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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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ENG 102

Hight

IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM

(SCHEDULED FOR 12/16/17)

This last assignment will be an interpretation and critical analysis of the short story, “The Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin. Please answer the following questions:

What is Louise Mallard’s state of mind in the hour after she learns of her husband’s death? Does she struggle with any sense of guilt or confusion about her elation over finally being free? Does she feel any genuine feelings of grief over her husband’s death in spite her realization that she would “live for herself”? Finally, why does her “monstrous joy” of sudden freedom overwhelm everything else inside her? Please demonstrate what parts of the text best supports your response to the questions above.

As she stares out the window, Mrs. Mallard notes that “the tops of tress were all aquiver with the new spring life…the notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, countless sparrows were twittering…there were patches of blue sky showing here and there.” In addition, she realizes that “there was something coming for her and she was waiting for it…but she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air.” What is the metaphor that the view, as described above, represents? Why? What is coming for Mrs. Mallard? How does the description in the quotes above best support your interpretation?

At the end of the story, when she opens the door to face her sister, Mrs. Mallard “carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory.” What does that line mean? What is the subtext or deeper meaning to this line? Why? At the very end Mrs. Mallard dies “of joy that kills.” What does that line mean? What is the subtext or deeper meaning to this line? Why?

You do not have to worry about an introduction or conclusion. I am only interested in how well you analyze. For this assignment, you have to write at least three paragraphs (at least one paragraph per set of questions) that explain your response to the questions above. Make sure you defend your response with specific reasons. For the first set of questions, you can quote from the text and explain how your quote(s) best support your response. For the second and third set of questions, you just need to analyze the quotes provided. There is one more important requirement: you cannot bring anything pre-written (no full sentences or paragraphs). I want you to write your response during the in-class final.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

A green examination book will be required. You can either purchase this book at the bookstore on campus, or you can buy it from various vending machines on campus. I will only accept black or blue ink. You can either print or write in cursive as long as your writing is legible. Please be aware that this essay must be hand-written.

Please write your name, my name, English 102, and the due date in the upper left-hand corner of the essay.

You should bring your textbook to class so that you can refer to the text as you write your response to the questions. If you don’t have the textbook, I can provide a copy of the story for you. Cell phone use will not be allowed during this final exam. I will provide a dictionary if you need one.

This final exam is scheduled for December 16th. You will have the entire class period to complete this in-class assignment.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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Please bring your copy of the Seagull Reader: Stories to class this coming Saturday (12/9). I will prepare you for the final exam.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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Please read the story, “The Veldt,” by Ray Bradbury (you can download a pdf of this story here: http://mrjost.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/8/12884680/the_veldt.pdf). We will discuss this story on Saturday, 12/2, and I will hand out a sample research paper based on it.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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Interesting Podcast

If you are interested, I’ve posted the link to the Radiolab podcast called “Breaking News”: http://www.radiolab.org/story/breaking-news/. It’s a really interesting podcast, and you might find it to be a useful outside source to incorporate into your research paper.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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ENG 102

Hight

THE RESEARCH PAPER

(DUE 12/16/17)

Once you have finalized your thesis for your research paper, you will then go on to write a research-based paper that proves your thesis. However, you must also analyze the metaphors, subtext, and psychological makeup of the characters in Brave New World. In addition, you should quote from the beginning, middle, and end of the novel when you analyze the metaphors, subtext, etc. Furthermore, your literary analysis of the metaphors, subtext, etc. of characters must be applied to the outside research you incorporate into your paper. For example, how does the metaphorical references to insects highlight and reinforce the principles of Social Darwinism? How do the psychological conditioning of the characters support Andrew Sullivan's argument about “narrowcasting”?

Your research paper will be similar to the model papers that I have provided. You may have noticed that the sample papers use outside sources to explain certain theories and then apply these theories to the analysis of metaphor, subtext, and psychology. Only your research paper will do the same thing on a larger scale.

Outside Sources:

Like the other essays, you will be writing an academic essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion, but because this is a research paper, you will need to incorporate several outside sources (books, magazines, websites, etc.) into your paper. This means that you need to quote or paraphrase certain passages from your sources and write them into your body paragraphs. Your sources will be your evidence that will defend your argument (thesis statement). As with any paper using outside sources, you will have to cite every source using the MLA (Modern Language Association) format, the 8th edition in particular.

In the case of the research paper for this class, you will be required to cite from at least four to five outside sources. You can use physical sources such as “flesh and blood” books or magazines. However, all of your sources can electronic sources such as ebooks and so forth. You will also be required to make citations in the text of your body paragraphs as well as attach a “Works Cited” page at the end of your paper.

