Greetings...
Wednesday, May 9th is our last class session for the semester. Please bring your Grade Worksheet and all graded work to class.
If you have not revised an out of class essay yet, and you wish to revise out of class essay 3...OR...if you are working on a second or third revision of out of class essay 1 or 2...THE DEADLINE FOR THOSE REVISIONS IS FRIDAY, MAY 18th. NO EXCEPTIONS.
HOW TO SUBMIT A REVISION:
a. follow the procedures on how to submit a revision that are in the course outline.
b. turn in revision to my faculty mailbox in the English Dept, in Calaveras.
c. once you have turned in the revision please email me and let me know that it is there.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Wednesday, May 2nd, 9 pm
Greetings,
first, for those in section 15, it has been brought to my attention that the hard copy of the course outline was missing the last two weeks of the semester. It was posted in its entirety on the blog way back in January, but here it is again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Week Fifteen (May 7 and 9)
LAST WEEK OF CLASSES
Video surprise (Monday)
Grade Worksheet Match-up (Wed.)
Week Sixteen (May 12-18)
Finals Week
There is no formal final exam in this class.
Second, for all three sections, please note that on Wednesday you will need to bring all your graded work along with your Grade Worksheet filled out. I posted a revised Worksheet on the blog a few weeks ago in case you did not notice it yet. It has Quiz 6 listed and the adjusted total points for the semester.
Third, thank you everyone for the VERY helpful feedback concerning the course during class today. I am truly grateful for your comments, suggestions and constructive criticism.
Have a very safe and wonderful weekend. See you on Monday.
first, for those in section 15, it has been brought to my attention that the hard copy of the course outline was missing the last two weeks of the semester. It was posted in its entirety on the blog way back in January, but here it is again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Week Fifteen (May 7 and 9)
LAST WEEK OF CLASSES
Video surprise (Monday)
Grade Worksheet Match-up (Wed.)
Week Sixteen (May 12-18)
Finals Week
There is no formal final exam in this class.
Second, for all three sections, please note that on Wednesday you will need to bring all your graded work along with your Grade Worksheet filled out. I posted a revised Worksheet on the blog a few weeks ago in case you did not notice it yet. It has Quiz 6 listed and the adjusted total points for the semester.
Third, thank you everyone for the VERY helpful feedback concerning the course during class today. I am truly grateful for your comments, suggestions and constructive criticism.
Have a very safe and wonderful weekend. See you on Monday.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Hello,
I hope you have been able to enjoy some of the amazing spring weather this weekend.
Below is an updated Grade Worksheet that has the corrections for the possible points earned on in-class essays.
Name:______________________________English 20, Spring 2012, Section _______
POINTS EARNED Your Worksheet--------1750 points possible
OUT OF CLASS ESSAYS—600 pts.
Essay 1 (200 points)_____ Essay 2 (200 points)_____Essay 3(200 points) _____
IN-CLASS ESSAYS—400 pts.
Essay 1 (200 points) ______
Essay 2 (200 points) ______
IN-CLASS WRITING RESPONSES—300 pts.
#1 (50 points)_____
#2 (50 points)_____
#3 (50) points)_____
#4 (50) points)_____
#5 (50 points) ______
#6 (50 points) ______
IN-CLASS GROUP WORK (200 pts.)
Each session is worth 50 pts.
Group Work 1 _____ Group Work 2 _____ Group Work 3 _____ Group Work 4_____
QUIZZES (these quizzes may not always be “announced” and they cannot be made up. 50 pts ea.) (250 pts. total) Please record each quiz and your score below.
Quiz 1_____ Quiz 2_____ Quiz 3_____ Quiz 4_____ Quiz 5_____
How to assess your grade earned: Divide the points you earn by 1750 to find the percentage.
Then see chart below.
100-94=A
93-90=A-
89-84=B+
83-80=B
79-74=B-
73-70=C+
69-64=C
63-60=C-
59-54=D
53-0=F
I hope you have been able to enjoy some of the amazing spring weather this weekend.
Below is an updated Grade Worksheet that has the corrections for the possible points earned on in-class essays.
Name:______________________________English 20, Spring 2012, Section _______
POINTS EARNED Your Worksheet--------1750 points possible
OUT OF CLASS ESSAYS—600 pts.
Essay 1 (200 points)_____ Essay 2 (200 points)_____Essay 3(200 points) _____
IN-CLASS ESSAYS—400 pts.
Essay 1 (200 points) ______
Essay 2 (200 points) ______
IN-CLASS WRITING RESPONSES—300 pts.
#1 (50 points)_____
#2 (50 points)_____
#3 (50) points)_____
#4 (50) points)_____
#5 (50 points) ______
#6 (50 points) ______
IN-CLASS GROUP WORK (200 pts.)
Each session is worth 50 pts.
Group Work 1 _____ Group Work 2 _____ Group Work 3 _____ Group Work 4_____
QUIZZES (these quizzes may not always be “announced” and they cannot be made up. 50 pts ea.) (250 pts. total) Please record each quiz and your score below.
Quiz 1_____ Quiz 2_____ Quiz 3_____ Quiz 4_____ Quiz 5_____
How to assess your grade earned: Divide the points you earn by 1750 to find the percentage.
Then see chart below.
100-94=A
93-90=A-
89-84=B+
83-80=B
79-74=B-
73-70=C+
69-64=C
63-60=C-
59-54=D
53-0=F
Monday, April 16, 2012
2nd post for today, Monday, April 16, 2012
Hello, below is another example of a very strong student essay in response to out of class essay prompt #3.
Professor Fraga
English 20, Summer
9 August 2011
The Art of Tough Love
If you have ever viewed a beautiful piece of art, you know that there is something almost majestic about it that makes the viewer want to know more. An artist must possess a certain level of skill to produce something magical which keeps the audience begging for more. The trouble with being a great artist is that you cannot go back and fix a brush stroke once it has been painted. Try as you may to erase the lines on a paper, you can still see the mistake. In the series Breaking Bad, this seems to be Jesse Pinkman’s problem. As much as he would like to go back and change his past, he never can, and this shapes the person that he has become as a young adult. On the exterior, Jesse may seem like a worthless, uneducated criminal, but beneath the surface he is still a boy who feels inadequate, searching for the affection he never received from his parents.
Jesse may try to act like a tough guy, but underneath the surface he is truly terrified, which actually drives him further into the drug trade. His fear becomes obvious in a number of ways, such as his reluctance to sell massive quantities of methamphetamines and his anxiety over speaking to Tuco about cutting a deal. It seems as though he is not only afraid of the legal consequences of his actions, but of the social repercussions as well. Jesse fears speaking up for himself because he is afraid of losing “friends” and having others view him in an unfavorable light. This is why he allows others to make choices for him, just as he did when he smoked meth with two men in his living room who threatened to leave if he did not.
This insecurity is perhaps one of the largest motivators of Pinkman’s behavior throughout the first season of Breaking Bad. Jesse wants everyone to believe that he is confident and capable of facing things on his own. It is necessary for him to act tough and play the role of the typical gangster to fit in with the community where he sells meth. Even his voicemail greeting testifies to the fact that he wants to adapt to this role, but it is evident that he is out of character. His lack of confidence is also demonstrated in his failure to make important decisions concerning his relationship with Walter and their drug operation. For instance, he did not want to decide how to dispose of the bodies once he and Walt had killed Emilio and Crazy Eight. Jesse goes along with the plan though he is completely apprehensive and pretends to let things roll off his back as if they are merely a consequence of being a meth cooker.
