This morning, after your Scrabble debriefing, we will examine Donald Barthelme’s short story “The School” as a potential subject for your final essay and annotated bibliography.
If you choose to research Barthelme’s story, questions to consider include these:
- What is postmodern fiction, and what characteristics of it does “The School” exhibit?
- How have literary scholars interpreted “The School”?
After we study “The School,” you will read one of your classmate’s analyses, and compose a blog response to it.
Directions
- Go to the class blog page,and click on the link for the blog of the of classmate whose name precedes yours on the roster. If you are first on the list, go to the blog of the student whose name is last on the list.
- If the student’s blog is not accessible, email the student and ask him or her to email you a copy of the analysis, or choose another student’s analysis for your response.
- Read the classmate’s analysis and compose a response (75 words, minimum) that addresses one or more of these elements: the title, the thesis, the support for the writer’s claims, the conclusion, the image documenting part of the writing process away from the screen, the embedded link to a relevant website.
- Does the blog post include an image that documents part of the blogger’s writing process away from the screen? ___ (yes or no)
- Does the post include a relevant embedded link? ___ (yes or no)
- After you have composed your response, type it as a comment for the blogger. You should see a leave comment/reply option at the top or bottom of the post. If you do not see that option, click on the title of the blog post, and scroll down. You should then see leave comment/reply. If you do not think that you will have time to type and post your handwritten comment before the end of class, take a picture of your handwritten response. That will enable you to submit your worksheet at the end of class and post your comment afterward.
- Submit your handwritten response at the end of class today. You will submit your paper copy of your comment because the blogger may not choose to make your comment visible. You will receive credit for the assignment only if you submit your worksheet at the end of class today.
- If you complete the assignment before the end of class, devote the remainder of the period to one of the following: (1) reading and commenting on other classmates’ analyses, (2) reviewing your reading handouts and determining which one might serve as the starting point for your final essay and annotated bibliography.
Next Up
In class on Wednesday, you will receive your final essay and annotated bibliography assignment, you will conduct a short interview with a classmate, and you will compose your first annotation. Details TBA.
Jane Lucas 