E-BAND: "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

JD Salinger published "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in 1948, just after he came back from fighting in WWII. In Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim admits himself into a mental hospital for WWII veterans in 1948, right after he proposes to Valencia. 

In your blog post, please consider connections between these two works of literature. Start with a specific observation and then connect your passage to themes in both works, such as: innocence, PTSD, role of the media, depiction of female characters, glorification of war, hyper-masculinity and war, etc. 

You can:
- Choose a specific line and ask a genuine question about it. Try to answer your own question and pose it to the class to consider. 
- Choose a specific passage and state what you believe to be its significance.
- Ask a question about something that Salinger DOES in his writing, such as: Why do you think Salinger begins his story, a story whose protagonist is Seymour Glass, with a description of Seymour's wife, Muriel? Try to answer your own question. 

Remember: 
- Respond to someone else's post. Deepen the thinking, add a new idea, disagree, add textual evidence, make a new connection, etc.
- Your comment should be 5-7 sentences long-- - Use textual evidence as much as possible. 

Have a happy holiday!

B-BAND: "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

JD Salinger published "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in 1948, just after he came back from fighting in WWII. In Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim admits himself into a mental hospital for WWII veterans in 1948, right after he proposes to Valencia. 

In your blog post, please consider connections between these two works of literature. Start with a specific observation and then connect your passage to themes in both works, such as: innocence, PTSD, role of the media, depiction of female characters, glorification of war, hyper-masculinity and war, etc. 

You can:
- Choose a specific line and ask a genuine question about it. Try to answer your own question and pose it to the class to consider. 
- Choose a specific passage and state what you believe to be its significance.
- Ask a question about something that Salinger DOES in his writing, such as: Why do you think Salinger begins his story, a story whose protagonist is Seymour Glass, with a description of Seymour's wife, Muriel? Try to answer your own question. 

Remember: 
- Respond to someone else's post. Deepen the thinking, add a new idea, disagree, add textual evidence, make a new connection, etc.
- Your comment should be 5-7 sentences long-- - Use textual evidence as much as possible. 

Have a happy holiday!

A-BAND: "A Perfect Day for Bananafish"

JD Salinger published "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" in 1948, just after he came back from fighting in WWII. In Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five, Billy Pilgrim admits himself into a mental hospital for WWII veterans in 1948, right after he proposes to Valencia. 

In your blog post, please consider connections between these two works of literature. Start with a specific observation and then connect your passage to themes in both works, such as: innocence, PTSD, role of the media, depiction of female characters, glorification of war, hyper-masculinity and war, etc. 

You can:
- Choose a specific line and ask a genuine question about it. Try to answer your own question and pose it to the class to consider. 
- Choose a specific passage and state what you believe to be its significance.
- Ask a question about something that Salinger DOES in his writing, such as: Why do you think Salinger begins his story, a story whose protagonist is Seymour Glass, with a description of Seymour's wife, Muriel? Try to answer your own question. 

Remember: 
- Respond to someone else's post. Deepen the thinking, add a new idea, disagree, add textual evidence, make a new connection, etc.
- Your comment should be 5-7 sentences long-- - Use textual evidence as much as possible. 

Have a happy holiday!

E-BAND: SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE CHAPTER 2

Well hello there, old friend! The blog is back. For this post, please:

1) Read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 2, and then choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you. Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it.

2) Then, either:

- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. OR--

- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for the novel?

Some reminders:

- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment.

- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment.

- Make sure that you comment under your band

- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss.

- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going!

- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message.

- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people!

B-BAND: SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE CHAPTER 2

Well hello there, old friend! The blog is back. For this post, please:

1) Read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 2, and then choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you. Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it.

2) Then, either:

- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. OR--

- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for the novel?

Some reminders:

- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment.

- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment.

- Make sure that you comment under your band

- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss.

- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going!

- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message.

- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people!

A-BAND: SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE CHAPTER 2

Well hello there, old friend! The blog is back. For this post, please:

1) Read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 2, and then choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you. Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it.

2) Then, either:

- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. OR--

- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for the novel?

Some reminders:

- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment.

- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment.

- Make sure that you comment under your band

- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss.

- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going!

- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message.

- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people!

A-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 171-195

** Make sure that as a group, you've discussed passages towards the end of the reading, and not just the initial pages. 

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

B-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 171-195

** You can also choose a passage from our prior reading assignment that we didn't get a chance to discuss in class, like about Soul Scrolls or Ofglen, for example, but make sure that as a group, you've also looked at passages towards the end of the reading. 

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

E-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale p. 151-195

** You can choose a passage from p. 151-195, but make sure that as a group, you've reached towards the end of the reading, too!

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

B-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 17-40 (up to Waiting Room)

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

A-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 17-40 (up to Waiting Room)

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

E-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 17-40 (up to Waiting Room)

1) Choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you.Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. 
OR--
- Make a connection to the news/your own life/another text as a means to dig deeper into the meaning of a passage 
OR--  
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for your initial understanding of the speaker and the world that she lives in?  

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going.
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class so that I can read them ahead of time. Let's get this done at a reasonable hour, people! 

Format: 
"......" (17). 

Response: 

G-BAND: Slaughterhouse-Five Chapter 4

Well hello there, old friend! The blog is back. For this post, please: 

1) Read Chapter 4 and choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you. Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. OR--
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for the novel? 

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going! 
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class. Let's get this done at a more reasonable hour, people! 

B-BAND: Slaughterhouse-Five Chapter 4

Well hello there, old friend! The blog is back. For this post, please: 

1) Read Chapter 4 and choose a passage that stands out to you/intrigues you/confuses you. Type up the passage, in its entirety, and cite it. 