At times it seems he is overwhelmed with the anxiety that has formed as a result of his partnership with Walt, but he continues to wear a façade, not only because it helps him as a drug dealer; it also helps him cope with the emotional insecurities that he has as a result of past relationships. Much of this stems from the complicated relationship that he has with his family, who now appears distant and standoffish. It seems as though Jesse has always felt the pressure to please his parents, but has never felt like he was good enough. Through the interactions of his mother and father with Jake, his younger brother, it becomes obvious that the Pinkmans have high expectations of their children. They talk about academic achievements, positive feedback during his musical performances, and maintaining religious or moral standards. Jake’s room is also adorned with numerous trophies, suggesting that he is extremely involved and that he generally meets the high standards that his parents have set for him. Jesse’s failure to meet these expectations as a child has made him feel insufficient and has further driven a wedge between him and the remaining family members.
Though Jesse feels inadequate and knows his parents are displeased with his current actions, he still yearns to be a part of the family. He feels as though he can somehow compensate for his wrong-doings and what he was unable to accomplish in the past. For example, he voluntarily participates in household chores that most children would complain about, such as setting the table for the family dinner. Later, while chatting with his brother, he says that they should hang out more often and that if he ever needed advice then Jake could come to him. He wants to be a part of the Pinkman family again, but his parents’ lack of trust in him causes them to push him away. During Jesse’s conversation with his little brother, Mrs. Pinkman suggests to her husband that they should check his arm for needle marks. They also assume that the marijuana joint that their maid found was Jesse’s, again showing their lack of trust in him.
The incident where the marijuana joint is found in the Pinkman home also shows how much Jesse cares for his family despite the fact that they continue to push him away. Though Jesse could have easily told his parents that the weed was his brother’s, he took the rap for the situation because he views his sibling as still having the potential to fulfill his goals and aspirations. It also shows that he does not want to tarnish Jake’s reputation, although he may not be the perfect child that his parents believe he is. Then, when his brother thanked him and asked for the joint, Jesse threw it to the ground and crushed it. This shows that he was still attempting to set the example for his younger brother; he doesn’t want Jake to go down the same path that he did.
The episode where Jesse interacts with his family also reveals a number of other important aspects about his character, which explains why he may be in his current predicament. While rummaging through a chest in his old bedroom, we see that he was actually quite a talented artist. He saved several drawings, but based on the conversation that his parents had with Jake in the kitchen and the fact that they are not on display for guests to see, one could deduce that this type of artistic interest was not fostered by his parents. They seem rather conservative, showing appreciation for more traditional, “respected” hobbies such as Jake’s training on the oboe and piccolo. For this reason, it may be assumed that Jesse did not get the type of positive attention or feedback from his family to further progress his creative skills. Currently, he still seems to be stuck in this same pattern; if he cannot attain the positive affirmations from the people around him, then he must settle for any attention.
Jesse also settles when it comes to finding the type of care and compassion he wants from others. This may be because he has learned to keep people at a distance in the same fashion his parents have become detached from him. In fact, the only type of relationships Jesse has formed with women is of a sexual nature. First, we see a naked woman throwing him his clothes from the second floor of a house. Later, we find him fooling around with a prostitute in a cheap motel room. It seems as though he purposely seeks relationships where he can remain emotionally disengaged. Ironically, he also maintains alliances with people that do not genuinely care for him either, such as the customers that he smokes meth with at his aunt’s house. Conclusively, Jesse wants deep, meaningful relationships, but keeps everyone at a distance for fear of being hurt.
The only person that has broken through this barrier is Walt, who acts as a sort of authoritative, fatherly figure to Jesse. As their friendship develops, their interactions become more than strictly business-related. Most notably was the incident in the desert where Walt becomes unable to finish cooking the meth because of the severity of his reaction to chemotherapy. Jesse notices his radiation spot and tells Walt that he should have told him he has cancer. He also gives him advice on dealing with the side effects of his treatment based on what his aunt suffered during the course of her chemotherapy. Not only does he care for Walt’s health, but he shows compassion for other human beings prior to this interaction with his cooking partner. For example, he told Walt to “think of it as doing him a favor” when he was assigned with the task of killing Crazy Eight because he was obviously suffering from respiratory issues among other injuries after the explosion in their recreational vehicle. This demonstrates that although he may pretend to neglect other people’s emotions, Jesse truly does care for others and desires more than superficial kinships.
Another sign that shows Jesse’s longing for meaningful relationships is his reaction or coping mechanism when he feels as though someone has let him down. One of his main responses to disappointment or failure is sarcasm. By being sarcastic he is able to say the things he really feels without letting others see that he is truly hurt. We see this several times throughout the series, especially in his exchanges with Walt. Perhaps this is most obvious when he finds out that Walt went behind his back to arrange a deal with Tuco. This hurts Jesse because he thought they would mutually make decisions concerning their business, and more importantly because Walt willingly established a relationship with the individual that just put him in the hospital. His snide, derisive comments about Walt’s relationship with Tuco and their meeting in the junkyard are a reflection of his dissatisfaction.
Jesse’s sarcastic mannerisms are a way of protecting himself from feeling disappointment in others, but it may also serve as a defense mechanism for being disappointed in himself. In the past he felt defeated because he did not meet the standards set by his family, which may be why Jesse fails to see that he does still have potential; however, he is lacking motivation and direction. He never received positive feedback from his parents for his artistic abilities, so he has identified a means of finding them elsewhere. By selling drugs, he has found a group of people that keep returning to see him because they are pleased with the product he is creating. This has also become his creative outlet, which is why he is so adamant in his argument with Walt that cooking meth is an art form, not just chemistry. Walt encourages him and shows confidence in him, saying that Jesse can produce the last batch on his own after he becomes dizzy in their drug lab. This reinforcement makes Jesse believe that he does have potential, but his success in the drug game further perpetuates his addiction to the business.
While it is true that Jesse could continue to be successful as a methamphetamine cook, he is definitely intelligent enough to find lucrative work elsewhere. This is something that he struggles with internally, as he seems to question his own intelligence and standards. He believes he is capable of finding a legitimate job, but when he runs into his old friend Badger, he is quickly convinced that it would be more profitable to partner with this man and cook meth again. Still, his ability to recall the names of the beakers, flasks, and other chemistry equipment shows that he is a fast learner. Walter even stated from the very first episode that Jesse could have performed much better in his class if he had only applied himself. Others see that he is bright and resourceful, yet he still questions his own abilities.
Initially, Jesse may appear to be a low-life, drug-dealing failure, but he has an enormous amount of potential within himself to be something greater. He needs a group of supportive individuals to help draw this potential out of him in order to become successful outside of the methamphetamine business. The only people that have ever shown interest in him and encouraged his talents in the past were people within this business, so he continues to thrive off of this feedback. Still he keeps everyone at a distance, hiding his pain, just as he did when he put make-up on his face to cover the black eye he received from Emilio. From his nostalgic moment in the bedroom where he explores the contents of his old toy chest, to the scene in the desert where he shows that he cares about Walt, Jesse’s true character is revealed to us slowly, just like in a great painting. Though his parents never fostered his artistic abilities as a child, Jesse is still an artist today, painting the picture that everything is okay while he keeps his true self inside.
Professor Fraga
English 20, Summer
9 August 2011
The Art of Tough Love
If you have ever viewed a beautiful piece of art, you know that there is something almost majestic about it that makes the viewer want to know more. An artist must possess a certain level of skill to produce something magical which keeps the audience begging for more. The trouble with being a great artist is that you cannot go back and fix a brush stroke once it has been painted. Try as you may to erase the lines on a paper, you can still see the mistake. In the series Breaking Bad, this seems to be Jesse Pinkman’s problem. As much as he would like to go back and change his past, he never can, and this shapes the person that he has become as a young adult. On the exterior, Jesse may seem like a worthless, uneducated criminal, but beneath the surface he is still a boy who feels inadequate, searching for the affection he never received from his parents.
