Week 9

 

“The man who has forgotten to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”   

                                                                                           –Robert Louis Stevenson

 It is week nine, which means of course that we have just two weeks to completion of the quarter.  Thus far you have been assigned a total of 7 essays;   your short research project (5), and the in-class final (6) remain.  The in-class final is to be done in class week 11, not at home.  The field reports are due today.  If you have not yet submitted the short poetry explication  that, too, is due.  We will look at the results of your scoutings from the field (*-*)  and then allow time for the short report work, to discuss potential topics, directions and the MLA guidelines for source integration, and time to begin drafting the short report.  It should be finished by the end of class next week.  Watching a film is a possibility, if you decide.

Research Topics (only suggested)

1.  Threats to the environment and/or the Anthropocene (think human induced climate change, habitat loss, pollution, overfishing).

2.  The technology race. New Products.  Consumerism (or what did you buy on Black Friday, Cyber Monday?)

3.  The economy/money matters.

4.  Education and emploment/career planning and management.

5.  The struggle to legitimize gay marriage/ marijuana use/ protect women's reproductive rights/ you-name-it.

6.  Fashion/art in the 21st century.

7.  Great food ideas/new trends in culinary arts and/ or agricultural practice.

8.  New media/new opportunities.

9.  A film study, new or old.

10. An individual or company making a positive or negative difference.

I can look at drafts today of whatever work you have in progress, time permitting.  Rewrites and any outstanding assignments must be submitted by the last class.

Again,  week 11 a  final essay of 500 words will assess key composition skills, including grammatical sentences, unified and well-developed paragraphs, support for your thesis, sound use of references, and use of direct quotation, if called for.  You will have a set of topics to choose from and no required reading.  The Internet will not be allowed as a source of content.  This final must be done in class.