1.      Universal themes like birth, death, desire, betrayal, love, and loss appear in every culture and every time period. Likewise, certain objects and character types also seem to transcend time and place, suggesting that deep down all humans are part of one tribe. The more we know about other cultures and other eras, the more connected we can see that we are. So for this discussion, you will need to reach out in time and space to find the universals in literature.

 

·         Choose a culture that you know nothing about (Japanese, Samoan, Afrikaans, Cherokee, any culture).

 

·         Search online to find some poems and/or stories created by that culture, and read them.

 

·         Choose a time period in American literature Early American, Puritan, Colonial, Age of Reason, Enlightenment, Naturalism, Regionalism, Realism, Modernism, Post Modernism, Contemporary).

 

·         Read some poems and stories from that American time period.

 

·         Select one story or poem from your researched culture and one story or poem from your researched time period.

 

·         Find at least one universal theme, one universal symbol, or one archetype they share (The more similarities, the better).

 

·         Copy the literature (or the links to the literature) to a document.

 

·         Write a one- or two-paragraph analysis of the universal concept that the two pieces of literature share.

 

·         Support your analysis with quotes and examples.

 

·         Suggest why you think the universal themes, symbols, or characters you noticed are presented across cultural and temporal (time) differences.

 

 

 

2.      Do a Web search of media campaigns that encouraged positive change. Use the key words “One to One Campaign” and “CDC media campaigns.”  See what you can learn about how a shoe company and a government agency are using the media to make the world a better place to live. Then answer the question that follows.

 

Think about how the vision of one person can improve the lives of many. Remember that though you are one person, you can make a difference in the world. You can use media as a force for positive change.

 

 

 

·         Now, think about your daily life. What would you like to change about it? How  might you use media to change something in the world around you?  

 

·         Come up with at least two messages you want to send to the world or movements for change you would like to start.

 

·         Think of five different ways you might send each of those messages or start those movements. Write down brief descriptions of the five ways.

 

 

 

3.      You have a great idea for changing the world through media!  But you need money and resources to develop it. You could go to your rich uncle or your parents for the cash and try to make it happen on your own, or you could look for someone to fund and produce your idea for you.   So you do some research, and you find the right people to make this project a reality.  You contact them, tell them a little about your idea, and they like it. Just like that, you are invited to show them more. You will have only 5 minutes to pitch your idea to their development team.  This is your big moment, your chance to show your stuff, so here’s the windup…and the pitch. Here’s your assignment:

 

 

 

·         Create a PowerPoint presentation with 5 slides and a script to be delivered with each slide. [NOTE: 5 minutes of speaking is about 500 words (or 100 words or fewer per slide.)]

Slide 1: The HOOK. Tell what you are planning and why. Capture the minds and hearts of the investors with something dramatic and compelling. Preview the rest of the presentation.

Slide 2: Your first reason. Explain why they should invest in you. What is your story? Why do you want to do this project?

Slide 3: Your second reason. Explain why they should invest in the project. How is this project going to make a difference to others?

Slide 4: Your third reason. Save the best for last. Describe or show the possibilities of the project. Tell about your vision for the project and what it could do in the future.

Slide 5: The CLINCHER: End with a bang. This slide should really wow them. Review the important points of the presentation.

 

 

 

·         Choose an image, diagram, photo, drawing, or illustration for each slide.  Make sure that in your script you somehow connect to that image. Well-chosen images are very important. (Since this assignment will not be formally published, you do not need to cite your image sources.)

 

 

 

·         When you think you are done, revise your slides and script to add figurative language and transitions that will keep your audience interested and oriented. Check your language for conciseness and word choices. With only five minutes, you have no time to waste.

 

 

 

4.      So, you are sitting at dinner and someone says, "Did you hear about that airline crash in the Czech Republic?" Or a friend quotes a line from a movie you have never seen. At first you are lost, but in ten seconds flat, you can Google some key words and Bam!, you are up to speed. Research these days is like running: you learn to do it without even thinking before you are nine years old.

