Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Maus-Night Blogging Assignment

In the same way that we discussed how Fallen Angels and Restrepo complemented each other, reflect on how Maus and Night serve as companion pieces. Look for emotional, thematic and literary connections that go beyond superficial similarities (e.g., both are about the Holocaust), and be sure to cite specific examples from both works as you progress towards a recommendation of whether classes should read one or the other or both. This blog must be posted by Mon, March 28.
This blog entry is worth points 15 points:
____ / 3 - thoughtful observations about both books
____ / 3 - specific citation of examples from both books
____ / 3 - a well-argued recommendation
____ / 3 - quality of writing
____ / 3 - overall effectiveness

Friday, March 4, 2011

Restrepo Blog Assignment

PRE-WRITING
First, identify and explain 10 scenes in Restrepo that helped bring Fallen Angels more effectively to life. The pre-writing activity should not simply be a list, but rather a set of detailed comparisons on how the movie made material from the book more vivid and real. Discuss matters of emotional and thematic resonance. Do NOT point out simple, superficial similarities (e.g., seeing the guys in the chopper showed what it's like to be in a chopper or seeing a firefight made firefights more real). On the other hand, DO identify important parallels that provide further insight into what Walter Dean Myers was trying to express in his book; be as specific as possible (e.g., when Steiner describes the high of getting in a firefight, it is similar to how Perry explains the excitement of combat in his letter to Kenny).

WRITING
Next, write a thoughtful reflection discussing what reading Fallen Angels and watching Restrepo taught or showed you about war. This blog entry should have an overall main idea that is supported by multiple, specific examples from both the book and the movie.

Completed blog entries are due on Mon, Mar 7