"An Incident at Owl Creek Bridge," by Ambrose Bierce

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, April 6, 2010

@ 12:00 Midnight

A man stood upon a railroad bridge in northern Alabama,

looking down into the swift water twenty feet below.

The man's hands were behind his back,

the wrists bound with a cord.

A rope closely encircled his neck.

It was attached to a stout cross-timber above his head

and the slack fell to the level of his knees.

("An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,"

by Ambrose Bierce)

Post a Comment: Ambrose "Bitter" Bierce (1842-1914?):

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/04/ambrose-bitter-bierce-1842-1914.html

Post a Comment: The American Civil War (1861-1865):

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-civil-war-1861-1865_01.html

Print out and read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (and bring printout with you to class on April 7th):

http://fiction.eserver.org/short/occurrence_at_owl_creek.html

You may also follow along with an online audio version:

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (audio)

Write a First Response to An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.

Use the following writing prompts: What was your initial response to the first few paragraphs of the text? What was your first impression of Peyton Farquhar? Do you think he deserved his fate? What aspect of the work affected you most? Why?

Or free-write your own response.

Be sure to provide specific textual details and quotes from the story to justify and/or explain your response.  Remember, a first response is not a summary -- use 3-5 quotes from the story and discuss how it affected you.

Guidelines for first response papers are available here:

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-response-paper-guidelines.html

If you have any questions, send me an e-mail at english102wcc@gmail.com, and allow up to 24 hours for a response (although I will most likely get back to you much sooner than that).

The American Civil War (1861-1865)

(Effects of a shell on the body of a Confederate soldier)

(click on picture to enlarge it to see the gruesome details)

ONLINE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, April 6, 2010,

@ 10:00 PM EDT

Google "Interesting facts about the American Civil War." Find one interesting fact (that has not already been posted on this blog) and post it. Be sure to put the information into your own words (i.e., don't cut and paste from another website) to avoid plagiarism.

Be sure to put your first name and the initial of your last name on the post, or it will be rejected and we won't be able to enjoy your comment!

Ambrose "Bitter" Bierce (1842-1914?)

ONLINE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, April 6, 2010,

@ 10:00 PM EDT

Google "Ambrose Bierce." Find one interesting fact about him (that has not already been posted on this blog) and post it. Be sure to put the information into your own words (i.e., don't cut and paste from another website) to avoid plagiarism. Interesting parts of his life include:

ª his childhood

ª his service in the Union Army during the American Civil War

ª his reputation in literary circles

ª events surrounding his death

Be sure to put your first name and the initial of your last name on the post, or it will be rejected and we won't be able to enjoy your comment!

FOUR DEAD IN OHIO: The Kent State Massacre: May 4, 1970

ONLINE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Friday, April 2, 2010

@ 12:00 Midnight EDT

Read the intro, watch the video, watch the video of Neil Young singing "Ohio" and read the lyrics, and post your response.  Responses should be between 150-200 words. This activity is worth 25 “extra credit” points.

Here are your prompts:

ª How do you feel/what do you think about what happened at Kent State on May 4, 1970?

ª Why do you think college students today are not protesting the War in Iraq and the War in Afghanistan?

Get a Sense of the Times: College Students Protest the War in Vietnam:

On May 4, 1970, a student demonstration at Kent State, Ohio left four students dead, one paralyzed, and eight others wounded. This demonstration, meant to be one of many peaceful demonstrations against the war, was ended abruptly and violently when the National Guard fired into the crowd for 13 seconds. The brief shootings ended the lives of students Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer. The distances ranged from 270 feet to 390 feet. Some of these students were not even directly involved. Justified or not by self-defense, the "massacre" sparked a nationwide student strike that closed many colleges and universities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkejULqgBgg&feature=related

"Ohio" lyrics:
 http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/neilyoung/ohio.html

Neil Young singing "Ohio" live (YouTube has blocked all the album versions):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv6kwG4BhC8&feature=related

Be sure to put your first name and the initial of your last name on the post, or it will be rejected and we won't be able to enjoy your comment!