Jesse may try to act like a tough guy, but underneath the surface he is truly terrified, which actually drives him further into the drug trade. His fear becomes obvious in a number of ways, such as his reluctance to sell massive quantities of methamphetamines and his anxiety over speaking to Tuco about cutting a deal. It seems as though he is not only afraid of the legal consequences of his actions, but of the social repercussions as well. Jesse fears speaking up for himself because he is afraid of losing “friends” and having others view him in an unfavorable light. This is why he allows others to make choices for him, just as he did when he smoked meth with two men in his living room who threatened to leave if he did not.
This insecurity is perhaps one of the largest motivators of Pinkman’s behavior throughout the first season of Breaking Bad. Jesse wants everyone to believe that he is confident and capable of facing things on his own. It is necessary for him to act tough and play the role of the typical gangster to fit in with the community where he sells meth. Even his voicemail greeting testifies to the fact that he wants to adapt to this role, but it is evident that he is out of character. His lack of confidence is also demonstrated in his failure to make important decisions concerning his relationship with Walter and their drug operation. For instance, he did not want to decide how to dispose of the bodies once he and Walt had killed Emilio and Crazy Eight. Jesse goes along with the plan though he is completely apprehensive and pretends to let things roll off his back as if they are merely a consequence of being a meth cooker.
At times it seems he is overwhelmed with the anxiety that has formed as a result of his partnership with Walt, but he continues to wear a façade, not only because it helps him as a drug dealer; it also helps him cope with the emotional insecurities that he has as a result of past relationships. Much of this stems from the complicated relationship that he has with his family, who now appears distant and standoffish. It seems as though Jesse has always felt the pressure to please his parents, but has never felt like he was good enough. Through the interactions of his mother and father with Jake, his younger brother, it becomes obvious that the Pinkmans have high expectations of their children. They talk about academic achievements, positive feedback during his musical performances, and maintaining religious or moral standards. Jake’s room is also adorned with numerous trophies, suggesting that he is extremely involved and that he generally meets the high standards that his parents have set for him. Jesse’s failure to meet these expectations as a child has made him feel insufficient and has further driven a wedge between him and the remaining family members.
Though Jesse feels inadequate and knows his parents are displeased with his current actions, he still yearns to be a part of the family. He feels as though he can somehow compensate for his wrong-doings and what he was unable to accomplish in the past. For example, he voluntarily participates in household chores that most children would complain about, such as setting the table for the family dinner. Later, while chatting with his brother, he says that they should hang out more often and that if he ever needed advice then Jake could come to him. He wants to be a part of the Pinkman family again, but his parents’ lack of trust in him causes them to push him away. During Jesse’s conversation with his little brother, Mrs. Pinkman suggests to her husband that they should check his arm for needle marks. They also assume that the marijuana joint that their maid found was Jesse’s, again showing their lack of trust in him.
The incident where the marijuana joint is found in the Pinkman home also shows how much Jesse cares for his family despite the fact that they continue to push him away. Though Jesse could have easily told his parents that the weed was his brother’s, he took the rap for the situation because he views his sibling as still having the potential to fulfill his goals and aspirations. It also shows that he does not want to tarnish Jake’s reputation, although he may not be the perfect child that his parents believe he is. Then, when his brother thanked him and asked for the joint, Jesse threw it to the ground and crushed it. This shows that he was still attempting to set the example for his younger brother; he doesn’t want Jake to go down the same path that he did.
The episode where Jesse interacts with his family also reveals a number of other important aspects about his character, which explains why he may be in his current predicament. While rummaging through a chest in his old bedroom, we see that he was actually quite a talented artist. He saved several drawings, but based on the conversation that his parents had with Jake in the kitchen and the fact that they are not on display for guests to see, one could deduce that this type of artistic interest was not fostered by his parents. They seem rather conservative, showing appreciation for more traditional, “respected” hobbies such as Jake’s training on the oboe and piccolo. For this reason, it may be assumed that Jesse did not get the type of positive attention or feedback from his family to further progress his creative skills. Currently, he still seems to be stuck in this same pattern; if he cannot attain the positive affirmations from the people around him, then he must settle for any attention.
Jesse also settles when it comes to finding the type of care and compassion he wants from others. This may be because he has learned to keep people at a distance in the same fashion his parents have become detached from him. In fact, the only type of relationships Jesse has formed with women is of a sexual nature. First, we see a naked woman throwing him his clothes from the second floor of a house. Later, we find him fooling around with a prostitute in a cheap motel room. It seems as though he purposely seeks relationships where he can remain emotionally disengaged. Ironically, he also maintains alliances with people that do not genuinely care for him either, such as the customers that he smokes meth with at his aunt’s house. Conclusively, Jesse wants deep, meaningful relationships, but keeps everyone at a distance for fear of being hurt.
The only person that has broken through this barrier is Walt, who acts as a sort of authoritative, fatherly figure to Jesse. As their friendship develops, their interactions become more than strictly business-related. Most notably was the incident in the desert where Walt becomes unable to finish cooking the meth because of the severity of his reaction to chemotherapy. Jesse notices his radiation spot and tells Walt that he should have told him he has cancer. He also gives him advice on dealing with the side effects of his treatment based on what his aunt suffered during the course of her chemotherapy. Not only does he care for Walt’s health, but he shows compassion for other human beings prior to this interaction with his cooking partner. For example, he told Walt to “think of it as doing him a favor” when he was assigned with the task of killing Crazy Eight because he was obviously suffering from respiratory issues among other injuries after the explosion in their recreational vehicle. This demonstrates that although he may pretend to neglect other people’s emotions, Jesse truly does care for others and desires more than superficial kinships.
Another sign that shows Jesse’s longing for meaningful relationships is his reaction or coping mechanism when he feels as though someone has let him down. One of his main responses to disappointment or failure is sarcasm. By being sarcastic he is able to say the things he really feels without letting others see that he is truly hurt. We see this several times throughout the series, especially in his exchanges with Walt. Perhaps this is most obvious when he finds out that Walt went behind his back to arrange a deal with Tuco. This hurts Jesse because he thought they would mutually make decisions concerning their business, and more importantly because Walt willingly established a relationship with the individual that just put him in the hospital. His snide, derisive comments about Walt’s relationship with Tuco and their meeting in the junkyard are a reflection of his dissatisfaction.
Jesse’s sarcastic mannerisms are a way of protecting himself from feeling disappointment in others, but it may also serve as a defense mechanism for being disappointed in himself. In the past he felt defeated because he did not meet the standards set by his family, which may be why Jesse fails to see that he does still have potential; however, he is lacking motivation and direction. He never received positive feedback from his parents for his artistic abilities, so he has identified a means of finding them elsewhere. By selling drugs, he has found a group of people that keep returning to see him because they are pleased with the product he is creating. This has also become his creative outlet, which is why he is so adamant in his argument with Walt that cooking meth is an art form, not just chemistry. Walt encourages him and shows confidence in him, saying that Jesse can produce the last batch on his own after he becomes dizzy in their drug lab. This reinforcement makes Jesse believe that he does have potential, but his success in the drug game further perpetuates his addiction to the business.
While it is true that Jesse could continue to be successful as a methamphetamine cook, he is definitely intelligent enough to find lucrative work elsewhere. This is something that he struggles with internally, as he seems to question his own intelligence and standards. He believes he is capable of finding a legitimate job, but when he runs into his old friend Badger, he is quickly convinced that it would be more profitable to partner with this man and cook meth again. Still, his ability to recall the names of the beakers, flasks, and other chemistry equipment shows that he is a fast learner. Walter even stated from the very first episode that Jesse could have performed much better in his class if he had only applied himself. Others see that he is bright and resourceful, yet he still questions his own abilities.
