Expository Writing for 12/4/14

Here are some reminders for our final class of the semester:
1) Your final paper is due by class time.
2) Be prepared to discuss your final paper for about five minutes. You'll have to talk about 
what films you've chosen to write about, your theme, why you chose those films and that theme, and something large or small that you learned in the course of writing your final paper.
3) If you would like your final paper returned with comments, be sure to bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to class.
4) See you in class!

Expository Writing for 11/20/14

Just a reminder that class this week begins at the usual time, 6:45 pm. It will, however, end an hour early, at 8:15 pm.

After this week's class, there will be some final paper conferences in my office, Orlando Hall 210. Please bring your Final Paper prompt, filled out as much as you can, and wait for me on the bench outside my office. Here's the schedule: Amy 8:25, Thomas 8:35, Kate 8:45, Camille 8:55, Mason 9:05, Natasha 9:15.

Darryl, we need to schedule a conference since you were absent last week. 9:30 pm this Thursday would be good.
Tom & Liam, please email me your 3rd movie as soon as you figure it out.

This week, Paper 4 is due. Be sure to bring it with you to class.
We will continue our discussion of Lost in Translation. Here are some talking points:
1) Who in this film is alienated?
2) What are they alienated from? How do we know this?
3) Did you like this film? Why or why not?
4) Other than The Graduate, did it remind you of any films?

Expository Writing for 11/13/14

Here's the schedule for Final Paper conferences on 11/13:
Filipa 6:05, Tom 6:15, Melany 6:25, George 6:35 (That's a slight change, George. Hope you can make it.)
Darryl 9:20, Jennifer 9:30.

If possible, please arrive 5-10 minutes early. Please wait for me on a bench outside my office. My office is Orlando Hall 210, on the second floor.

Also, we WILL be watching Lost in Translation this week.

Expository Writing for 11/6/14

We'll talk more about "alienation" this week, so bring along any questions you have about that and Paper 4.  We'll also discuss The Graduate.

Talking Points for The Graduate.
1) Do you like it? Why?
2) Is it a comedy?
3) In the movie, who is alienated?
4) What does the ending on the bus mean?

Also, be sure to read pages 236-259 in your text if you haven't already.

Expository Writing for 10/30/14

The Graduate

This week, we'll be watching The Graduate (1967) to prepare for your 4th short paper, the one about alienation. What is "alienation," anyway? Does the concept apply to any of the films we've seen so far?

Reminder: Read pages 236-259 in our text. They should help you with Paper 4 and your Final Paper.

Expository Writing

Just for the record:

As I announced at last night's class, there's an error on our syllabus. The last date to drop a class without academic penalty is 10/31/14 (not 11/31/14). Sorry about this error.

JB

Expository Writing for 10/23/14

Reminder: Paper 3, your paper on Juno, is due this week!!!

Talking Points for Juno:
1) What are some of the political issues raised in this film? How and when are these issues raised in the film?
2) What are your views on these issues?
3) Does Juno remind you of any other movies?
4) What do you like and dislike about each of the movie's main characters?
5) Why does Juno hold a pipe?

Expository Writing for 10/16/14

This week, we'll be discussing pages 116-149 in our text. Finally! If you haven't read those pages yet, please read them before class.

We will also be seeing the 2007 movie Juno. Take a look at the prompt for Paper 3 and come to class with any questions you have about writing that paper.

Expository Writing for 10/9/14

The main thing to remember this week is that your second paper is due at class time. That's the one about Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein. Bring it with you to class. (If you have to miss class, email it to me by class time and you will get full credit.)

This week, there is no movie so we'll have plenty of time to get a lot done. If you haven't done your oral report (movie review) yet, be prepared to do that. We'll be finishing those up this week. And remember: It's not cheating to bring notes with you.

Remember to read pages 116-149 in your text.