"The Man He Killed," by Thomas Hardy

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, March 30, 2010

@ 12:00 midnight EDT

Read The Man He Killed, by Thomas Hardy (p. 122).
Here's a link to an online version of the poem:
http://www.love-poems.me.uk/hardy_the_man_he_killed.htm

Write a First Response to The Man He Killed.

Use the following writing prompts:

Which aspect of the work affected you most? Why? What is the significance of the poem?

Or free-write your own response.

Be sure to provide specific textual details and quotes from the poem to justify and/or explain your response.  Remember, a first response is not a summary -- use 2-3 quotes from the poem and discuss how it affected you.

Guidelines for first response papers are available here:

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-response-paper-guidelines.html

If you have any questions, send me an e-mail at english102wcc@gmail.com, and allow up to 24 hours for a response (although I will most likely get back to you much sooner than that).

"The Things They Carried," by Tim O'Brien

Photos taken July 8, 2003 by Melinda Roberts

Vietnam Veterans/POWs/MIAs Memorial

Little Saigon, Westminster, Orange County, California

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, March 30, 2010

@ 12:00 midnight EDT

Complete the “Post a Comment” Activity: What do YOU carry?:

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/03/what-do-you-carry.html

Read The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien (pages 1172-1185 of our text).

Write a First Response to The Things They Carried.

Use the following writing prompts:

What was your first impression of First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross? of the other soldiers? of the things they carried? Did any of your impressions change? If so, why? how? Which aspect of the work affected you most? Why? What is the significance of the things they carried?

Or free-write your own response.

Be sure to provide specific textual details and quotes from the story to justify and/or explain your response.  Remember, a first response is not a summary -- use 3-5 quotes from the story and discuss how it affected you.

Guidelines for first response papers are available here:

http://english101wcc02.blogspot.com/2010/03/first-response-paper-guidelines.html

If you have any questions, send me an e-mail at english102wcc@gmail.com, and allow up to 24 hours for a response (although I will most likely get back to you much sooner than that).

Get a Sense of the Times: College Students Protest the War:

On May 4, 1970, a student demonstration at Kent State, Ohio left four students dead, one paralyzed, and eight others wounded. This demonstration, meant to be one of many peaceful demonstrations against the war, was ended abruptly and violently when the National Guard fired into the crowd for 13 seconds. The brief shootings ended the lives of students Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer. The distances ranged from 270 feet to 390 feet. Some of these students were not even directly involved. Justified or not by self-defense, the "massacre" sparked a nationwide student strike that closed many colleges and universities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkejULqgBgg&feature=related

Extra Credit Opportunity:

Watch one of the following Vietnam-era movies and thereafter submit a 400-500 word brief summary and first response.  The summary/first response should be submitted via e-mail to english101wcc@gmail.com on or before Wednesday, April 7, 2010 @ 12:00 Noon.  The summary will have a value of up to 25 points.

Full Metal Jacket trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSQ2WRoqOCA

Apocalypse Now trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt0xxAMTp8M

Flight of the Valkyries clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHjWDCX1Bdw

Born on the Fourth of July movie trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8NR6n1nRMI

The Deer Hunter trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw-Tyr6Rb6Iž

Good Morning, Vietnam! trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJoHqmtFcQ

The Killing Fields trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z1sj7gzpCk

Platoon trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPi8EQzJ2Bg

What do YOU carry?

ONLINE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Due Tuesday, March 30, 2010

@ 10:00 PM EDT

What do you carry for luck?

What do you carry that you are superstitious about?

What do you carry for necessity?

What do you carry for someone else?

What do you carry in your thoughts?

Be sure to put your first name and the initial of your last name on the post, or it will be rejected and we won't be able to enjoy your comment!