Third and Last Short Essay Assignment

As you know, I had planned to have you write four short essays as half of your course project grade (2.5 X 4=10). However, we have run out of time and energy for such ambitions. So I will ask you to make one more post. Then from the three postings you have made, I will take the highest grade and give it to you as the fourth grade.
This means that if you are satisfied with the grade that you received on at least one of the first three posts, then you don't need to do anything. However, if you wish a higher grade, you can do one of the following:
1. Revise an existing post to get a higher grade (easiest option)
2. Write a new post in the hopes of getting a higher grade. This is perhaps a good option if you didn't write one of the three earlier posts. PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN ONLY WRITE ONE NEW POST TO REPLACE ONE YOU DIDN'T WRITE. If you missed more than one of the first three posts, then it's too late to make them up.

OK...

So, for your final post, I'd like you to write about one of the following topics:

KAFKA TOPIC
1. Choose a Kafka parable and write a response that explores the different ways that it can be interpreted. As the materials I provided you with indicate, these parables are notoriously difficult to explain. One reason for this is that Kafka viewed the modern world as absurd and nonsensical, and perhaps even meaningless. Another reason is that he was very interested in how people living in such an absurd world still manage to find meaning, create art and live their lives...

So, your short essay should show how the parable you have chosen can be read in several different ways. Ideally, you should also be able to argue that these different ways of reading are not compatible, since they require adopting a certain point of view, which excludes other readings. Of course we can adopt many different points of view and create many different interpretations, but the parable will never have one single unified meaning.

You might wish to think about our reading of "Give it up!" as an example, but you should write about a different parable, since we talked so much about that one in class.

OR

HISTORY/MEMORY TOPIC
If you like, you can write about the film we viewed in class, La Jetée, and/or the associated readings by Kierkegaard and Benjamin.
Here you will have to focus on one aspect of the relationship between the study of history and memory. We have of course over the course of the semester been studying the past, and the purpose of this study is to help us understand some of the ideas and ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving the world that define our modern present.
But La Jetée and the readings I gave you about it suggest that understanding the past and remembering are not such simple or easy tasks. Not only may our personal memories be inaccessible, confused, and uncertain, marked by trauma, but the collective memory that is history may also seem to us devoid of any real order or meaning. Recall Macbeth's speech after the death of Lady Macbeth, where he looks upon his life and life in general as "a tale / told by an idiot, full of sound and fury / signifying nothing." (5.5.26-28).
Considering the history of Western Civilization from the point of view of the 20th and 21st centuries, where humanity has reached new heights of technological achievement, but also new heights of murderous barbarism, with the exploitation and mass murder of huge numbers of people, evaluate what sense we can make of history. Are there some lessons that we can find to guide us in the materials that we have read?

Do you think that it is truly impossible to stop the mounting catastrophe of destruction that Benjamin's angel of history sees growing every day? What would it take to do so? If you were able to travel in time, do you think you could make a difference in either the past or future of humanity? Would this be without danger?
Please give specific examples from one or more of the works we have read to support your argument.

OR

CREATIVE TOPIC: WRITE YOUR OWN PARABLE

Finally, if you are feeling inventive, you might wish to write your own parable. It can be about anything, but try to follow either Kafka's or Benjamin's example so that your parable suggests something about either human history or some absurdities in the way we live our lives today.

Remember, one of the keys to the success of Kafka's parables is to make the story very simple and not to give us any real insight into the motivations and inner worlds of the characters. If your parable is successful, then it should be somewhat puzzling and ambiguous, and capable of being interpreted in multiple ways.

This assignment is due Tuesday, March 3 at 19:00. Remember, as always, you must also make a constructive comment on another of your group member's essays. This comment is due on Wednesday by the 12:00 (noon).

Weekly Post: from Smith to Marx

Once again, this week's Course Project Blog assignment is simply to post a link, an image, a video, a quote, or share some brief thoughts... 
In particular you might wish to evaluate Smith and Marx, and present some ideas that support one or the other. Is either completely right?
(Remember, the goal of these weekly postings is to stimulate interest in the course materials by giving you the opportunity to connect what we are reading and discussing in class with today's world and the many information resources you have at your disposal. As usual, I've supplied you with some interesting and useful links: please take a moment to look at these, since I think they will help you understand Adam Smith's thought in a more concrete, contemporary context.
In addition to learning about the larger contexts and questions our class illuminates, I encourage you to use this forum as a means of creative thought: making connections between different ideas, images and multimedia resources.)

Your posting is due this Saturday, April 23 at 19:00; Please comment on another group member's post by Sunday at 19:00.

Weekly Post

This week's Course Project Blog assignment is simply to post a link, an image, a video, a quote, or share some brief thoughts... Remember, the goal of these weekly postings is to stimulate interest in the course materials by giving you the opportunity to connect what we are reading and discussing in class with today's world and the many information resources you have at your disposal. As usual, I've supplied you with some interesting and useful links: please take a moment to look at these, since I think they will help you understand Adam Smith's thought in a more concrete, contemporary context.
In addition to learning about the larger contexts and questions our class illuminates, I encourage you to use this forum as a means of creative thought: making connections between different ideas, images and multimedia resources.

So... this week please reflect on what new, original perspectives you can add to this collaborative project.

Your posting is due this Saturday, April 16 at 19:00; Please comment on another group member's post by Sunday at 19:00.

Second Essay Assignment

As you know, this blog is your Course Project, which in total is worth 20% of your grade. 

The weekly short postings (10%) are intended to encourage creative thought and develop interest in the course materials by asking you to make connections between our readings and discussion and multimedia content found on the internet.

You also have to write 4 short essays (2.5% each, for a total of 10%), which are designed to develop analytical, critical, and independent thinking: by asking you to engage with the materials in a more detailed fashion, these assignments also require that you review what you have learned over the course of several weeks and reflect on the larger themes and questions of the course.

For the second essay, you have a choice. You can either write about Descartes or Macbeth. If you wish to write about Macbeth, please see the earlier assignment I posted below. (Although I asked you to submit this earlier, very few students have written on this topic, so I'm giving you another opportunity to do so if you are interested.)

If you would like to write on Descartes, then here is the assignment:
1. Read the handout supplied here, which tells you what different philosophers have thought about Descartes.
2. Choose one interpretation that you think is particularly accurate or interesting. Discuss this interpretation both by quoting and interpreting in your own words. Then, provide some textual evidence from the Descartes texts we have read to support your argument.

Remember: one of the goals of this assignment is to help you think critically and analytically, by asking you to develop an argument. This means that you should have a central, focused claim and support it with evidence. Please review the instructions below...

About the Course Project Response Essay Assignment

The essay is an opportunity for you to develop some of your ideas and impressions into insights, and articulate those insights in a brief argument. It should be 2-3 paragraphs long and have a specific focus: don't just summarize, but make a point backed up with evidence. This assignment is meant to be somewhat informal. It does not need to be a perfectly written essay of the sort you would write for a paper. It should not take you more than 30 minutes to write.
Before beginning, please read the more specific guidelines here. 


The weeks that you have this assignment, you are not required to make your regular post. However, you are still required to comment on one of your fellow group member's short essay. These comments should be constructively critical and respond in some substantial way to the claim being made by the author. This comment will be worth 0.8 points and will count towards that week's weekly posting grade.

The essay is due on Saturday, April 9 by 19:00.
Your comments on another member's essay are due on Tuesday, April 12 by 19:00.

Weekly Post #5

Your fifth weekly assignment is the same as the first few you did: to make one simple post to your group and to comment on someone else's post. You can post a quote from the reading, a link to a website, an image, a video, whatever you think is interesting and related to what we have been talking about in class. If you are having difficulty finding something, please take a look at the list of websites I've provided you with.

This posting is due on Thursday, March 31 by the end of the day; your comment is due Sunday, April 3 at 12:00 noon. 

For details on the option to write an early second essay assignment, see below....

Second Essay Assignment: Optional Early Deadline, Macbeth

Macbeth Essay Assignment

Considering Roman Polanski's film version of Macbeth as an interpretation, choose one scene, one character, or one aspect (period details, atmosphere, music, etc.) that you thought was particularly effective. In your paper, you should demonstrate why you think the director's choice was effective and what dimensions of the play it helped you see, feel or understand. Your argument should give specific examples from the film version, but also textual evidence from the play.
Be sure to focus on one particular scene, character or aspect of the film and use specific evidence to support your claims. Your essay should show that you understand some of the larger themes and problems explored in the play. However, do not merely summarize the film/play or discuss either only in general terms--focus on details!
Earlier, I sent you some information about Polanski, but you can also find it here. It might be helpful in writing your essay.

Remember: one of the goals of this assignment is to help you think critically and analytically, by asking you to develop an argument. This means that you should have a central, focused claim and support it with evidence. Please review the instructions below...

About the Course Project Response Essay Assignment

The essay is an opportunity for you to develop some of your ideas and impressions into insights, and articulate those insights in a brief argument. It should be 2-3 paragraphs long and have a specific focus: don't just summarize, but make a point backed up with evidence. This assignment is meant to be somewhat informal. It does not need to be a perfectly written essay of the sort you would write for a paper. It should not take you more than 30 minutes to write.
Before beginning, please read the more specific guidelines here. 


The weeks that you have this assignment, you are not required to make your regular post. However, you are still required to comment on one of your fellow group member's short essay. These comments should be constructively critical and respond in some substantial way to the claim being made by the author. This comment will be worth 0.8 points and will count towards that week's weekly posting grade.

The essay is due on Saturday, April 9 by 19:00.
Your comments on another member's essay are due on Tuesday, April 12 by 19:00.

Weekly Post #4

This week I would like to ask you to make a somewhat more specific posting than usual. I'd like you to choose an image or a video clip related to Macbeth to write about.

1. Image assignment: to find an image, you can of course do an image search on the internet, but I highly recommend looking at the historic collection of images at the Folger Shakespeare Library here.
Choose an image and explain why you thought the image was interesting. It might be because it depicts a character or scene from the play in a way that seems compelling and accurate, or contrary to your expectations and "inaccurate." In any case, choose an image that helps you think about the play and its characters in a new way and briefly explain your reaction.

OR

2. Video assignment: if you prefer, you might find a video clip of a scene from the play that comes from a different version of Macbeth from the one that we have been watching (the 1971 Polanski version). Discuss why you think the scene is more or less effective than in Polanski's version. Again, you should reflect on how it helps you see the play in a new way.
Suggestions: do a video search for "Macbeth hand washing scene," "Macbeth banquet scene," "Macbeth dagger scene," "Macbeth witches scene," "Macbeth Macduff scene," etc.

Your blog posting is due This Friday, March 18, at 19:00. Your comments are due on Sunday, March 20 by 12:00 (noon).

Third Weekly Assignment

Your third weekly assignment is the same as the first: to make one simple post to your group and to comment on someone else's post. You can post a quote from the reading, a link to a website, an image, a video, whatever you think is interesting and related to what we have been talking about in class. If you are having difficulty finding something, please take a look at the list of websites I've provided you with.

This assignment is due on Friday, March 11 at 19:00. 

Remember, you will be required to do this same basic assignment every week...

*IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO INSERT A LINK INTO YOUR POSTING OR COMMENT, SEE BELOW*

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Make all posts to your assigned group: don't forget to choose the proper label for your group whenever you make a post.

2. Every week you are required to: 

• A. Post something interesting related to readings and class discussions (an idea, a response, an image, a link, a quote, video, etc.)
• B. Comment on least one of your group members' posts.

This will be 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

3. Over the course of the semester, I will give you longer and more detailed assignments: I will announce them on Moodle and on the Blog.

This will be the other 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

LINKS....
Finally, a little bit of help with making a post. Take a look at the toolbar above the space where you write your post. There are little icons for adding pictures, videos and links. The one for links is especially useful, because if you don't use it, then your link will appear, but it won't be "clickable"...

So, if you put a link in your posting, highlight it to select it, then click on the "link" tool on the toolbar. (Click image below to enlarge).

For links in comments: enter the following HTML code into the comment box:

 <a href="www.google.com">Home</a> 

Change "www.google.com" to whatever website you want to link to. Change "Home" to whatever text you want to display as the link.

First Essay Assignment: Due this Sunday at noon

This week I'm asking you to write the first of your short essays. As you might recall, 10 points of your course project grade comes from weekly posts and comments, and the other 10 points comes from a few longer assignments that I will give you over the course of the semester. Each of these will be worth 2.5 points: there will be four, for a total of 10 points.

The weeks that you have this assignment, you are not required to make your regular post. However, you are still required to comment on one of your fellow group member's short essay. These comments should be constructively critical and respond in some substantial way to the claim being made by the author. This comment will be worth 0.8 points and will count towards that week's weekly posting grade.

About the Course Project Response Essay Assignment

The essay is an opportunity for you to develop some of your ideas and impressions into insights, and articulate those insights in a brief argument. It should be 2-3 paragraphs long and have a specific focus: don't just summarize, but make a point backed up with evidence. This assignment is meant to be somewhat informal. It does not need to be a perfectly written essay of the sort you would write for a paper. It should not take you more than 30 minutes to write.

Before beginning, please read the more specific guidelines here.

For your first online posting, I'm giving you a choice of three topics.

