This document provides information about an upcoming class, including assignments and grading criteria. It discusses a terms test that will cover scenarios, similes, style, and theme. It poses discussion questions comparing the main character in a movie to writers Sui Sin Far, Cherrie Moraga, and the protagonist in Gentlemen's Agreement. It outlines the grading breakdown and points for essays, quizzes, blog posts, exams, and participation. Students are instructed to write a self-assessment essay justifying their grade for blog posts and optionally for participation, both due on finals week. Homework includes working on Essay #4, the self-assessments, and studying terms.
2. Terms Test
17. Scenario: an outline of the plot of a dramatic work,
which provides particulars about characters, settings,
and situation. The term is most often used for the
detailed script of a film or a treatment setting forth the
action in the sequence it is to follow with detailed
descriptions of scenes and characters, and actual
works. Sometimes the plot of a film or television show is
loosely called a scenario.
18. Simile: a figure of speech in which two things,
3. 19. Style: a manner of putting thoughts into words or the
characteristic mode of construction and expression in
writing and speaking. The term is also used for the
characteristics of a literary selection that concern the
form of expression rather than the thought conveyed.
Style is usually defined by the writer’s choice of words,
figures of speech, devices, and the shaping of the
sentences and paragraphs. Sometimes, styles are
classified according to time period or individual writers.
20. Theme : the central and dominating idea in a literary
work. A theme may also be a short essay such as a
composition. In addition, the term means a message or
moral implicit in any work of art.
4.
5. In this movie, the main
character both reverse
passes and refuses to
pass. How is this possible?
6. How does his behavior
affect his identity, his
family, and his intimate
relationship?
7. How can we compare Phil to
Sui Sin Far and Cherrie
Moraga?
How does each Consider the time
resist passing? periods:
Far wrote “Leaves”
What behaviors in 1890
can you Hobson wrote
specifically Gentlemen’s
Agreement in 1946
identify?
Moraga wrote “La
Guera” in 1979
Do their motivations
differ?
9. Are
transgender
people
passing?
If so, what is
the fixed Thinking about
identity Passing
category? What is it exactly?
What is the
passing
category?
10. Can a bio male or female
person have the identity of
“trans” without being called
a passer?
11. Is “trans” a fixed identity category?
If a trans person is not passing, why does he
or she have to reveal a trans identity to
intimates?
How does this ability to identify as trans,
and pass or not pass as bio male or female,
disrupt identity categories?
12. How, then, can we parallel this trans
identity and trans passing scenario to racial
identity and racial passing?
Is a person who looks white but is of African
American lineage, also “trans”? When can
this person be “white” without being called
a passer? OR should he or she identify as
trans (racial)?
13. Consider Dr. Lieberman, the Jewish
physicist in Gentlemen’s Agreement,
who says,
“I have no religion so I am not Jewish by religion. Further, I am
a scientist, so I must rely on science, which tells me I am not
Jewish by race, since there is no such thing as a distinct
Jewish race. There is not even such a thing as a Jewish type.
Well, my crusade will have a certain charm. I will simply go
forth and state that I am not a Jew. With my face, that
becomes not an evasion but a new principle, a scientific
principle“?
What is his fixed identity category?
Would he be passing if he simply stated he was not a
Jew based on his lack of religion and his scientific
assertion that there is no Jewish race?
14. Grades for this course will be based on a 1000-point scale divided as
follows:
Essay #1 (1-2 pages) 50 pts. Quizzes/ Part./Attendance 75 pts
Essay #2 (2-3 pages) 100 pts. Blogging/posts 200 pts
Essay #3 (3-4 pages) 150 pts. Final Exam(Essay/Terms) 150 pts
Essay #4 (4-6 pages) 200 pts.
Terms Exams 1-3 75 pts TOTAL: 1000 pts
15. In-Class Writing Today
The blogging post points (200) require self-assessment. Consider
two aspects of your responses: First, how many of the posts did
you make? Second, what was the quality of your response?
Write a short essay justifying your grade. This is an essay like any
other, so make sure you have an intro, a thesis, body
paragraphs, a counterargument if appropriate, and a
conclusion.
You may, though it is not necessary, submit a second short
essay, arguing for your classroom participation points (75).
Consider attendance, willingness to participate in classroom
discussion, participation in group discussion, essay feedback to
classmates, office visits, and even blogging.
Both of these are due at our last meeting on finals week
