Response Papers
You will write four short
response papers. These papers do not
require any research. These short papers
will be between 2-3 pages in length. Each
paper should be a critical analysis that advances your own brief argument about some aspect of the text. There is no need to summarize a text. You do not have the space for summary in such
a short paper. Focus on analysis.
One of these papers, will be a
short analysis of how some aspect of the film version of Gotanda’s
The Wash enhances, shapes, or changes
your thoughts about the original play.
Students could also focus on analyzing the significance of some difference
between the two versions. Your analysis
about The Wash will be due on October 16, 2012.
Another analysis will focus
on a piece of poetry. Within the first
few weeks of class, students will select a piece of poetry from a list that I
provide. On the day that the class is
scheduled to discuss your piece of poetry, you will present your analysis to
the class. You will essentially serve as
discussion leader for your poem, explaining your interpretation of the poem and
asking at least two probing critical questions about your text that will help
advance our discussion. Please include
your questions at the end of your response.
You will select two other
pieces of literature to analyze. One
analysis must focus on a text that we discuss before October 4, 2012 and be submitted on or before that
date. The second analysis must focus on
a text that we discuss after October, 4,
2012 and must be submitted on or before November 29, 2012. Both of
these analyses are due before we discuss your chosen text in class. (For example, if you choose to write on Díaz ‘s “Fiesta” you need to submit your analysis on or before the beginning of class on
October 22, 2012.)