Choose a single story whose opening page or so clearly establishes the tensions and confrontations to come and whose ending offers a resonating metaphor of the story’s theme(s). Carefully explain how these opening and closing passages create both meaning and satisfaction for the reader.

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American Short Story critical brief

English 183, Introduction to the American Short Story, Final Exam:

Choose TWO of the following questions and write thoughtful essays (at least one page in length) in response to them, employing appropriate examples and QUOTATIONS from the stories.  Depending on the questions you choose, you may need to refer to stories read in the first half of the semester, in addition to those read in the second.. Each should response must be at least one page in length.

  1. This semester you have read twenty American short stories written over a period of about two hundred years. (Stories are listed below) Having done so, describe what you see as the primary trends in the evolution of this literary form.  That is, attempt to explain how the American short story has changed from the time of Washington Irving and Nathaniel Hawthorne until now.
  2. Choose a single story whose opening page or so clearly establishes the tensions and confrontations to come and whose ending offers a resonating metaphor of the story’s theme(s).  Carefully explain how these opening and closing passages create both meaning and satisfaction for the reader.
  3. By contrasting two stories written in the last sixty years (since 1950), attempt to convey the range and scope of the modern American short story.  Proceed like this: choose two stories that you see as very different from one another; then explain these differences in terms of (a) subject,  (b) writing style, or voice (c) technique (the author’s manipulation of point of view and time), and (d) plot.
  4. This is a question about the untrustworthiness of first impressions.  Choose a story you failed to understand on first reading but then came to understand and appreciate after giving it a second look, or after reading your classmates’ responses to it.  Explain what you missed on first reading.

 

 

Story list from the whole semester.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by Washington Irving

“The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne

“The Black Cat,” by Edgar Allan Poe

“The Coup de Grace,” by Ambrose Bierce

“A White Heron, by Sarah Orne Jewett

“The Storm,” by Kate Chopin

“The Blue Hotel,” by Stephen Crane

“The Use of Force,” by William Carlos Williams

“The Grave,” by Katherine Anne Porter)

“The Gilded Six-Bits,” by Zora Neale Hurston

“Babylon Revisited,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald

“A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” by Ernest Hemingway

“Thank You, Ma’am,” by Langston Hughes

“Sonny’s Blues,” by James Baldwin

“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” by Ursula LeGuin

“A Girl’s Story,” by Toni Cade Bambara

“Hunters in the Snow,” by Tobias Wolff

“The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien

“Fleur,” by Louise Erdrich

What statement does the story make about the relationship of art to life or about the relationship of art to suffering? Explain. Explore the intersections between the effects of drug use, music and religion in “Sonny’s Blues.” Toward the end of the story, as he is trying to explain his addiction to heroin and his passion for music, Sonny tells the narrator that everyone tries to find a way not to suffer, even the narrator himself. What are the narrator’s ways of coping with his pain and fear?

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American Short Story critical brief

Writing a Critical Brief:

Please note:  Before writing your first Critical Brief, study carefully the document How to Read a Short Story, which defines and explains the literary terms and concepts I expect you to understand and use during this course.

You can find the story here: https://sfponline.org/Uploads/372/sonnysblues.pdf

What is a Critical Brief?

It is an informal writing assignment in which you demonstrate two things—first, that you have read the assigned story and are able to discuss its fundamental literary elements; and second, that you have given careful, original thought to its meaning. You will be writing one critical brief for each assigned story. Critical briefs are not formal papers; they will be graded for content only—for their ideas and thoughts—NOT for the quality of the writing. (Of course, it is necessary that your writing be clear and understandable!)

Each Critical Brief should consist of THREE SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS, each one at least 75 words. Together, these three paragraphs should fit on one double-spaced page; they will add up to about 225-250 words. You are welcome to write more if you like.

PARAGRAPH 1 must answer the following questions: (1) What point-of-view method is being used? (2) Who is the protagonist (main character), and why do you think so? (3) How is the protagonist tested by the story’s events, and what does this say about the protagonist’s character and personality? (4) How is the protagonist changed by the story’s events? Make sure you answer all four of these questions if you hope to receive full credit.

PARAGRAPH 2 is comprised of your response to just ONE of the several questions  provided for the assigned story “Sonny’s Blues,” by James Baldwin (These questions can be found highlighted in yellow at the end of this doc). Simply write a thoughtful reaction to ONE of the prompts, supporting your ideas with evidence from the story.

PARAGRAPH 3 is more open-ended. In it, you must demonstrate your willingness to think creatively about what you have read. Do this by (1) offering an interesting question YOU have about the story, OR (2) making an observation about the story that you think other readers may not have noticed. In either case, whether you ask a question or make an observation (no need to do both!), you must follow up with a brief discussion that tries to answer the question you have posed or explain why you’ve made the observation you’ve made. Your task in this paragraph, then, is to offer your own unique perspective — to demonstrate that you have thought about the story deeply and on a personal level.

When writing the Critical Briefs, please avoid offering opinions based solely on personal experience or personal taste. Don’t tell stories that may have happened to you or to someone you know. Stick to the text.                 

Evaluation

Critical Briefs are each worth 10 possible points.  Each will be assessed according the following three criteria:

  1. Meets length requirements and addresses all stated areas for the three paragraphs.
  2. Focuses on the text, not merely on personal taste.
  3. Demonstrates thoughtfulness about the assigned story.

 

Questions for Paragraph 2,  pick ONE to write your thoughtful reaction.

  1. What statement does the story make about the relationship of art to life or about the relationship of art to suffering?  Explain.

 

  1. Explore the intersections between the effects of drug use, music and religion in “Sonny’s Blues.”

 

  1. Toward the end of the story, as he is trying to explain his addiction to heroin and his passion for music, Sonny tells the narrator that everyone tries to find a way not to suffer, even the narrator himself.  What are the narrator’s ways of coping with his pain and fear?

 

  1. How would you describe the tone of the ending?  What sort of resolution (if any) does the story or the narrator come to?  Does the narrator express optimism?  Pessimism?  Something in between?  Explain.

 

  1. Do Sonny and his brother change in this story?  If so, what do you identify as the catalyst for their changes and where do we see these changes?  If not, how can you tell that they remain stagnant?

 

  1. In what respects is this story and comment on the ways in which “Sonny’s Blues”is a retelling, revision or modernization of the Cain and Abel story in the Bible?

 

  1. What is the “cup of trembling” referred to in the last line?  How does this Biblical allusion work to help the reader understand what will or has happened to Sonny, his brother, their family and their community?

How did the ideas or changes affect the establishment and status quo? What was the context in which this person proposed ideas/change? How did the government or the people respond to the ideas/change? What sort of following or support did he/she have? How have the ideas/actions of the person influenced contemporary cultures and ideas?

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Narrated Power point

For this project, select a person whom you believe had significant influence (positive or negative) on a movement for social, economic, and/or political change in the 20th and 21st centuries. Explore and address the following in your project:

Summarize the person’s ideas.

How did the ideas or changes affect the establishment and status quo?

What was the context in which this person proposed ideas/change?

How did the government or the people respond to the ideas/change?

What sort of following or support did he/she have?

How have the ideas/actions of the person influenced contemporary cultures and ideas?

For the final presentation, make sure to go beyond the surface information and go into depth about the person you are researching.

Explore one of the Holiday Histories. For example (Kispu, Passover, Chinese New Year, Easter, Ramadan, Halloween, October 31, Maple Moon, Thanksgiving…etc.) Pick one of the Holiday Histories, research more information about it. Research should include the historical origin, the country and/or countries where the holiday is celebrated, discuss the celebration, traditions and foods.

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Holiday History

Explore one of the Holiday Histories. For example (Kispu, Passover, Chinese New Year, Easter, Ramadan, Halloween, October 31, Maple Moon, Thanksgiving…etc.)

Pick one of the Holiday Histories, research more information about it. Research should include the historical origin, the country and/or countries where the holiday is celebrated, discuss the celebration, traditions and foods.

The paper should be 2-3 pages long, 12-point font, include a heading (name, Paper #2, Title – Holiday Histories, Date, Course). Do include any research citations and a reference page with the resources used in addition to the text. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

Was the content at an appropriate level for a graduate class? Were there areas within the content that were unclear or unsupported? Based on the data do you agree with the conclusions made by the author? Based on your interpretation of the data is there material that the author should add or revise? Was equal or appropriate weight given to each main idea? Was too much or too little focus given to particular points?

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Analysis of Temperature and activity

Write a detailed peer reviews of file uploaded((file name:Brian) self-study and its contents. Reviews should be professional in nature and should touch on both positive and negative elements of the student’s self-study.

1) OVERVIEW/SUMMARY: Summarize the technical content and organization of the manuscript in 3-4 sentences.

2) PURPOSE: The presentation was a discussion of an individual’s students circadian data delivered to a group of peers in order to impart knowledge and stimulate critical thinking. Did the author accomplish this purpose? Why or why not?

3) ORGANIZATION/OUTLINE: Main ideas stated clearly and logically? Was the manuscript easy to follow? Were the main points explained and supported by research/data? Did the conclusion adequately sum up the main points and purpose?

4) CONTENT: Was the content at an appropriate level for a graduate class? Were there areas within the content that were unclear or unsupported? Based on the data do you agree with the conclusions made by the author? Based on your interpretation of the data is there material that the author should add or revise? Was equal or appropriate weight given to each main idea? Was too much or too little focus given to particular points?

5) VISUAL AIDS: Were visual aids simple and easy to read/understand? Did the visual aids clearly support the conclusions of the author? Were they of professional quality? Were they appropriately labeled? How could the visual aids be revised to improve clarity and better support the conclusions of the author?

6) DELIVERY: Was the writing at an appropriate level for a graduate class? Was the appropriate format used? Are there specific typographical errors in the manuscript? Did the author hold your attention throughout the manuscript? Was the material presented in an effective way?

7) RECEPTION: What were your personal feelings? Did the manuscript hold your attention? Did you feel a connection with the author?

8) OVERALL RATING:

Examine how a multinational corporation meets the needs of the global market.

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BAM306 – Assignment #3.

“Examine how a multinational corporation meets the needs of the global market.”

Explain what a mission statement is and how a firm should define its business mission. Give examples to illustrate the components of a good mission statement”

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Same Love

BAM306 – Assignment #1. “Explain what a mission statement is and how a firm should define its business mission. Give examples to illustrate the components of a good mission statement”

Explain what a mission statement is and how a firm should define its business mission. Give examples to illustrate the components of a good mission statement.

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BAM306 – Assignment #1.

“Explain what a mission statement is and how a firm should define its business mission. Give examples to illustrate the components of a good mission statement”

What did you learn from Edwards’s text? What did you find most relevant to understanding what it means to be human? How does Edwards’s text help you think about the meaning of “love”?How is the message of this document applicable to your nursing major?

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Edwards

What did you learn from Edwards’s text? What did you find most relevant to understanding what it means to be human? How does Edwards’s text help you think about the meaning of “love”?How is the message of this document applicable to your nursing major?

Reflect on content that will inform your multimedia presentation. Reflect on the intersectional nature of technology and its impact on one’s individual framework of perception, one’s discipline of study, and society in general.

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Final Project Milestone Three: Technology, You, and Society

Instructions
For this third milestone, you will reflect on content that will inform your multimedia presentation, which you will include in Final Project Part Two. You will reflect on the intersectional nature of technology and its impact on one’s individual framework of perception, one’s discipline of study, and society in general. The milestone will be submitted as a presentation draft that includes speaker’s notes. Please note that for this milestone assignment, audio narration is not required.

Make sure you support your response with the readings from this module and additional resources.

To complete this assignment, review the Milestone Three Guidelines and Rubric PDF document.