When it comes to in-text citation, I prefer direct quotes because there is no confusion between what is an outside quote and what is your own writing. Paraphrasing is acceptable, but I strongly dislike summarizing outside sources; the delineation between what are outside sources and what are your own words is too hazy and confusing in regards to summarizing. The rule of thumb regarding in-text citation is use citation when in doubt.

There is one more important thing to keep in mind. I do not like long quotes (outside sources). I consider long quotes to be quotes that are longer than four or five lines. If you do use long quotes, then you must contextualize and/or explain everything in that quote. I find that long quotes fill up space rather than help make a convincing argument.

If you have any questions about MLA citation format, 8th edition, you can always check the rules at the library, which has the latest books on MLA formatting. I will always try to help you if you have any questions regarding MLA citation, but the library has information about all kinds of formatting and citation rules.

I encourage you to research and incorporate various types of evidence and information, and because I may not be familiar with the latest trends in scientific advances or even popular memes, you will have to explain these things to me before you apply them to your literary analysis of Brave New World. Therefore, you need to find credible sources that best explain these trends. You should also look for and incorporate more traditional types of evidence, for instance, studies published in peer-review journals. Expert testimony and numerical data such as statistics might also be helpful in your research paper as long as you can apply and contextualize them to your literary analysis to prove your thesis.

As with your other essay assignments, I encourage you to come up with your own interpretation of Brave New World. Of course, you can take what we have discussed in class and put what you have discovered into your research paper. However, whether you take your inspiration from class discussion or take a different interpretation, your analysis must be convinicing in that it must make sense.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

The essay must be typed and double-spaced and the font should be no larger than a 12 point font. Please follow all MLA (8th edition) formatting rules, and please be aware that this essay must be in 3rd Person POV only.

The essay must be at least eight full pages plus one “Works Cited” page. This length requirement will be strictly enforced. If you turn in something less than eight full pages, at least 8% points will be deducted from your grade.

You must use at least four outside sources for your paper, and I really prefer electronic or online sources. If your sources from the Pierce library databases, then I will not questions the credibility of your sources. However, any online source directly taken from the internet will be closely examined, and they must be credible. Please follow MLA citation rules (8th edition). This includes both in-text citation (body paragraphs) and “Works Cited” page.

THIS RESEARCH PAPER WILL BE DUE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16TH. PLEASE REFER TO THE SYLLABUS FOR INFORMATION ON THE LATE PAPER POLICY ON THE RESEARCH PAPER. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I USUALLY TURN IN GRADES BY THE TUESDAY (12/19) AFTER THE LAST CLASS MEETING, WHICH IS 12/16.

ENG 102

Hight

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: WRITING AN INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR RESEARCH PAPER

(DUE 12/2/17)

You will be required to type up an introduction for your research paper. What you write and how you structure your introduction will be up to you. However, you do need to mention the novel's title, Brave New World, and the author, Aldous Huxley, in your introduction. Plus, you need to place your thesis statement at the end of your intro. Regarding your thesis statement, if I have approved your research proposal, then you might want to take the third paragraph from your proposal and transform it into a thesis statement. Please keep in mind that I do not like broad, vague, and generic thesis statements. Since this is an important assignment, you should write a thesis statement that really explains the complex relationship between the literary devices (metaphors, subtext, etc.) found in the novel and what theories and trends you have researched for this assignment.

If you want to, you can also add one or two body paragraphs, and I will find time during the next class session to give you some guidance. You will also need to provide a “Works Cited” page, so I can see what sources you are using.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 12/2):

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTERS 16 – 18 OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

Please answer the questions below, and please find details and examples in the text to support your answers to these questions.

1. Why is it that a society of Alphas could never succeed? What evidence is there of this?

2. In what way is their exile to an island actually a good thing for Bernard and Helmholtz?

3. What explanation does Mustapha Mond give for why the people of this society no longer need to believe in God? How does he explain humankind’s former need for and belief in God?

4. According to John, in what way are the people of this society are being “punished” for their “sins”? How does Mustapha respond to this argument? What arguments does Mustapha give against the value of endurance, self-denial, and chastity? Why are nobility and heroism outdated? What is “Violent Passion Surrogate,” and why do the people of this society need it?

5. What is the outcome of John and Mustapha’s discussion? What does Mustapha show John that he actually wants?

6. What is the symbolic significance of John’s chosen home—both its nature and its location? Why is the area so empty of people despite its beauty? What kind of life does he have planned for himself, and why? Discuss this in detail.