2) Then, either: 
- Ask a question and work through your confusion in a thorough response. Call on your classmates to also engage with this passage and unpack it together. OR--
- Look at specific language/literary devices/tools and write a response in which you examine the EFFECT of these devices. What do these observations that you've made DO for the novel? 

Some reminders: 
- Make sure that you BOTH create your own comment and also respond to a classmate's comment. 
- Sign in using your full name so that your first and last name appear next to your comment. 
- Make sure that you comment under your band
- Don't repeat classmates' passages. If someone has already used yours, then respond to it directly and choose another. There's plenty to discuss. 
- Your comment should be at least 5-7 sentences or longer. Your reply to a classmate should be a thorough reply that pushes the conversation forward by asking follow-up questions and/or making connections to other parts of novel or other works. The use of textual evidence in a response is a great way to keep the conversation going! 
- Please use appropriate grammar/punctuation. This is NOT a text message. 
- Blog posts are due by 10pm the night before class. Let's get this done at a more reasonable hour, people! 

G-Band: Volume Two (Chapters 8 & 9) -Volume Three (Chapters 1-3)

** Possible questions to consider: What makes us "monsters"? Does the creature deserve a companion? Is the creature's anger justified? What about his murders? 

Choose a line/passage, quote it, and then either ask a question and thoroughly answer your own question OR discuss why you chose that particular quotation, explaining why it stood out to you. 

Look carefully at language/devices and try to connect your observations to a big idea from the novel (justice, what it means to be human, how people become "monsters," impact of nature, society's notion of normal, loneliness/abandonment, etc) to deepen your analysis. 

Do not repeat a classmate's quotation. If that line intrigues you, just respond to their comment and choose your own, new passage to comment on. YOU MUST RESPOND TO A CLASSMATE. 

G-BAND: FRANKENSTEIN VOLUME TWO, CHAPTERS 1-3

Choose a line/passage, quote it, and then either ask a question and thoroughly answer your own question OR discuss why you chose that particular quotation, explaining why it stood out to you. 

Look carefully at language/devices and try to connect your observations to a big idea from the novel (justice, what it means to be human, how people become "monsters," impact of nature, society's notion of normal, loneliness/abandonment, etc) to deepen your analysis. 

Possible questions to consider: What strikes you about the creature's perspective? What strikes you about Frankenstein's emotional state/his interaction with the creature? 

Do not repeat a classmate's quotation. If that line intrigues you, just respond to their comment and choose your own, new passage to comment on. 

B-BAND: FRANKENSTEIN VOLUME TWO, CHAPTERS 1-3

Choose a line/passage, quote it, and then either ask a question and thoroughly answer your own question OR discuss why you chose that particular quotation, explaining why it stood out to you. 

Look carefully at language/devices and try to connect your observations to a big idea from the novel (justice, what it means to be human, how people become "monsters," impact of nature, society's notion of normal, loneliness/abandonment, etc) to deepen your analysis. 

Possible questions to consider: What strikes you about the creature's perspective? What strikes you about Frankenstein's emotional state/his interaction with the creature? 

Do not repeat a classmate's quotation. If that line intrigues you, just respond to their comment and choose your own, new passage to comment on. 

G-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 164-195

For tonight's blog, please choose a line from the text, quote it (with the page number), and then ask a feminist critic question based off of this line. Then, try to answer your own question. Dig deep. Perhaps try out a couple of potential answers. Perhaps, in your answer, provide a piece of textual evidence from earlier in the novel. YOU MUST ALSO RESPOND TO A CLASSMATE'S QUESTION. 

Example: 
"It pleased me that she was willing to lie for me, even in such a small thing, even for her own advantage. It was a link between us" (152). 

Question: Why is Cora and Offred's moment of secret solidarity so rare? What does this moment of "sisterhood" DO for these women who are all being oppressed? What does this exchange suggest about Atwood's larger message about the ability for "sisterhood" as a means of resisting patriarchy?

Answer: Answer your own question! Even if you're not sure, posit various responses-- "maybe..." or "perhaps...." Make connections to other passages/moments in the novel to try to answer your own question. 

B-BAND: The Handmaid's Tale pp. 164-195

For tonight's blog, please choose a line from the text, quote it (with the page number), and then ask a feminist critic question based off of this line. Then, try to answer your own question. Dig deep. Perhaps try out a couple of potential answers. Perhaps, in your answer, provide a piece of textual evidence from earlier in the novel. YOU MUST ALSO RESPOND TO A CLASSMATE'S QUESTION. 

Example: 
"It pleased me that she was willing to lie for me, even in such a small thing, even for her own advantage. It was a link between us" (152). 

Question: Why is Cora and Offred's moment of secret solidarity so rare? What does this moment of "sisterhood" DO for these women who are all being oppressed? What does this exchange suggest about Atwood's larger message about the ability for "sisterhood" as a means of resisting patriarchy?

Answer: Answer your own question! Even if you're not sure, posit various responses-- "maybe..." or "perhaps...." Make connections to other passages/moments in the novel to try to answer your own question. 

G-BAND: HANDMAID'S TALE (pp. 79-106)

What stands out to you from your reading? Choose a passage and explain why it seems significant to you. Work from places of confusion-- perhaps choose some lines that you don't quite understand and explore them. Perhaps you ask a question and try to answer it. You can also just respond to a passage, explaining why it stands out to you and what it reveals about a character, conflict or big idea. 

Either way, make sure that you respond to someone else and do not repeat passages! Agree or disagree, but make sure that you add something new-- a new idea, a reference to another part of the book. Include textual evidence as you push the conversation forward.

Format: 

"...." (#).

Response: