3PointEAU: English 1B @ West Valley College

Week 15

2008-12-14T00:56:00.000-08:00

Tu 12.16
Note: Class meets from 7:30 to 9:30 AM (If you are able, please bring food for the class to enjoy)
In-class: Class overview; Surveys; Research paper presentations
Due: Research paper

Also, please fill out this end of year survey and email back to me by week's end. Your opinion is important to me. Thanks!

Moderate Evangelical Richard Cizik's Resignation May Not Stop Broadening of the Evangelical Agenda

2008-12-12T12:52:00.000-08:00

By Dan Gilgoff
Posted December 12, 2008

Richard Cizik, the longtime Washington lobbyist for the National Association of Evangelicals—the largest evangelical umbrella organization in the country, representing roughly 45,0000 churches—resigned Thursday after igniting a firestorm in the evangelical world by vowing support for gay civil unions in an interview with National Public Radio.

Cizik has faced years of criticism from the Christian right over his advocacy for combating global warming, with many conservative evangelical leaders questioning the validity of global-warming claims and mankind's role in the process. Many of those leaders saw Cizik's so-called "creation care" activism as a sign of him trying to liberalize a traditionally conservative agenda and distracting from such fights as stopping abortion and gay marriage.

Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, one of the Christian right's most powerful voices, tried to have Cizik fired in 2006 over his environmental work, but the National Association of Evangelicals' board of directors stood by him, according to a source close to the organization.

With Cizik's resignation, Dobson and his allies finally claimed victory. "This sends the message that you can't leave the reservations on basic issues of where your constituency lies," says Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. "A number of left-leaning evangelicals had started believing their own press, saying that evangelicals were not concerned with issues of marriage and family. The NAE found out this week that their members do care about those issues."

In an interview with National Public Radio host Terry Gross that aired on December 2, Cizik responded to question about gay marriage by saying, "I'm shifting, I have to admit. In other words, I would willingly say I believe in civil unions. I don't officially support redefining marriage from its traditional definition, I don't think."

Even evangelical figures who'd supported Cizik's environmental activism were troubled by the comments. "I don't know what was going on in his head," says Christianity Today Editor David Neff, an NAE board member and a Cizik ally on environmental issues. "When I heard that interview, I said to myself 'Good grief—what are you talking about?' That was not the Richard I knew."

According to a statement posted on the NAE's website Cizik acknowledged that he misspoke during the NPR interview. "Although he has subsequently expressed regret, apologized, and affirmed our values there is a loss of trust in his credibility as a spokesperson among leaders and constituents," NAE President Leith Anderson said in a letter to the organization's board of directors."

Cizik's arrival at the NAE 28 years ago coincided with the rise of the modern Christian right, which Jerry Falwell launched with his Moral Majority in 1979. "What Rich has had to do is maintain the bipartisan nature of the NAE at a time when evangelicals shifted very heavily toward the Republican Party," says Christianity Today's Neff. ".... It creates a precarious situation for anyone doing that kind of work, when you have two thirds of the evangelical movement voting with the Republican Party."

In the 1990s, when conservative evangelicals found themselves locked out of the White House after 12 years of Republican rule, Cizik was among a handful of Washington evangelical advocates who worked to forge common ground with Bill Clinton's administration on foreign policy issues like human trafficking and religious freedom. He was an important player in the effort to pass 1998's International Religious Freedom Act, which Clinton signed into law.

As he worked to establish ties with Republicans and Democrats, Cizik criticized the Christian right's more blunt-force tactics, alleging that they actually impeded the movement from advancing its agenda in Washington. "Not everyone feels western civilization is going to rise and fall on a marriage amendment," Cizik told U.S. News in 2005, pushing back against Christian right leaders who were focused on passing a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. "My fear is we're bringing on criticism that we're modern-day ayatollahs."

Since then, Christian right leaders have grown more vocal in alleging that Cizik has failed to represent the conservative agenda of most American evangelicals, who accounted for about a quarter of the electorate on Election Day last month.

But John Green, an expert on religion and politics at the University of Akron, expects the "branching out" work that Cizik helped spearhead for the evangelical movement to continue, even if Cizik leaves the political arena. "There are a lot of forces working at broadening the evangelical agenda, particularly evangelicals under 30, Green says. "In the long term, there will be people who become more prominent from this younger evangelical generation."

Chilean cardinal: Madonna rouses 'impure thoughts'

2008-12-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

Associated Press, Dec. 10, 2008

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Madonna is causing "crazy enthusiasm" and "impure thoughts" on her first concert visit to Chile, a prominent retired cardinal complained on Wednesday, as he paused in a tribute to a late dictator to denounce the pop star.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Jorge Medina criticized the flamboyant singer during his homily at a Mass in honor of the late dictator Augusto Pinochet, who oversaw the deaths of some 3,200 dissidents during his 1973-1990 rule.

"This woman comes here and in an incredibly shameless manner, she provokes a crazy enthusiasm, an enthusiasm of lust, lustful thoughts, impure thoughts," said Medina, the cardinal who was chosen to announce the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

Hundreds of fans spent three days camping outside the National Stadium in Santiago to get good spots for Wednesday's concert, the first of two. About 60,000 people were expected at each performance.

One of those waiting in line, Roberto Lopez, told local reporters that he had quit his job in the southern city of Punta Arenas because his boss hadn't given him time off to attend the concert.

Pinochet died Dec. 10, 2006, at age 91.

Medina said that some of those who claim to seek justice for violations of human rights under the dictator are actually seeking revenge.

Week 14

2008-11-30T01:04:00.000-08:00

"Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven."
—Henry Ward Beecher

Tu 12.2
In-class: Watch—Paradise Now, dir. by Hany Abu-Assad

Th 12.4
In-class: Guest Speaker TBA
Due: Annotated bibliography

Suggested Research Paper Outline

2008-11-29T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a suggested outline for your research paper; feel free to vary it as you see fit:

Section 1: Introduce—In addition to presenting your thesis, this section introduces the reader to the faith you will be discussing. You also inform the reader as to which television show or film you will be exploring. You might also address the relevance of examining the media’s portrayals of spirituality. This section addresses the faith and its representation broadly.

Section 2: Contextualize—This section begins to get specific and contains both a brief overview of this faith and an historical overview of how its traditionally been represented in the media. In both cases, be sure to highlight only those aspects that are most relevant to your analysis.

Section 3: Illustrate—This section looks at the specific film or episodes portraying this faith. Be sure to only briefly summarize the work, keeping your emphasize on how the faith is represented.

Section 4: Analyze—After you’ve examined the work, you must present your analysis of it. This is the section in which you make your objective judgment as to how the faith was represented. What seems to be the creators’ intent? Was it accurate or inaccurate? Fair or unfair? Positive or negative?

Note: Depending on your approach, your secondary texts might fit best in sections 3 or 4.

Section 5: Conclude—This section gets broad again as you come to larger conclusions about the faith and works you’ve discussed. Be sure to remind the reader of your thesis. Also, consider what information do you want to leave the reader pondering.

Again, this is only a suggested outline. It does, however, cover all the requirements of the assignment.

Assignment: Research Paper (REPOST)

2008-11-29T21:05:00.001-08:00

Prompt:
Often, much of what we know about a faith comes via the media. For example, a film might inform us about what the followers of a particular religion are like, while a television series might explore the details about a group's beliefs. Additionally, representations might vary from accurate and objective to stereotypical and libelous.

For your research paper, you will examine the representation of faith and/or spirituality in a major film or television series. The goal is to illustrate the ways in which spiritual aspects are portrayed in the media.

Technical Requirements:

Six (6) pages in length
MLA format, including parenthetical citation
Minimum of 5 outside sources (do not use Wikipedia as a source), listed in a works cited page
Examine 1 feature-length film or 3 episodes of a major television series

Analytical Requirements:

Provide a clear thesis, making a statement about your findings regarding how faith and spirituality are portrayed
Examine at least two secondary sources (two other films or television series) to be compared AND contrasted with your primary source
Include in your analysis: A) general information about the faith being examined B) historical information about the media's representation of this faith
End with a conclusion that illustrates your understanding of the intersection of faith and media.

Due: 12.16.08

Sex invariably spells trouble, says Dalai Lama

2008-11-29T14:08:00.000-08:00

Nov 28 02:39 PM US/Eastern, BreitBart.com

The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader, on Friday said sex spelt fleeting satisfaction and trouble later, while chastity offered a better life and "more freedom."

"Sexual pressure, sexual desire, actually I think is short period satisfaction and often, that leads to more complication," the Dalai Lama told reporters in a Lagos hotel, speaking in English without a translator.

He said conjugal life caused "too much ups and downs.

"Naturally as a human being ... some kind of desire for sex comes, but then you use human intelligence to make comprehension that those couples always full of trouble. And in some cases there is suicide, murder cases," the Dalai Lama said.

He said the "consolation" in celibacy is that although "we miss something, but at the same time, compare whole life, it's better, more independence, more freedom."

Considered a Buddhist Master exempt from the religion's wheel of death and reincarnation, the Dalai Lama waxed eloquent on the Buddhist credo of non-attachment.

"Too much attachment towards your children, towards your partner," was "one of the obstacle or hindrance of peace of mind," he said.