7. What happens to make John kill himself? Explain his decision

Work Cited

“Brave New World Study Questions – Camilla’s English Page.” www.camillasenglishpage.org/wp-content/.../Brave-New-World-Study-Questions.pdf. Accessed 18 Nov. 2017

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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ENG 102

Hight

RESEARCH PROPOSAL: NARROWING YOUR FOCUS

(DUE 11/18/17)

Your major writing assignment will be your research paper. Essentially, you will be required to compare certain elements in Brave New World and what is happening in today’s society. Please keep in mind that your paper has to be an argumentative paper. However, instead of writing about a controversial subject (i.e. gun control, legalization of marijuana, etc.), you will write something more along the lines of a cultural critique. Here are some ideas to get you going:

Science and Technology: how has the novel anticipated the advancements that people enjoy today? What parallels do you see between the technology that creates and controls the society of Brave New World and the technology that shapes people’s lives today? You can explore subject matter such as genetic engineering such as CRISPR, the emphasis on medication to manage mental illness, the research being done to slow down aging, and so forth.

Popular Culture and Entertainment: how has the novel anticipated the deeply ingrained desire for diversion and entertainment in today’s society? How has the constant need to be occupied with fluffy and trivial matters in the society of Brave New World predicted today’s society with its emphasis on social media, video streaming, and so forth? How are people similar to the characters that have been conditioned to work and then seek pleasure outside of work?

Psychology, Sociology, Biology, and So Forth: if you are so interested, you can apply theories from a couple of different disciplines and apply them to the novel. For example, what is social engineering? How is it similar to the way the inhabitants of Brave New World are conditioned? What about certain principles of psychology such as the pleasure principle or Jungian theory? Do you see accurate or distorted application of these ideas? There are also issues such as Social Darwinism. How does the society of Brave New World implement Social Darwinism and do you see any parallels between the society in the novel and society today?

Outside Sources:

In the case of the research paper for this class, you will be required to cite from at least four outside sources. You can use physical sources such as “flesh and blood” books or magazines. However, all of your sources can be electronic sources such as ebooks and so forth. You will also be required to make citations in the text of your body paragraphs as well as attach a “Works Cited” page at the end of your paper.

What you will write for this proposal:

Since this assignment is only about what you propose to write in your research paper, you will not be required to write a full essay. You only need to write three paragraphs. In the first paragraphs you need to focus on the novel. What ideas, controversies, issues, etc. that the novel brings up interest you? Why?

The second paragraphs should focus on what is happening today or on the various disciplines that you want to explore. For example, what have you learned about CRISPR or about the pharmaceutical industry and how it promotes its products? What sort of research is being done to promote longer, youthful lives? If you want to explore certain disciplines, then you need to explain what specific theories and their authors. For instance, you might want to explore Thornstein Veblen and his theories, which are important to the field of Sociology. Because you are writing about topics and issues based on research, you need to cite and follow Modern Language Assiociation (MLA) rules. How many sources you want to cite will be up to you, but since I will be truly ignorant about these topics and issues, you need credible outside sources that will help explain what you are going to write about.

The third paragraph will combine what you have written about in paragraphs one and two. I would like to see a comparison between what happens in the novel and what is happening today. I would like to see how the novel is still relevant today, and why people should pay attention to this novel because of what is happening today. You can treat this third paragraph as a comparison between the novel and what is going on right now, or you can write a cause and effect paragraph. How has the novel predicted and warned about where society has been heading?

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

This assignment must be typed and double-spaced and the font should be no larger than a 12 point font. Please follow all MLA (8th edition) formatting rules, and please be aware that this essay must be in 3rd Person POV only.

The assignment must be at least two full pages plus one “Works Cited” page..

You must use and cite outside sources for your proposal, and I really prefer electronic or online sources. If your sources from the Pierce library databases, then I will not questions the credibility of your sources. However, any online source directly taken from the internet will be closely examined, and they must be credible. Please follow MLA citation rules (8th edition). This includes both in-text citation (body paragraphs) and “Works Cited” page.

THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE DUE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. PLEASE REFER TO THE SYLLABUS FOR INFORMATION ON THE LATE PAPER POLICY.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/18):

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTERS 14 - 16 OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

Please answer the questions below, and please find details and examples in the text to support your answers to these questions.

1. Describe the Park Lane Hospital for the Dying what the atmosphere is like, who is sent there, the appearances, attitudes, and behavior of the people there. How is Linda spending her time in the hospital?

2. How does the nurse react to John’s distress, and why? What does the sentence “not that there were many visitors anyhow: or any reason why there should be many visitors” indicate? What does the term “second infancy” mean? What is the group of identical children doing in the hospital? What is the purpose of their visit, and what concerns does the nurse have about how John’s behavior will affect them?

3. What reaction does John have to the groups of identical workers waiting for their soma distribution, and why? What quality of this society is epitomized by them? How is his comparing them to maggots appropriate?

4. What do Miranda’s words come to mean to John (“O brave new world!”), and why does he appeal to the workers not to take the soma? What do the reactions of the Deputy Sub-Bursar and the workers indicate about why his effort is doomed to failure? According to John, in what way are the people of this society “slaves”? What does it mean to John “to be free and men”?

