This is really a homework assignmeny
2 – Paragraph #1: Write a detailed, one-paragraph SUMMARY of the narrative, film, or poem using that includes at least one QUOTATION from your primary source
3 – Paragraph #2: Write a detailed, one-paragraph ANALYSIS of the narrative, film, or poem that ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS associated with your chosen topic – Magical Realism … Borders and Border Crossings … Love, Desire and Gender Roles … or Cultural, Political, and Moral Values
4 – Question: Write a QUESTION about the narrative, film, or poem for your peers to respond to … It should be a question that evokes deeper literary analysis of the assigned reading or viewing for the week
This is one of the questions for question 2 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Magical realism: What is “magically real” about this narrative, film, or poem? How is the world perceived by the five senses when permeated by a spiritual dimension? Are the magically real elements symbolic? If so, what multiple levels of meaning are being conveyed? How does the magical realism relate to the themes?
Borders and border-crossings: In the narrative, film, or poem, some characters cross geographical barriers and/or social, emotional, or even psychological borders. How does literal border-crossing relate to the other kinds? What are the effects on the characters’ personal growth or change? Consider character flaws and whether the characters succumb or overcome.
Love, desire, and gender roles: What social restrictions on male or female gender roles are portrayed in the narrative, film, or poem? How is desire and sexuality represented as responding or reacting to (or even transgressing) these restrictions? What consequences result for the individual, the family, and/or the community?
Cultural, political, and moral values: What cultural, political, and/or moral values are upheld in the narrative, film, or poem? What values are questioned or critiqued? When characters adhere strictly do their values, does this prevent growth? When characters violate their own values, are they crippled by their conscience? How do characters’ values affect their ability to make choices freely?
Grading Checklist
____ Focus: indicates the literary narrative, film, or poem as well as question/s covered at the top of the reflection / post
____ Knowledge: demonstrates understanding of the plot (conflicts), characters, setting, symbolism, and themes in the narrative, film, or poem, giving a clear summary overview and then focusing on one specific action in the plot, setting or theme. Includes a QUOTATION.
____ Analysis: critically analyzes the narrative, film, or poem in terms of magical realist elements; borders and border-crossings; love, desire and gender roles; or cultural, political, and moral values, answering the questions associated with the topic
____ Editing: uses literary terms appropriate to the analysis of narrative, film, or poetry; uses a clear, comprehensible, college-level writing style; contains minimal errors in punctuation, diction, grammar, and syntax; 250-500 words per post. NB: When referring to films, give the title of the adaption by director and year of production.
____ Question and comment: concludes with a thought-provoking question for another peer to answer in a comment; author comments on another peer’s post
Includes citations of primary and secondary sources and a Word Count.