We will also be discussing Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein. Here are some Talking Points:
  1) Which of these two films do you prefer? Why?
  2) Which scenes and other elements are common to both films?
  3) Is it significant that the original Frankenstein novel was written by a woman?
  4) What is Frankenstein really about? What is Young Frankenstein really about?
  5) What are some repeated jokes (or "running gags") in Young Frankenstein?

Expository Writing for 9/25/14

Reminders:



1) Come to class prepared to give a five-minute review of a movie you've recently seen.
2) If you haven't turned in your paper on Some Like It Hot, bring it with you this week.
3) This week, we will be watching the original 1931 version of Frankenstein!

Expository Writing for 9/18/14

1) Last week's class was mostly devoted to watching Some Like It Hot, so there wasn't time for much else. This week, we'll have plenty of time (and we will have our usual 10-minute break).
2) Please remember that your paper on that film is due this week by class time. If you can't make it to class for some reason, email me the paper (again, by class time) and you'll receive full credit for it.
3) Be sure you've read pages 1-16 in our text.
4) Also, did you happen to see The Tonight Show on Tuesday night? One of Jimmy Fallon's guests was Jerry Lewis (the guy from The Bellboy)!
5) I forgot to remind you to be prepared to speak about a film of your choice for five minutes, so I won't require that this week. If you're ready to do that this week, you'll be
able to do so. If not, we can push that until next week.

Expository Writing for 9/11/14

Tony Curtis (left) and Jack Lemmon (right), dressed as women, with Marilyn Monroe (center) in Some Like It Hot.

Reminders:

1) Much of our time this week will be spent watching Some Like It Hot, a 1959 comedy starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and the immortal Marilyn Monroe.
2) We won't have our usual 10-minute break this week because the film will take up so much of the class. So if you're having any food with the movie, bring it along. (Of course, you can always take a short personal break, but then you'll miss that part of the movie....)
3) Come prepared to take notes on the movie. Those will help you a lot with your paper.
4) As usual, your electronic devices should be both OFF and OUT OF SIGHT.

Expository Writing for 9/4

Jerry Lewis in The Bellboy

Reminders & Announcements:

1) If you haven't gotten our text yet, please be sure to do so ASAP.
2) We'll be viewing a short film this week, talking about how to write about it and then taking a stab at writing about it -- all within one class period.
3) If there's time, we'll go over MLA style.
4) If you have any questions about the syllabus, the 18 Tips or the class in general, bring them along.

Expository Writing for Wed., 4/30, and Thurs., 5/1

 Here are some reminders for our final class of the semester:
1) Your final papers and the optional fifth short paper (if you've chosen to do it) are due by class time.
2) Be prepared to discuss your final paper for about five minutes. You'll have to talk about
what films you've chosen to write about, your theme, why you chose those films and that theme, and something large or small that you learned in the course of writing your final paper.
3) If you would like your final paper and/or the optional fifth short paper returned with comments, be sure to bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope to class.
4) See you in class!

Expository Writing for Wed., 4/9, and Thurs., 4/10

Scarlett Johansson & Bill Murray in Lost in Translation

Final paper conferences are all in Orlando Hall 210. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early.
This week's conferences are:
  Wed.: Emily (3 pm), Nadder (3:40) & Sam (6:30)
  Thurs.: Amethyst (3:40), Dewey (6:30)

Also, we'll be watching Lost in Translation.
No papers are due this week.

Expository Writing: Talking Points for 3/27

For Juno:

1) What are the social and political issues raised by this movie?
2) Are these appropriate subjects for a comedy?
3) Why does Juno use a pipe?
4) Does this movie remind you of any other movie?

Expository Writing: Notes for 3/26

1) We'll only have a 5-minute break this week.
2) Read the prompt for Paper 4 and come to class with any questions you may have about it.
3) We'll be watching The Graduate this week.
4) What is "alienation"?

