Their+Eyes+Were+Watching+God

Essential Question How do authors construct characters to reflect and represent the historical and cultural contexts?

What to look for:
 * // Imagery //
 * // Metaphor/Figurative language //
 * // Conceit //
 * // Juxtaposition //
 * // Symbolism //
 * // Dialect //
 * // Irony //
 * // Historical Context //
 * // Cultural Context //

Reading Syllabus

**Due April 17**: //Read// Chapters 1-2; //Post blog before class.// **April 18:** //Read// Chapters 3-4; // Post blog before class. //  **April 22**: //Read// Chapter 5; // Post blog before class. //  **April 23**: //Read// Chapter 6; // Post blog before class. //  **April 24**: //Read// Chapters 7-10; // Post blog before class. //  **April 25**: //Read// Chapters 11-14; // Post blog before class. //  **April 29**: //Read// Chapters 15-17; // Post blog before class. //  **April 30**: //Read// Chapter 18; // Post blog before class. //  **May 1**: //Read// Chapters 19 - 20; // Post blog before class. //

During Reading - Blogging

For each reading assignment, you will be blogging on your wiki page. You should have 3 parts to the blog post: a reflection (did you like it? why or why not?), a connection (to something else we've read, something you've seen in a movie or real life, etc. and explain it), and an element explication (choose a favorite element from the assigned reading and explain what it means and why you like it). This does not need to be three separate paragraphs - you can organize it however you choose. Since it is a visual medium, you should also have a picture/link/video that correlates with some part of your writing.

Here is a link to an exemplar from 1984.

Student Blog Page

During Reading - Moodle Discussion For this unit, we will be working through the discussion forum for Moodle. You should have received an email to your gmail accounts indicating your enrollment in the course. This will be a writing intensive unit; while I very much want you to enjoy the book for the reflections on historical and cultural contexts as well as the wonderful figurative language, we will be focusing on strengthening your written analysis of author style and author purpose. //**For each reading assignment, you need to choose one of the prompts from the discussion forum for those chapters and post a reply**//. Your replies should be:
 * __on-prompt__ : this means you have answered BOTH the implicit AND explicit questions.
 * __tie to the macro__ : this means you should be connecting to a universal theme you think the author is observing.
 * __cite relevant textual evidence__ : this means you cite examples of author style (literary elements and rhetorical devices) that support the theme you are analyzing. Be sure to include page numbers.
 * __coherently organized into multiple paragraphs__ : some prompts may naturally lend themselves to longer responses, while others to responses more brief. I will not put a minimum number requirement because that encourages students to either fluff their writing with filler or cutting themselves off abruptly. Remember to organize according to sub-themes or motifs rather than chronologically or by device/element.
 * __be completed BEFORE 11:10__.

YOU WILL GET OUT OF THIS UNIT WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT. IF YOU COMPOSE FOR COMPLETION, YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY GROWTH. IF YOU PUT 100% INTO EACH AND EVERY ASSIGNMENT, YOU WILL SEE TREMENDOUS GROWTH.

Tips to remember while composing:
 * 1) __Avoid plot summary__: if you find yourself describing an event or a character's action, you are focusing on plot. Remember to use your literary terms. Ex: metaphor, imagery, symbolism, personification, syntax, diction, dialect, foil, foreshadowing, conceit, etc.
 * 2) __Use active voice__: action verbs will strengthen any argument! Avoid words like am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, have, has, had, could, should, would, may, might, must.
 * 3) __Avoid first and second person__: keep it formal by writing in the third person.
 * 4) Always couch it as WHY THE AUTHOR DOES WHAT SHE DOES.

In addition to posting your reply to a question, you will also be responding to your peers' postings as well. **//You need to read through a minimum of __three__ of your peers' posts and reply to it with the following//**: * denotes required field.
 * ** * ** Strengths of writing : based on the suggestions and tips above, what did s/he do well. Feel free to use the above suggestions to guide your critique.
 * * (Dis)Agreements : based on the argument, what do you agree with or not agree with and why?
 * Questions : if something seemed unclear, ask away. Sometimes it sounds perfect in our heads but gets lost in the synapses to make our fingers type. Questions will point out the things we miss when we proofread for ourselves.
 * * Areas for improvement : where do you see an area for improvement? Feel free to use the above suggestions to guide your critique.
 * Your replies should be written coherently in standard English, please. While I am familiar with shortcuts and other social networking cues, the goal is to improve our writing. Thus, there are no "like" buttons.