5. What reaction does Helmholtz have to the scene at the hospital, and why? What is ironic about his and Bernard’s use of expressions like “Ford helps those who help themselves” and “Ford be praised”?

6. Why is the Voice of Reason/Voice of Good Feeling described as speaking “from the depths of a non-existent heart”? What does the fact that even John and Helmholtz are affected by it say about human nature? (Their susceptibility reflects one of the major lessons of the novel.)

7. Describe Mustapha Mond. What is ironic about his being a World Controller, and how did he end up in this position? What did he give up in order to become a World Controller, and why? How does he treat these three “rebels” (John, Helmholtz, and Bernard) that is different from how they expected to be treated?

Work Cited

“Brave New World Study Questions – Camilla’s English Page.” www.camillasenglishpage.org/wp-content/.../Brave-New-World-Study-Questions.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov. 2017

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/11):

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTERS 9 - 13 OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

Please answer the questions below, and please find details and examples in the text to support your answers to these questions.

1. Describe and explain the reaction of the workers in the Decanting Room to Linda and John’s entrance. How does the Director react?

2. How does Linda react to being back in “civilization”? How does John feel about this, and what difference in values does this show? How is Bernard transformed as a result of his association with John? How is social status like soma to him? In what way are Bernard’s unorthodoxy and dissatisfaction with society more superficial than Helmholtz’s?

3. What signs of racism can be seen in this society? What qualities do the people of this society seem to associate dark skin with? Ironically, what Shakespeare character does John seem to identify with, and why?

4. Describe John’s complex reaction to Lenina. Why is she confused about his feelings? Why is he afraid that she will “cease to be something he could feel himself unworthy of”? How does his behavior Brave New World toward her affect her, and how does she seem to feel about him? What signs are there that Lenina is changing?

5. How do John and Helmholtz react to Bernard’s falling status, and how does this make Bernard feel? Describe the nature of his friendship with them. What reaction does Helmholtz have to his own “conflict with Authority”?

6. Describe Helmholtz’s reaction to Shakespeare. What does he admire about his work, and what does he dislike? What do you think he means when he says, “We need some other kind of madness and violence”?

7. After Fanny advises Lenina to go after John aggressively, where does she find the courage to follow her advice? What does this indicate about the character of people in this society? Why do you think the author includes the paragraph that begins “Twenty two years, eight months, and four days from that moment…”?

Work Cited

“Brave New World Study Questions – Camilla’s English Page.” www.camillasenglishpage.org/wp-content/.../Brave-New-World-Study-Questions.pdf. Accessed 4 Nov. 2017

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 11/4):

Please read chapters 5 - 8 in Brave New World and answer the questions below.

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTERS 5 – 8 OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

Please answer the questions below, and please find details and examples in the text to support your answers to these questions.

1. What is the function of the Solidarity Service? Discuss the various ways in which this purpose is accomplished (the various facets of the Service). Why do you think most of the attendees react so strongly to the Service? How does Bernard react, and why? What aspects of Christianity do you recognize in the Service, and why would these things have been preserved?

2. What do you think Bernard means when he speaks of wanting to be “free to be happy in some other way”? What does he mean when he says that he wants to “try the effect of arresting [his] impulses,” and how does that idea apply to his relationship with Lenina? What does he mean when he says that he wants to be an adult all the time—how are the people of this society “infants where feeling and desire are concerned”? What does Lenina’s reaction to Bernard’s unhappiness about their date show about her? (Refer to these lines near the end of Part 1: “Lenina felt all her triumph suddenly evaporate. Perhaps he had found her too plump, after all.”)

3. Why is talking about the “remote past” (probably anything more than a year before) a taboo? What do you think drives the Director to unconsciously violate this taboo? What do Bernard’s initial reaction to being reprimanded, his bragging to Helmholtz, and his reaction upon learning of his impending transfer to Iceland (Part 3) show about his character?

4. Why do you think the Reservations are maintained? What is shown about the people of this society by their attitude toward and treatment of the “savages”?

5. How does the novel suggest that the average person of this society would react to being exposed to images of nature such as the ocean and the night sky (recall Lenina’s reaction when Bernard makes her look at the ocean)? Why do you think they would react this way?

6. What things do Bernard and Lenina find disturbing about the Indians’ way of life and environment? Describe some of the scenes they witness.

7. What is the significance of the steady beat of the drums used in the Indians’ ritual—why do you think drums are found in so many cultures? What similarities are there between some aspects of the Indians’ way of life and the way people in the “brave new world” live? What does this say about human nature?

Work Cited

“Brave New World Study Questions – Camilla’s English Page.” www.camillasenglishpage.org/wp-content/.../Brave-New-World-Study-Questions.pdf. Accessed 20 October 2017

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/28):

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR CHAPTERS 1 – 4 OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

Please answer the questions below, and please find details and examples in the text to support your answers to these questions.

