Week One: Plot

Oh my, I was so nervous to start this class! I haven't been in college for three years! However, I immediately had a good feeling when I met our professor. She was warm and had a great energy. I found out that this was a hybrid class, meaning half of our work would be online! Though I have grown up in the "Internet generation" I never considered myself computer savvy, and I was apprehensive about my ability to perform.

We read Cheever's "Reunion" and Atwood's "Happy Endings" and wrote our own plot description based on the threads from "Happy Endings". The plot description was to be written and explained in a power point using graphics and it was intended to explore elements of plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Honestly, I felt a little silly after writing my posting my work to the class's online drop-box because although I think I made a fun and appropriate power point, I wrote a two-page story, not a plot description.

Although I initially misunderstood the intentions of the assignment, I did learn how break down a story, through creating a power point, using the elements of plot.

Week Two: Characterization & Point of View

We read:

1. "Died & Gone to Vegas" by Gautreaux's
2. "The Prologue and The Tale of the Wife of Bath" by Chaucer
3. "How to Tell a True War Story" by Tim O’Brien

We watched:

1. Bolduc-Simpson's Considering Characterization
2. Bolduc-Simpson's Exploring Point of View
3. YouTube video Vietnam War Through O’Brien’s The Things They Carried

This week I learned how to read differently. I chose to create a wordle based on Rat's character in O'Brien's story. I had to really look at the characters thoughts, actions, and feelings to form a judgement about their character. I dove right into the assignment because I was truly moved by O'Brien's work.

I loved seeing the professor's video lessons. She has a great speaking voice and is very clear. I find I learn and remember a great deal from those lessons.

Unfortunately, I found the "Wife of Bath" very difficult to understand. I missed any discussions and I was disappointed that it almost got swept under the rug.

Week Two: Characterization & Point of View

After reading "How to Tell A True War Story" I thought of this song. "Doo Rags" relates to characterization because the song is about race and culture, both universally and within "urban" populations. We can also hear Nas's point of view on politics, war, and racism. He says,

"Political thugs in shark suits persuade us to pull triggers
In army boots, yellin "Join the armed forces!"
We lost the Vietnam War, intoxicated poisons
Needles in arms of veterans instead of bigger fortunes
There's still a lot of naked crawlin in the corporate offices
War in the ghetto, we crabs in a barrel, they torture us..."

Week Three: Theme

We read:

1. "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
2. "The Red Convertible" by Lymes LaMartine

We watched:

1. Bolduc-Simpson's Thinking About Theme

We wrote:

1. Paper #1 outline
2. Discussion forum 3

I learned a great deal more about "The Story of an Hour" after answering the questions about Mrs. Mallard in Discussion Forum 3. By the third week, I began to get a handle how to manage my time and plan for the online class. I also felt more comfortable with the "sandwich critique". I love reading my the responses of my classmates because everyone is producing well-thought work and great insights that are teaching me! The journals that we have been doing in class have also sparked me to journal in my own free time, which I find to be a great outlet.

Week Four: Setting, Style & Symbol

We read:

1. "Shiloh" by Bobbie Ann Mason
2. "A Party Down at the Square" by Ralph Ellison
   
3. "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona" by Sherman Alexie

We watched:

1. Buldoc-Simpson's Setting in Stories Presentation
2. YouTube videos on Smoke Signals

I loved the in class work we did, and although it didn't go so smoothly, it was totally worth it. We all sent prepared questions, via text message, to an online forum and then in groups, we answered each others' questions. I thought it was amazing how many great questions were asked and how much I understood the stories after the discussion.

I wrote a response to the YouTube video "How Do We Forgive Our Fathers" and I got really into water as a symbol. I have never seen the movie but the clip, attached below was so powerful to me. I couldn't believe how universal and well put that exerpt was. I grew up in a single parent household so I was initially critical and apprehensive. It made me think that forgiveness is the first step to healing.

Below is a YouTube video of the song "Two Words" by Kanye West, Mos Def, and Freeway because I think it embodies some of the best of hip hop today and the content, style and rhyme is all very well executed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKUHPxqliiY

Week Five: Poetry

We read:

1. "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall

2. "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson

We watched:

1. Buldoc-Simpson's Preaching on Poetry presentation

2."Frankie & Johnny" videos

We wrote:

1. A ballad

2. Final draft of paper 1

In my opinion, the best part of this week was the discussion forum that we did as our face to face class. I was honored to be nominated as a discussion leader and hope that I helped to facilitate a healthy discussion. I really tried to put together questions that I thought would be thought-provoking, and I found that I received great and emotional responses to the questions! I learned so much more than I expected about the poems. I know that Mrs. Simpson would have preferred to have a normal class but I think the discussion forum turned out to be better because the students went so in depth and everyone was able to speak and be heard!

Week Six: Dramatic & Lyric Poetry

We read:

1. "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell

2. "Dream Boogie" by Langston Hughes
3. "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks
4. "The Ruined Maid" by Thomas Hardy
5. "Useful Advice" by Catherine Tufariello
We watched:

1. YouTube "We Real Cool" Video

2. Buldoc-Simpson's Dynamics of Dramatic Poetry

Presentation
3. Buldoc-Simpson's Lyrical Poetry Presentation
4. YouTube video Islam Against Terrorism Poem

Dramatic Poetry is one of my favorite literature subjects.

I loved the discussions on "We Real Cool" and "To His

Coy Mistress" because I was able to learn so much

about the poems from my peers. The "We Real Cool"

video was also fabulous, especially because it was

put to the music of Mos Def, who is one of my favorite

artists. I am finding that the discussion portion of the

class is very beneficial to my understanding,

knowledge and even self-confidence!

Here are two animations of T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufroc".

This is one of my favorite poems! I love how different these two animations are!

#1

Can you believe this is actually the author's

voice! I wish the second video had the

entire poem.

Which do you prefer?

#2

Week Seven: Poetry & Blogging

This week the class studied different types of poetry and had a great in class activity. We formed groups and each group consisted of the "TA for the day" team members. This allowed me to meet and have a dry run working with my partner, Lisa. Each group received a poetry definition and we had to write an original poem based on the definition. Lisa and I worked really well together and we laughed a lot. Thankfully the poetry definitions quiz was extended two days, I'm sure it helped all of our grades!

We also did our first blog assignment, and this was the first time I had ever read or contributed to a blog! It really wasn't difficult! I enjoyed the feedback I received because I really tried to be honest and personal, while also respectful.