Contemporary Lit

5/17: Congratulations, graduates! We had the last four presentations today and then students wrote their essay final, reflecting upon their learning in this year's class. Thanks to you all for your hard work and for creating such a valuable environment for our discussions, projects, and sharing. I've enjoyed this class so much and will miss you all. Please stay in touch!

5/15: Today we continued with presentations over Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. We finished a little early and did some exercises on philosophy with Sophie and Sebastian. Thanks, guys! HW: Please bring back books if you checked one out and are still on my list! See you Thursday!

5/11: Thanks to all of you who shared your presentations today! We will continue next week Tuesday. And don't forget to return books for those of you who still have one (you know who you are)! HW: Present, and turn in projects for those that are signed up for next Tuesday or Thursday. Return books!

5/10: Today we had a brief discussion on the conclusion of Zen and, in general, our perception of happy endings. The rest of class was devoted to student work time in preparation for presentations on Zen. HW: Finish the project for Zen by Friday, May 11.

5/8: We had an interesting debate about ranking quality in art using THIS presentation. After a long discussion here tied to our reading, I gave students time to work on their project. Students signed up for slots to present their projects to the class. HW: Finish the project for Zen by Friday, May 11.

5/4: We began a talk about quality and its relationship to judging art. We'll continue this next Tuesday. HW: Finish the project for Zen by Friday, May 11.

5/3: We began with some independent reading today and then broke into groups reading the following articles:

After summarizing each, we had a class discussion around mental health and stigma in America and in our schools. HW: By tomorrow, 5/4, finish Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The project for Zen will be due on Friday, May 11.

5/1: Today we continued with independent reading and finished watching Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. Students wrote a short reflection about whether or not they see a connection between the film and the book. HW: By Friday, 5/4, finish Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The project for Zen will be due on Friday, May 11.

4/26: Today we continued with independent reading and continued to watch Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. We will finish the film on Tuesday. HW: By Friday, 4/27, finish reading through chapter 24 of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The project for Zen will be due on Friday, May 11.

4/24: Today we continued with independent reading and then began a film that also includes a journey, Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. We will continue the film on Thursday. I also walked students through the last big project of the semester over our current book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. HW: By Friday, 4/27, finish reading through chapter 24 of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The project for Zen will be due on Friday, May 11.

4/20: Not many students made it to class today! We read; keep reading! And everyone have a fun, safe weekend. HW: By Friday, 4/27, finish reading through chapter 24 of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

4/19: Today we had 30 minutes of reading, and then debated the philosophy behind Pirsig's novel in the context of the book's release (1974). HW: By Friday, 4/20, finish reading Part II (chapters 8-16) of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

4/17: We began with some reading time and then each student did a deep-dive into their opinions on the personal philosophy of the author and tried to match this opinion with quotes. Each student had a chance to match this with their own philosophies, or to refute them. HW: By Friday, 4/20, finish reading Part II (chapters 8-16) of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

4/13: Today we had a writing activity (prompt attached HERE) and then a discussion on the question of what makes a "good" person. Nicely done, everybody! HW: By next Friday, 4/20, finish reading Part II (chapters 8-16) of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

4/12: Today we had a discussion on our current novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, in which we discussed separating the art from the artist, trigger warnings, and the personal philosophy of the narrator. We finished class by heading outside (it was so nice out!) and reading. HW: Finish Part I of Zen (chapters 1-7) by Friday, 4/13.

4/6: I was out of town today, so students were given the period to begin reading our new novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. As you read, remember that you are hunting for quotes that reveal the personal philosophy of the narrator. HW: By Friday, 4/13, finish reading Part I of “Zen” (chapters 1-7).

4/4: Today we discussed our schedule going forward and read two articles as our introduction to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The first was a summary of the story of Phaedrus from the Greek philosopher, Plato. The second was an interview with the author of Zen, Robert Pirsig. Following the two readings, we had a class discussion on the nature of mental illness versus brilliance, eastern Zen culture versus American culture, and what to look for in the book as we read. HW: By next week Friday (4/13), finish reading part I of Zen (chapters 1-7).