 

In this unit, you get to spend time writing about something that really excites you. Let's take a few minutes to figure out what that is by researching "you."

 

Answer the following:

 

·         What makes you tick? Write the answers to five of these questions to find out what you are most curious about.

 

·         What are the three things that you spend the most time thinking about? Why?

 

·         If you could live in another time or place, where would you live and why?

 

·         What are the three most interesting books, articles or magazines you have read? What about them was interesting?

 

·         What are your three favorite movies or TV shows? What about them interests you?

 

·         If you could be any person, alive or dead, who would you want to be? Why?

 

·         What are the three most memorable events of your life? What makes them memorable?

 

·         You can take any class at any college, what class do you sign up for? Why?

 

·         What are three situations that make you angry or frustrated? How could you change them?

 

·         What three topics of conversation must someone be able to engage in to be interesting to you?

 

·         Now choose three topics that are most interesting to you from #1 above. Write out a list of five questions that you are wondering about each topic. These ‘research questions' will help you find a topic to write about that you are invested in.

 

Some Examples:

 

I'm pretty frustrated that the legal age to drive is 16. One research question might be: How did law makers come up with the legal driving age?

 

My favorite TV show is CSI. Some research questions might be: How many crimes are actually solved using hairs, fibers, dirt and bugs? What kind of equipment is used in a regular crime lab?

 

5.      You spend all summer trying to get close to your crush. You go bowling even though you hate bowling. You send emails and IM to plan the big day, and finally you are out on the date, just the two of you. Unfortunately, the conversation is forced, your date is answering text messages all through dinner, and you just want it to be over. Luckily you are just dating, not getting married!

 

At this point you are not married to your research topic yet either. You are in the dating stages, and if things are not going well, you can look for a new topic or give this one another chance. You are seeing if you like it and if there is enough substance to take this topic further.

 

Nothing is more frustrating than discovering at the eleventh hour that there is not much information about your topic, or that all the sources say the same thing, or that the topic isn’t as interesting as you thought. To avoid these pitfalls, this assignment will give you a little preview of how the project will go and give your instructor enough information to guide you toward successful discovery.

 

·         Complete the chart that presents your overall research question and the series of questions you will explore in relation to the main question. This chart can be found on the Writing Assignment Worksheet. Feel free to add as many additional squares as you like to the middle levels. In addition you may want to complete more than one chart if you are considering more than one topic or more than one direction in the same topic.

 

Writing Assignment Worksheet     Is attached below

 

EXAMPLE   

 

Topic	Video Games
Main (General) Discovery Question	Does playing violent video games lead to violent behavior?
Focused Discovery Questions	Which video games are considered violent?		How do psychologists study the relationship between violent behavior and influences?		What is violent behavior?
Specific Discovery Questions	What kind of violence is portrayed in these games?	Which demographic purchases or plays this game?	What studies have been done on this subject?	How can psychologists be sure that violence they observe is actually caused by games?	Is the violent behavior anything to be concerned about, or is it minor violence?	Are the violent behaviors exhibited immediately, or are they long term?
Follow up Question	What could/should be done about this if it really is a problem?

 

·         Complete at least five "Research Source Cards" from your Writing Assignment Worksheet (beginning on page 3) on your chosen topic. Source cards will be used to create your Works Cited page and help you assess how successful your research will be. Create as many source cards as you like over five.

 

 

 

6.      Now that the discovery process is nearly over, it is time to share the wealth. If you are interested in your topic, then others are going to want to know what you discovered. You are compelled in this age of information to carry the torch of knowledge forward for the benefit of others. In other words, you need to present your knowledge in a way that is compelling and appealing. Professional researchers present their findings in these ways:

 

·         Submitting a written report that is published internally (to the company that paid for the research) or in professional publications.

 

·         Delivering the report orally at a conference of others interested in the topic. These presentations may include visual props, demonstrations, or a PowerPoint presentation.

