9/12: Both blocks: Work on the reflection. Final due by Thursday in A Block, Friday in G.
In class, G Block - beginning our exploration of Islam by looking at the five pillars. A Block - continued our work in Islam and Qur'an by talking more about the five pillars and what these indicate about the religion, the lives of the practitioners, the character of Allah, etc. You can listen to the call to prayer here
9/11: Both blocks: Work on the reflection. Final due by Thursday in A Block, Friday in G.
In class, G Block worked on the reflection. A Block - beginning our exploration of Islam by looking at the five pillars.
9/10: HOMEWORK: Work on the reflection. Final due by Thursday. In class, G Block: Wrap up the discussion of Sharma's short story and start brainstorming for the reflection. A Block: write the first draft of the reflection.
9/7: HOMEWORK (A Block): Brainstorm this weekend about the reflection. Pull together the ideas you want to write about, the specifics, etc. You'll write in class on Monday. Final will be due by Thursday.
In class, we wrapped up the discussion about "Surrounded by Sleep" (for now!).
9/6: HOMEWORK (G Block): Given our work in class yesterday and today, reread the short story with an eye to making meaning, to thinking about the role of faith and religious impulse, etc.
In class - discussion about the close reads in small groups.
9/5: HOMEWORK (A Block): Given our work in class yesterday and today, reread the short story with an eye to making meaning, to thinking about the role of faith and religious impulse, etc.
HOMEWORK (G Block): Close read the section in the story you chose today. Mark up the text, paying careful attention to the language, structure and word choice, to the way Sharma guides your thinking, to the inferences and connections you are making, etc. Then, in your journals, write a paragraph about what you discovered and why it matters (how it changes, refines, provides new insight) to your thinking.
In class, (G BLOCK): on the front of the notecard: What's sticky about the story? When you close your eyes and think about the story, what stays with you? Character? Relationships? Belief? A particular scene? The way a character or scene makes you feel? Choose one scene that is sticky and describe in as many details as you remember, then reflect on why it matters (fill at least one side of the notecard). Large and small group discussion followed.
9/4: HOMEWORK (A Block): Close read the section in the story you chose today. Mark up the text, paying careful attention to the language, structure and word choice, to the way Sharma guides your thinking, to the inferences and connections you are making, etc. Then, in your journals, write a paragraph about what you discovered and why it matters (how it changes, refines, provides new insight) to your thinking.
HOMEWORK (G Block): Read and mark up "Surrounded by Sleep" for tomorrow.
A Block: In class, on the front of the notecard: What's sticky about the story? When you close your eyes and think about the story, what stays with you? Character? Relationships? Belief? A particular scene? The way a character or scene makes you feel? Choose one scene that is sticky and describe in as many details as you remember, then reflect on why it matters (fill at least one side of the notecard).
Issues for discussion: parents as models for children, as responsible for caregiving. Ajay as selfish or 10? Clark Kent?Who's to blame? What role does God play? Conflict, growth, etc.?
We also worked on cultural universals in U.S.
HOMEWORK (G Block): Read and mark up "Surrounded by Sleep" for tomorrow.
G BLOCK: In class, we worked on cultural universals for the United States.
8/31: HOMEWORK (A Block only): Read and mark up "Surrounded by Sleep" for Tuesday.
In class, we continued the discussion about Tran's article, about seeing the world through another's eyes.
8/30: In class, We read and responded to Kelly Marie Tran's essay about stories and identity.
8/29:A Block: We talked about Daniel Taylor's quote, "Whenever humans try to make sense of their experience. they create a story, and we use those stories to answer all the big questions of life" Using the quote as a springboard, we examined the Lincoln Memorial and discussed the stories that created it and that it tells and how those stories shape the answers to our questions about who we are as Americans.
G Block:HOMEWORK: Please read the guiding quotes (HOME page) and the syllabus and other course materials on the Eastern Lit page. Bring any questions and the syllabus sign off with you to class.
In class: Please freewrite in your journals for 8 minutes about what kind of a reader you are. What do you read? When? What do you love? What is difficult for you as a reader? What/who influences your reading choices? After you've written: on the front of the notecard, list the 5 most important things for me to know about you as a reader. On the back of the notecard, What drew you to Eastern Lit? What are your expectations? What excites you about it? What questions or concerns do you have? Please hand in the notecard.
We also looked at the Lincoln Memorial as a way of thinking about how that piece of art reflects American ideals and how it elates to Daniel Taylor's guiding quote about stories we tell ourselves to answer larger questions.
8/28: HOMEWORK: Please read the guiding quotes (HOME page) and the syllabus and other course materials on the Eastern Lit page. Bring any questions and the syllabus sign off with you to class.
In class: Please freewrite in your journals for 8 minutes about what kind of a reader you are. What do you read? When? What do you love? What is difficult for you as a reader? What/who influences your reading choices? After you've written: on the front of the notecard, list the 5 most important things for me to know about you as a reader. On the back of the notecard, What drew you to Eastern Lit? What are your expectations? What excites you about it? What questions or concerns do you have? Please hand in the notecard.