1. From your study questions on Alberti: if you chose a particular painting you had wanted to talk about in terms of Alberti's writings, you can post an image of that painting and discuss it. You should choose one or two specific ideas from Alberti and talk about how the painting exemplifies the idea(s). In particular, give at least one quote from Alberti and be sure to discuss the painting in detail. Do not merely describe the painting -- you should analyze and evaluate it according to Alberti's ideas. You can also discuss your personal reactions to the painting. The more specific, detailed and original your discussion is, the higher will be your grade.

OR

2.Watch one of the five videos at the link here. After watching the video, develop some of your ideas here. Again, do not merely summarize: analyze and evaluate, record your own reactions, develop your own interpretations by connecting your responses to personal experience or things we have discussed in class.

OR

3. Choose a key idea from Machiavelli's The Prince and write an argument either supporting this idea or criticizing it and disagreeing with it. Support your argument with textual evidence (quotes) from Machiavelli and specific examples. Some suggestions for key ideas:
-Machiavelli's conception of "the people" as self-interested, fickle and disloyal
-His argument that a prince must always appear good, but be prepared to be evil if necessary
-His claim that some valuable ends (goals) justify means that may conflict with our basic values
-His argument about the influence of fortune on human affairs

This Assignment is due on Sunday, February 28 at 12:00 (noon, not midnight!).
Your comments are due on Tuesday, March 1 by 23:59.

Second Assignment, etc.

Your second assignment is the same as the first: to make one simple post to your group and to comment on someone else's post. You can post a quote from the reading, a link to a website, an image, a video, whatever you think is interesting and related to what we have been talking about in class. If you are having difficulty finding something, please take a look at the list of websites I've provided you with.

This assignment is due on Tuesday, February 23 at 23:59. 

Remember, you will be required to do this same basic assignment every week...

*IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO INSERT A LINK INTO YOUR POSTING OR COMMENT, SEE BELOW*

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Make all posts to your assigned group: don't forget to choose the proper label for your group whenever you make a post.

2. Every week you are required to: 

• A. Post something interesting related to readings and class discussions (an idea, a response, an image, a link, a quote, video, etc.)
• B. Comment on least one of your group members' posts.

This will be 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

3. Over the course of the semester, I will give you longer and more detailed assignments: I will announce them on Moodle and on the Blog.

This will be the other 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

LINKS....
Finally, a little bit of help with making a post. Take a look at the toolbar above the space where you write your post. There are little icons for adding pictures, videos and links. The one for links is especially useful, because if you don't use it, then your link will appear, but it won't be "clickable"...

So, if you put a link in your posting, highlight it to select it, then click on the "link" tool on the toolbar. (Click image below to enlarge).

For links in comments: enter the following HTML code into the comment box:

 <a href="www.google.com">Home</a> 

Change "www.google.com" to whatever website you want to link to. Change "Home" to whatever text you want to display as the link.

REMEMBER: Anonymize!

Before you make your first post on the blog, you should be sure that you have created an anonymous profile for yourself. If you didn't do this when you first joined the blog and are unsure how to do this, you can watch this short video I've made...

https://youtu.be/NTwY4KnPiq8

First Assignment

Your first assignment is to make one simple post to your group and to comment on someone else's post. You can post a quote from the reading, a link to a website, an image, a video, whatever you think is interesting and related to what we have been talking about in class. If you are having difficulty finding something, please take a look at the list of websites I've provided you with.
This assignment is due on Tuesday, February 16 at 23:59.

Remember, you will be required to do this same basic assignment every week...

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Make all posts to your assigned group: don't forget to choose the proper label for your group whenever you make a post.

2. Every week you are required to: 

• A. Post something interesting related to readings and class discussions (an idea, a response, an image, a link, a quote, video, etc.)
• B. Comment on least one of your group members' posts.

This will be 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

3. Over the course of the semester, I will give you longer and more detailed assignments: I will announce them on Moodle and on the Blog.

This will be the other 10% of your grade, half of the total course project grade.

Finally, a little bit of help with making a post. Take a look at the toolbar above the space where you write your post. There are little icons for adding pictures, videos and links. The one for links is especially useful, because if you don't use it, then your link will appear, but it won't be "clickable"...

So, if you put a link in your posting, highlight it to select it, then click on the "link" tool on the toolbar. (Click image below to enlarge).

For links in comments: enter the following HTML code into the comment box: <a href="www.google.com">Home</a> Change "www.google.com" to whatever website you want to link to. Change "Home" to whatever text you want to display as the link.