 

·         Posting findings to a web forum on the topic. Postings include visual aids and concise text in compelling layout.

 

Now it’s your turn to take up your torch of knowledge and let it shine brightly by:

 

·         Selecting a professional presentation method from the list below and organizing your information into ONE of these formats:

 

1.      Written Report. Students follow these guidelines:

 

1.       Length 5-7 pages (1200-1800 words)

 

2.       MLA formatting

 

3.       Works Cited page/Parenthetical citations

 

4.       Embedded quotations

 

5.       2-dimensional enhancements (photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc)

 

2.      Oral Report. Students follow these guidelines:

 

1.       PowerPoint slides 10-25

 

2.       Oral presentation length 5-7 minutes

 

3.       Verbal parenthetical citations

 

4.       Works Cited page (MLA formatting)

 

5.       2 or 3-dimensional enhancements (audio, video, photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc)

 

3.      Web Report.
Students follow these guidelines:

 

1.       1-3 linked web pages with text/media layout

 

2.       Works Cited page (MLA formatting) –hyperlinks to Internet sources

 

3.       Parenthetical citations

 

4.       2 or 3-dimensional enhancements (audio, video, photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc)2-dimensional enhancements (photos, charts, graphs, illustrations, maps, etc) –hyperlinked or embedded

 

5.       Submit the link to your web page for the assignment or attach HTML pages

 

·         Adding media enhancements to make your presentation interesting.

 

·         Using embedded quotations with MLA citations in your presentation (A minimum of 6 quotations).

 

·         Using paraphrased and summarized information with MLA citations.

 

·         Having a Works Cited Page that uses MLA formatting (At least 3 sources – 1 must be a primary source).

 

7.      Imagine yourself on a cold day alone in the house, waiting for the phone to ring. The snow coming down outside is fantastic, acting like a huge magnifying glass for your emotions. There is no way to capture this moment, no way to explain these feeling except with poetry.

 

·         Poetry starts with an emotion, an image, an event, or an impression. Imagine the moment you want to capture as a giant block of ice. The poem is beneath the shapelessness. Your job is to use the tools of sound, structure and figurative language to make the poem take shape so others can share that moment or feeling with you. Read the following directions.

 

What You Have Accomplished

 

What You Need to Accomplish

 

 

 

8.      Turn on your radio, iPod, or Zune. Check out a new band, buy a CD, or open a browser window to Pandora radio. Music is all around us. We love to listen to it, sing with it, and dance to it. All our memories can be tied back to songs that we played around the time of the event, and every couple has their song. Go ahead and listen to your favorite song. Chances are it has lyrics. Go online and look up those lyrics. What do they look like on the page?

 

You got it? Lyrics and songs are…(wait for it)…poetry.

 

Poetry is not just words on the page. Poetry is also meant to be an auditory experience, a feast for the ears (and mind). Now that you have written a poem and read some the poems from your peers, it's time to take your poetry to the next level. You get to make your words sing. For the following activity, either use the poem you wrote for the Poetic Justice Discussion or write a new one.

 

·    Read your poem out loud into a recording device.  Record it several different ways: use different tones of voice, experiment with the dynamics (getting louder and softer), play music behind your poem, or read at different tempos.  Be creative.

 

·    Find the auditory/vocal performance that best fits with the meaning of your poem.  Record it in Mp3 format.

 

·    Post the audio file to the Poetry in Motion Discussion.

 

9.      How many times have you watched American Idol? It has become one of the most popular shows in the country. Families tune in week after week to see how each of the performers evolve and improve. Imagine that you are one of the contestants, and the audio you submitted to the Poetry in Motion Discussion was your audition tape. You have been accepted as a contestant. The next performance you will do will be on the American Idol stage with millions of people tuned in. Here is your assignment:

 

·    Examine the reviews your peers provided in the Peer Review Discussion.

