Due: weekly
Each student will contribute to the weekly class blog, posting an approximately 200-word response to the week’s readings before class. You do not have to post on the day you present in class and you may skip three classes. Do not skip more than two weeks in a row.
The Blogposts:
There are a number of ways to approach these open-ended posts: do a close reading of a small portion of the text; consider the reading in relation to its historical or theoretical context; write about an aspect of the day’s reading that you don’t understand, or something that jars you; formulate an insightful question or two about the reading and then attempt to answer your own questions; or respond to another student’s post, building upon it, disagreeing with it, or re-thinking it. Occasionally I will post a prompt; that is, a question for you to explore or a passage/piece of media on which to focus (see sample posts below). In any case, strive for thoughtfulness and nuance. To ensure that everyone has a chance to read the blog before class, post your response by 9am before class.
This is also an opportunity for you to bring your individual expertise and experiences to class discussion. In what ways can you connect your experience of Shange’s work to other writers, music and works of art?
Given that this class is both about Shange’s multisensory approach to language and the use of digital media in scholarship, I strongly encourage you to make use of different forms of media in your project. I hope in doing this, you will develop a sensitive eye for the best ways of presenting and using different media online.
The Responses:
Responses count towards your participation credit. Your response should be substantive; that is, it must go beyond “Great point!” “Atta girl” or “snaps!” Think of yourself as building on or furthering an ongoing discussion. Which of the blogger’s points did you find illuminating, unexpected or particularly insightful?
Please remember that although this is a somewhat more casual assignment than a traditional paper, you are expected to be thoughtful, coherent and respectful both in your posts and your responses.