1. Why do you think Huxley opens the book with a tour of a “hatchery” instead of by introducing the main characters? How does the hatchery relate to the society of the “brave new world”?

2. Describe the way this society functions. In what ways is it different from our society (in terms of the people’s values, the way they live, the organization of society, etc.)? Why do you think the author chose Ford to be the “God” of this society?

3. What methods does this society employ to ensure social stability? What is the main goal of these methods?

4. Analyze the Director and Mr. Foster’s behavior toward Lenina (Chapter 3). What does it indicate about this society? Why is the Director called just “the Director” and not given a name—what effects does this have, and how does this relate to the author’s presentation of this society?

5. How would you describe the mood and the tone of the novel, and how does the author establish this mood and tone? How is it significant in terms of interpreting the novel? Contrast the way the characters speak and the setting’s atmosphere (mood) with what you can infer about the author’s attitude toward these things (tone). The first page should give you a good indication of how the reader is supposed to react to these descriptions of this futuristic society.

6. What does the narrator suggest is the source of Bernard’s self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with society? Describe Bernard’s friend Helmholtz. How are Helmholtz’s self-consciousness and dissatisfaction with society different from Bernard’s?

Work Cited

“Brave New World Study Questions – Camilla’s English Page.” www.camillasenglishpage.org/wp-content/.../Brave-New-World-Study-Questions.pdf. Accessed 20 October 2017

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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ENG 102

Hight

MIDTERM ESSAY: CONTRASTING THE METAPHORS BETWEEN “ROOT CELLAR” AND “AFTER DEATH”

(IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULED FOR 10/21/17)

For the midterm essay, you will be contrasting the metaphors between Theodore Roethke's “Root Cellar” and Christina Rossetti's “After Death.” In essence, you will explain what the specific metaphors in each poem mean and what larger message or theme do they express. Additionally, you have to highlight the differences—both the metaphors and the themes—between the two poems.

Since this midterm is going to be an in-class essay assignment, it requires an introduction, at least four body paragraphs, and a conclusion. As for the thesis statement, you should explain the larger message or theme the two poems express. Please be aware that I do not like broad, vague, and generic thesis statements, so you should not simply mention the topics—life and death, for example—in your thesis statements. What complex messages or themes about life and death does each poem convey? In other words, what is the relationship between life and death and why they are interconnected? Nonetheless, I want to emphasize that how you interpret the metaphors and themes is up to you, just as long as your analysis makes sense. In other words, you have to convince me that your unique interpretation is logical.

The body paragraphs should explain what the various metaphors mean and how they help create the theme. You should also demonstrate the differences between the metaphors and the themes. Like the previous essay assignments, the midterm is text-based analysis, so you need to incorporate quotes from each poem and then explain what the metaphors in the quotes mean. How you structure the contrast between the two poems will be up to you, just as long as I can clearly understand the contrast or difference. For instance, you can alternate between the two poems, or you can first focus on one and then on the other. In addition to your analysis of the metaphors in the two poems, you should make sure that your body paragraphs tie back to your thesis statement.

Because this is an in-class essay, you can bring an outline or any brainstorming notes to the midterm. However, you cannot bring anything that is fully written. That means you cannot bring in fully written sentences or paragraphs since you must write the entire essay during the class session on Saturday, 10/21. The only exception to this restriction is that you can have a fully written thesis statement.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

A green book is not required. You just need to bring in college-ruled lined paper. You can either write in cursive or print. However, you must use black or blue ink.

Please write, your name, my name, English 102, and the date of the midterm on the upper left-hand corner of your first page. You can title your midterm, but it is not required.

If you bring any outlines or notes to the midterm, you must attach them to the back of your midterm essay before turning it in.

Laptops, tablets, and cell phones are not allowed during the midterm.

The midterm essay is scheduled for Saturday, October 21st. You will have at least two full hours to complete your in-class essay.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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Anonymous Student

Professor Lisa Hight

English 102

12 October 2107

Small Women’s Work: Analyzing the Subtext in “Trifles”

The presumption of innocence is the bedrock of many democratic societies, for it insures that no individual is falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime he or she did not commit. The burden of proof falls on the shoulders of the prosecutors, the representatives of the state. They must gather strong evidence that goes beyond the shadow of doubt. Thus, criminal investigations must be based on empirical observation, research, and data. This process is the best insurance against any suggestion of corruption on the prosecutor’s part. However, any human endeavor is fraught with human error, and the legal system is no exception. Whether they are conscious of it or not, people can fall prey to their own unreliable subjectivity. Susan Glaspell’s one-act play, “Trifles,” explores the hidden assumptions about gender through the lens of a murder investigation. Unconscious bias about women’s capability in finding the truth and unspoken sympathy for the accused expose the method in which justice and rule of law can be thwarted, for if men only see women’s work as “trifling”, then they will remain silent about the truth.

