NOTE: I have a tendency to change and shift the schedule around so try not to get too ahead!
Monday 9/1: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday 9/2:
Finish reading the PDF assigned for Friday, 8/29 (starting with "How Children Played Butcher With Each Other")
Writing assignment to be placed on Canvas discussion site:
CHOOSE
a) Write an alternate ending to one of the Grimms' fairytales we read for Friday
OR
b) Choose your favorite (or least favorite) of Grimms' fairytales and explain/discuss what makes it interesting/bizarre/repulsive etc.--in other words, why did you choose it? Grimms' Fairytales
Note: be sure to include the link to your fairytale in your response
OR MIX AND MATCH! (e.g. do 150 words for "a" and 200 words for "b")
Minimum word count: 350 words.
Thursday 9/4: Read Plato: Allegory of the Cave and brief response on Canvas where you come up with three questions:
NOTE: The assignment is relatively short but the text itself is very rich so please linger on it and re-read a couple times.
One question should be a close reading question.
One question should be a discussion question.
One should be a question about larger issues/personal relevance.
Friday 9/5:
Please review Plato's Allegory of the Cave and then:
Write a 350 word response on Canvas where you answer one or more questions from last night's discussion post.
Please post the question you're responding to in BOLD before writing your response.
Please note the author of the question.
You should respond to someone else's question, not your own.
You can respond to any of the questions.
The questions are not included in your word count.
Monday 9/8--Print out, read, and mark Confucius excerpts (read all of Book 1 then the marked passages and glance over the rest BUT do NOT read final two pages).
Do a brief response (200 words) on the following question: what does Confucius mean by the "good" or "virtuous" man? Use specific passages to support your ideas.
Tuesday 9/9--Review Confucius and read Mencius excepts (last two pages of handout, pp. 15-16): Confucius and Mencius
Bear in mind that Mencius was Confucius' student in much the say way Plato was Socrates' student.
Write a response:
300 words
Please respond to one of the following topics (you can choose more than one if you wish):
What's the most important saying of Confucius in your opinion and why?
Write the saying out at the top of your response
Where does good come from according to Confucius? According to Mencius?
What do you do if there's a bad ruler acc. to Confucius and/or Mencius?
Come up with your own question (but make it textually-based).
Write the question/s you're responding to at the top of your response.
Comment on ONE other person's response.
Thursday 9/11--Read Zhuang Zi excerpts pp. 1-11 (stop at very top of 11, at "profit and loss!").
If you prefer, you can annotate the PDF online.
Please note that the staple is on the right.
The reading begins with "Free and Easy Wandering"
Pay close attention to the metaphors that Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu) uses; they will help you understand his thinking.
Friday 9/12--NO CLASS but you have a personal essay writing assignment (graded complete/incomplete):
Please check Canvas under "Assignments" (not "Discussion") for the assignment.
500 words minimum.
Monday 9/15--Finish reading Zhuang Zi excerpts and post three questions on Canvas under "Discussions."
One question should be a close reading question.
One question should be a discussion question.
One should be a question about larger issues/personal relevance.
Tuesday 9/16--Response on Zhuang Zi (400 words). Please post on Canvas.
Pick your own passage/metaphor or analyze the one I'll provide on Canvas.
Analyze the language of the passage and the image carefully.
Look for the larger implications of the metaphor/s.
Choose specific words and phrases from the passage to embed in your own writing.
If you choose your own passage/metaphor, please write out the passage before starting your response (and provide the page number)
Please respond briefly to the two people ahead of you on the response chain.
400 words (not including quotations)
Thursday 9/18--Response to prepare for in-class essay.
400 words (not including quotations)
Please respond briefly to the two people ahead of you on the response chain.
For this response, please do the following
Write an essay question comparing Plato, Confucius, and/or Zhuang Zi
Answer your own question or someone else's
Further instructions posted on Canvas.
Friday 9/19--IN-CLASS ESSAY
Monday 9/22--Read Nervous Conditions, Chapt. 1 and part of 2 (bottom of page 26 ". . . below you instead of above.").
Attached below, please find a study guide for Nervous Conditions that will help you with names and with understanding the culture.
You might not want to read this study guide until you've gotten immersed in the novel. Use it as you wish.
Tuesday 9/23----Read Nervous Conditions, 27-47. Writing assignment posted on Canvas under "Assignments."
Thursday 9/25----Read Nervous Conditions, 47-65. Writing assignment cancelled for today. Student teaching day: Aliya and Robert/ Bryce and Gabi
Friday 9/26----Read Nervous Conditions, 66-86. Note: you'll have a reading day today in which to read up to page 100 of the novel.
Monday 9/29--SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday 9/30--No homework!