In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
In this unit, I will ask you to pay close attention to how cultural signs in Paradise represent race. The chapters in Arguing about Literature have explained strategies for crafting successful arguments, and I expect you to use them to your full advantage in writing this essay. In addition, you will read an intro that explains how race is created/represented in culture so that you have tools for understanding how the race-related symbols work in Paradise. In this essay, you will answer the following question about representations of race in Paradise:
How does Toni Morrison use symbols to illuminate and/or challenge conventional ideas about race, and how might those symbols be useful for understanding how modern culture frames race and/or racial issues?
The Assignment:
In this essay, you will be conducting a semiotic analysis of a cultural sign (or a few signs—no more than three) in the novel Paradise using the strategies we have been practicing in class, using discussions of race from any of the other assigned readings from this quarter for comparison if you would like (using other primary sources is not required for this essay, but it can be helpful for working out your ideas).
The Process (prewriting):
1. You will begin by reminding yourself how Morrison employs racial signification to illuminate or challenge ideas about race throughout the novel.
2. You will then decide, using your ethos, how you see those signs working together to create a dominant impression of cultural significance.
3. Find a passage you feel communicates your chosen aspect of Morrison’s use of cultural signs to her readers and perform a semiotic analysis of the passage, emphasizing how the passage reflects the novel’s overarching discussion of race.
When crafting your argument, make sure you are asking yourself these questions:
• What larger point do I think Morrison is making about race in the novel?
• How do I see this point playing out in the cultural signification throughout the novel, and particularly in my chosen passage?
• Why is my interpretation of this particular cultural element important? Why can’t the academic community (or the world at large, for that matter) do without it?
Methods:
Try to keep your focus narrow and open into larger issues and ideas, rather than the other way around. For instance, you might focus on a particular signifier of race (plants, buildings, appliances, or skin, for instance), focusing on how they work, what they do, etc., first in a specific passage, then in the novel as a whole—including how they affect or connect to cultural issues. Your focused questions will lead you to a concrete claim about representations of race in the novel. If you try to tackle too many ideas or ideas that are too large, you will end up doing a lot of summarizing and explaining throughout your essay and your analysis will suffer.
Format & Length:
• Your essay should be 1000 to 2000 words in length, double-spaced, 12-point font (Times New Roman), and in MLA format.
• Must include an annotated bibliography, one of the secondary sources from this unit, and at least one external source of your choosing (from the Rivera Library website database—MLA or JSTOR are the most reliable options).
