Into the Wild #3

In Chapter 11 of Into the Wild, we continue to get more of Chis's story. Has your understanding of Chris changed throughout the novel thus far? If so, how has it changed? What is Chris's motivation for completing this adventure? Come up with a psychological statement based on one of the questions in the critical approaches powerpoint (#6: psychological approach), and back it up with two examples from chapter 11.

Into the Wild #2: Character Map

Consider and write about some of the similarities between your specific character and Chris McCandless. Then, write about the ways in which your character may have influenced Chris’s decision to go into the wild, and explain your thoughts. Remember, there are no wrong answers as long as they are backed up by your sincere thoughts and evidence from the novel.

Into the Wild #1

Find evidence answering any of the questions from the psychological critical approach (.ppt found in the W: drive) in regards to Into the Wild and Chris McCandless' motivations for undertaking this adventure. You need to find three pieces of evidence total and explain why it connects to the book and the question you chose. Please find one piece of evidence from each section (Ch. 1-3, Ch. 4-6, Ch. 7-9).

Blog Response #6: "The Social Network" and the Marxist/Feminist Critical Approaches

For this next exploration of critical approaches, we will be exploring multiple perspectives, approaches, and texts in order to give you more options to how you approach the texts, which texts you approach, and from what angle you approach the texts. For this assignment, you will be asked to complete one blog post (due 1/2/2012 after break) that addresses one of the new critical approaches (Feminist, Marxist) and one of the old critical approaches (Philosophical/Moral, Psychological) in conjunction with the film or short stories you choose to read. Below is a list of texts you may choose to take on. We will be showing “The Social Network” in class over the next few days. If you choose to read short stories from Characters In Conflict, You will need to read at least 2 of the three stories. Please write a 3-5 paragraph blog response regarding these approaches and texts.

Text Choices:

“Harrison Bergeron” Marxist
“The Birds” Feminist
“The Most Dangerous Game” Marxist
“The Social Network” Marxist/Feminist

Blog Post #5: Reader Response questions from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

You will have the first 20 minutes in class to complete this blog post, so get going!

From your intertextual analysis assignment:

In a typed document, each member of the group must separately respond to each of the following questions in complete paragraphs.

1. Summarize the source text (what is seen in Ferris Bueller)
2. Summarize the connection text (what you found)
3. Explain the connection
4. Analyze the connection (What does it mean? How are viewers affected? Why is this connection present?)


Number each of these questions. You have five minutes to respond to each of these questions. Print out your responses when you are done, and then get into your groups to discuss the connection your group came up with. You will have the remainder of the hour to put together a short presentation on your intertextual connection from Ferris Bueller's Day Off as a group.

Blog Post #4: House “Pilot” and the Moral Philosophical approach

Yesterday, we viewed House in class. Now, it is your turn to respond to the episode through the Moral/Philosophical Lens. Consider our discussion on Tuesday about positive and negative role models on television. Respond to the following in about 3 solid paragraphs.

Respond to one or more of the following questions:

Which character do you sympathize with the most based on values/morals/beliefs, and which character do you sympathize with the least based on values/morals/beliefs?

How do the characters act, and what sort of model do they provide to a reader? (positive or negative)

How do the morals of the story differ from your own morals?

What is the lesson being taught in the episode/series? Do you agree or disagree with this message?

You might also consider the following in your response:

To what extent does a work mirror the morals and values of a culture (or society at large)?

What consequences do characters face for right or wrong choices?

How do the morals of the story differ from yours?

Blog Post #3: Short Stories

1) Choose and read one of the following short stories to complete an analysis of:

Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” http://www.jacklondons.net/buildafire.html
OR
Ray Bradbury’s “There Will Come Soft Rains” http://jerrywbrown.com/datafile/datafile/110/ThereWillComeSoftRains_Bradbury.pdf

2) Respond to your chosen text from a moral/philosophical standpoint on your blog:

Respond to one or more of the following questions…

What consequences do characters face for right or wrong choices?
What lesson is the story teaching?
How do the morals of the story differ from yours?

3) Copy and Paste your response into a word document and print this for tomorrow’s class. Be prepared to discuss your response in small and large groups.

Note: Remember, the Critical Approaches PowerPoint is now in the W: Drive. Use this as a resource if you need further ideas.