Human beings, although they do not like to acknowledge this truth, are imperfect. While they possess great attributes like logic, humans are still victims of their irrational beliefs and feelings. Moreover, the more insidious kind of irrational behavior is what is now known as implicit bias. This bias “refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect [people’s] understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases, which encompass both favorable and unfavorable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness“ (”Understanding Implicit Bias”). The tragedy about implicit bias is that those who fall victims to their biases may never acknowledge their flaws, even if they spring from good intentions.

Though implicit bias has been put into the spotlight due to the recent police shootings in the United States, implicit bias plays a large role whenever human interaction is involved. Even if they are not fully conscious of it, the men in Glaspell’s play reveal a negative bias against their female counterparts. After Mrs. Peters takes notice of Mrs. Wright’s preserved fruit, the sheriff exclaims, “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (258). In addition, Mr. Hale responds, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (258). The subtext running underneath the men’s words demonstrate not only their patronizing attitudes about women, but also their opinions about feminine intellect. The sheriff’s reference to preserves and Hale’s comment about trifles emphasize the insignificant subject matter that fill Mrs. Hale’s and Mrs. Peters’ minds. In the men’s eyes, the women’s concerns are “cute” and slightly idiotic in the face of their important work. If the women possess such “small” minds, then they are incapable of understanding the big issues such as murder. Perhaps, this negative bias is the reason why the women choose to withhold their observations and the conclusions drawn from them. They intuit how the men will dismiss their work as another example of their obsession with “trifles.”

Nonetheless, the women are not totally innocent and succumb to their own biases. Mrs. Hale’s observation of Mrs. Wright’s stitching highlights her sympathetic bias towards the accused. Even when she sees evidence of a distress, something that points to Mr. Wright’s guilt, Mrs. Hale cannot help but intervene on her behalf. Pulling out Mrs. Wright’s stitches, Mrs. Hale explains, “Just pulling out a stitch or two that’s not sewed very good.” Bad sewing always made me fidgety” (262). The connotation of the “bad sewing” suggest chaos, and this chaos makes Mrs. Hale nervous. Thus, her “fidgety” feelings make her want to act. Her response to the chaos is to impose order on it. On the surface, Mrs. Hale’s decision shows how she is simply correcting Mrs. Wright’s “trifling” mistakes. However, her implicit bias compels her to cover up the accused’s guilt, so much so that Mrs. Peters sees how Mrs. Hale is tampering with evidence. This tampering also hints at the guilt that weighs down on Mrs. Hale. The “bad sewing” and her “fidgety” feelings also reflect her guilt over not visiting Mrs. Wright as often as she should. She, therefore, desires to pull out the guilt inside her.

If the women, particularly Mrs. Hale, show their own bias, they still have the mental capacity to find evidence and draw motive from it. Motive may not seem like hard proof of guilt, it shows the reason why a person chooses to engage in criminal conduct, and evidence of a motive, or evidence of the lack of a motive, may be considered by a jury (”Motive When Not an Element of Charged Crime”). Searching for Mrs. Wright’s items, Mrs. Peters discovers the bird cage. While puzzling over its presence in the Wright household, Mrs. Hale talks about the Wright house itself and mentions, “Maybe because it’s down in the hollow and you don’t see the road...it’s a lonesome place and always was” (263). She goes on to explain how Mr. Wright, the victim, was “like a raw wind that gets to the bone” (264). The connotative language lets the subtext emerge. The house’s location connotes not just isolation but also invisibility. The house literally and figuratively cuts Mrs. Wright from the rest of the world. Mrs. Hale’s mention of the “lonesome” house hints at the mental anguish that Mrs. Wright may have experienced. The house does not just make Mrs. Wright lonely, but it also punishes her by forcing her into solitary confinement. However, Mr. Wright also contributes to the accused’s tragic life. Comparing the man to a “raw wind,” Mrs. Hale conveys the man’s cold and hard personality. Additionally, his “raw” personality is so great that people can feel it in their bones as Mrs. Hale suggests. If he is the only source of companionship for Mrs. Wright, then the woman has never received any warmth from her spouse. When combining the two factors, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters arrive at a conclusion. The cold husband most likely killed the bird and in turn the wife killed him. Once again, the women demonstrate their “trifling” intellect

When the men return from their examination of the body, implicit bias come into play again. The county attorney addresses Mrs. Peter: “A sheriff’s wife is married to the law. Ever think of it that way, Mrs. Peters?” (267) The subtext contained in the attorney’s statement reveals an assumption and a slight threat. The law that the attorney refers holds several meanings. Mrs. Peters is married to the legal system. Therefore, she should be aligned with the rule of law and never betray her allegiance to the law by showing any sympathy towards the accused. On the other hand, she is also married to her husband who is the “law” of their household. The notion of Mrs. Peters as an independent individual with no connection to law enforcement or her husband must be unthinkable to men such as the county attorney and sheriff. The question posed to Mrs. Peters is merely rhetorical for in the attorney’s mind there only one answer: yes. She should never answer otherwise. Thus, the man reduces Mrs. Peters to a “trifling” status.

