ENGL 105: Assignment for Class #2, Aug 24

Begin keeping a reading journal that you write in before each class. Your first entry will be for: Class #2, 24 Aug 2005. You can type your journal entries or write them longhand. It doesn't matter to me, so long as you bring a hard copy to class. I want you to have your writing on hand for reference during our class discussions. If you don't type, write legibly (do as I say, not as I do, right) so you can reread this material at a later date.

Your entries don't need to be polished, so don't worry too much about grammar and spelling. Of course, these aspects of your writing are important, but for your journal entries they needn't be a major concern. The point of these journals iis for you to get your initial thoughts and responses down on paper in rough form. I guarantee that doing so will improve your thinking, enhance your appreciation of the readings, and your improve your performance in this class.

Here's what you're to include in your first journal entry:

1. Quote(s) of the Day
a. Type or write our a quote from each of our three main readings (Poe's "Berenice" and "The Premature Burial" and the first chapter, "What's Real?" from Culture and the Real).
b. Then, comment briefly on each of the quotes. You might explain why you selected the quote, try to paraphrase it in your own words, or use it as a springboard for your own reflections.

2. Word of the Day
a. Pick one unfamiliar word from any of the day's readings. Write down the sentence in which it is used.
b. Then, look the word up in the dictionary and write down the definition that seems most applicable.

3. Short Answer
Write a concise (4-5 well-crafted sentences should suffice, though you're free to write as much as you wish) summary or gloss of Poe's story "The Premature Burial." In your account, comment on the uncanny elements in Poe's tale. You might use one of Belsey's short glosses on a film (Last Action Hero, eXitstenZ,The Purple Rose of Cairo, etc.) or a novel (Julian Barnes' England, England) as a model.

The Brief Reviews database in the Movie section of the Chicago Reader may also provide you with some useful models for your writing. It takes practice to be able to concisely encapsulate a complicated narrative in a few sentences. I highly recommend reviews by the critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. If nothing else, you might get some ideas for films to rent the next time you have a free evening.

4. Question Write down one question raised by any of our readings that you would like to see addressed in class.