Sunday, March 23, 2008

Welcome!

To begin, click on the title of this post ("Welcome!" above) and read the directions that appear as a comment in the resulting page. These comments will guide you as you compose and submit your discussion comments.

You may need to enable pop-ups on your Web browser in order to view this Website (http://clemsonuscupstate.blogspot.com/).

When you are ready to submit your comments, return to this page, then go to the section for your designated group, and click there. You are organized by your first name and last name initial, as well as your section number, ex: "First L.(??)."

Please direct all questions regarding your procedure to your instructor.

Thank you for your participation in this activity. Good luck, and have fun!

Joey

1 comment:

JShoe said...

Please read the complete directions below before you write and post your discussion comments.

We believe this blog comment exchange will increase your understanding of persuasive rhetoric, poetic/artistic expression regarding pertinent world issues, and the various ways readers in differing contexts come to understand and appreciate poems.


Project Overview

We are reading various song lyrics (poems) about the Vietnam War era from differing perspectives. Some selections will be obviously pro-/anti-war, while others may serve as a simple social commentary on the various movements of the 1960’s (Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, etc.). You’ll be corresponding with small groups of students and will be able to read each other’s comments and respond to them.

When asked to identify yourself for posting your letters as comments on the blog, select “Other” and provide either your full name or your first name with last initial plus your class section number (for example, “Pat Smart, 19” or “Maria L., 34”). You do not need to provide a webpage or any additional information. You do not have to log in to Blogger.com to post here, but you must "sign" your posts by providing your name and section number at the bottom of your posts to receive credit for your comments.

Please address your messages to each other as informal "letters" with an appropriate greeting and closing–-whatever feels comfortable to you. Specific directions and deadlines for writing each comment appear below and are posted as a guide for the blog. Compose your "letters" in your word processor and save them before you copy and paste them to the blog.

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COMMENT/LETTER 1
Letter 1, approximately 150 words, addressed to everybody in your group ("Dear Folks," "Hello Group," etc.) and submitted by Wednesday, March 26th, 10:00 p.m. (U.S. EST). To preserve the conversational structure of the discussion, please provide a greeting and signature with each message, naming the group or person to whom you are writing and signing each letter.

• In this first letter, respond with personal and critical insight, focusing on the general meaning of the poem/lyrics. Write about what interests you in such a way that it opens up the poem/lyrics to further response and discussion by your groupmates. It is okay—-even helpful-—to ask questions to solicit the opinions of others.

• Some possibilities: You might begin by discussing the title in the context of the poem/lyrics. You might mention two or three words or short phrases that seem central to the poem. For each word or phrase you select, write a few sentences of your own referring back to the poem/lyrics in order to explain why you think they are important.

Include within your comment one or two sentences to introduce yourself to the group: for example, your name, your academic interest or emphasis. You can say something about your previous experience with poetry/lyrical analysis as well, if you like.

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COMMENT/LETTER 2
Approximately 150 words, addressed to everybody in the group and submitted by Friday, March 28th, 10:00 p.m. (U.S. EST). To preserve the conversational structure of the discussion, please provide a greeting and signature with each message, naming the group or person to whom you are writing and signing each letter.

• Before you compose your second comment, read all the submissions prior to yours and any second comments already posted by members of your group. In your second comment, addressed to your entire group, refer specifically to at least two members of the group by name, attempting to cite at least two groupmates whose first submissions have not already been cited by others if possible. Please respond to at least one person not in your class.

• In your second comment, identify and explain how one or more keywords and reflective comments by groupmates contributed to your understanding of the poem/lyric. Comment on ways in which their interpretations are similar to and/or different from your own. This response can also be personal, connecting your own understanding and experience with what you learned from reading the poem and from your group. Don’t hesitate to quote briefly from your groupmates’ letters and from the poem.

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COMMENT/LETTER 3
Approximately 100 words, addressed to everybody in the group and submitted by Monday, March 31st, 10:00 p.m. (U.S. EST). To preserve the conversational structure of the discussion, please provide a greeting and signature with each message, naming the group or person to whom you are writing and signing each letter.

• First, read the second comments and any additional comments already posted by members of your group. Compose a personal response about some of the ideas and opinions presented there, citing by name at least two groupmates whose second submissions have not already been cited by others if possible. Please respond to at least one person not in your same class.

• Second, either create or find another representation of the same theme/mood from your assigned lyric. For example, you may create an illustration or find an additional musical selection or other medium that expresses the same political fervor of your group's piece. (Please do not refer to the lyrics/poems of other groups on this blog.) You will need to locate or post this additional representation online so your partners can access it on the Web. (If you find a photo, for example, post a link to the photo).

• Third, explain fully the relationship between the representation you have selected or composed and your understanding of the lyrics assigned to you.