Revered by his followers as a god-king, the Dalai Lama arrived in Lagos on Friday on a three-day visit following an invitation from a foundation to attend a conference. He has made no political speeches in the west African country.

He leaves Friday night for the Czech Republic and then on to Brussels to address the European Parliament before heading to Poland, where he is due to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The 73-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been a mainstay on the diplomatic stage ever since he fled his native land for neighbouring India in 1959.

Still based in northern India, the Dalai Lama has increasingly been in the spotlight since protests in Tibet turned violent in March this year, just months before the Chinese capital Beijing hosted the Summer Olympic Games.

Regarded by his many supporters outside China as a visionary in the vein of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his accent on non-violence to achieve change.

However, he is reviled by the Chinese government, which has branded him a "monster" and accused him of trying to split the nation.

Week 13

2008-11-23T01:33:00.000-08:00

Tu 11.25
In-class: Short story discusion

Th 11.27
NO CLASS—Thanksgiving Break

Musical at Iowa college acts out scary Bible tales

2008-11-22T11:44:00.000-08:00

By Melanie S. Welte, Associated Press Writer
Sat Nov 22, 10:15 am ET

DES MOINES, Iowa – Don't expect to hear these Bible stories at church.

Cannibalism, rape, a bear that mauls children — this is the Bible?

They're among six stories from the Old Testament acted out in "Terror Texts," a musical at Northwestern College in Orange City.

Adding to the shocking nature of the stories are the theatrics, with actors decked out in Goth attire, a rock band and a mosh pit.

Theater professor Jeff Barker said the obscurity of the stories belies their value.

"We believe we have discovered something that has been lying dormant for many, many centuries," said Barker, who created and directs "Terror Texts."

The musical was first performed at the 1,200 student Christian college in northwest Iowa in February and came back for an encore this fall, with a last performance slated for this weekend.

Barker uses the King James version of the Bible, and actors speak each verse word-by-word. It is not an interpretation or adaptation, like "Godspell" or "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"There's tremendous power waiting when you simply speak and act these stories aloud with faithfulness to the text, not trying to adapt them or add a lot of bits, but just simply play what's written there," Barker said.

Barker views the Bible as a "repository of ancient plays," and when performed they can be seen in a whole new light — even the dark stories.

"I was looking for terror text, stories I can say are thematically tied together because they are frightening and mysterious and terrifying," Barker said. "That's part of what we're saying with this whole project that life and God himself are mysteries."

William Dyrness, a professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., specializes in visual arts in relation to religious tradition.

He said biblical scholars have proposed that much of the Old Testament is poetry and was designed to be sung, especially in the temple as part of worship.

"It's not far from that to think of it as a play," he said. "Theologians have argued the best way to understand the Bible is in terms of it being a great dramatic performance."

He called "Terror Text" a creative variation of that idea.

"This is obviously a very Protestant approach where you're attempting to understand this story so that you can see the way the Bible applies to your life," he said. "You carry it on in your life. You become part of the story."

Student Hannah McBride has several roles in the performance, including as a virgin who gets kidnapped at the end of a story of rape, murder and war. McBride said it has shown her something about herself.

"This particular project has affected the way I view negative emotions — grief, anger, bitterness and spite and hate. We are meant to be emotional people. The Bible in a lot of ways shows us that that's OK," she said. "We need to embrace that we're going to be very, very sad and we won't know what to do with that."

In her role as a virgin, McBride wears a wedding dress that has been destroyed. She describes her look as a "corpse bride."

"It has that image of what could have been great, I ruined," she said.

In a world in which religion often is practiced privately or individually, Barker said he hopes people will understand the Bible better through his performance.

"These mysterious, dark stories of the Old Testament, they bring us face-to-face with the suffering of the world," Barker said. "It says we are capable of great evil and we must not forget these stories and we have some serious things to be accountable for in our own lives as a group and individually."

Pope Had `Prophecy' of Market Collapse in 1985, Tremonti Says

2008-11-20T13:10:00.000-08:00

By Flavia Krause-Jackson and Lorenzo Totaro

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Pope Benedict XVI was the first to predict the crisis in the global financial system, a ``prophecy'' dating to a paper he wrote when he was a cardinal, Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti said.

``The prediction that an undisciplined economy would collapse by its own rules can be found'' in an article written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope in April 2005, Tremonti said yesterday at Milan's Cattolica University.

German-born Ratzinger in 1985 presented a paper entitled ``Market Economy and Ethics'' at a Rome event dedicated to the Church and the economy. The future pope said a decline in ethics ``can actually cause the laws of the market to collapse.''

Pope Benedict in an Oct. 7 speech reflected on crashing markets and concluded that ``money vanishes, it is nothing'' and warned that ``the only solid reality is the word of God.''

The Vatican's official newspaper, l'Osservatore Romano, on the same day criticized the free-market model for having ``grown too much and badly in the past two decades.''

Assignment: Persuasive Essay

2008-11-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

Prompt:
In Dostoevsky 's The Brothers Karamazov, the Grand Inquisitor, in his conversation with Christ, argues that ultimately humanity prefers to be safe than free. In other words, by giving humans free will, he argues, Christ has burdened them with a responsibility they not only cannot handle, but would trade in favor of feeling protected. In the end, he says people will give up their freedoms in order to feel secure.

Is the Grand Inquisitor correct? Is human nature such that our need to feel safe overrides our desire to be free? Will we so easily surrender our rights in the name of security? In a persuasive essay, support, qualify, or dispute the Grand Inquisitor's claim. Cite from the story, as well as other relevant examples, to support your argument. Also, utilize those persuasive techniques we discussed in class whenever possible.

Requirements:

MLA format, including parenthetical citation
Two pages minimum

Due: Tuesday, November 25th

Note: If you were NOT in class on Tuesday the 18th, please email me: dhdelao@gmail.com

Assignment: Annotated Bibliography

2008-11-18T21:24:00.001-08:00

For this assignment, you will create an annotated bibliography in which you briefly:
1. Summarize the cited source
2. Explain how you intend to use the source in your paper

Be sure to strictly follow MLA works cited formatting style (MLA examples can be found here). Find a sample annotated bibliography here.

Requirements:

MLA format
Minimum of 5 outside sources (do not use Wikipedia as a source), listed in a works cited page

Due: Thursday, December 4th

Week 12

2008-11-16T13:29:00.000-08:00

"May neighbours respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you."

—Traditional Irish blessing

Tu 11.18
In-class: “NippleJesus” from Speaking with the Angel by Nick Hornby and “This Blessed House” from Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Th 11.19
Read:“I Hope I’m Not Taking Too Much of Your Time” from Snow by Orhan Pamuk and eR—“Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne
In-class: Short Story discussion (with Snow audio book play); PreviewPersonal essay
Due: Persuasive essay

'Child-witches' of Nigeria seek refuge

2008-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

By David Harrison
Last Updated: 2:33PM GMT 09 Nov 2008

Mary is a pretty five-year-old girl with big brown eyes and a father who kicked her out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Her crime: the local priest had denounced her as a witch and blamed her "evil powers" for causing her mother's death.

Ostracised, vulnerable and frightened, she wandered the streets in south-eastern Nigeria, sleeping rough, struggling to stay alive.

Mary was found by a British charity worker and today lives at a refuge in Akwa Ibom province with 150 other children who have been branded witches, blamed for all their family's woes, and abandoned. Before being pushed out of their homes many were beaten or slashed with knives, thrown onto fires, or had acid poured over them as a punishment or in an attempt to make them "confess" to being possessed. In one horrific case, a young girl called Uma had a three-inch nail driven into her skull.

Yet Mary and the others at the shelter are the lucky ones for they, at least, are alive. Many of those branded "child-witches" are murdered - hacked to death with machetes, poisoned, drowned, or buried alive in an attempt to drive Satan out of their soul.

The devil's children are "identified" by powerful religious leaders at extremist churches where Christianity and traditional beliefs have combined to produce a deep-rooted belief in, and fear of, witchcraft. The priests spread the message that child-witches bring destruction, disease and death to their families. And they say that, once possessed, children can cast spells and contaminate others.

The religious leaders offer help to the families whose children are named as witches, but at a price. The churches run exorcism, or "deliverance", evenings where the pastors attempt to drive out the evil spirits. Only they have the power to cleanse the child of evil spirits, they say. The exorcism costs the families up to a year's income.

During the "deliverance" ceremonies, the children are shaken violently, dragged around the room and have potions poured into their eyes. The children look terrified. The parents look on, praying that the child will be cleansed. If the ritual fails, they know their children will have to be sent away, or killed. Many are held in churches, often on chains, and deprived of food until they "confess" to being a witch.

The ceremonies are highly lucrative for the spiritual leaders many of whom enjoy a lifestyle of large homes, expensive cars and designer clothes.

Ten years ago there were few cases of children stigmatised by witchcraft. But since then the numbers have grown at an alarming rate and have reached an estimated 15,000 in Akwa Ibom state alone.

Some Nigerians blame the increase on one of the country's wealthiest and most influential evangelical preachers. Helen Ukpabio, a self-styled prophetess of the 150-branch Liberty Gospel Church, made a film, widely distributed, called End of the Wicked. It tells, in graphic detail, how children become possessed and shows them being inducted into covens, eating human flesh and bringing chaos and death to their families and communities.

