Critical+Theory+and+Seminar+Work


 * Paper Assignment for your Victorian novel, due Monday, December 13th: **

You will need to come up with a lively and engaging question about your novel which gives you the ability to analyze both your author and the text in engaging and complex ways. After you do this, you will need to find at least one critical essay which you can use in your paper. (Please consult Marvel, located on the [|www.goghs.org] website under Online Resources).I would spend a bit of time brainstorming your central idea and thesis before beginning on your collective introduction which should be at least partially complete by the end of class on Thursday. You will have all of Friday to work as well. Here are the nuts and bolts of the paper

Here is a rubric for the paper. Please download:
 * The paper should be 4-5 pages double-spaced.
 * MLA citation and format should be used. (Please see Helpful links for how to cite within a paper and for Works Cited questions)
 * It should be meticulously edited for punctuation and spelling
 * You should have a Works Cited page which includes your version of your novel as well as at least one critical essay

** Literature Circles: Seminar Style Analysis ** · To build your capacity to actively participate and learn in a seminar setting. · To read closely and analyze literary elements including: syntax, plot and narrative structure, point of view and narrative distance, characterization, flashback, resolution and endings, allusions, symbol, sentimentalism. · To generate a prompt independently which will produce a critical analytical paper
 * OBJECTIVES ** :

You will be responsible for creating a reading schedule, selecting a facilitator, agreeing on a daily question and determining the weekly readings. Each week, your grade will be based on my observations of your discussion and input from both you and your peers. I am looking for clear readiness and preparation for discussion, active participation and listening, text-based support and higher level critical thinking in your discussions.
 * OVERVIEW FOR DISCUSSION: **


 * TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS ** : Everyone will come with a question they have about the text. It should be a genuine question that can be discussed.
 * Questions to keep to yourself or whisper to a friend ** : What color is Jane’s hair? What is the name of the hotel Stephen goes to on page 77?
 * Acceptable question: ** Why does Dickens start with the syntax he does in the opening paragraph?

Each Friday (11/19 and 12/3), you will look closely at a passage of the text you have chosen from that week's reading. One person will be in charge of selecting this text and making a copy for each member of the group by Thursday. For this Friday, you should choose an excerpt from the first 75 pages. This excerpt should be short: no more than two pages. As you examine this passage, you are moving towards a better understanding of your writer on a sentence by sentence level. What kind of syntax is used? What effect does this this syntax have on the reader? What point of view is used? How does this impact the narrator and his/her ability to tell the story? If different points of view are used, why do you think this choice was made? How does your author use chronology? character? dialogue? setting? How do these choices impact the reader? How does the author move the story along? Create tension? What do you think about these choices? See “Suggested Questions for Literature Study” for more ideas.
 * FAB FRIDAYS ** :
 * Some of these guiding questions may be helpful: **

You won't get to all these questions, but you may find some of them useful. You may find that your discussion from these passages will generate a prompt for your paper. For this reason, you may find it helpful to take notes on these discussions.

Self Assessment for Critical Theory presentation: I would like you to work as a group and assess your presentation with a critical eye. Please write a reflective paragraph about your performance using the feedback sheets, any assessments you collected, as well as my guiding questions below. In addition, please attach a numerical grade (out of 100) to your paragraph. I shall use this self evaluation and grade to determine your final grade. 1. Did you use the allotted 15-20 minutes wisely and effectively? In what ways? 2. Do you feel confident students understood your designated critical theory better after your presentation? Use the data you collected as evidence for your answer. 3. Was your assessment a valid indicator of student understanding? Why or why not? 4. What tools did you give students to apply your theory to "Reunion"? What challenges might a student face in applying your theory to a different text? 5. What would you differently if you had to present this theory again? What might be an effective follow up to your presentation?
 * Guiding questions**:

I would like the paragraph, evaluations and any assessments placed in the inbox by the end of the period. Thank you!

Critical theory document is here: You will find it is slightly different than the paper copy I gave you but contains similar material.

Here is the copy of the assignment, due Tuesday, November 2nd: