Ads

Starting this week, we're going to start talking about advertisements.  So my question for you this week is, how much of a role does advertising play in your life?  How often do you make purchasing decisions based on ads you see, or do you like to think you are immune to them, even if you enjoy some of the campaigns?  As usual, 250 word post up by Thursday night (10/20) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (10/23).

Persepolis (The Movie)

Last week I asked you guys for your thoughts on the book, this week I'll ask for your thoughts on the movie.  Again, nothing rigidly academic here, did you like it, hate it, not feel much towards it?  How did it compare to the book for you?  As usual, 250 word post up by Thursday night (10/13) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (10/16).

Persepolis

I'm trying to keep the discussion in class a bit more academic so I'm giving you this space here to just give your general thoughts on the book.  Did you love it/hate it/were indifferent to it, etc.? Any scenes or characters you particularly enjoyed?  This does not have to be an academic discussion here but who knows, you may get a great topic idea out of it.  As usual, 250 word post up by Thursday night (10/06) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (10/09).

55 Word Stories

This is an old favorite of mine. I'm including a link below to a website that publishes stories of exactly 55 words.  Read a few of them, and then you have one of two choices: a.) do a standard 250 word post discussing the stories followed by a 100 word response or b.) try writing a 55 word story of your own.  The rules for a 55 word story: 1.) I will be checking to make sure it is exactly 55 words (otherwise, it wouldn't be a 55 word story), 2.) you can title it, but it doesn't count towards the 55 words, and 3.) there are no restrictions on content, but keep in mind this is a public forum, so exercise common sense.  For the response, you have the option of responding to someone's story or writing a second 55 word story.

However you choose to go about it, have the first post up by Thursday night (09/29) and the response up by Sunday night (10/02).

The link: http://www.birdandmoon.com/55words/

Respond to this Video

The video is here.

Now respond to it.  Did you love it, hate it, didn't care, was it stupid, fascinating, boring, etc.  250 word post up by Thursday night (09/22) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (09/25).

Favorite book

I'm giving you folks an easy one this week as a way of easing ourselves into the textual analysis project we'll be starting next week.  Pick a favorite book and discuss why it's your favorite, and for the bookworms out there, you're only allowed a maximum of three, so choose carefully.  You can choose whatever titles you want, but Twilight fans may get made fun of.  This week will be the first time we go by the usual deadlines, which will be to have a 250 word post up by Thursday night (09/15) and a 100 word response up by Sunday night (09/18).

Getting started

For most of you, college is a big, new scary thing that you're probably not quite sure what to make of yet.  In a post of 250 words, tell us what your anxieties and expectations are for the upcoming semester, not just for this class, but for your college experience in general.  And if this is not your first semester, you're still going to have anxieties and expectations, but maybe also some advice for the noobs.  Since it's the first week, I'm only going to require one post (though this is not normal) and I'd like you to have it up by Sunday night.