Mrs Ukpabio, a mother of three, also wrote a popular book which tells parents how to identify a witch. For children under two years old, she says, the key signs of a servant of Satan are crying and screaming in the night, high fever and worsening health - symptoms that can be found among many children in an impoverished region with poor health care.

The preacher says that her work is true to the Bible and is a means of spreading God's word. "Witchcraft is a problem all over Nigeria and someone with a gift like me can never hurt anybody," she says. "Every Nigerian wants to watch my movies." She denies that her teachings and films could encourage child abuse.

One British charity worker is fighting to help the children stigmatised as witches. Gary Foxcroft, 29, programme director for the UK charity Stepping Stones, Nigeria, first came to the country in 2003 to research the oil industry for his masters degree. But he was so shocked when he learned about the children's plight that he decided to help raise money for the refuge - the Child Rights and Rehabilitation Network (Crarn) - and try to persuade the parents to take their children back. He has also helped to build a school for the children who are refused places at local schools.

"Any Christian would look at the situation that is going on here and just be absolutely outraged that they were using the teachings of Jesus Christ to exploit and abuse innocent children," says Mr Foxcroft whose expose of what he describes as "an absolute scandal" will be screened in a Channel 4 documentary on Wednesday.

The Niger Delta is an oil-rich region but the wealth does not reach the people who live there. The locals blame their hardship on the Devil but international analysts point to the oil industry's large-scale contamination of air, land and sea.

In the documentary, the charity worker visits one of the pastors, a man who calls himself "the Bishop" and who claims to be able to drive evil spirits out of "possessed" children. At his church in Ibaka, the Bishop pours a homemade substance called African mercury, a potion of pure alcohol and his own blood, into the eyes of a young boy lying on a table. "I want this poison destroyer to destroy the witch right now, in Jesus' name," he says.

The priest charges £170 - in a country where millions of people are forced to live on less than £1 a day - for "treating" a child every night for two weeks, and holds them captive until the bill is paid.

He has recently refined his techniques for dealing with child witches. "I killed up to 110 people who were identified as being a witch," he says. He claims there are 2.3million "witches and wizards" in Akwa Ibom province alone.

The children's shelter was started five years ago when Sam Itauma, a Nigerian, opened his house to four youngsters accused of witchcraft. Today, he and his five staff are caring for 150 youngsters. "Every day, five or six children are branded as witches," he says "Once a child has been stigmatised as a witch, it is very difficult for someone to accept that child back. If they go out from this community... there is a lot of attacks, assault and abuses on the children." Children often arrive at the shelter with severe wounds, but few clinics or hospitals will treat a child believed to be a witch.

"Christianity in the Niger Delta is seriously questionable, putting a traditional religion together with Christian religion - and it makes nonsense out of it," he says. "If you are not rich and don't have anything to eat, you look to blame someone. And if you don't get anything, you blame it on the witches."

Christians have been in Nigeria since the 19th century and the Niger Delta area claims to have more churches per square mile than any other place on Earth. The vast majority of the country's 60 million Christians are moderate, but an influx of Pentecostals over the past 50 years has led some churches to be dominated by extremist views. Five years ago, the Nigerian government passed a Child Rights Act, which made abuse illegal, but not every state has adopted it.

At the refuge, a baby girl called Utibe and her five-year-old sister, Utitofong, are dumped at the gate by their mother because a "prophet" told her that Utitofong was a witch and had passed the spell to her sister. The mother, who spent four months' salary on an unsuccessful exorcism, left them at the centre because she feared they would be killed. The police are called but locals offer them no help.

Mr Itauma goes to the village to try and convince the locals to accept the daughters' return, but the older girl is threatened by a man with a machete. "Get away from our food - I'll kill you," he shouts. Utibe is allowed to stay, but the older girl has to go back to the refuge.

At the end of the film, Mr Foxcroft and all the "child-witches" stage a demonstration at the Governor's residence in the state capital, Uyo, and urge him to adopt the Child Rights Act." After four hours the Governor comes out and says the Act will be adopted. It has since been adopted, but so far not a single pastor has been convicted of any offence. And the rescue centre still takes in up to 10 children a week.

Mr Foxcroft took Mary back to her village where he was told that her father left a year ago to find work in Cameroon. A cousin says: "She is a witch, we don't want her here." Mary is now back at the refuge.

Week 11

2008-11-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

Tu 11.11
NO CLASS—Veteran’s Day

Th 11. 13
Read: eR—“The Grand Inquisitor” from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; In-class: Short story discussion; Lecture—“Understanding rhetorical techniques”; Preview—Persuasive essay

Reminder: Enhancement Assignments

2008-11-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

As discussed in class, do three of the following four assignments. Remember, the Annotated Bibliography is already a required assignment.

Assignments and links:

Due no later than Tuesday, December 16th.

Week 10

2008-11-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

"In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you."
—Deepak Chopra

Tu 11.4
Read: SID p. 101-152
In-class: Book discussion; Preview: Comparative analysis essay

Th 11.6
In-class: Comparative analysis essay

Dole challenger irate over suggestion she is 'godless'

2008-10-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

(CNN) -- Kay Hagan erupted in anger Thursday over a television ad from Sen. Elizabeth Dole suggesting Hagan is "godless."

"I think Elizabeth Dole has just gone to the lowest of the lows," Hagan said of the ad during an appearance on a talk show on WPTF-AM in Raleigh, North Carolina. "This is an attack on my Christian faith."

Hagan, who described herself as a Sunday school teacher and an elder at a Presbyterian church in Greensboro, North Carolina, urged Dole to "pull this kind of despicable ad."

Hagan, who is challenging Dole's re-election bid, filed an application in a Wake County, North Carolina, court Thursday, seeking permission to file a complaint within 20 days, after the election is over."

The advertisement purposely misstates facts about the plaintiff," said the three-page application, which was filed in District Superior Court.In the 30-second ad, a narrator says that a leader of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee recently held a "secret fundraiser" for Hagan.

The ad then shows members of the group, which promotes rights for atheists and the separation of church and state, declaring that neither God nor Jesus exists."Godless Americans and Kay Hagan," the ad continues. "She hid from cameras. Took 'Godless' money. What did Kay Hagan promise in return?"

The ad ends with a picture of Hagan and a voice that sounds like hers declaring, "There is no God."But the application said Hagan never made that statement or accepted money from the group.Lawyers representing Dole and her campaign defended the ad Thursday as "100 percent factually accurate and truthful." The campaign for the GOP incumbent said it based its claims on Hagan's attendance at a fundraiser in the home of a GAPAC adviser.

"Kay Hagan attended a fundraiser event in Massachusetts in September held in the home of two anti-religion activists, Wendy Kaminer and her lawyer husband, Woody Kaplan," Dole's attorneys said in a letter to Hagan's lawyer.

They described Kaplan as a founder and advisory board member of the GAPAC. The letter said Kaplan and Kaminer were advisory board members of The Secular Coalition for America, which it described as "the national lobby for atheists, humanists, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans with the unique mission of protecting their civil rights."

The lawyers also said Kaplan gave $2,300 to Hagan's campaign."This is politics of the worst kind, and I know it has been rejected by North Carolinians at every level," said Hagan.

Polls suggest Hagan -- a Democratic state senator from Greensboro who began the race at a major financial disadvantage to Dole -- is slightly ahead of the incumbent.

Week 9

2008-10-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
—Thomas Jefferson

Tu 10.28
Read: SID p. 1-62
In-class: Book discussion

Th 10.30
Read: SID p. 63-100
In-class: Book discussion; Watch—Jesus Camp, dir. by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
Due: Journal 5

Ex-Mormon calendar-maker has BYU diploma yanked

2008-10-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Dobner, Associated Press
Article Launched: 10/20/2008 11:04:25 AM PDT

SALT LAKE CITY — Brigham Young University has yanked the diploma of a man who created a calendar featuring shirtless Mormon missionaries and was later excommunicated from the church.

Chad Hardy of Las Vegas attended graduation ceremonies Aug. 15 after finishing up his last four units of study online in June. But on July 13, in between completing his studies and the graduation ceremony, he was excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A Sept. 30 letter from Norman B. Finlinson, the school's executive director of student academic and advisement services, said a nonacademic hold was placed on Hardy's record after the church-owned university learned of the excommunication.

"If in the future you are reinstated as a member of the church in good standing, you are invited to contact my office regarding your possible eligibility for the awarding of a degree," Finlinson wrote.

Hardy, 31, plans to challenge the school's decision.

"I intend to fight this tooth-and-nail," he said.

Hardy's excommunication for conduct unbecomiong a church member was rooted in his failure to pay tithing, a lapse in other religious obligations and, according to Las Vegas regional church elder Frank E. Davie, his involvement with the 2008 "Men on a Mission" calendar.

Hardy's calendar sold nearly 11,000 copies and features 12 returned church missionaries in mostly modest poses, minus their trademark white shirts, ties and black plastic name badges.

The calendar was intended to shake up the stuffy, cookie-cutter stereotype often associated with Mormons, Hardy said.

News reports of his excommunication helped sales of the 2008 calendar and have landed Hardy larger U.S. and international distribution contracts for the just-released 2009 edition, which carries a disclaimer that it is not directly affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

'Anonymous' Member Unmasked, Charged With Web Attack on Scientology

2008-10-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Singel, Wired
October 17, 2008
7:17:12 PM

An 18-year-old New Jersey man agreed to plead guilty to federal computer hacking charges Friday for participating in a denial-of-service attack against Church of Scientology websites, as part of collective of online troublemakers known as "Anonymous."

Dmitriy Guzner is charged with a single felony count of unauthorized impairment of a protected computer for the January distributed denial-of-service attack. He faces a likely sentence of 12 to 18 months in prison based on stipulations in his plea agreement, which also obliges him to pay $37,500 in restitution.

Anonymous is best described as a collection of griefers who hang out in the net's most juvenile corners looking for some outlet for their boredom. Past targets include uncool virtual worlds, an epilepsy message board and a Neo-Nazi webcaster.

Most recently, the FBI charged a 20-year-old Tennessee student named David Kernell with breaking into Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's e-mail account, and sharing the password, and partial contents, on an Anonymous message board.

Friday's case, in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, marks the first prosecution of an Anonymous member for a series of attacks against the Church of Scientology that began in mid-January. The secretive religious group strayed into Anonymous' sights after trying to suppress the publication of a creepy Tom Cruise video produced for Scientology members.

The group's efforts against the church included extended denial-of-service attacks, in which more skilled members of anonymous authored attack scripts that less-skilled members executed. The scripts sent waves of fake traffic at various Scientology websites in an effort to overwhelm their servers.

Other tactics included swamping phone lines with crank calls and sending black fax pages to Scientology offices. A core group graduated to real-world demonstrations outside of Scientology centers, where they were joined by mainstream critics of the church, who largely mistook Anonymous as an anti-Scientology group, rather than anti-everything.

According to court papers, Guzner "knowingly caused the transmission of information, codes and commands and as a result of such conduct, intentionally and without authorization caused damage by impairing the integrity and availability of data, a program, a system and information on a computer system that was used in interstate and foreign commerce and communications, specifically websites belonging to the Church of Scientology, thereby causing loss to one or more persons aggregating at least $5,000 in value[...]"

His plea agreement estimates that the attacks cost Scientology between $30,000 and $70,000 in damage.

Guzner was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force in Los Angeles, which says it worked with the FBI and Los Angeles law enforcement groups.

It's not clear whether others remain under investigation.

Week 8

2008-10-19T18:41:00.001-07:00

"Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America."

—Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell on insinuations by some in the GOP that Barack Obama is a Muslim

Tu 10.21
In-class: SLB p. 102-188
Due: Poetry explication, final draft

Th 10.23
Read: SLB p. 189-302
In-class: Book discussion

Assignment: Poetry Explication

2008-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Prompt:
For this essay, you will do a close read (or explication) of a poem or a portion of one. You may choose whichever poem we read in class:

"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot
“God Says Yes To Me” by Kaylin Haught
“Mother's Evening Prayer” by Mary Eddy Baker
“Atheist” by Yip Harburg
“Aubade” by Philip Larkin
"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" by Anne Bradstreet
“Written in Disgust of Vulgar Superstition” by John Keats
“Within this Earthen Vessel” by Kabir
“Prayer” by Henry David Thoreau

Remember that while you are primarily analyzing the poem on a minute level, you'll still have to identify an overarching theme in your thesis. And of course, use specific examples from the poem to support your thesis.

A sample explication of Robert Lowell's "The Quaker Graveyard in Nantucket" can be found here.

Due: Thursday, October, 16th (draft 1; bring in three [3] copies)

Week 7

2008-10-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

Tu 10.14
In-class: In-class: Poetry discussion; Watch—“Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily” from The Simpsons

Th 10.16
Read: SLB p. 1-101
In-class: Book discussion; Writers workshop
Due: Journal 4; Poetry explication, draft 1 (bring in three [3] copies)

Mormons renew calls for Calif. gay marriage ban

2008-10-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Dibner, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, October 8, 2008

(10-08) 21:48 PDT Salt Lake City, CA (AP) --

Senior elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a televised appeal to Mormons in California Wednesday night to step up their already considerable efforts to pass a ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.

Two members of the church's second-highest governing body, the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, quoted from Mormon scripture on the sanctity of marriage as they laid out a week-by-week strategy for boosting Mormon involvement before the Nov. 4 election in voter registration efforts, phone banks and distributing campaign materials.

"What we're about is the work of the Lord, and He will bless you for your involvement," apostle M. Russell Ballard said during the hourlong meeting, which was broadcast to church buildings in California, Utah, Hawaii and Idaho.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of a coalition of conservative groups backing Proposition 8, which would overturn the California Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in the nation's most populous state by amending the state constitution to limit marriage to a man and a woman.

Mormons have been active participants in the campaign both as volunteers and financial contributors, giving an estimated 43 percent — some $8.4 million — to the Proposition 8 campaign, according to the Web site mormonsfor8.com. There are about 770,000 Mormon church members in California, but Mormons from outside the state have been encouraged to give money and time to help pass the measure.

During Wednesday's taped satellite broadcast, church leaders asked for 30 members from each California congregation to donate four hours of week to the campaign. They also called on young married couples and single Mormons to use the Internet, text messaging, blogging and other forms of computer technology to help pass the initiative, saying the church has created a new Web site — PreservingMarriage.org — with materials they can download and post on their own social networking sites.

Church elder L. Whitney Clayton, who has been working as a liaison between the LDS leaders and the Proposition 8 campaign, said before the event that it was meant to energize Mormons for the weeks remaining before Election Day.

"It's a political campaign, and time is short and there's a lot to do."

Along with recruiting Mormons to work in California, church members from outside the state have been asked to call friends and family at home in California to encourage support for the measure, according to Clayton. He said many students attending church-owned universities have asked how they might help and could be enlisted to make calls.

"In California, the phone trees are up and running. We just want to be able to help, and one of the things we can do is we can organize," Clayton said in an interview Wednesday.

Officially, the Mormon church is politically neutral and does not endorse individual candidates or political parties. The church does, however, weigh in on issues it considers morally important. The church holds traditional marriage as a sacred institution ordained by God and has actively fought efforts to legalize same-sex marriage across the United States since the 1990s.

Its involvement in the California same-sex marriage debate this year began with a letter from church President Thomas S. Monson asking California Mormons to give their time and money to pass Proposition 8. Monson's letter has been read repeatedly in Mormon churches, and opponents of the forthcoming initiative have credited LDS members with giving the Yes on 8 camp an edge in donations and volunteers.

Some Mormons have criticized the church for wading so heavily into the political realm.

"We know that it is not without controversy, yet let me be clear that at the heart of this issue is the central doctrine of eternal marriage and it's place in our Father's plan," Ballard said.

Besides Clayton and Ballard, the broadcast featured Quentin L. Cook, another member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.

Poetry to read for 10.09.08

2008-10-07T23:47:00.000-07:00

“God Says Yes To Me” by Kaylin Haught
I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic
and she said yes
I asked her if it was okay to be short
and she said it sure is
I asked her if I could wear nail polish
or not wear nail polish
and she said honey
she calls me that sometimes
she said you can do just exactly
what you want to
Thanks God I said
And is it even okay if I don't paragraph
my letters
Sweetcakes God said
who knows where she picked that up
what I'm telling you is
Yes Yes Yes

“Mother's Evening Prayer” by Mary Eddy Baker
O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.
Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.
O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill, — since God is good, and loss is gain.
Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
"Lo, I am with you alway," — watch and pray.
No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav'nly rest.

“Atheist” by Yip Harburg
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only god can make a tree;

And only god who makes the tree
Also makes the fools like me.

But only fools like me, you see,
Can make a god who makes a tree.

“Aubade” by Philip Larkin
I work all day, and get half-drunk at night.
Waking at four to soundless dark, I stare.
In time the curtain-edges will grow light.
Till then I see what's really always there:
Unresting death, a whole day nearer now,
Making all thought impossible but how
And where and when I shall myself die.
Arid interrogation: yet the dread
Of dying, and being dead,
Flashes afresh to hold and horrify.

The mind blanks at the glare. Not in remorse
- The good not done, the love not given, time
Torn off unused - nor wretchedly because
An only life can take so long to climb
Clear of its wrong beginnings, and may never;
But at the total emptiness for ever,
The sure extinction that we travel to
And shall be lost in always. Not to be here,
Not to be anywhere,
And soon; nothing more terrible, nothing more true.

This is a special way of being afraid
No trick dispels. Religion used to try,
That vast, moth-eaten musical brocade
Created to pretend we never die,
And specious stuff that says No rational being
Can fear a thing it will not feel, not seeing
That this is what we fear - no sight, no sound,
No touch or taste or smell, nothing to think with,
Nothing to love or link with,
The anasthetic from which none come round.

And so it stays just on the edge of vision,
A small, unfocused blur, a standing chill
That slows each impulse down to indecision.
Most things may never happen: this one will,
And realisation of it rages out
In furnace-fear when we are caught without
People or drink. Courage is no good:
It means not scaring others. Being brave
Lets no one off the grave.
Death is no different whined at than withstood.