3/23: We finished our presentations today; great work! HW: Get your copy of our next novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Wednesday, April 4th. Revisions of your A Clockwork Orange papers are due by Friday, April 6.

3/22: Today was presentation day #1 for our projects on the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Nice work, everyone! HW: Get your copy of our next novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Wednesday, April 4th.

3/20: Today was a work day as we quickly approach the due dates for our presentation. Nice job, everyone! HW: Continue reading; final project for the novel is due Thursday, March 22nd.

3/16: Today we had a discussion around nostalgia, memory, and the philosophy of time and change present in the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. The presentation with discussion questions is attached HERE. We finished with 30 more minutes of reading. HW: Continue reading; final project for the novel is due Thursday, March 22nd.

3/13: Today was a reading/working day on One Hundred Years of Solitude for the entire class. Everyone got to work independently in anticipation of their final project for the novel, due Thursday, March 22nd. HW: Keep reading/working on that project!

3/9: Today we worked on the schedule to make sure that everyone was on the same page and knew what we'd be doing for the next two weeks before spring break. It was decided that we will keep the project for One Hundred Years of Solitude due on Thursday, March 22nd, but that some students will present on Thursday, and some would get one extra day and present on Friday. Students signed up for a presentation slot, and we finished with individual reading time. HW: Continue reading! Try to finish 4/5 of the book (depending on your version) by Friday, 3/16. Continue bringing quotes on the theme/s of your choosing for your project on the novel, due Thursday, March 22nd.

3/8: I'm back! Today we began with our usual 30-minute reading and journaling period, and then finished our character study posters. Students presented their posters and did a really nice job! Thanks for your hard work! HW: Continue reading! Try to finish 3/5 of the book (depending on your version) by tomorrow, 3/9. Continue bringing quotes on the theme/s of your choosing for your project on the novel, due Thursday, March 22nd.

3/6: I was out sick today. Students were given 30 minutes to independently read our novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Following this, students were assigned group character studies:

  • Each group should choose a character in the novel. It can be an obscure character or a member of the Buendia family; the choice is up to you. Following this, each group must create a poster that includes:
    1. A drawing of the character using the posters and markers in the classroom.
    2. The character’s name written largely and prominently on the poster.
    3. One word – also written largely and prominently – that the group members agree is most closely related to the feelings evoked by this character.
    4. A meaningful quote that encapsulates the word chosen to describe the character (either on the front or on the back).
    5. A brief explanation in writing of the choice of character, the word, and the quote, and its significance to the group in their reading of the novel (either on the front or on the back).
    6. All group members’ names (either on the front or on the back).

We'll finish and present these on Thursday and Friday. HW: Try to finish 3/5 of the book (depending on your version) by Friday, 3/9. Continue bringing quotes on the theme/s of your choosing for your project on the novel, due Thursday, March 23rd.

3/2: Students finished and presented their magical realism scenes/stories/posters in class today (and will continue with the final few on Monday). HW: Continue reading; try to finish through 3/5 of the book (depending on your version) by Friday, 3/9. Continue bringing quotes on the theme/s of your choosing for your project on the novel, due Thursday, March 23rd.

3/1: Students again took 30 minutes of reading and/or writing on their current novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. We spent the rest of class with students composing scenes, stories, or pictures of magical realism using their writing from last week (directions available on the presentation HERE). This is due tomorrow. HW: Finish reading through chapter 8 (~200 pages) and bring 5 new quotes to class by Friday, 3/2. The group scenes/stories/pictures will be due at the beginning of class and will be presented to your peers.

2/27: Students began class today with 30 minutes of reading and/or writing on their current novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. We spent the rest of class with students composing scenes, stories, or pictures of magical realism using their writing from last week (directions available on the presentation HERE). This will be due on Friday. HW: Finish reading through chapter 8 (~200 pages) and bring 5 new quotes to class by Friday, 3/2. The group scenes/stories/pictures will be due at the beginning of class and will be presented to your peers.