Initially, Jesse may appear to be a low-life, drug-dealing failure, but he has an enormous amount of potential within himself to be something greater. He needs a group of supportive individuals to help draw this potential out of him in order to become successful outside of the methamphetamine business. The only people that have ever shown interest in him and encouraged his talents in the past were people within this business, so he continues to thrive off of this feedback. Still he keeps everyone at a distance, hiding his pain, just as he did when he put make-up on his face to cover the black eye he received from Emilio. From his nostalgic moment in the bedroom where he explores the contents of his old toy chest, to the scene in the desert where he shows that he cares about Walt, Jesse’s true character is revealed to us slowly, just like in a great painting. Though his parents never fostered his artistic abilities as a child, Jesse is still an artist today, painting the picture that everything is okay while he keeps his true self inside.
Monday, April 16, noon
Greetings...
A few things...
below you will find the assignment for packet 8.
"Breaking Bad: Season 1 Review by Sean Amitin
http://tv.ign.com/articles/860/860933p1.html
Also, for those students wishing to revise out of class essay 2, the first revision is due on Monday, April 23rd. Be sure to include the original essay with my commentary and follow the instructions on the course outline as to how to submit. (highlight all changes and additions on the revision, etc.)
Finally,for sections 1 and 6, remember that this Friday, April 20th, is the day off I promised you at the beginning of the semester. For section 15, that day off is next week, Wednesday, April 25th.
A few things...
below you will find the assignment for packet 8.
"Breaking Bad: Season 1 Review by Sean Amitin
http://tv.ign.com/articles/860/860933p1.html
Also, for those students wishing to revise out of class essay 2, the first revision is due on Monday, April 23rd. Be sure to include the original essay with my commentary and follow the instructions on the course outline as to how to submit. (highlight all changes and additions on the revision, etc.)
Finally,for sections 1 and 6, remember that this Friday, April 20th, is the day off I promised you at the beginning of the semester. For section 15, that day off is next week, Wednesday, April 25th.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday evening, April 11
Hello,
I do apologize for mis-numbering the reading packets recently...it was just brought to my attention that I assigned TWO Packet 7's...one last week and one this week.
To be clear, the most recent Packet 7 that I posted for this week (the TED Talk video and the one reading) is the CORRECT packet for this week. Sections 1 and 6: please make note of this and come prepared to class on Friday having watched the video and read the article.
Another reminder for Sections 1 and 6 for Friday--remember to bring your Breaking Bad Character Journal.
Lastly, below you will find a copy of the Out of Class Essay 3 assignment. For those who missed class, I also distributed sample student essays.
English 20, Spring 2012—Section 15—Instructor: C. Fraga
Out of Class Essay Assignment #3 (200 points)
Assigned: Monday, April 9 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 11 (sections 1 & 6)
Optional Rough Draft Due: no later than Monday, April 23 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 25 (sections 1 & 6)
Due: Monday, April 30
Requirements:
• MLA format
• If you utilize any outside sources (not required) you must follow MLA format for in- text citations, Works Cited page, etc.
At the very least, you must have a Works Cited page that lists Season 1 of Breaking Bad.
• Attach Character Study Journal (all 7 entries) to back of essay when submitting.
Before we began viewing the first season of Breaking Bad, I assigned a Character Study Journal. You were to select a character to focus on more carefully than others and to record observations of him or her as the episodes unfolded. However, as we have discussed, your first few journal entries might just be observations recorded regarding plot and regarding several different characters.
This Character Study Journal will now be a valuable source as you write your last out of class essay for this course.
Assignment:
Write an in-depth character analysis of one of the characters in the first season of Breaking Bad.
Your essay must include the following:
• Assertion(s) about your character
• Evidence from the episodes that support your assertions (how did you come to the conclusion(s) you did regarding this character?)
Your supportive evidence might include but is not limited to:
• what others observe/say (or don’t observe/say) about the character—either directly or in private
• the actions of the character in particular situations
• the reactions/responses of the character in particular situations
• what drives this character
• what terrifies this character
• what pleases this character
• what does this character long for
• what does this character need
Your thesis must be assertive…it is YOUR opinion as a viewer of these episodes.