Slowly light strengthens, and the room takes shape.
It stands plain as a wardrobe, what we know,
Have always known, know that we can't escape,
Yet can't accept. One side will have to go.
Meanwhile telephones crouch, getting ready to ring
In locked-up offices, and all the uncaring
Intricate rented world begins to rouse.
The sky is white as clay, with no sun.
Work has to be done.
Postmen like doctors go from house to house.

"Before the Birth of One of Her Children" by Anne Bradstreet
All things within this fading world hath end,
Adversity doth still our joys attend;
No ties so strong, no friends so dear and sweet,
But with death's parting blow are sure to meet.
The sentence past is most irrevocable,
A common thing, yet oh, inevitable.
How soon, my Dear, death may my steps attend,
How soon't may be thy lot to lose thy friend,
We both are ignorant, yet love bids me
These farewell lines to recommend to thee,
That when the knot's untied that made us one,
I may seem thine, who in effect am none.
And if I see not half my days that's due,
What nature would, God grant to yours and you;
The many faults that well you know I have
Let be interred in my oblivious grave;
If any worth or virtue were in me,
Let that live freshly in thy memory
And when thou feel'st no grief, as I no harmes,
Yet love thy dead, who long lay in thine arms,
And when thy loss shall be repaid with gains
Look to my little babes, my dear remains.
And if thou love thyself, or loved'st me,
These O protect from stepdame's injury.
And if chance to thine eyes shall bring this verse,
With some sad sighs honor my absent hearse;
And kiss this paper for thy dear love's sake,
Who with salt tears this last farewell did take.

“Written in Disgust of Vulgar Superstition” by John Keats
The church bells toll a melancholy round,
Calling the people to some other prayers,
Some other gloominess, more dreadful cares,
More harkening to the sermon's horrid sound.
Surely the mind of man is closely bound
In some black spell; seeing that each one tears
Himself from fireside joys, and Lydian airs,
And converse high of those with glory crown'd
Still, still they too, and I should feel a damp, -
A chill as from a tomb, did I not know
That they are dying like an outburnt lamp;
That 'tis their sighing, wailing ere they go
Into oblivion; - that fresh flowers will grow,
And many glories of immortal stamp.

“Within this Earthen Vessel” by Kabir
Within this earthen vessel are bowers and groves,
and within it is the Creator:
Within this vessel are the seven oceans and the unnumbered stars.
The touchstone and the jewel-appraiser are within;
and within this vessel the Eternal soundeth,
and the spring wells up.
Kabîr says: "Listen to me, my Friend!
My beloved Lord is within."

“Prayer” by Henry David Thoreau
Great God, I ask for no meaner pelf
Than that I may not disappoint myself,
That in my action I may soar as high
As I can now discern with this clear eye.
And next in value, which thy kindness lends,
That I may greatly disappoint my friends,
Howe'er they think or hope that it may be,
They may not dream how thou'st distinguished me.
That my weak hand may equal my firm faith
And my life practice what my tongue saith
That my low conduct may not show
Nor my relenting lines
That I thy purpose did not know
Or overrated thy designs.

Bill Maher speaking about his film "Religulous" on "The Daily Show" 9.30.08

2008-10-07T00:18:00.001-07:00

Week 6 (Corrected)

2008-10-05T21:02:00.000-07:00

Tu 10.7
Read: Selected Poetry
In-class: Poetry discussion; Lecture—“How to do an explication/close reading, Pt. I”

Th 10.9
Read: Selected poetry
In-class: Poetry discussion; Preview—Poetry explication
Due: Journal 3

What Happens When We Die?

2008-10-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

By M.J. Stephey, Time

Tue Sep 23, 6:40 PM ET

A fellow at New York City's Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Sam Parnia is one of the world's leading experts on the scientific study of death. Last week Parnia and his colleagues at the Human Consciousness Project announced their first major undertaking: a 3-year exploration of the biology behind "out-of-body" experiences. The study, known as AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation), involves the collaboration of 25 major medical centers through Europe, Canada and the U.S. and will examine some 1,500 survivors of cardiac arrest. TIME spoke with Parnia about the project's origins, its skeptics and the difference between the mind and the brain.

What sort of methods will this project use to try and verify people's claims of "near-death" experience?

When your heart stops beating, there is no blood getting to your brain. And so what happens is that within about 10 sec., brain activity ceases - as you would imagine. Yet paradoxically, 10% or 20% of people who are then brought back to life from that period, which may be a few minutes or over an hour, will report having consciousness. So the key thing here is, Are these real, or is it some sort of illusion? So the only way to tell is to have pictures only visible from the ceiling and nowhere else, because they claim they can see everything from the ceiling. So if we then get a series of 200 or 300 people who all were clinically dead, and yet they're able to come back and tell us what we were doing and were able see those pictures, that confirms consciousness really was continuing even though the brain wasn't functioning.

How does this project relate to society's perception of death?

People commonly perceive death as being a moment - you're either dead or you're alive. And that's a social definition we have. But the clinical definition we use is when the heart stops beating, the lungs stop working, and as a consequence the brain itself stops working. When doctors shine a light into someone's pupil, it's to demonstrate that there is no reflex present. The eye reflex is mediated by the brain stem, and that's the area that keeps us alive; if that doesn't work, then that means that the brain itself isn't working. At that point, I'll call a nurse into the room so I can certify that this patient is dead. Fifty years ago, people couldn't survive after that.

How is technology challenging the perception that death is a moment?

Nowadays, we have technology that's improved so that we can bring people back to life. In fact, there are drugs being developed right now - who knows if they'll ever make it to the market - that may actually slow down the process of brain-cell injury and death. Imagine you fast-forward to 10 years down the line; and you've given a patient, whose heart has just stopped, this amazing drug; and actually what it does is, it slows everything down so that the things that would've happened over an hour, now happen over two days. As medicine progresses, we will end up with lots and lots of ethical questions.

But what is happening to the individual at that time? What's really going on? Because there is a lack of blood flow, the cells go into a kind of a frenzy to keep themselves alive. And within about 5 min. or so they start to damage or change. After an hour or so the damage is so great that even if we restart the heart again and pump blood, the person can no longer be viable, because the cells have just been changed too much. And then the cells continue to change so that within a couple of days the body actually decomposes. So it's not a moment; it's a process that actually begins when the heart stops and culminates in the complete loss of the body, the decompositions of all the cells. However, ultimately what matters is, What's going on to a person's mind? What happens to the human mind and consciousness during death? Does that cease immediately as soon as the heart stops? Does it cease activity within the first 2 sec., the first 2 min.? Because we know that cells are continuously changing at that time. Does it stop after 10 min., after half an hour, after an hour? And at this point we don't know.

What was your first interview like with someone who had reported an out-of-body experience?

Eye-opening and very humbling. Because what you see is that, first of all, they are completely genuine people who are not looking for any kind of fame or attention. In many cases they haven't even told anybody else about it because they're afraid of what people will think of them. I have about 500 or so cases of people that I've interviewed since I first started out more than 10 years ago. It's the consistency of the experiences, the reality of what they were describing. I managed to speak to doctors and nurses who had been present who said these patients had told them exactly what had happened, and they couldn't explain it. I actually documented a few of those in my book What Happens When We Die because I wanted people to get both angles - not just the patients' side but also the doctors' side - and see how it feels for the doctors to have a patient come back and tell them what was going on. There was a cardiologist that I spoke with who said he hasn't told anyone else about it because he has no explanation for how this patient could have been able to describe in detail what he had said and done. He was so freaked out by it that he just decided not to think about it anymore.

Why do you think there is such resistance to studies like yours?

Because we're pushing through the boundaries of science, working against assumptions and perceptions that have been fixed. A lot of people hold this idea that, well, when you die, you die; that's it. Death is a moment - you know you're either dead or alive. All these things are not scientifically valid, but they're social perceptions. If you look back at the end of the 19th century, physicists at that time had been working with Newtonian laws of motion, and they really felt they had all the answers to everything that was out there in the universe. When we look at the world around us, Newtonian physics is perfectly sufficient. It explains most things that we deal with. But then it was discovered that actually when you look at motion at really small levels - beyond the level of the atoms - Newton's laws no longer apply. A new physics was needed, hence, we eventually ended up with quantum physics. It caused a lot of controversy - even Einstein himself didn't believe in it.

Now, if you look at the mind, consciousness, and the brain, the assumption that the mind and brain are the same thing is fine for most circumstances, because in 99% of circumstances we can't separate the mind and brain; they work at the exactly the same time. But then there are certain extreme examples, like when the brain shuts down, that we see that this assumption may no longer seem to hold true. So a new science is needed in the same way that we had to have a new quantum physics. The CERN particle accelerator may take us back to our roots. It may take us back to the first moments after the Big Bang, the very beginning. With our study, for the first time, we have the technology and the means to be able to investigate this. To see what happens at the end for us. Does something continue?

Class Canceled: Tuesday, September 30th

2008-09-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit under the weather, so I'm canceling class tomorrow. I will, however, see you on Thursday (along with your lit analysis essays).

Enjoy your day off.

