Critical Case Study Process Paper

What is a critical case study?  Basically, it's a lit analysis with research.  YOU have an interpretation of a book that you are arguing BUT you use critics to make your argument more convincing.  The important thing to keep in mind is the same with any real research paper:  This is NOT a recap/regurgitation of what the critics think.  It is your OWN argument with professional experts to help you make your case--add ethos!

Resources to help you?  Your textbook.  Chapter 46 walks you through what a critical case study looks like.

Objectives of the Assignment:

• Write a well-argued, well-reasoned, well-developed literary analysis of an independent reading book
• Effectively and correctly incorporate literary criticism to add ethos and some logos to that interpretation
• Continue to use critical lenses to deepen analysis
• Correctly use MLA citation (parenthetical and works cited) to give credit to sources
• Use the process to end up with a polished, college-level paper

Proposal:
I want a response to your book (one-pager style) that shows me YOUR interpretation ONLY before reading criticism AND an outline of the paper you intend to write to argue that interpretation.

Timeline:
Proposal due Wednesday, Feb. 29 by midnight
D1 due Thursday, Mar. 9 by midnight
Peer reviews due Tuesday, Mar. 13 by midnight
D2 due Tuesday, Mar. 27 by midnight
FD/CR due Tuesday, Apr. 10 by midnight

Modern Drama Groups

The Glass Menagerie--Presenting 1st on Tuesday

Natalie Swaim
Lauren Engley
Dani Leih
Kristina Weber
Emma King
Naty Hirsch
Amber Johnson
Jessie Schooley
Hannah Darr

A Doll House--Presenting on Monday

Shannon O'Hair
Samantha Terry
Kim Bougher
Amber Hoffman
Krista DeBerg
Ally Lappe

Death of a Salesman--Presenting 2nd on Tuesday

Donald McDonald
Dan Moline
Taylor Brandt
Zitxw Lor
Ryne DeCamp
Ben Brennan
Peter Anderson
Tyler Krpan
Zach Bales
Cameron Whipple

Reading Journal Conferences--3rd Qtr!

Things to cover in your brief meeting with me:

1. Evaluate your growth as a reader (according to Nabokov)
2. Discuss how Nabokov's criteria (and everything else we've done this year) relates to drama

Make sure you have your reading journal with you and that you use specific references to Hamlet, other plays, and first semester texts as your evidence for your claims in both points!

These conferences will happen this week during your group discussion/planning time (Wed-Fri). You may also come in during my 4th hour study hall or 6th hour prep if you like.

Modern Drama Project

Modern Drama Project

Assignment:
Choose one of three plays to read:  A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, or The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.  You will be grouped with others who choose to read the same play so you can discuss that play, help each other understand it, split up duties for biographical and critical research, and present your analysis and research findings to the class.

Objectives:

• Critically read and analyze drama more independently
• Consider the ways a modern play fits or even changes the definition of tragedy that Aristotle laid out
• Clearly present analysis, biographical and historical context, and criticism of the play to the class so they are exposed to a play they did not read.

Directions:

1. Choose the play you’d like to read.  Turn in your choice to me.
2. Read the play critically, taking notes and writing a one(to two)-pager as soon as you finish that addresses what you think the theme is, the details that you noticed as support for that, and your initial thoughts on whether or not it is a tragedy.  I will collect these for a grade early this week!
3. Use some class time to discuss the play with your group members, using the questions in the textbook to get you started.  Assign one group member to take good notes of this discussion to be emailed or shared with me via Google Docs.  Use this discussion to clarify your interpretation of the play, the important details that support that theme, and your ideas on how this play is or is not a tragedy.  Keep in mind the important aspects that a tragedy must include at minimum:  1.  Tragic hero is portrayed as better than man and falls due to a tragic flaw (not a vice) which evokes pity and fear in the audience AND 2.  Includes important plot pieces:  reversal, recognition, and scene of suffering.
4. As a group, complete research of the biographical and historical context of the play and several (at least 3) pieces of criticism.  Turn in a brief summary (1-2 paragraphs) of each critical source AND a reflection (1-2 paragraphs) of the reader’s thoughts on that criticism in context of his/her own reading of the play and the group’s interpretation.
5. Complete a works cited page that includes all sources (minimum of 4--at least one bio/historical and three critical).
6. Plan a 20-25 minute presentation for the class that briefly summarizes the play for those who have not read it but focuses on analysis of the theme and whether it is a tragedy or not.  You should include bio/historical/critical information in the presentation, but the majority of the presentation should be the group’s interpretation of the play and the details that support that.

Timeline:
Monday:  Intro and choose play
Tuesday:  Organize groups; time to read play
Wednesday:  Turn in one(or two)-pagers at beginning of class; discussion time
Thursday:  Discussion/planning time--email or share discussion notes by end of the day
Friday:  Planning time
Monday & Tuesday:  Presentations

Hamlet Test

Things to study for your test tomorrow:

• Your reading journal
• Know the vocab and info from your textbook

What the test looks like:

• Poem about the play--you will need to know the play to answer the questions, but if you do, you'll easily be able to understand the poem.  This tests your knowledge of Hamlet and the critical reading skills we've been working on for a year and a half now.
• Vocab stuff
• Long answer--you'll write 1-2 paragraphs over two questions of your choice (I believe there are 5 choices)