2/23: Today we briefly analyzed the 5 quotes that everyone brought to class to try to fit them into a common, uniting theme. We then spent the rest of class talking about García Márquez's distortion of time, and the variance of ideas about time across cultures. HW: By Friday, 3/2, please finish reading through chapter 8 or the first ~200 pages, whichever comes first. Also, please bring 5 new quotes. Start to hone in on the project you'd like to create, as it will be due on March 23rd.

2/22: We spent the first 30-ish minutes of class today reading independently. We then had a class discussion over the reading and more generally about absurdity and stresses in student life. Discussion questions are attached to the presentation HERE (ignore the first slide). HW: Try to finish chapters 1-6 by tomorrow, 2/23. Bring 5 quotes from the book that you've read so far that stand out to you.

2/16: Today we did a stress write! Students were given time to write about whatever is causing them stress. We will use this writing next week to construct a short story that demonstrates magical realism. We then watched a video about Colombian filmmaking and magical realism, and the description of the "absurdity" of Latin American culture as a connection to Colombian art. HW: None. Enjoy your long weekend!

2/15: For the first thirty minutes of the period today, the class read independently wherever they were in our current novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. Following this, we had a discussion about the shooting that happened in Florida yesterday and gun control in general. I compared the absurdity of our situation with the absurd (at times) and convoluted history of Colombia, represented in Gabriel García Márquez's novel. We learned more about the history of Colombia by watching the two videos below (start the first one 8 minutes in if you want to skip some of the stuff that's less relevant to Colombia):

HW: Finish reading chapters 1-4 of One Hundred Years of Solitude and bring 5 quotes to class tomorrow, 2/16.

2/13: Today we talked about stress. It seems like there's a lot to go around! We will continue this discussion on Thursday and loop it into our understanding of our novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude (there's a link, I promise). Keep positive! HW: The A Clockwork Orange papers are due tonight by 11:59 pm to turnitin.com. Students should also have read through 1/5 of our next novel (chapters 1-4), One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Friday, 2/16. A guide to focus your reading, as well as to magical realism in general and the project that will be due at the end of this unit, are available by clicking HERE. The product specifications are also available from the drop-down menu above.

2/9: Today we read the biography of Gabriel García Márquez, then had a short discussion about the paper that is due on Tuesday. We finished with a short debate/discussion on the statements about A Clockwork Orange that are attached on THIS PRESENTATION. Students turned in their short stories of dystopian fiction. HW: A Clockwork Orange papers have been extended until Tuesday, 2/13, by 11:59 pm to turnitin.com. Students should also have read through 1/5 of our next novel (chapters 1-4), One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Friday, 2/16. A guide to focus your reading, as well as to magical realism in general and the project that will be due at the end of this unit, are available by clicking HERE. The product specifications are also available from the drop-down menu above.

2/8: Today we began our unit on magical realism going through the presentation attached HERE. After this, students worked on their short stories, which were pushed back to tomorrow, 2/9. HW: Dystopian short stories are now due Friday, 2/9. A Clockwork Orange papers have been extended until Tuesday, 2/13, by 11:59 pm to turnitin.com. Finally, students should have read through 1/5 of our next novel (chapters 1-4), One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Friday, 2/16.

2/6: I was out ill today, so students were given time in class to either work on their dystopian short stories or to work on their papers about A Clockwork Orange. HW: Dystopian short stories due Thursday, 2/8. A Clockwork Orange papers are due Friday, 2/9, by 11:59 pm to turnitin.com. Finally, students should have read through 1/5 of our next novel (chapters 1-4), One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Friday, 2/16.

2/1: Today, we discussed the conclusion of A Clockwork Orange and made predictions about Alex's future. Next, I had students create utopias (found below) in small groups using the handout attached HERE. After this, students began writing dystopian short stories as a critique to their peers' utopias. We will finish this activity in class on Tuesday. HW: Dystopian short stories (see handout attached above) will be due on Thursday, 2/8. The essay over the novel is due to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm on Friday, 2/9. Finally, make sure that you have a copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude by next week so that you can start reading the novel (you can access a PDF of the book if you wish).