Week 5

2008-09-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

Tu 9.30 In-class: Watch—Dead Man Walking, dir. by Tim Robbins; Film discussion (Class canceled)

Th 10.2 Read: eR—“The Waste Land” by TS Elliot
In-class: Poetry discussion; Lecture—“How to do an explication/close reading, Pt. I”
Due: Literature analysis essay

"The Steps of the Writing Process" Outline

2008-09-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

I. Why Steps to Essay Writing?

Following the Steps of the Writing Process:

Avoids the need to begin an essay with a blank screen, as these steps give you a roadmap to follow during writing
Takes the guesswork out of writing by pre-planning your approach
Front-loads the process so that the actual writing of the essay is done more efficiently
Produces essays that are better organized and more concise

II. The Steps of the Writing Process

Understanding the Prompt
Forming a Thesis
Prewriting + Outlining
Drafting
Revising
Proofreading
Publishing

III. Understanding the Prompt

Prompts are directions for writing an essay, and should:

Be read carefully: Give the prompt the time it deserves—even during a timed-writing, where the average time spent reading a prompt is less than one minute
Be annotated: Highlight key words and phrases (and repeat them in your essay)
At some point, offer "action" words: Paying close attention to "action" words will ensure you write the right type of essay

***

Here is a typical prompt you may encounter:

Inter-faith couples face many unique challenges. They must deal with issues that most same-faith couples take for granted, such as who will officiate their marriage ceremony and how to observe religious holidays. Indeed, the problems raised by couples of differing religions often aren’t resolved until one person succumbs their beliefs. Couples should save themselves the trouble and stay with their own kind.

Write an essay in which you support, qualify, or dispute the above statement.

***

The following prompt is ideally annotated:
Inter-faith couples face many unique challenges. They must deal with issues that most same-faith couples take for granted, such as who will officiate their marriage ceremony and how to observe religious holidays. Indeed, the problems raised by couples of differing religions often aren’t resolved until one person succumbs their beliefs. Couples should save themselves the trouble and stay with their own kind.

Write an essay in which you support, qualify, or dispute the above statement.

This annotation highlighted the prompt’s key words (e.g. interfaith couples, unique challenges), but it also noted its "action" words. In this case, the prompt offered three very different action words: support, qualify, or dispute. Each of these words lends itself to a very different essay, so it is important to take note of each.

IV: Forming a Thesis

Now that you understand the prompt, its time to form a thesis. Ideally, thesis statements should:

Include the subject: Be specific about the essay’s topic
Have an arguable point of view: Make more than just a statement, make a clear and logical argument
Be broad but concise: Be singular in focus about your topic, but leave yourself enough room to explore several aspects

Also, keep in mind that generally prompts are broken into two parts: context and directions. The contextual part of the prompt establishes the parameters of your essay (e.g. subject), while the directional portion dictates instructions (e.g. “write a persuasive essay”).

***

Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this thesis statement:

Although couples of differing religions may have many struggles and clashes over their faiths, these couples can most definitely work if they have true love as the key to success in their relationship.

Strengths:

On topic
Singular in focus

Weaknesses:

Wordy
Illogical/Vague
Does not utilize wording of prompt

***

Revised thesis:
While inter-faith couples may face unique challenges, honest communication is the key to their long-term success.

Strengths of this revised thesis statement:

On topic
Clear and logical argument
Singular in focus -Economical wording
Utilizes prompt’s wording

V: Prewriting + Outlining

Once you have a solid thesis in place, its time to think about potential evidence and directions for your essay. Prewriting can take any form, from simple notes to organized structures; these techniques generally break into two categories: structured and unstructured:

Structured: Includes graphic organizers, and typically utilize shapes or charts to organize ideas visually
Unstructured: Includes brainstorming and free-writing, and is less concerned with organization and more interested in simply recording key points on paper

Structured prewriting examples:

Spider-Mapping

Clustering

Venn Diagram

***

Outlining is the process of taking your initial thoughts and organizing them into a roadmap for your essay. As with prewriting, outlining can take many forms, from traditional (using Roman numerals) to non-traditional (loose or Informal outline). There is no right or wrong approach; instead, choose the style that best fits your needs and preferences.

***

Here is a loose outline based upon the revised thesis:

Intro ¶: Intro subject; Thesis
Body ¶ 1: Establish the value of honest communication in a relationship
Body ¶ 2: Establish challenges unique to inter-faith couples
Body ¶ 3: Honest communication at the beginning of the relationship
Body ¶ 4: Honest communication during the holidays
Body ¶ 5: Honest communication and family and friends
Body ¶ 6: Honest communication and kids
Conclusion ¶: Summarize; Reworded thesis

VI: Drafting

Once your outline is complete, it is time to actually write your essay. Keep in mind that at this stage, its often best just to get the entire essay written; worry about the details and fine tuning later.

VII: Revising

Once your essay is on paper or the screen, its time to step back and evaluate it as a whole. Some questions to ask about your essay at this point include:

Does it contain a solid thesis?
Do the body paragraphs support the thesis, and are they singular in focus?
Does it flow?
Does it have a solid conclusion that both summarizes your argument and rewords the thesis?

It is also important, at this stage, to think structurally. Revising is the point at which an essay can radically change shape. Likewise, essays should be trimmed at this stage so as to keep the emphasis on only those paragraphs that best support your thesis. Do not be afraid to cut a paragraph if it is not doing what its supposed to do, which is strengthen your overall argument.

***

First draft essay:

Intro ¶: Intro subject; Thesis
Body ¶ 1: Establish the value of honest communication in a relationship
Body ¶ 2: Establish challenges unique to inter-faith couples
Body ¶ 3: Honest communication at the beginning of the relationship
Body ¶ 4: Honest communication during the holidays
Body ¶ 5: Honest communication and family and friends
Body ¶ 6: Honest communication and kids
Conclusion ¶: Summarize; Reworded thesis

Revised draft essay:

Intro ¶: Intro subject; Thesis
Body ¶ 1: Establish challenges unique to inter-faith couples
Body ¶ 2: Establish value of honest communication in a relationship
Body ¶ 3: Honest communication during the holidays
Body ¶ 4: Honest communication and kids
Conclusion ¶: Summarize; Reworded thesis

These changes took advantage of both swapping paragraphs (Body paragraphs 1 and 2) and combining (or eliminating) paragraphs 3 and 5 ("Honest communication at the beginning of the relationship" and “Honest communication and friends and family”). These changes not only better organized the argument logically, they also increased the flow of the essay overall. Again, major structural changes are appropriate at the revising stage.

Another option at this stage is peer-editing, in which another person reads your essay and offers constructive criticism. It is often helpful to have a fresh set of eyes to review your writing.

VIII: Proofreading

Unlike revising, in the proofreading stage the emphasis is on the smaller details; generally punctuation and grammar. By this point, the structure of your essay is in place and so proofreading turns your attention the finer points of the essay.

***

Proofreading tips:

Take a break: Many find it beneficial to take a short break between revising and proofreading as a way to refresh your brain.
Read it aloud: Often, your ears are better editors than your eyes
Don’t rely too heavily on your word processing program’s grammar check feature: Though helpful, these features are not very sophisticated and can miss many errors.
Revise on paper: Often you’ll catch more mistakes by reading a printed version of your essay rather than on computer screen

***

Here are some common grammatical errors:

Your vs. You’re: “Your/You’re putting your relationship at risk by not being honest with your partner.”
It’s vs. Its: “It’s/Its important that both religions be respected.”
There vs. Their: “There/Their will be times when things get tough.”
Affect vs. Effect: “What will be the end affect/effect?”
Dangling Participles “Walking through the church, the statues were stunning.”

Here are the corrections:

Your vs. You’re “You’re putting your relationship at risk by not being honest with your partner.”
It’s vs. Its “It’s important that both religions be respected.”
There vs. Their: “There will be times when things get tough.”
Affect vs. Effect: “What will be the end effect?”
Dangling Participles: “Walking through the church, I saw statues that were stunning.” ¨

IX: Publishing

To make your essay print-ready (or publishable), it must conform to MLA style, the formatting standard of college literature and composition classes.

General MLA style includes:

12-pt Times New Roman font in black ink
Double-spaced throughout
A right-aligned header containing your last name and page number
1” margins on all sides ¨Centered title
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch (one tab) from the left margin.

Sample MLA style format:

Assignment: Literature Analysis Essay

2008-09-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

Prompt:
"'Tata Jesus is Bangala!' declares the Reverend every Sunday at the end of his sermon. More and more, mistrusting his interpreters, he tries to speak in Kikongo. He throws back his head and shouts these words to the sky, while his lambs sit scratching themselves in wonder. Bangala means something precious and dear. But the way he pronounces it, it means the poisonwood tree. Praise the Lord, hallelujah, my friends! for Jesus will make you itch like nobody's business" (277).

What do the parallel meanings of the Reverend’s phrase illustrate about the novel’s approach to Christianity, particularly as it functions in Africa? For example, is Christianity “precious and dear” or a “poisonwood” (or both) to the Africans? In a concise essay, explore the implications of this phrase on The Poisonwood Bible’s narrative and/or characters. Use specific examples from the novel to support your thesis.

