The Alchemist

As a wrap up to our reading and discussion of The Alchemist, as well as to meet a portfolio requirement, please reflect on the following:


An allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. 


How does The Alchemist fit that description and what hidden meaning might the text revel to its reader? Please back up your reasoning with evidence from the text.  


This should be a minimum of one page in length and contain at least 3 references to the text. Due next class.  

NY Times Article: Putting Your Best Cyberface Forward

People intentionally or unintentionally craft online personalities to communicate a specific message about themselves. I'd like you to start thinking about these issues in general, both online and in the "real world," since we take in information about one another constantly, no matter how the information is conveyed to us.

Please respond to all four questions and then to two of your peers' responses. As always, keep your language and ideas academic in nature!  Each student should have a total of 6 responses by the end of our lab period.

1. How important is a first impression?  Explain.
2. How much can you really tell about a person based on first impressions? Is it accurate?
3. Is it legitimate or fair to use your first impression, whether online or in real life, to make decisions about a person without knowing him/her?
4. Analyze one famous person-- a celebrity, a politician, a sports figure, etc-- discuss your impression of them, what gives you that impression and why.

NY Times Article: Putting Your Best Cyberface Forward

Introductions and Conclusions

Write two different introductory paragraphs for your essay, each one featuring a different method from the handout in class. When you are done, please also write two different conclusions for a total of four posts.

Paragraphs should be 4-6 sentence long.

October Assignment Schedule

October 5
Brainstorming session for Essay 1: Do your clothes reflect who you are?

Homework:
Essay 1, Draft 1 Due Tuesday, October 12 (In print and via email)
Read to page 47 in The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please)

October 7
Discussion: Playing At Sexy- In class group discussion and
Blogged Discussion of text

Homework:
Finish any blogging
Essay 1, Draft 1 Due Tuesday, October 12 (In print and via email)
Read to page 47 in The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please) for Oct 12

October 12
Discussion of The Alchemist
Writer's Workshop in class revision session of student essay 1

Homework:
Read next section of The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please) for Oct 19
Work on essay draft 2 due October 19

October 14
Writer's workshop of student essay 2
Lab: rewrite the intro and conclusion of your essay and post on blog

Homework:
Finish Blog assignment

Read next section of The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please) for Oct 19

Work on essay draft 2 due October 19


October 19
Discussion of The Alchemist
Critical reading and discussion: DNA Tells Students They Aren't Who They Thought

Homework:
Read next section of The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please) for Oct 26

October 21
Critical reading and discussion: Putting Your Best Cyberface Forward
Blogged discussion of Putting Your Best Cyberface Forward

Homework:

Read next section of The Alchemist + 2 TSR Journals and Discussion Questions (standard, word processed submission format, please) for Oct 26

October 26
The Alchemist discussion
Practice Placement Exam: Reading portion

Homework: 
None for Thursday

October 28
Final discussion of the Alchemist
Lab: Reflection + Revision of essay if time allows

Homework:
Revisions of essay 1-- submit all drafts (1,2,3) due Thursday
Reflection on The Alchemist, due Tuesday

Link to Single Ladies Video featuring Girls Dance Troupe


Answer the following questions based on the reading, Playing at Sexy in 4-6 sentences and then respond to 2 of your peers for a total of 6 posts.

1. Pick out one quote that was significant to you. Explain it and why it was significant.
2. What biases did you have, for or against the subject, while reading this text? When did you become aware of it and did it hinder your evaluating the text in an objective way?
3. What ideas were you unfamiliar with from the text and how did you approach that information?
4. Pose one question you have about the text. Then, attempt to answer someone else's question.