Begin the Colorado Coal Strike Section of Violence in the West; read pages 82-114.
Also check out the work we did in class drafting a intro paragraph and first body paragraph that you could use as a model. I have reorganized it and clarified what we did in class substantially, so you should definitely check this out before revising what you have so far: THE #1 Guidance
Write:
Revise your intro and first two body paragraphs to align with the sample paragraphs that we did in class. Remember the three key elements:
Answer the guiding question
Support your argument with Details and Interpretation (D/I)
And put your analysis in its cultural context (using timeline resources on the library's shelfs, in the libraries electronic databases and on the web.
Finish the Johnson County Range War section of Violence in the West (that will take you up to page 81)
Write:
Add another paragraph to your Take Home Essay draft. For this paragraph, choose a text related to the same tension that you discussed in the intro and film scene paragraph that you turned in on Thursday. Choose your text from among the following texts that we have studied so far this semester:
The Robert Hughes' Videos and the art/artists discussed in them (remember you can use the american art gallery page to find other works of art by the same artists--and you can write about those). One key restriction on your art choice for this paper, you may not use a work of art that you have already written about in the class.
The Mark Twain Roughing It chapters in the handout I distributed in class.
The Native American texts in the handouts I distributed in class.
Remember that your paragraph should 1) answer the guiding question in your topic sentence, 2) use details and interpretations to support your text, and 3) put the art in its cultural context (properly documening and quoting/paraphrasing sources/research you use as you discuss that context or the text in general)
Draft the Introduction of your Take Home Essay: Define the terms of your spectrum. What are these values and why are they important to Americans before 1900?
Draft the first body paragraph of your take home essay: Analyze a scene from your film in terms of what it says about the tension you have chosen. Use details from the film and interpret those details. And think about the time period when your film was made and what the film says about that time period. Guiding Question: What does _____________ scene from the film _____________________ tell us about the tension between ______ and _____ in American culture?
The Classic Western movie that you and your group chose during class on Thursday (absent folks should choose from the list posted last week--which I have included here again):
Remember, to use the cultural tensions worksheet to identify cultural tensions while you watch the film. Under each tension list all of the scenes you think deal with that tension: Download Tensiongrid
Write:
We changed the writing assignment. You do not need to worry about working on the first exam essay; instead, focus on revising your America Alivepost and having it up on the blog by 9 AM on Monday so that I can start grading them.
Using the sample paragraph and rubric distributed in class today, select an image, identify a cultural tension you see in that image, and compose a paragraph that analyzes that image (by interpreting specific details of the image and putting those images into their cultural/historical context). Consider using outside sources. If you do so, document your sources (in text and in a works cited) and correctly quote (any and all exact words) and/or paraphrase (entirely your own words) those sources.
Some sources that might prove useful
Donna Campbell's Timelines Provides key historical events by decade. If you refer to some of these events in your paragraph, you need not cite Campbell but if you paraphrase and/or quote from here desricptions of those events, you will need to cite her as a source.
Railton's Roughing It Site Provides some interesting context for art about the West in the 1860's and 1870's.
ArtStor If you click on the information icon attached to each work of art, you can often find useful information about the art and artist.
Oxford Art Online Information (biographies, interpretative articles) on artists and art.
Please note: While you may, of course, check Wikipedia for background if you wish, you may not use Wikipedia as a source in college writing. So anything interesting you discover in Wikipedia, you will need to validate in an academically acceptable source and then use that source in your writing.
As you consider other websites, remember to look for the most carefully documented sites you can find--government sites, college and university sites, and sites where the author identifies her/himself and provides a biblliography or works cited list of sources.
Mark Twain Packet: Roughing It (9, 10, 11, 22, 23)
Write:
Art Analysis: Pick a work of art by an artist discussed by Robert Hughes (either from the video or from the art collections on our art resources page) and compose a detailed paragraph discussing what one work of art says about one American cultural tension / paradox / or contradiction that you choose from the handout discussed in class on Thursday. Your work should be typed, printed out, and brought to class. You will not receive credit for your work if you do not bring it to class with you.
View
Parts 2 and 3 of Robert Hughes American Experience "The Wilderness and the West"
"The Wilderness and the West" Part 2
"The Wilderness and the West" Part 3
Remember to take notes on terms/concepts, major artists, and major works of art.
Robert Hughes American Experience, Episode 3, Part 1
Take active notes--recording key terms concepts, names of artists, and major works!
Write:
My American Story:
When did your family first come to America? Who came and why? What is your own history in America--where have you lived and why? And what do you consider important American values and beliefs for you right now? Please type out your answer and bring a copy to class.
My American Folder:
Please decorate your folder to reflect your ideas about America. You my use words, images, drawings, art, music, archticture, photography--whatever will sum up for you what America is and what America means. Be creative! Bring the folder back to class with you on Thursday.