Requirements:

MLA format, including parenthetical citation
Two pages minimum

Due: Thursday, October 2nd

Week Four

2008-09-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Tu 9.23
Read: PWB p. 377-459
In-class: Book discussion; Watch—“Faithless” from Coupling

Th 9.25
Read: PWB p. 460-543
In-class: Book discussion; Preview—Literature analysis essay

The Push to ‘Otherize’ Obama

2008-09-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

By Nicholas D. Kristo
Op-Ed Columnist, New York Times
September 21, 2008

Here’s a sad monument to the sleaziness of this presidential campaign: Almost one-third of voters “know” that Barack Obama is a Muslim or believe that he could be.

In short, the political campaign to transform Mr. Obama into a Muslim is succeeding. The real loser as that happens isn’t just Mr. Obama, but our entire political process.

A Pew Research Center survey released a few days ago found that only half of Americans correctly know that Mr. Obama is a Christian. Meanwhile, 13 percent of registered voters say that he is a Muslim, compared with 12 percent in June and 10 percent in March.

More ominously, a rising share — now 16 percent — say they aren’t sure about his religion because they’ve heard “different things” about it.

When I’ve traveled around the country, particularly to my childhood home in rural Oregon, I’ve been struck by the number of people who ask something like: That Obama — is he really a Christian? Isn’t he a Muslim or something? Didn’t he take his oath of office on the Koran?

In conservative Christian circles and on Christian radio stations, there are even widespread theories that Mr. Obama just may be the Antichrist. Seriously.

John Green, of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, says that about 10 percent of Americans believe we may be in the Book of Revelation’s “end times” and are on the lookout for the Antichrist. A constant barrage of e-mail and broadcasts suggest that Mr. Obama just may be it.

The online Red State Shop sells T-shirts, mugs and stickers exploiting the idea. Some shirts and stickers portray a large “O” with horns, above a caption: “The Anti-Christ.”

To his credit, Mr. McCain himself has never raised doubts about Mr. Obama’s religion. But a McCain commercial last month mimicked the words and imagery of the best-selling Christian “Left Behind” book series in ways that would have set off alarm bells among evangelicals nervous about the Antichrist.

Mr. McCain himself is not popular with evangelicals. But they will vote for him if they think the other guy may be on Satan’s side.

In fact, of course, Mr. Obama took his oath on the Bible, not — as the rumors have it — on the Koran. He is far more active in church than John McCain is.

(Just imagine for a moment if it were the black candidate in this election, rather than the white candidate, who was born in Central America, was an indifferent churchgoer, had graduated near the bottom of his university class, had dumped his first wife, had regularly displayed an explosive and profane temper, and had referred to the Pakistani-Iraqi border ...)

What is happening, I think, is this: religious prejudice is becoming a proxy for racial prejudice. In public at least, it’s not acceptable to express reservations about a candidate’s skin color, so discomfort about race is sublimated into concerns about whether Mr. Obama is sufficiently Christian.

The result is this campaign to “otherize” Mr. Obama. Nobody needs to point out that he is black, but there’s a persistent effort to exaggerate other differences, to de-Americanize him.

Raising doubts about a candidate based on the religion of his grandfather is toxic and profoundly un-American, cracking the melting pot we emerged from. Someday people will look back at the innuendoes about Mr. Obama with the same disgust with which we regard the smears of Al Smith as a Catholic candidate in 1928.

I’m writing in part out of a sense of personal responsibility. Those who suggest that Mr. Obama is a Muslim — as if that in itself were wrong — regularly cite my own columns, especially an interview last year in which I asked him about Islam and his boyhood in Indonesia. In that interview, Mr. Obama praised the Arabic call to prayer as “one of the prettiest sounds on earth at sunset,” and he repeated the opening of it.

This should surprise no one: the call to prayer blasts from mosque loudspeakers five times a day, and Mr. Obama would have had to have been deaf not to learn the words as a child. But critics, like Jerome Corsi, whose book denouncing Mr. Obama, “The Obama Nation,” is No. 2 on the New York Times best-seller list, quote from that column to argue that Mr. Obama has mysterious ties to Islam. I feel a particular obligation not to let my own writing be twisted so as to inflame bigotry and xenophobia.

Journalists need to do more than call the play-by-play this election cycle. We also need to blow the whistle on such egregious fouls calculated to undermine the political process and magnify the ugliest prejudices that our nation has done so much to overcome.

Assignment: Research Paper

2008-09-15T23:21:00.000-07:00

Six (6) pages in length
MLA format, including parenthetical citation
Minimum of 5 outside sources (do not use Wikipedia as a source), listed in a works cited page
Examine 1 feature-length film or 3 episodes of a major television series

Analytical Requirements:

Provide a clear thesis, making a statement about your findings regarding how faith and spirituality are portrayed
Examine at least two secondary sources (two other films or television series) to be compared AND contrasted with your primary source
Include in your analysis: A) general information about the faith being examined B) historical information about the media's representation of this faith
End with a conclusion that illustrates your understanding of the intersection of faith and media.

Due: 12.16.08

Week Three

2008-09-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Tu 9.16
Read: PWB p. 187-294
In-class: Book discussion; Research paper sign-ups

Th 9.18
Read: PWB p. 295-376
In-class: Book discussion
Due: Journal 2

This week, we'll continue to look at the Poisonwood Bible, as well as choose topics for your research papers.

Episcopal bishops oppose gay marriage ban

2008-09-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

(09-10) 17:44 PDT, San Francisco, CA (AP)

California's six Episcopal bishops issued a statement Wednesday opposing a November ballot initiative that would again outlaw same-sex marriage in the state.

The issue of terrorism wanes, as 9/11 attacks' seventh anniversary arrives 09.10.08

The statement says the bishops do not believe that marriage of heterosexuals is threatened by same-sex marriage and that "Jesus calls us to love rather than hate, to give rather than to receive."

The bishops say that while their denomination and even they themselves remain divided on whether Episcopal clergy should officiate same-sex marriages, they are united in the belief that it would be morally wrong for voters to overturn the California Supreme Court ruling that granted gays the right to wed.

The bishop's stand on Proposition 8 corresponds with positions taken by the Union for Reform Judaism and the state's Unitarian Universalist leadership. Leaders of the Roman Catholic and Mormon faiths have endorsed the measure and are lending organizational and financial support to secure its passage.

Killing Kenny in Russia: Prosecutors Move to Ban “South Park”

2008-09-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

By Dan Slater On September 8, 2008 @ 11:23 am

Devoted fans of “South Park,” the satirical and scatological cartoon that began airing on Comedy Central in 1997, will remember an episode called Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics. It features characters including Satan, Adolf Hitler and anthropomorphic human feces called Mr. Hankey performing in a Christmas variety show.

It’s definitely out there. For Russia, it may be a little too out there. Today, Moscow prosecutors began legal proceedings aimed at killing South Park, which in Russia airs on the 2×2 television channel. Prosecutors say the show “bore signs of extremist activity.” Russia passed a 2006 law widening the definition of extremism to include “the abasement of national dignity” and “inciting religious and national hatred.” Here’s a report from the Times of London.

A statement by Moscow prosecutors reportedly said that the show “offends the honour and dignity of Christians and Muslims alike.”

According to the Times, this isn’t the first time South Park has faced opposition abroad. In 2006, authorities in the Philippines threatened to ban the show and scores of groups around the world have campaigned against broadcasting the series. The creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, reportedly respond by describing themselves as “equal opportunity offenders”.

The Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith asked prosecutors to ban South Park last week after it said 20 experts had studied the show for its effect on young viewers. A spokesman for the group told the Times that “South Park is just one of many cartoons that need to be banned from open broadcast. . . as it insults the feelings of religious believers and incites religious and national hatred. . . . It’s one thing if they are on cable TV and viewers pay money and make a conscious choice. But young children should not be able to turn on the TV after school and watch this. They need to be defended.”

Week 2

2008-09-07T16:33:00.000-07:00

Tu 9.9
Read: PWB p. 1-99
In-class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Steps of the writing process, Pt. I”

Th 9.11
Read: PWB p. 100-186
In-class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Steps of the writing process, Pt. II”
Due: Journal 1

In addition to discussing The Poisonwood Bible, we'll be looking at the steps of the writing process this week. Though be sure to give yourself plenty of time to read, Kingsolver's novel is complex, so it demands careful attention.

Palin church promotes converting gays

2008-09-07T14:42:00.001-07:00

By Rachel D'Oro, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) --Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

"You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality," according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.

Palin's conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain's candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.

Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the "Love Won Out" Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.

Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called "pray away the gay" movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin's church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.

Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn't win fans among Alaska's gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.

"Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?" he said.

"I think gay Republicans are going to run away" if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group. Besen called on Palin to publicly express her views now that she's a vice presidential nominee.

"People are looking at Sarah Palin as someone who might feasibly be in the White House," he said.

Week 1

2008-09-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Tu 9.2
In-class: Syllabus review; Introductions

Th 9.4
In-class: Diagnostic essay

After establishing our semester's theme and getting to know each other, we'll have an in-class essay on Thursday that'll allow me to gauge the level of your writing.

