December in 英文表現法 II

Dec. 5 - Writing about Plot and Narrative Arc
Activities
1) discussion reading through the last week
2) continue with outlining practice and paragraph discussing the narrative arc (aka story arc)

• refer to Plot, Theme, the Narrative Arc and Narrative Patterns

3) discussion and outlining of following:

• fantastic elements occurring within the story
• unreal worlds and their characteristics

4) paragraph writing practice - unreal worlds and their characteristics

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected

Dec. 12 - Overall Outline
Activities
1) mind-mapping brainstorming activity with plot elements and characters
2) discussion/description of unreal worlds within the novel

Homework
1)  none assigned - reading is expected

Dec. 19 - Examination of Unreal Worlds in At the Back of the North Wind
Activities
1) discussion of connection between:

• The North Wind of MacDonald and its possible antecedent in Greek mythology
• the name of Diamond and the word's origins and meanings in Greek mythology
• MacDonald's study of Greek mythology (the 'classics') its possible influence in his choices of names and development of characters and plot elements

2) the connection between the unreal worlds in the novel and what didactic purpose each one serves

Homework
1) none assigned - reading and outlining expected

November in 英文表現法 II

Nov. 7 - Writing about characters in literature
1) continuing with brainstorming & outlining practice

• what are the main characters in At the Back of the North Wind
• how do certain characters interact

2) paragraph writing based on brainstorming and outlining

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected


Nov. 14 - Writing about characters and setting in literature
1) continue with outlining practice and paragraph discussing the relationship and interactions of main characters:

• the relationship of Diamond and the North Wind
• how do certain characters interact

2) paragraph writing based on brainstorming and outlining

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected


Nov. 21 - Writing about characters and personification
1) discussion of Kyoritsu Review article:

• done as two-banger - thesis for another and for Kyoritsu Review - related to change in instructional staffing for grad students
• thesis related to pragmatics (linguistics) - implicature - something hidden in the author's writing?
• find and list instances of implied statements VS direct statements (婉曲表現 - euphemism)
• create and share document with the list
• source material - script from 80s Sherlock Holmes TV series

2) continue with outlining practice and paragraph discussing the personification of the North Wind as a main character

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected

Nov. 28 - Writing about characters and setting in literature
1) discussion of Kyoritsu Review article:

• working on final draft - ready for submission after final check

2) continue with outlining practice and paragraph discussing the narrative arc (aka story arc)

• refer to Plot, Theme, the Narrative Arc and Narrative Patterns

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected

September & October in 英文表現法 II

Sep. 26 - Research activities discussion
Activities
1) discussion of short thesis for Kyoritsu Review

• deadline Nov. 30
• possibility of using Japanese version of the short as a basis for English version

I. Joron: the real world is not a good place - the unreal world is an ideal world (for 19th c British)

II. Honron:

• 1st chap - 19th c background - issues of child labor, social class, prevalence of disease and early death
• 2nd chap - 19th c background in the story - how the main character's family experiences these issues - their social class (lower), the main character's friends as child laborers, disease suffered by characters in the story, physical weakness of main character, the ultimate death of the main character
• 3rd chap - what kind of world is The Back of the North Wind? - basically an afterlife which is a calm and peaceful place - an escape from the the social ills of 19th c British society

III. Ketsuron: the real world is not a good place - the unreal world is an ideal world (for 19th c British)

2) discussion of reading projects - focus on how stories end, depending on culture

• Jane Austin's Emma - getting into Vol. 2 - introduction of additional character
• the use of 'handsome' in reference to a woman
• friction  between the main character and the new character
• speculation on events to come in Vol. 3
• Water Babies - DVD - ending is different between English and US version
• the concept of purgatory as the place where the main 

3) points of comparison between Water Babies and At the Back of the North Wind

• child labor
• the role of water as a medium between worlds
• the actual world VS the unreal world(s)
• purgatory and the progress of a soul from a flawed existence to a state of 'goodness'

4) survey Writing Academic English for likely exercises, Adverbial Clauses?


Oct. 3 - Writing about literature
Activities
1) discussion of the effort of develop a more original thesis for the Kyoritsu Review
2) brainstorming & outlining practice

• the surface appearance of 19th century British society
• the realities behind the surface appearance of 19th century British society

3) paragraph writing practice

• based on the outline of the surface appearance of 19th century British society

Oct. 10 - Writing about literature
Activities
1) discussion of the effort of develop a more original thesis for the Kyoritsu Review

• application submitted, accepted
• outline decided
• content overall is decided

2) brainstorming & outlining practice

• the surface appearance of 19th century British society
• the realities behind the surface appearance of 19th century British society

Homework
1) none assigned


Oct. 24 - Writing about literature
Activities
1) continuing with brainstorming & outlining practice

• the surface appearance of 19th century British society
• the realities behind the surface appearance of 19th century British society

2) focus on the gritty realities, the negative aspects of society for lower class citizens

Homework
1) write about the flip side of British society in the 19th century
2) rely on the outline produced through brainstorming


Oct. 31 - Writing about characters in literature
1) continuing with brainstorming & outlining practice

• what are the main characters in At the Back of the North Wind
• how do certain characters interact

2) paragraph writing based on brainstorming and outlining

Homework
1) none assigned - reading is expected