Indeed, the women can only communicate their thoughts in an oblique manner. When asked about Mrs. Wright’s quilt, Mrs. Peters responds, “We think she was going to--knot it” (265). While the men take the answer at its face value--that Mrs. Wright was literally knotting her quilt--Mrs. Peters cannot help but insinuate the results of the women’s investigation. Her statement contains the logical end-point of their empirical data. The knot connotes the noose that Mrs. Wright has created to murder her husband. Like a knot, a tight construction that holds fast, the women have come to the steadfast decision of Mrs. Wright’s guilt. Nevertheless, the question as to why they refuse to show their empirical evidence to the men remains. The answer lies in how the men view the women. They may very well see treat the stitching and the bird cage as trifling, things that don’t matter, especially if these items are the women’s discovery, for the women’s brains are too “trifling” to solve the case.

Glaspell’s drama uncovers how women will keep silent over the truth if men treat them as “trifles,” so implicit bias and subconscious sympathy will corrupt the rule of law and the pursuit of justice. Though many people want to deny it, the reality is that many men and women are still treated unjustly when they come before the law. More and more people are realizing the imprecision of forensics. Criminal Scene Investigation (CSI) has been distorted by television and films because most do not understand what really goes on. Techniques such as fingerprint identification and fiber analysis are based on human observation and identification. Anything based on human observation is subject to error and misinterpretation. Sadly, organizations like Project Innocence are vital since they use actual medical science--DNA evidence--to make sure that innocent people falsely imprisoned are set free.

Works Cited

Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles.” The Seagull Reader: Plays, edited by Joseph Kelley, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2015, pp. 263 - 268.

“Motive When Not an Element of Charged Crime.” https://www.nycourts.gov/judges/cji/1-General/CJI2d.Motive.pdf. Pdf file. Accessed 12 Oct. 2017

"Understanding Implicit Bias.” kirwaninstitute.osu, http://kirwaninstitute.osu.edu/research/understanding-implicit-bias/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2017.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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Please bring your copy of The Seagull Reader: Poems. We will be discussing the poems, Root Cellar by Theodore Roethke and Death by Christina Rossetti, in preparation for your in-class midterm, which is scheduled for Saturday, 10/21.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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ENG 102

Hight

ESSAY #3: ANALYZING SUBTEXT IN DRAMA

(DUE 10/14/17)

For your third essay assignment, you will be analyzing how the subtext in a play demonstrates the way characters deal with big issues like death. In this case, you will analyze the drama called “Wit” written by Margaret Edson.

To help you with your essay, you can use the discussion guide handed out in class. How do the characters, particularly Dr. Vivian Bearing and Dr. Jason Posner, use language and tone to not only establish the relationship between patient and doctor, but also how they use language and tone as a way to cope with Vivian's treatment? For example, how does the subtext in Vivian's dialogue help her prepare for her own demise? What sort of doctor does Dr. Jason become when he uses denotative and connotative language?

As for your thesis statement, it should explain how the subtext expresses the drama’s larger message or theme. I would like to emphasize that I do not like vague, basic, and generic thesis statements. Therefore, your thesis statement should capture the nature of Vivian's process of enduring and accepting her death. In addition, you should consider what the responsibilities doctors such as Dr. Jason or Dr. Kelekian need to bear beyond curing patients and providing basic sympathy. As always, your body paragraphs should connect to and support your thesis statement. In terms of essay structure, I would like you to mention the author and title in your introduction and put your thesis statement at the end of it. Like Essays #1 and #2, this assignment is text-based analysis, so you will have to quote the dialogue from the play and explain the subtext that each character conveys based on the quote, tying it to the larger theme. Furthermore, if you are so inclined, you can research and incorporate outside sources into your analysis of the play's subtext. For instance, you can research classic rhetorical devices such as pathos or bathos. Does Vivian's determination to never give in to bathos, for example, give her journey and death more dignity? Why or why not? Perhaps you are interested in researching metaphysical philosophy and applying your research to your analysis of “Wit.” However, I do not want you to research the biography of John Donne because I do not see how that will help you explain the play's subtext.

Though you are free to write about what has been discussed and what I bring up in this prompt as a basis for your thesis statement, I want to emphasize that you can interpret the protagonist or narrator in any way or fashion that you choose to do so. If your interpretation is not based on what we have discussed in class and if you see something different than what I or other classmates see, you are more than free to write about your unique take. However, you need to convince me that your interpretation of the subtext in “Wit” makes sense.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

This essay must be typed and double-spaced. In addition, you need to follow MLA formatting and citation rules. When incorporating information from any outside source, make sure that you correctly cite to acknowledge that you are using an outside source.

