which I have taken the assigned class reading for the day (pp. 35-77 in the anthology - it comes with the Portuguese translation). The task is to comment on interesting aspects of the work and/or formulate questions to our guest.

Final paper - instructions

 This is a project where you take one or more of the literary texts in the syllabus (other than the one of your oral presentation*) and you approach it from any convenient angle, either in a creative or research paper format of your choice, as long as previously agreed with the teacher. 

Max. length: no longer than 2000 words, excluding bibliography (if you work in pairs, the limit is 3500 words)

You will have to work on a plan, get some orientation from the teacher, and then work on your project and attend an orientation class where classmates will give and take feedback from one another. 

deadline to present plans: March 30 (noon); plans should consist of idea, topics of development., and annotated bibliography (the last requirement is necessary even if you are doing a more creative kind of work; if you click above you will find some samples of this requirement, keep your mind that you should have about 150 words for each entry, and your plan should include 2-5 entries). Plans should not be longer than 1,5 pages. If you are in doubt about the acceptability of your idea/plan, be sure to correspond with teacher about it before March 27. Teacher will give feedback of all plans until April 2.

paper exchange and peer revision (teachers will divide students in groups of three for this): May 2

deadline for delivery of final papers: May 13

TIP: For an academic paper, you might want to choose between these formats: literary text review (read guidelines from "Assumptions" onwards), comparative essay, and research paper with an argumentative topic)

Site for bibliographic references: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
(you can choose a stylesheet other than MLA, as long as it is coherent)

*in exceptional cases, you may be allowed to do your paper on the same text that you presented on, but make sure to talk to the teacher about this before you draft your paper plan.

About Cape-Verdean Immigration to the US

 Herman Melville "The Gees" is considered a satire (and, even as such, perhaps hard to read for today's standard) on "scientific racism". It  concerns the Cape Verdeans who integrated the crew of whale ships in the 19th century.

HW for March 14: The Mandarin Question by Katherine Vaz

 Answer to either or both:

- Do you think the short story justifies the assertion of one of the characters that "We are all bell ringers"? Why (not)?

- Synesthesia has become a stylistic mark for Katherine Vaz. Where do you find it in the story and what are its effects?

HW for March 10 - Poems by Shauna Barbosa (anthology, pp. 21-25)

 Answer either or both:

1. Compare the poem "The Genetics of Leaving" and its treatment of the matters of language and memory with Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous?

2. Choose a favorite poem and try to pinpoint what interests you in it and how does the work on language contribute to enhance your attention.

Here is the link to the author's page: https://www.shaunabarbosa.com/

HW for March 10: Your choice of the most interesting Vuong

 Choose a brief passage from Ocean Vuong's novel, and comment on that choice, either stylistically or thematically or both.... Easy :)

(btw: this photo is taken from a lukewarm review in The Financial Times, here https://www.ft.com/content/4af899d2-7d65-11e9-8b5c-33d0560f039c)