 

·    Revise your poem to make it stronger, more focused, more concise.  Carefully consider the structure, sound, and figurative language you have used to enhance your poem.

 

·    Listen to your “audition” recording to see what you did well and what you can improve.

 

·    Make a “performance” recording that really shows off your poem.  You can either audio or video record your performance.

 

·    Write a paragraph or two that describes your inspiration and why you decided to perform your poem the way you did.

 

10.  You are sitting at the biggest concert of the year with all your friends. This band is the music of your generation. You scan the crowd, and everyone is dressed like they shop at the same store. It is comforting to be part of a group, one of the crowd, embracing the mainstream culture. But sometimes you are sitting in the crowd, and you feel out of place. You want to be different. This too is part of the human condition. People who rebel against the mainstream culture and start their own traditions in music, art, and values, start what we call countercultures. For this activity you will enjoy discovering something about two or three countercultures that interest you. To do this:

 

1.      Select an author from one of the subcultures listed below (or another subculture you are aware of) and read/annotate one or more works by that author.

 

·         Beat generation (Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Creeley, Denise Levertov, Frank O'Hara)

 

·         Hippies (Richard Bach, Terrence McKenna, Hunter S. Thomson, Jim Morrison, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan)

 

·         Feminists (Joni Mitchell, Margaret Atwood, Joan Didion, Louise Erdrich, Erica Jong, Barbara Kingsolver)

 

·         Generation X (Douglas Copeland, Jay McInerny, Chuck Palahniuk )

 

·         Hip-hop (Tupac Shakur, Sister Souljah, LL Cool Jay, Queen Latifah, Beastie Boys

 

 

 

2.    Select an author from a different subculture listed above (or another subculture you are aware of) and read/annotate one or more works by that other author.

 

3.    (Optional) Select an author from a third subculture listed above (or another subculture you are aware of) and read/annotate one or more works by that author.

 

4.    Using this Venn graphic organizer , outline the similarities and differences between the subcultures based on what the literature tells you about them. List details of one piece of literature on the left and the other on the right. In the middle, list the details common to both pieces of literature. List at least 12 points of contrast and at least 6 points of comparison on your diagram. Consider carefully:

 

•Imagery

 

•Symbolism

 

•Tone/attitude

 

•Subject

 

•Themes

 

•Settings

 

•Conflicts

 

•Comparisons

 

•Descriptions of characters

 

•Plot events

 

 

 

·         In a paragraph or two, draw conclusions about how literature defines any culture (or in this case counterculture). What tools do authors have that make them able to portray the essence of their culture?

 

·         Create a Works Cited page using MLA format that lists your sources.

 

 

 

11.   Open your favorite magazine or web magazine: Spin, Sports Illustrated, Ebony, Rolling Stone, Us, Seventeen. Which celebrity is being interviewed in the latest issue? Turn on the television to a crime drama: CSI, Law and Order, or NCIS. See if you notice the cops or lawyers interviewing witnesses and suspects. Even the Internet offers its version of the interview with IM and Chat rooms.

 

 

 

Interviews are a primary source that provides a unique perspective and level of interaction that other research lacks. Conducting a good interview is not as easy as it looks, though, which is why good interviewers make a lot of money. What those people know is that the secret to a good interview is in the preparation. In this activity, you are going to go face to face with someone in your life who is part of a unique subculture. Your goal is to focus the interview so you can dig up all the dirt you can on their subculture, using all you have learned about the aspects of cultures and subcultures.

 

 

 

First, find someone interesting who represents a subculture.

 

 

 

Once you have an interview subject in mind, follow these steps for preparing an interview

 

 

 

·         Research the subject you will discuss and the person you will interview to get background for your interview (use your background knowledge, the Internet, the library, and your personal contacts to fill you in on your subject. What can you find out on your own about this subculture?) Keep notes and source cards so you can create a report later.

 

·         The name of the person and subculture (subject) of your interview.

 

·         A list of 10 facts (your interview subject may not agree with these) about the subculture from your research (not fro