Below please find the student utopian societies created today in class:

1/30: Today we read and discussed an article from The New Yorker about dystopian literature entitled "A Golden Age for Dystopian Fiction." Quotes and discussion questions can be found HERE. After this, students were given time to read and begin working on their papers. HW: Finish reading A Clockwork Orange by Thursday, 2/1. The essay over the novel is due to turnitin.com by 11:59 pm on Friday, 2/9.

1/26: Nice work this week! Today we discussed further some of the questions raised by A Clockwork Orange and read about a secret mind-control program that was run by the CIA (no, really! Attached HERE!). HW: Finish reading A Clockwork Orange by Thursday, 2/1. The essay over the novel is due to turnitin.com by Friday, 2/9.

1/25: Today we had a few presentations from first semester's final projects, and then we began discussing dystopian literature. We read the handout attached HERE and then read more about the author, Anthony Burgess. We discussed questions about our current novel, A Clockwork Orange, on the presentation attached HERE. HW: Finish reading Part II of A Clockwork Orange by tomorrow, 1/26. The essay over the novel is due to turnitin.com by Friday, 2/9.

1/23: Today we broke down T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land and had students share out about their assigned section. Great job! Your posters will live on forever! HW: Finish reading A Clockwork Orange Part II by Friday, 1/26. The essay over the novel is due to turnitin.com by Friday, 2/9.

1/19: Excellent work this week, everyone! We began class with a brief discussion about how our personal experiences shape the way that we read and experience literature. Following this, we read "Little Red Riding Hood" in small groups, with each group analyzing the story through the lens of a different critical theory (handout used in class attached HERE). After sharing these different critical theories and their interpretations, we again discussed how to critique literature; striking a balance between allowing our personal experiences to make connections and to empathize while resisting the temptation to indulge in over-analyzing and making connections that are not there. HW: Continue working on T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land and be ready to create your poster and presentation of your assigned section in class on Tuesday. By Friday, 1/26, please finish reading Part II of A Clockwork Orange.

1/17: Today we looked at World War I in an attempt to define the start of contemporary literature. The presentation on WWI is linked HERE. Groups were then assigned different sections of T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land that they will present to the class on Friday. Think about comparing this poem with Eliot's pre-WWI classic, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock to see whether you think there is a definite change in his approach and its effect upon the reader. HW: Be ready to finish presentations of The Waste Land for Friday's class. Also, please finish reading Part I (Chapters 1-7) of A Clockwork Orange.

As requested, the RECIPE page is now up!

1/12: Great job this week! We began today with a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald on the role of literature and our connection to stories. After a presentation, students worked in groups to share poetry and/or lyrics that they found inspiring, interesting, or connected with. This led to a conversation around what we define as "literature" and its purpose in modern society. We ended by checking out and giving a quick intro to our first novel, A Clockwork Orange. HW: Read A Clockwork Orange Part I (Chapters 1-7) by Friday, 1/19.

1/11: Today we worked through T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Groups gave short presentations, and we'll use this as a starting point for Contemporary Lit when we compare it with Eliot's "The Waste Land" next week. HW: Bring a favorite/influential poem or lyric for class tomorrow.

1/9/18: Welcome everyone to the second semester and to the first class period for Contemporary Literature! Today we discussed what we read and watched over the break, and then began a discussion on what we want in this course. While I had originally planned on 5 novels for the semester, I can see now that this schedule is not sustainable. What we've decided upon is a course driven by contemporary periods in which we'll begin with dystopian literature by reading A Clockwork Orange, magical realism through One Hundred Years of Solitude, philosophical fiction with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and finally a unit on postmodern literature with optional reading (but featuring the option to choose House of Leaves). We added a caveat that should the first two units take too much time, we'll combine the third and fourth units with students having the option to choose Zen or postmodern literature. Thanks for your help in talking through this today! HW: By Thursday's class, please read and annotate T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Make sure to have (and bring) your copy of A Clockwork Orange by Friday.