Expository Writing: Reminders for 3/12/14

1. If you haven't yet done an oral report (5 minute movie review), be prepared to do it this week. We'll finish them up.
2. Be sure to read pages 203-235 in your text.
3. We'll be workshopping Paper 2 this week. Be brave!

Expository Writing: Talking Points & Reminders for Thursday, 3/13

Talking Points
1) Which movie do you prefer, Frankenstein or Young Frankenstein? Why?
2) The original Frankenstein novel was written by a woman, Mary Shelley. Is this significant?
3) Which scenes are common to both films?
4) What are the "running" (or repeated) gags in Young Frankenstein?

Reminders
1) Papers on Frankenstein & Young Frankenstein are due on 3/13 by class time.
2) If you haven't given an oral report (movie review), be prepared to do so.

Expository Writing for Thursday, 2/27

1) Be prepared to do your oral report, a 5-minute movie review. It's fine to use notes.
2) We'll be watching a spoof of Frankenstein, called Young Frankenstein, this week.
3) Bring in any questions on the reading assigned for this week, pages 116-149.

Expository Writing for Thursday, 2/20

Reminders & Advisories:
1) Be prepared to do your oral movie review, which should take about 5 minutes.
2) This week, we will watch the original 1931 version of Frankenstein, which is NOT a comedy.
3) This week, we will also workshop your first formal paper, so be prepared to be brave.
4) If you want to read ahead in your text, read pages 116-149. But this isn't quite yet an assignment.

Expository Writing: Thurs (2/13)

REMINDERS:

1) Please read pages 1-16 in your text.
2) Be prepared to discuss Some Like it Hot.
3) Be prepared to give an oral review of a movie you've seen.
4) Your first formal paper is due this week. Be sure to indicate your thesis statement and include the honor code and your signature.

TALKING POINTS:
1) Did you like Some Like It Hot? Why?
2) What does the final line of dialog mean?
3) Why is this movie in b&w?

Expository Writing for Thursday, 1/30

Reminders & Observations:

1) Great class this past week. You guys are really doing an awesome job of helping each other improve. But, please, don't be so sensitive about your handwriting! It's all good!

2) On 1/30, we'll be watching the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot. Your first paper will be based on this film. Be prepared to take notes. Remember: No electronic devices.

3) If for some unavoidable reason you cannot make it to class, you can watch Some Like It Hot at the Olin Library, where it is on reserve. (But that doesn't excuse missing class.)

4) Some Like It Hot stars Marilyn Monroe. What do you know about her?

5) Because we'll be watching a two-hour film this week there won't be time for our usual break. However, you're always free to pop out for a moment if you have to.

Expository Writing for Wednesday, 1/29

Reminders & Observations:

1) I never thought I'd have to say this to a writing-workshop class, but in case it isn't obvious by now, ALWAYS BRING PAPER AND A PEN (OR PENCIL) WITH YOU TO CLASS.

2) On 1/29, we'll be watching the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot. Your first paper will be based on this film. Be prepared to take notes. Remember: No electronic devices.

3) If for some unavoidable reason you cannot make it to class, you can watch Some Like It Hot at the Olin Library, where it is on reserve. (But that doesn't excuse missing class.)

4) Some Like It Hot stars Marilyn Monroe. What do you know about her?

 5) Because we'll be watching a two-hour film this week there won't be time for our usual break. However, you're always free to pop out for a moment if you have to.

Expository Writing, Wed & Thurs Classes: Random Notes

1) I checked about when our class is supposed to end. As many of you suspected all along, it's 6:30 p.m. So please don't worry. Our class will always end by 6:30 at the latest.

2) This coming week, we're going to do an in-class exercise in which we watch a film clip and then write about it. I think it should be fun, actually. (And, no, I haven't decided which film the clip will be from yet. Stay tuned...)

3) If you want to read ahead in our text, the first reading assignment is pages 1-16. But you don't have to read those pages quite yet if you're busy.

4) Have a great MLK Day and I'll see you later in the week!