Description:

There will be two opportunities this term to complete a Celebration of Knowledge assignment. The first one will be due before spring break and will cover texts spanning pre-colonization to 1940. The second one will be due at the end of the semester and cover texts spanning from 1940 to modern day (excluding Invisible Man, as there is a separate project dedicated to this novel-see below). These projects will allow you to demonstrate your mastery of course concepts including applying theoretical frameworks, employing effective close reading analyses, communicating your interpretations, connecting the texts to historical moments, synthesizing published literary criticism, and explaining how the texts relate to your own personal, cultural, historical, and ancestral backgrounds and experiences.

For the first of the two celebrations of knowledge (COK), students will have a choice between a formal 6-8-page essay OR a 10-15-minute recorded video presentation that incorporates all of the required information. The second COK will be more creative in nature. More details will be given along with the specific prompts. Students are invited to work in groups of 2-3 for COK's. Groups must email me to notify me that they are working as a team.

For the video recording option:

Students can design a PowerPoint, Google Slideshow, Prezi (or slideshow using another form of software). The slides must be detailed enough to be able to follow your train of thought on each slide and between slides. You should also include images throughout. Record your presentation slides as though you were presenting them in a face-to-face class. You can use Zoom or a similar program to share your slides on your screen and narrate your presentation with audio, creating a 10-15-minute webinar-style presentation.

What is “passing?”

The celebrations of knowledge will be scored using a rubric that will be provided in Canvas.

Grade Goals:

For every celebration of knowledge project that is not passing or not submitted by the end of the term, your course grade will lower one letter.

Description:

The rough drafts of your first Celebration of Knowledge and your Invisible Man Group Project will be due a few days before the final drafts. The rough drafts are to be COMPLETE, polished drafts. The idea is that you will gain constructive feedback from your peers to fine-tune your work for the final draft submissions. The goal is to only have about an hour of work left to finish your final drafts after you receive your peer feedback. For the 2 peer reviews, you will answer specific questions that are aligned with each prompt. For the assignment to be passing, students must submit their own draft and review at least 2 of their peers’ projects according to the instructions for the assignment.

What is “passing?”

• You must submit your own draft and

• Complete at least two thorough and insightful peer reviews

Grade Goals:

• 2 for an A

• 1 for a B

• 1 for a C

Description:

Students will attend a free, virtual Black History month even in February and then submit a response to the event. Students are invited to respond in any way that is authentic to them and their experiences at the event. They may choose to record a video response, record a conversation with a friend about the event, compose an artistic work (drawing, painting, dance, etc) and explain how it represents their experiences at the event, or compose a written response. This assignment will be due one week after the conclusion of Black History Month, on Sunday, March 6th.

What is “passing?”

• Complete all aspects of the prompt

• Follow directions

• Authentically engage in the activity

Grade Goals:

This is a required assignment for those hoping to earn Grade Goal “B” or “A.”

Description:

There will be an assigned informal activity that correspond to the weekly readings. Students are invited to respond in any way that is authentic to their personal identities and their reading experiences for the week: options include submitting a written response, creating and explaining an artwork related to the readings, submitting a video response, submitting a recorded dialogue with a friend about the texts, etc. There will be 15 opportunities for you to complete a reading activity. The prompts for the activities will be assigned with the weekly readings.

What is “passing?”

• Complete all aspects of the prompt

• Follow directions

• Actively engage in the activity

Grade Goals:

• 13 for an A

• 12 for a B

• 11 for a C

Description:

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man narrates the experiences of an unnamed narrator who attends school in the South and migrates to the North. Along the way, he experiences varied and layered forms of oppression. Although Ellison's novel was set in the 1950's, the book's events are poignantly relevant today.

For this project, students will work in groups of 2-3 and will articulate one clear argument about Ellison's novel. Specifically, your group will answer the question, "how does Ellison use his novel as a means to agitate systems of oppression?" You will support your reasoning by:

• applying Critical Race Theory to your reading of the novel

• applying at least one Literary Theory to your reading of the novel (Reader-Response, New Criticism, Marxism, New Historicism, Postcolonialism, Ethnic Studies)

• incorporating and synthesizing at least 2 published literary criticism articles

• explaining how at least one event from Ellison's book relates to contemporary history (history of the 1950's)-use evidence from the novel + evidence/example from history to draw your connection

• explaining how at least one event from Ellison's book relates to modern society (today)-use evidence from the novel + a news story, personal observation, or personal experience to draw your connection

• discussing how at least one other reading this semester relates to Ellison's novel

• articulating any personal connection you had to the events in the novel or how the novel made you think about others' experiences

Students are invited to submit this assignment as a formal written essay (6-8 pages) or as 10-15-minute recorded video presentation that incorporates all of the required information. More details will be given along with the specific prompt.

For the video recording option:

• Students can design a PowerPoint, Google Slideshow, Prezi (or slideshow using another form of software). The slides must be detailed enough to be able to follow your train of thought on each slide and between slides. You should also include images throughout.

• Record your presentation slides as though you were presenting them in a face-to-face class. You can use Zoom or a similar program to share your slides on your screen and narrate your presentation with audio, creating a 10-15-minute webinar-style presentation.

• You will need to create one video as a team, and both of you will need to present for an equal amount of time. Don’t simply have one person present for the first half of the video and the other person for the second half—plan and integrate your speaking parts so that the talk is fluid.

What is "passing?"

The Invisible Man project will be scored using a rubric that will be provided in Canvas.

Grade Goals:

This assignment is required for every Grade Goal. If this assignment is not passing or not submitted by the end of the term, your course grade will lower one letter.

Description:

This is a discussion-based class; therefore, take advantage of vigorously participating in our course! The more you share and respond to your peers, the more you will take away from this course. You will be asked to submit your reactions to our texts and respond to your peers’ ideas.

Description:

By attending a virtual cultural or literary event or completing a film response, students can

• Earn credit for a missed reading activity

• Earn credit for a missed peer review by completing TWO Extra Credit assignments

• Extra credit cannot replace a Celebration of Knowledge, or Invisible Man Group Project

All extra credit opportunities require a 1-2-page reflection on the event/film including a brief summary and a personal reflection on how the event/film impacted you as a student, citizen, etc. This is a great way to learn about diversity, develop professional and writing skills, and make up for any missed points due to an absence. All Extra Credit will be submitted to Canvas to the “XC Module.” In the submission box, please indicate what credit you would like to earn: a late assignment, participation, or homework credit. I will be adding fliers to campus events throughout the semester, but feel free to ask approval for an event that you’d like to attend. I’ll probably say yes!