When they finally did dare it, at first with stolen glances and then candid ones, they had to smile. They were uncommonly proud. For the first time they had done something out of love.
Patrick Suskind, novelist, Perfume
Reading Journal (6% of Final Grade for each of 5 entries): “Travelogue”
There will be a total of 5 entries for this assignment submitted via “Discussions” on Canvas. Students are responsible for ensuring that the assignments are correctly submitted via Canvas on time.
In order to integrate these varied literary texts drawn from around the world and over six thousand years more fully into your lives, you will be asked to create a Travelogue. The assignment has three goals:
1. You will demonstrate with your “Travelogue” that you are able to read closely passages from the assigned readings and place them within the context of the text from which they are drawn and the themes of the course. The Travelogue replaces quizzes which will not be given as long as people keep up with their reading and their entries.
2. You express your own views about the passage and the issues raised by it in a short format. While you may use AI, you should make explicit where it falls short and what you are adding to its suggestions.
3. You will practice (in a compact form) the type of close reading and careful use of textual details which will be evaluated on the longer assignments. Completing the Travelogue, and incorporating the feedback from your TA/instructor, should assist you in preparing for, and preforming more successfully on the essay, research report, and video.
Beyond the goals of this class, being able to present data, offer analysis, argue for a conclusion and explain its importance to a reasonable person who will respect your point of view in a compact format is a useful professional skill.
What Must You Do?
Concretely, the Travelogue will consist of a 100-word entry responding to the passage you are given. The entry will be assessed using the rubric in Canvas which is based on the LAD five-step process. The TAs and I will not be impressed by longer entries. The point of the assignment is to be brief but substantial. More detail and thought will result in a better grade, but length will not improve the grade.
Late entries will be evaluated, but will be marked down for tardiness.
Finally, there is no correct answer to this assignment, no need to agree with the introductions given in the .pdfs or with me about what the texts mean or suggest, no single format which you must use for the entries. What matters is that you: 1) offer your opinions about the passages, 2) explain (using details from the passage and your own analysis) why you think as you do, and 3) suggest why your insights are important. The entries may be informal and conversational.
If you have any doubts about your entries please show one before you submit it to your TA who can give you advice and comments.
Please enjoy finding what excites and intrigues you in the passages. I thank you in advance for spending a few minutes sharing your ideas thoughtfully.