Homework


 * English 101-725 **

Homework 1

 * Homework 2 **
 * Homework 3 **
 * Homework 4 **
 * Homework 5 **
 * Homework 6 **
 * Homework 7 **

Answer the following questions regarding the Frederick Douglass passage (OR the Malcolm X passage OR the Sherman Alexie passage) about learning to read. Write a 1-2 page response, addressing each question:
 * Homework 1 **

Focusing on one of the three texts (Douglass, Malcolm X, or Alexie) Write about why learning to read is so important in the process of becoming “free” and attaining knowledge. In what ways can you apply the ideas that are in “The Allegory of Plato’s Cave” to Frederick Douglass’s/Malcolm X’s/Sherman Alexie’s experience? Think carefully about this and support your ideas with examples from the texts. Discuss how you learned how to read and write. How did it differ from the methods used by Frederick Douglass/Malcolm X/Sherman Alexie?

The homework for next class (Thursday October 6th), along with the assigned readings on the course syllabus ("I Just Wanna Be Average" by Mike Rose and "Graduation" by Maya Angelou), are two additional readings from the book: The two drafts of "The Declaration of Independence" (pp. 187-195) by Thomas Jefferson, and "Letter From Birmingham Jail" by Martin Luther King, Jr. (pp. 203-220).
 * Homework 2 **

**//Please note that these are not short readings, and I expect you to be ready to discuss them or even be prepared for a pop quiz on these readings. Read carefully, more than once, and underline and take notes for Thursday's class. In addition, circle any vocabulary words you're not familiar with, and look them up. There will be a Vocabulary page here that you can contribute to.//** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**//Write down your thoughts on the questions at the end of each reading; we will discuss these questions.//**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">If you have any questions, feel free to email me, or call me Monday to Thursday. See you in class.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Homework 3 (Due Thursday, 10/13/11)** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In addition to completing and taking notes on the readings from the syllabus this week ("The Obligation to Endure" by Rachel Carson, pp. 83-90, and "What's Eating America" by Michael Pollan, pp. 300-306), write two to three paragraphs (not longer than two pages) comparing "The Allegory of Plato's Cave" with any of the other texts we've looked at so far in class. Highlight aspects of Plato's allegory in one of the other readings. Be as specific as is possible, and quote from both Plato's work and whichever essay you choose to examine in relation to "The Allegory of the Cave" to support your ideas.Think about ways in which Plato's concepts can be symbolized in varying ways in another essay or text we've discussed. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">For example, what aspects of Plato's ideas can be found in Frederick Douglass's essay, or from Mike Rose's essay? How do they differ, and how are they similar? How did Plato's work inform Martin Luther King, Jr. in his letter from Birmingham Jail? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">You can choose any of the other writings we've looked at so far in class. If you have any questions, email or call me.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Read the attached passages and write a short (approximately 1-2 page long) reaction analyzing the passages, noting their respective main ideas, differences and similarities between the readings, and your opinion on the ideas presented within them. Read them both carefully more than once. These passages are not particularly long, but they are rich in content and full of complexities. If you have any questions, call or email me. <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Homework 4 (Due Tuesday, 11/8/11) **

<span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">**Homework 5 (Due Tuesday, 11/15/11)**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Print and read the attached passage, bring it to class and be prepared to discuss it, and think about how it relates to the topics we've been discussing in class regarding education, the acquisition of knowledge, different value systems regarding what a proper education is and how it is attained, and how this passage does and/or doesn't relate to the other readings concerning these topics. Then write a short (approximately 1-2 page long) response that analyzes this reading. You might completely disagree with the author's arguments! If so, please remember to clearly note why, and support your critique with clear examples. In class next Tuesday, each of you will be prepared to read from your response to the passage, and we will discuss your ideas with you after you've finished. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Homework 6 (Due Thursday, 11/17, Tuesday 11/22)** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Read the assigned passages and then answer, print out and bring to class the //Discussion and Writing// questions from the textbook for **//one//** of the following readings: "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift (pp. 387-395), "On Morality" by Joan Didion (pp. 106-11), and "The Ways We Lie" by Stephanie Ericsson <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">(pp. 159-168). Please complete the other **//two//** sets of questions over the weekend, and hand in your printed responses to **//all three//** sets of questions at class next Tuesday (11/22). If you have any questions, please contact me.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**UPDATE (Tuesday 11/22)**: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">For those of you who handed in written work on Thursday's (11/17) class, you should still bring the answers from the question sets in the book for the other two readings. So, if you discussed "The Ways We Lie," for example, last Thursday, you should still bring a printed copy of the question sets for Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and Didion's "On Morality." We will be breaking up into small groups to do peer reviews of each other's writing, **//so make sure you bring the answers from the questions in the book//**! Again, if you have any questions or need clarification, please email or call me.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Read and answer questions for the Sedaris essay ("A Plague of Tics," p. 359) and the Vowell essay ("Shooting Dad," p. 412). Be ready to discuss in class. In addition, re-read "Why Literature?" (Vargas Llosa) and "Two Cultures" (C.P. Snow) and make notes, underlining key points, main ideas, and questions you may have for discussion, as well as vocabulary words to look up (post on the vocabulary page). Contact me via phone or email with any questions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Homework 7 (Thursday 12/1): **