28 February 2005
Readings from Skins
Just a reminder that the readings from Skins are not on the blog but on electronic course reserves at the UVM library. You can find them by going to the Library Services page and then choosing "View Course Reserves" (part of the "Do It Yourself" menu). Once you get to the reserves page, you can just use the pull-down menus to choose my name and the course number. That will get you to our readings.
The reading for Monday is the one by Richard Van Camp. On Wednesday, we'll wrap up Skins with the story from Alootook Ipellie. We'll also talk about Tom King's book the Truth About Stories on Wednesday and Friday.
I'll have the full, revised schedule up on the blog just before class today.
Citing your sources using MLA Style
Here are some links that will help you with MLA Style. Diana Hacker has published a number of great guides related to writing essays and documenting sources etc. It appears that her entire book is not online. Check out this section of her website for information on using MLA style
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/list.html
This page at her site shows how to do "in-text citations"
http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/humanities/intext.html
There are many other sources online for similar information, though they are not as comprehensive as Hacker's site.
Here are a few others that might be of help:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocMLA.html
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/MLA/bibliographymla.htm
This site deals with how to cite online sources of information.
http://www.westwords.com/guffey/mla.html
These should answer all your questions. If you're an English major though, or still plan on taking English courses, purchasing the MLA Style Guide is a good investment.
You can purchase it online at http://www.mla.org/bookstore:
Essay topics now posted
Click on the Assignments tab to find them as well as some tips on using MLA style.
As mentioned in class, I've set the due date to either the 18th of March or the 28th if that works better for you. There will be no extensions granted on the latter deadline, so if you choose the 28th make sure that it is ready to hand in at the beginning of class on that day.
Topics for first essay
1. With respect to one of the works of fiction we have read, examine the theme of “the truth about stories.”
2. Many of the texts we have read so far involve a tension between the needs and/or behavior of the individual and the demands of the community. This tension is also frequently connected to an apparent disjunction between the modern and traditional way of life for Native peoples.
Choosing one of the texts we have studied in class, examine the presence of this theme, perhaps with regard to a single character or aspect of the plot. What does the text seem to suggest in the end? Can there be a balance between the needs of the individual and the community, between modernity and tradition? What is at risk if such a balance is not achieved?
3. Create your own topic. This must be presented to and approved by me by no later than March 14.
Essay length: 1500 words
DUE March 18th or 28th
PLEASE NOTE: If you find yourself in a situation where you have too many papers due on the same day or all your midterms the day before the essay is due, I do permit extensions. There are a few ground rules though: you need to give me a written request for an extension no later than one week before the essay is due with a firm deadline as to when you will have your essay in. I will also have to agree on that deadline and will sign your letter to indicate that I have approved the extension. Any late papers that do not have my prior approval will be penalized one grade increment per day late, including weekend days. This, of course, excludes papers that are late due to sickness or family emergency. In such cases, the usual rules about doctor's notes apply.
