Girl Interrupted, Online Discussion 2

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. One of the themes in Girl, Interrupted is the confusion of social nonconformity with insanity.

Please answer the following questions about the novel:

1. What evidence from the text suggests that some of the characters are choosing to "act out" as opposed to displaying symptoms of a mental disorder? What are the patients' goals in doing so?
2. What does the variety of characters and their problems say about the criteria for institutionalization?
3. How do the patients define themselves and one another? How do their diagnoses fit into that characterization?
4. In most settings, there appears to a heirarchy-- even in an institution. Who is at the top of that heirarchy and what determines one's status? What is Kaysen's status?

Girl, Interrupted Online Discussion 1

One of the overarching themes of the novel and a primary aspect of our first discussion of GI is the nature of sanity. I'd like you to consider the following questions in 5 well thought out posts of at least 6 sentences each.:

1. What does it mean to be sane and insane?
2. Who determines these definitions?
3. What effect does the presentation of case work materials have on you as the reader? Why does the author present that info?
4. How does information presented in the text affect your perception of the author's mental health? Give examples and analyze at least one quote to this affect.
5. Analyze one quote you found interesting or significant and expain its importance.

Girl, Interrupted & "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley: A Thoughtful Comparision

Check out the video for  "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley.  It features a Rorschach Test as a main element of the video's effects.  This is one of the tests given to Kaysen in her novel.

Note the imagery in the video and what it implies about the viewer who is watching as the ink blots transform themselves into shapes before his very eyes.  What is Barkley saying by his song/video?

After a few viewings, read the lyrics for "Crazy".  We will be doing a close reading of the novel and drawing parallels to the song itself as an assignment.


In addition, we will also be considering Barkey's question in regard to Kaysen's work-- does the information presented in the novel make Kaysen "crazy"?

November Assignment Schedule

November 2
Strong thesis statements
Transitional Words and Phrases
Review of PPT 1

Homework:
All drafts of essay 1 due Thursday

November 4
Melting Not: Intro to essay 2/brainstorming session
Essay 2:  Do you agree or disagree with the author that similar cultures are important to a healthy and long lasting relationship? 

Homework:
Essay 2 Draft 1 due Tuesday. Please underline your thesis statement!
Read Girl, Interrupted to pg 47 for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions

November 9
Writer's workshop critique
Reading PP Test

Homework:
Read Girl, Interrupted to pg 47 for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions

November 11
Discussion of Girl, Interrupted
Online discussion of text

Homework:
Finish blogged online discussion
Read next part of Girl, Interrupted for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions

November 16
Writer's workshop critique of essay 2

Homework:
Read next part of Girl, Interrupted for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions
Draft 2 of essay 2 due Tuesday

November 18
Novel discussion

November 23
Titling Your Essay
Practice Placement Test: Reading

November 25
No Class: Thanksgiving

November 30
Practice Placement Test: Writing

Homework:
Finish Girl, Interrupted + TSR journals for next class

December 2
Discussion of GI
Lab: Independant work on next essay

Homework:
Essay 3 due Tuesday

December 7
FINAL EXAM 9 am SHARP!
Don't be late!

December 9
Lyrics Assignment due

Girl, Interrupted

Basic English 2: Novel- Girl, Interrupted

We will begin our discussion of Girl, Interrupted on November 11th.  Discussions will take place one week apart.  Here is our reading schedule:

• November 11:  Pgs 5-47           
• November 18: Pgs 48-105
• December 2: Pgs 107-end 

In order to actively participate in the discussion, you will take note of any questions you have while reading and then prepare them for class where you will offer them to the group for analysis.  These should be typed and prepared ahead of time as a for credit assignment.

*** NOTE: These questions do NOT have to be answered, they are for our discussion.  This is to encourage you to ask things you are unclear about and interact with your text in a meaningful way.


Here is an example of a well-constructed question:  

• Why did the narrator question her reality after being institutionalized but not before?

·     

or should be something you did not understand about the novel or circumstances in the novel, for example:

•    How can they just institutionalize a person against her will?

 Questions should not be asked for the sake of fulfilling the assignment but should have merit for discussion or to clarify a point about the reading.  An example of a poorly constructed question would be: 

•  What is the narrator's name?

or points that are clearly stated in the text, making the question useless:

•       What type of place was the narrator locked up in?