Please type your name, my name, English 102, and the due date on the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This essay must also have a title, and please be creative. DO NOT use “Wit” as the title of your essay.

The essay must be at least four to five pages. DO NOT “pad” the essay with large margins or large spaces between paragraphs. Otherwise, I will have to grade you down.

Because this is an academic essay, you must keep the entire essay in the 3RD PERSON POV (no “I”, “you”, or “we”).

The final (and only) draft of this essay is due Saturday, October 14th. Please note: I accept late papers. However, I will make a 3% deduction on the grade that the late paper receives.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

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HOMEWORK (DUE 10/7):

Please read “Wit” by Margaret Edson (pages 520 - 568 in The Seagull Reader: Plays), and answer the questions on the study guide.

ENG 102

Hight

STUDY GUIDE FOR “WIT” BY MARGARET EDSON

Please answer the questions below, and please keep in mind that your teacher does not understand broad and vague answers.

1. What is the significance of the story of The Runaway Bunny in this play?

2. Does Vivian have a dignified death? What would you change? What would you keep the same?

3. What is Jason’s fascination with cancer? In what ways is the study of cancer similar to Vivian’s study of Donne’s poetry? In what ways is it different?

4. Who is E.M. Ashford and what is her relationship to Vivian?

5. How does Susie feel about the treatment? How does Jason feel about the treatment?

6. What is Jason’s role at the hospital? What kind of doctor is he planning to be? Why does he resent his current academic requirement? Does he still resent it at the end of the play?

7. Why does Doctor Kelekian offer this aggressive treatment to Vivian? Why does Vivian choose to comply?

Work Cited

“Wit Topics for Discussion.” http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-wit/topicsfordiscussion.html#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 29 Sept. 2017.

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lhight-eng102-piercecollege · 7 years

Text

ENG 102

Hight

ESSAY #2: ANALYZING PROSE

(DUE 9/30/17)

For your second essay assignment, you will be analyzing how a short story reflects the psychological make-up of a protagonist or narrator. In this case, you will either analyze:

Rat Kiley from “Night Life” by Tim O’Brien

Clyde from “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” by Karen Russell

When analyzing your chosen story, you should explain what is going through the protagonist’s or narrator’s head. In addition, as you analyze his psychology, you should consider how it connects to the story’s larger message or theme. For example, what is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and how does Rat Kiley’s PTSD manifest? How does his survivor’s guilt and/or his psychological disconnect from his fellow soldiers point to the larger theme about the Vietnam War or the devastation of war in general? How can combat destroy a person without actually killing him, and is that worse than death itself? Why or why not?

If you are interested in analyzing the unreliable narrator from “Vampires in the Lemon Grove,” then you might want to examine identity and stereotypes. Does Clyde, the narrator, internalize humanity’s negative perception of the vampire? Does he try to repress his true self, his vampire self? In other words, is Clyde still confused about who and what he is after centuries of existence? Is that why he becomes passive-aggressive with his wife, Magreb?

As for your thesis statement, it should explain how the protagonist’s or narrator’s psychology expresses the story’s larger message or theme. I would like to emphasize that I do not like vague, basic, and generic thesis statements. Therefore, your thesis statement should capture the complex nature of either Rat Kiley or Clyde and his connection to the story’s complex theme. As always, your body paragraphs should connect to and support your thesis statement. In terms of essay structure, I would like you to mention the author and title in your introduction and put your thesis statement at the end of it. Like Essay #1, this assignment is text-based analysis, so you will have to quote from the story and explain Rat Kiley’s or Clyde’s psychology based on the quote and tie it to the larger theme. Furthermore, I would like you to research certain psychological terms and apply them to your analysis of Rat Kiley or Clyde. For instance, you can research projection, PTSD, repression, passive-aggressive behavior, and/or any other types of psychological behavior and apply what you have researched to either Rat Kiley or Clyde. Moreover, when using outside sources, you should follow MLA citation rules. More importantly, if your outside sources are not credible, your analysis will suffer.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Please type your name, my name, English 102, and the due date on the upper left-hand corner of the first page. This essay must also have a title, and please be creative. DO NOT use “Night Life” or “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” as the title of your essay.

The essay must be at least four pages. DO NOT “pad” the essay with large margins or large spaces between paragraphs. Otherwise, I will have to grade you down.

Because this is an academic essay, you must keep the entire essay in the 3RD PERSON POV (no “I”, “you”, or “we”).

The final (and only) draft of this essay is due Saturday, September 30th. Please note: I accept late papers. However, I will make a 3% deduction on the grade that the late paper receives.

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