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 6 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.  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,  the MLA research guidelines,  source integration, and works cited page.  The essay should be finished by the end of class next week.

Research Topics (only suggested)

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

2.  New technology.  New Products.

3.  The economy/money matters.

4.  Education and employment today.

5.  The politics/style of the new president, Donald Trump.

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.

Extra Credit:  Go to the Modern Love column at the New York Times online.  Choose from the recent or archived essays one that appeals to you.  All are first-person narrative essays on the subject of romantic love.  Briefly describe (include title and author and post date) the content and then respond to the work by drawing out the associations and thoughts it gives rise to in you.  You may include a story of your own that serves as commentary or illustration of what you find interesting in the piece. 400-500 words, titled.