Thursday, May 28, 2009

Assignment and Rubric

Before August 19th, you need to read one of the non-fiction books and one of the fiction books. As you read your novels, you will want to place comments under each novel's blog. These comments can truly be about anything (a connection you've made, a question you have, a possible inference to your question, a revelation you've had, a comment on author's style, the use of literary techniques, etc.), so don't be shy about being the first to post. You will, though, be assessed by the following criteria:
  1. comments are intelligent, insightful, elaborate, and detailed.
  2. you refer often to the specifics of the novel.
  3. at least one response per novel shows that you've read the entire piece (no spoilers).
  4. you respectfully reference others' comments.
  5. you follow the basic rules of Netiquette.
  6. proper conventions are utilized creatively and correctly.
  7. your blogs are spread out throughout the summer.

Let me know if you have questions.

Non-Fiction


Suburban Nation: The Rise and Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream - Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck

Non-Fiction


Nickel and Dimed - Barbara Ehrenreich

Non-Fiction


Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

Non-Fiction


Into the Wild - John Krakauer
As you are reading, might I suggest you listen to "Into the
Wild" by Pearl Jam's front man Eddie Vedder. My personal
favorite tune is "Tuolumne." Connections among the songs,
their lyrics, and the book would be cool ideas for blog entries.

Fiction


Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston

Fiction


Beloved - Toni Morrison

Fiction


The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers

Fiction


Feed - MT Anderson
Check out this 60 Minutes' segment for some cool
connections - it's called "Brain Power":