Whether or not you LIKE or DISLIKE this character is not an issue in this essay.
Whether you LIKE or DISLIKE the series is also not an issue in this essay.
Proving to the reader that this character has the attributes (good, bad, layered, shallow) that you assert he or she has is your goal.
Keep in mind that your reading audience HAS viewed each of the seven episodes so avoid writing extensive summaries of each episode.
Your thesis might read something like this:
Once Walter learns of his terminal cancer and begins cooking meth, he appears very unstable and irresponsible; however, his behavior truly represents a very determined, loving, highly intelligent and moral father and husband.
or…
Marie is a very insecure and lonely woman who is unhappy and uncomfortable living in the shadows of her power-driven DEA husband and her happily married and very bright sister, Skylar.
I do apologize for mis-numbering the reading packets recently...it was just brought to my attention that I assigned TWO Packet 7's...one last week and one this week.
To be clear, the most recent Packet 7 that I posted for this week (the TED Talk video and the one reading) is the CORRECT packet for this week. Sections 1 and 6: please make note of this and come prepared to class on Friday having watched the video and read the article.
Another reminder for Sections 1 and 6 for Friday--remember to bring your Breaking Bad Character Journal.
Lastly, below you will find a copy of the Out of Class Essay 3 assignment. For those who missed class, I also distributed sample student essays.
English 20, Spring 2012—Section 15—Instructor: C. Fraga
Out of Class Essay Assignment #3 (200 points)
Assigned: Monday, April 9 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 11 (sections 1 & 6)
Optional Rough Draft Due: no later than Monday, April 23 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 25 (sections 1 & 6)
Due: Monday, April 30
Requirements:
• MLA format
• If you utilize any outside sources (not required) you must follow MLA format for in- text citations, Works Cited page, etc.
At the very least, you must have a Works Cited page that lists Season 1 of Breaking Bad.
• Attach Character Study Journal (all 7 entries) to back of essay when submitting.
Before we began viewing the first season of Breaking Bad, I assigned a Character Study Journal. You were to select a character to focus on more carefully than others and to record observations of him or her as the episodes unfolded. However, as we have discussed, your first few journal entries might just be observations recorded regarding plot and regarding several different characters.
This Character Study Journal will now be a valuable source as you write your last out of class essay for this course.
Assignment:
Write an in-depth character analysis of one of the characters in the first season of Breaking Bad.
Your essay must include the following:
• Assertion(s) about your character
• Evidence from the episodes that support your assertions (how did you come to the conclusion(s) you did regarding this character?)
Your supportive evidence might include but is not limited to:
• what others observe/say (or don’t observe/say) about the character—either directly or in private
• the actions of the character in particular situations
• the reactions/responses of the character in particular situations
• what drives this character
• what terrifies this character
• what pleases this character
• what does this character long for
• what does this character need
Your thesis must be assertive…it is YOUR opinion as a viewer of these episodes.
Whether or not you LIKE or DISLIKE this character is not an issue in this essay.
Whether you LIKE or DISLIKE the series is also not an issue in this essay.
Proving to the reader that this character has the attributes (good, bad, layered, shallow) that you assert he or she has is your goal.
Keep in mind that your reading audience HAS viewed each of the seven episodes so avoid writing extensive summaries of each episode.
Your thesis might read something like this:
Once Walter learns of his terminal cancer and begins cooking meth, he appears very unstable and irresponsible; however, his behavior truly represents a very determined, loving, highly intelligent and moral father and husband.
or…
Marie is a very insecure and lonely woman who is unhappy and uncomfortable living in the shadows of her power-driven DEA husband and her happily married and very bright sister, Skylar.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Monday evening, April 9, 2012
Good evening, just a quick reminder to please bring your Breaking Bad Character Journal to class on Wednesday. It may come in handy when discussing the series and preparing to write Essay 3.
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