Fall 2008 Syllabus

2008-09-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

ENGLISH 1B: EXPLORING SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
West Valley College, Fall 2008

Instructor: Daniel Hendel De La O
Section: 63483
Units: 3
Time and Place: T/Th 7:45 AM – 9:10 AM in LA 35
Office Hours: F 12:30–1:15 PM in the Language Arts Workroom
Email: dhdelao@gmail.com

COURSE OVERVIEW
This semester’s 1B course will examine the human phenomena of spirituality and faith. We will examine various facets of spirituality and faith, including:

What drives us to believe in something larger than ourselves?
How does spirituality and faith both divide and unite us?
What is the difference between being spiritual and being religious?
Can one be moral without being spiritual?
What happens when spiritual interests intersect secular society?
Can religion and science coexist?
How are those who believe (and those who don’t) portrayed in the mainstream media?
What place, if any, should spirituality have in our politics?
Does the existence of God need to be proven?
How does our society regard non-believers?

This semester, we will read a diverse assemblage of texts exploring these issues and others. An open mind, and a willingness to express your thoughts, will serve you well in this venture.

REQUIRED MATERIALS

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (ISBN-10: 0060786507)
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (ISBN-10: 0142001740)
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (ISBN-10: 0553208845)
Write Right!: A Desktop Digest of Punctuation, Grammar, and Style by Jan Venolia (ISBN-10: 1580083285)

COURSE CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES
This course builds on composition skills developed in English 1A by introducing students to the analysis of literature through writing and discussion. Students will read and discuss literary texts (such as short fiction, poetry, drama, and novels) from diverse cultures. By composing analytic essays about literature, students will learn a variety of writing techniques, interpretive strategies, and research skills all of which emphasize synthesis of multiple sources. This course fulfills the critical thinking requirement for CSU transfer (the prerequisite is English 1A). Students should expect to spend at least 8 hours per week completing work outside of class.

Upon completion of this course students should be able to:

Analyze literary texts and draw inferences based on textual evidence.
Analyze and evaluate arguments and interpretations advanced by literary critics
Write well-supported analytical essays advocating specific interpretations of literary works Write a structured, purposeful essay in an established time frame.
Write a MLA documented paper demonstrating competency in the synthesis of the individual student’s viewpoint and using primary and secondary sources.

GRADING
Simply put, the grade you earn is the grade you will receive. There may be little or no opportunity for extra credit in this course, so stay on top of assignments. Likewise, grades will never be rounded up unless mathematically appropriate. You must earn a “C” or better to pass the course.

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Regular attendance and active participation in class discussions are very important. You are responsible for all materials assigned, presented, and discussed in class. While you may take notes in class, you are expected to study the material beforehand and come prepared to discuss the readings in class. Irregular attendance/poor participation will have an adverse effect on your grade.

THREEPOINTEAU
I have created this class blog as a centralized place for assignments, reminders, documents, important dates, links, and general class information. It also contains an easy-to-reference archive of the course work. In addition, this website will be the location of the course’s e-Reader. These electronic articles will be required to complete several assignments. Also, feel free to use the “Comments” function in each posting; it is often a helpful way to communicate with classmates.

CLASS POLICIES
All assignments must be turned in during the class session on the date indicated in the schedule; unless you have received prior permission from me. Late assignments will automatically be graded one letter grade lower for each late class session. Please Note: No late work will be accepted beyond one week.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Plagiarism is knowingly presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own. Cite your sources when you use any quoted or paraphrased material from sources, such as books, the Internet, etc. Having another person write, or extensively edit your paper is also plagiarism. This kind of dishonesty will cause you to receive an “F” in the class and can result in further disciplinary action. Your goal is to become a better writer and editor of your own work. In this pursuit, I will assist you as much as is necessary.
STANDARDS FOR PRESENTATION OF WORK
All typed work must be in MLA format (look for online samples early in the semester). Please follow this heading outline for all work:

Name

ENG 1B, Sec. 63483

Assignment Date

COURSE WORK
Class sessions will employ a combination of class discussions and writing workshops that will cover a range of activities, including analyzing, interpreting, outlining, revising, and editing. All submitted work must be in MLA format. Nine writing assignments are required, totaling a minimum of 8,000 words; they include:
1. Diagnostic Essay: This in-class essay will be my first opportunity to evaluate your writing.
2. Literature Analysis Essay: You will write a literary analysis essay based upon Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.
3. Poetry Explication: You will explicate one of the poems we’ll read in class.
4. Comparative Analysis Essay: In this in-class essay, you will compare, contrast, and analyze Hesse’s Siddhartha and Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees.
5. Persuasive Essay: You will write a persuasive essay upon Dostoyevsky’s "The Grand Inquisitor."
6. Personal Essay: You will write an in-class personal essay guided by one of the short stories we’ll read in class.
7. Reflective Journals: You will write five (5) 1 ½ page responses to either one of the week’s assigned readings, an in-class discussion topic, or a faith and spirituality-themed topic of your choice. You may also be asked to share these responses during class discussion. Additionally, you may also use them as raw material for an essay.
8. Annotated Bibliography: In this assignment, you will organize and evaluate the sources for your research paper.
9. Research Paper: Your 6-page research paper will examine the popular media’s representation of a major religion or belief system.

GRADING BREAK-DOWN
Item/Point Value/Word Count:
Diagnostic Essay (in-class)/20/800
Literature Analysis Essay/20/1000
Poetry Explication/20/1000
Comparative Analysis Essay (in-class)/20/1000
Persuasive Essay/20/1000
Personal Essay (in-class)/20/1000
Reflective Journals/50 (5 @ 10 pts each)/2,000
Annotated Bibliography/20/200
Research Paper/100/2,400
Participation/10/N/A

Totals: 300 pts./10,400 words

COURSE SCHEDULE
This schedule is subject to change; consult threepointeau.blogspot.com for the most up-to-date information (look for changes in red).

Key: PWB—The Poisonwood Bible; SID—Siddhartha; SLB—The Secret Life of Bees; eR—eReader

Week 1
Tu 9.2
In-class: Syllabus review; Introductions

Th 9.4
In-class: Diagnostic essay

Week 2
Tu 9.9
Read: PWB p. 1-99
In-class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Steps of the writing process, Pt. I”

Th 9.11
Read: PWB p. 100-186
In-class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Steps of the writing process, Pt. II”
Due: Journal 1

Week 3
Tu 9.16
Read: PWB p. 187-294
In-class: Book discussion; Research paper sign-ups

Th 9.18
Read: PWB p. 295-376
In-class: Book discussion
Due: Journal 2

Week 4
Tu 9.23
Read: PWB p. 377-459
In-class: Book discussion; Watch—“Faithless” from Coupling

Th 9.25
Read: PWB p. 460-543
In-class: Book discussion; Preview—Literature analysis essay

Week 5
Tu 9.30 In-class: Watch—Dead Man Walking, dir. by Tim Robbins; Film discussion

Th 10.2 Read: eR—“The Waste Land” by TS Elliot
In-class: Poetry discussion; Lecture—“How to do an explication/close reading, Pt. I”
Due: Literature analysis essay

Week 6
Tu 10.7 Read: Selected Poetry
In-class: Poetry discussion; Lecture—“How to do an explication/close reading, Pt. II”

Th 10.9
Read: Selected poetry
In-class: Poetry discussion; Preview—Poetry explication
Due: Journal 3

Week 7
Tu 10.14
In-class: Writers workshop
Due: Poetry explication, draft 1 (bring in three [3] copies)

Th 10.16
Read: SLB p. 1-101
In-class: Book discussion; Watch—“Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodily” from The Simpsons
Due: Journal 4

Week 8
Tu 10.21
In-class: SLB p. 102-188
Due: Poetry explication, final draft

Th 10.23
Read: SLB p. 189-302
In-class: Book discussion

Week 9
Tu 10.28
Read: SID p. 1-62
In-class: Book discussion

Th 10.30
Read: SID p. 63-100
In-class: Book discussion; Watch—Jesus Camp, dir. by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
Due: Journal 5

Week 10
Tu 11.4
Read: SID p. 101-152
In-class: Book discussion

Th 11.6
In-class: Comparative analysis essay

Week 11
Tu 11.11
NO CLASS—Veteran’s Day

Th 11. 13
Read: eR—“The Grand Inquisitor” from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky In-class: Short story discussion; Lecture—“Understanding rhetorical techniques”; Preview—Persuasive essay

Week 12
Tu 11.18 Read: “NippleJesus” from Speaking with the Angel by Nick Hornby and “This Blessed House” from Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
In-class: Short story discussion

Th 11.19
Read: “Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “I Hope I’m Not Taking Too Much of Your Time” from Snow by Orhan Pamuk
In-class: Short Story discussion (with Snow audio book play); Preview—Personal essay
Due: Persuasive essay

Week 13
Tu 11.25
In-class: Personal essay; Preview—Annotated bibliography

Th 11.27
NO CLASS—Thanksgiving Break

Week 14
Tu 12.2
In-class: Guest Speaker TBA

Th 12.4
In-class: Watch—Paradise Now, dir. by Hany Abu-Assad
Due: Annotated bibliography

Week 15
Tu 12.9 In-class: Writer’s workshop
Due: Bring three [3] copies of the first two [2] pages of your research paper

Th 12.11
In-class: Watch—“The Christ Nail” from Curb Your Enthusiasm

Week 16
Tu 12.16
Note: Class meets from 7:30 to 9:30 AM
In-class: Class overview; Research paper presentations
Due: Research paper