| Multiculturalism and the Graphic Novel - Online Conferencing and Discussion Topics |
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| Online Conferencing Rationale
Over the course of the semester, we will be using a third party electronic conferencing site. Students will be expected to log onto the site several times a week and post comments, questions, or ideas meant to spark class discussion. With each text we read, I will establish a thread with a few questions to get students thinking; however, answering the discussion questions should not be the extent of student participation. The questions are just a means to get the students thinking about the topic. I will require at least two posts per thread. I think that the use of online conferencing works in at least two very important ways. First, it allows students to begin to work through their ideas prior to a large class discussion. Students will be able to compose their thoughts and ideas preparing for a dialogue in class. In addition, they can discuss the topic prior to class giving them more time to think about their ideas while they are still fresh in their heads. Secondly, it begins to engage students who might be disinterested in the text or simply attempting to borrow ideas from their fellow students. In a class discussion, it becomes very easy to blend in and simply reinforce ideas presented by a classmate. Online conferencing prevents this as repetitious and vague comments are more obvious. I haven�t yet decided which site I will use, but Nicenet has been very beneficial in other classes. I am also considering using the Blackboard software which KCC currently supports. Either way, I will be checking for the students� depth and responses to see if one, they actually read the text, and two, they are thinking critically about the issues that have arisen in the text. Below I have listed a variety of questions (by week and session), some of which would be ideal for online conferencing. As the semester progresses, I will determine whether specific questions are even needed to maintain an informed discussion on the online conferencing. If I see that students are engaged enough in the text to carry on critical dialogue without prompt questions, I will post topic threads with a blanket topic or more abstract questions. Discussion Topics for Online Conferencing Week 2 Session 1 � How did Ichiro�s decision not to fight in the war change his life? � Which different perspectives of Japanese Americans during WWII are embodied in this text? � Was Ichiro�s decision respectable? � How do Ichiro�s problems correspond with problems in our culture today? Week 3 Session 1 Concentration Camps Thread � Discuss the use of concentration camps and their purpose � What are your feelings on the topic? Can their use be defended? Maus Thread � What similarities do we see between Maus and No No Boy � How is the graphic novel effective in telling this story? How is it not? � Was there anything specifically interesting to you about this text? � Discuss Vladek�s relationships with other in the text. How does he change throughout the story? Week 4 Session 1 � What was different about this text compared to Maus? � How do these portrayals of the two cultures create problems for reader of both texts or don�t they? � Who appears more sympathetic in each text? Why? � What role did Joe play in Palestine compared to Art�s role in Maus? How might this effect the story? � Which of these two readings was more difficult and why? Session 2 �I Have a Dream� Thread � Why was this speech significant? � Looking at our American culture today, was it successful? � Looking at African American culture today, was it successful? Civil Rights Movement Thread � What links did you visit, and what did you find there? � Did you learn anything new about the Civil Rights Movements? What? � Do any of these ideas relate to our previous texts? Week 5 Session 1 � How does racial segregation in the U.S. mirror that of Europe during WWII? � What challenges does Easy face throughout the story? Considering the time and setting are they believable? � Which of his dilemmas are still present in our culture? Week 6 Session 1 � What is the relationship between Victor and Thomas? � Was there anything specifically interesting to you about Native American culture? � What are the similarities between this culture and the others that we have looked so far? � What non-race related struggles are presented in this text? � Is this how you perceived life on a reservation? Why or why not? Session 2 Yakota Reading � What is your definition of a multicultural text? � Do all of the texts we�ve looked at met your requirements? � What are the challenges to effectively evaluating a multicultural text? � Do you agree with Junko Yakota�s ideas on this topic? Week 7 Session 1 � Is Pride of Baghdad a multicultural text? Why or why not? � What culture does it deal with? � What are you feelings of the text? Do you think it is contradictory? � Is this a Pro- or Anti-war text? � Is this text effective? If so, what is it effective at doing? Session 2 Keating Reading � Is Keating successful in her argument about what multicultural literature is? � Do you agree with her use of �white� as a part of multicultural literature? � Who does not fit into a multicultural mold? � Can classic literature be multicultural literature? How? Week 8 Session 1 � Is The Watchmen a multicultural text? � What is the purpose of superhero culture? � Make an argument for or against the superhero as a multicultural group. � What did this text do that other texts we looked at didn�t? � Are the Watchmen heroes? Are they villains? � What similarities do they share with characters from other texts we�ve looked at? Session 2 � What is your perception of the graphic novel as literature? Has your opinion changed over the course of the semester? � What purpose does multicultural literature serve in our society? � Thinking about our texts, do they share any common links outside of their focus on different cultural groups? � Post any final thoughts regarding this class and its value. [Return to Syllabus] [Return to Weekly Schedule] |