See also Fall 2001 ENG
104 Course
Plan
for hyperlinked week-by-week Assignments
& Deadlines.
Response Writing #1 Topic Choices
(Poe, Maupassant, and/or Chekhov) - worth 5 points possibleWorth 5 points possible: Your Response Writings will be evaluated in terms of how well they demonstrate achievement of targeted English 104 course competencies relevant to your Topic Choices. You must also address one of the assigned topic choices given below.
Directions: You will have at least 15 minutes in class to write Response Writing #1. This writing is "Open Book/Open Notes"--not a memory test--so use any course materials and notes that will help you. Be sure to support and illustrate your points with well-selected specific passages from the literary work(s) under discussion. Follow your quotations and/or paraphrases with brief parenthetical citations: that is, name the author and page number in parenthesis like this (Chekhov 164).Choose one of the following topics for Response Writing #1:
Topic 1. Poe's and Maupassant's Aesthetics: In stating their theories of how well-crafted short stories should be written, Poe and Maupassant agree on at least one point: that a writer must make every word count to create the story's "single effect" (Poe 855), that a writer must select "only details useful to his subject" and theme (Maupassant 832).
a. Choose and cite two seemingly minor details--one from "The Cask of Amontillado" and one from "The Necklace"--that seem to you particularly well selected to contribute to the dominant effect or an important theme of these stories.
b. Then justify your choices: explain why you think these details are well-selected, identifying the "effect" or theme of each story to which the selected detail contributes.[Topic 1 Evaluation: Targeted ENG 104 Course Competencies A. 1 & 2; B. 4; C. 7 & 8]
Topic 2. Characteristics of Literary Realism: Both Maupassant and Chekhov are considered Realist writers very influential in shaping the genre of the modern short story.
a. Identify and briefly explain two characteristics of literary Realism that you find applicable to "The Necklace" and/or "The Lady with the Pet Dog."
b. Then illustrate these two characteristics with specific examples from either "The Necklace" or "The Lady with the Pet Dog" or both. Be sure to cite your examples (as directed above), and explain how/why they illustrate the Realistic characteristics you have identified.[Topic 2 Evaluation: Targeted ENG 104 Course Competencies A. 1 & 2; B. 4; C. 7 & 8]
Topic 3. Character: Dynamic or Static. For this topic, choose a character from either "The Cask of Amontillado," or "The Necklace," or "The Lady with the Pet Dog."
a. State whether you believe your selected character is "static" or "dynamic"--and be sure to briefly define your understanding of what a "static" or "dynamic" character is.
b. Justify your classification of this character as "static" or "dynamic," by citing and analyzing well-selected examples taken from the beginning and ending of the story--that is:
 |
Identify one or two key traits of this character presented early in the story, or when the character is introduced; | |
|
Analyzing how the plot outcome/ending of the story has (or has not) affected the identified trait(s) of the character. |
[Topic 3: Targeted ENG 104 Course Competencies A. 3; B. 4; C. 7 & 8]
Topic 4. Plot
Structure: Climax.
For this topic, choose either "The Cask of
Amontillado," or "The Necklace," or "The Lady with the Pet
Dog."
a. Define your understanding of "climax."
b. Identify the moment of climax in your chosen short
story: that is, quote or paraphrase--and cite--the point in the story where
you believe the climax takes place.
c. Justify your choice: Apply your definition
of "climax" to demonstrate why you believe this moment in the plot
represents the climax of the story.
[Topic 4: Targeted ENG 104 Course Competencies A. 3; B. 4; C. 7 & 8]
Topic 5.
Theme. For this topic, choose either
"The Cask of Amontillado," or "The Necklace," or "The
Lady with the Pet Dog."
a. Define your understanding of "theme."
b. State your interpretation of a major theme of your
chosen story.
c. Support your interpretation of theme by citing and
analyzing two key passages from the story that explain why you have arrived at
your interpretation.
[Topic 5: Targeted ENG 104 Course Competencies A. 3; B. 4; C. 7 & 8]
Response Writing #1 Evaluation
Your Response Writings will be evaluated in terms of how well they demonstrate achievement of targeted English 104 course competencies relevant to your Topic Choices. You must also address an assigned topic choice when required.
Topic #1 Evaluation: Poe's and Maupassant's Aesthetics
A. Build a Knowledge Base of a Major Literary Genre
____1. Situate works of fiction within their contexts (e.g. literary historical periods and influences, cultural and biographical background of authors, authorial intentions and critical reception).
____2. Explain and illustrate how works of fiction reflect . . . significant aspects of their contexts.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
___4. Apply relevant and varied approaches--e.g. close reading, contextual background information, literary concepts and approaches, multiple perspectives--to the analysis and interpretation of works of fiction.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
___7. Use effective . . . written communication to express literary interpretations and evaluations--developed both independently and collaboratively.
____8. Use well-selected evidence from the literary text(s) to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Topic #2 Evaluation: Characteristics of Literary Realism
A. Build a Knowledge Base of a Major Literary Genre
____1. Situate works of fiction within their contexts (e.g. literary historical periods and influences, cultural and biographical background of authors, authorial intentions and critical reception).
____2. Explain and illustrate how works of fiction reflect . . . significant aspects of their contexts.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
___4. Apply varied approaches--e.g., close reading, contextual background information, literary concepts and approaches, multiple perspectives--to the analysis and interpretation of works of fiction.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
___7. Use effective . . . written communication to express literary interpretations . . . --developed both independently and collaboratively.
___8. Use well-selected evidence from the literary text(s) to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Topic #3 Evaluation: Character - Dynamic or Static.
A. Build a Knowledge Base of a Major Literary Genre
____3. Define and explicate key literary elements of narrative fiction, such as plot, character, theme, point of view, setting, symbol, and style.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
___4. Apply relevant and varied approaches--e.g. close reading, contextual background information, literary concepts and approaches, multiple perspectives--to the analysis and interpretation of works of fiction.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
___7. Use effective . . . written communication to express literary interpretations and evaluations--developed both independently and collaboratively.
___8. Use well-selected evidence from the literary text(s) to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Topic #4 Evaluation: Plot Structure - Climax.
A. Build a Knowledge Base of a Major Literary Genre
____3. Define and explicate key literary elements of narrative fiction, such as plot, character, theme, point of view, setting, symbol, and style.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
___4. Apply relevant and varied approaches--e.g. close reading, contextual background information, literary concepts and approaches, multiple perspectives--to the analysis and interpretation of works of fiction.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
___7. Use effective . . . written communication to express literary interpretations and evaluations--developed both independently and collaboratively.
___8. Use well-selected evidence from the literary text(s) to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Topic #5 Evaluation: Theme
A. Build a Knowledge Base of a Major Literary Genre
____3. Define and explicate key literary elements of narrative fiction, such as plot, character, theme, point of view, setting, symbol, and style.
B. Develop Skills in Literary Analysis & Evaluation
___4. Apply relevant and varied approaches--e.g. close reading, contextual background information, literary concepts and approaches, multiple perspectives--to the analysis and interpretation of works of fiction.
C. Exercise Effective Communication Skills
___7. Use effective . . . written communication to express literary interpretations and evaluations--developed both independently and collaboratively.
___8. Use well-selected evidence from the literary text(s) to support one’s literary interpretations, analyses, and evaluations.
Response Writing
#2 Topic Choices
(Hemingway, Faulkner, Kafka, Garcia Marquez) - worth 5 points possible
