This site will be unattended for the most part until I teach a literature class again, which is probably not until January 2009, but I will likely pop in every now and again to see that things are okay. Signing off for the summer and fall . . .

Here you go. I don't think there will be any surprises, but that's what you'd expect me to say.

Post the study guide for the final before the weekend. It would be very appreciated. Thanks.

I can see that I was correct in stating that the paper was due on Monday. Both the schedule and the note two below this one list Monday as the due date. Even though I was bamboozled into saying Tuesday on Friday, it's Monday. Otherwise, we won't have a book club presentation ready to go.

Seminar Days are as follows: Wednesday for Ruth Hall, Typee and Our Nig. Thursday for Uncle Tom's Cabin, Bondwoman's Narrative and Coquette. We'll address pretty much the same question as last time, but will draw on the readings that we've covered since The Scarlet Letter for the most part. What does the literature we've read, written about and discussed tell us about the nation/culture/people we are? As usual, you can think about your essay topics and the rest of what we've covered in terms of, yes, What is X? What does X do? and What does X mean? Be sure you come prepared to direct the conversation to specific passages from our reading (one shortcoming of the previous seminar) and to elicit information from those who are participating less (another shortcoming of the previous iteration.). Book club presetations will be as follows:

• Friday, May 30: Bondwoman
• Monday, June 2: Essay due for grading
• Tuesay, June 3: Our Nig
• Wednesday June 4: Uncle Tom's Cabin
• Thursday, June 5: Coquette
• Friday, June 6: Typee
• Monday, June 9: Ruth Hall

If you did not submit your graded and responded to essay with your revision, it did not get a re-reading or response. Here are the guilty parties: Blake, Sarah, Joy, Erica, Grant, Alyssa and Katelyn. Bring the graded and responded to draft of your essay and I'll re-read and re-grade your revision.

I'm not sure if this will help anyone's essay, but figured it was worth providing the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/opinion/25applegate.html?ref=opinion

Here's the opening sentences:

OVER the last few months, the contest between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination has been compared to the bitter feud between Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass, two of the most famous progressive reformers of the 19th century.

I made some changes to the schedule, the most important being the reading draft of the second essay being due Tuesday upon our return from the Memorial Day Holiday. The next two days after that will be seminar and book club work days. We'll decide which groups go on each day on Monday. Next Friday will be the first of the book club presentations. You are expected to make use of the full 50 minutes in presenting your text and you should also revise or create a wiki entry for your book. Those that are new need provide only text. Those that are being revise should look to include images, links, and revamped formatting, whatever can be done to add value to the present iteration. Feel free to email me over the weekend with any questions that come up. I'll try to remember to check the blog somewhat regularly.

For the people that werent here today, the first draft is due tuesday. Thought Id let you all know so you dont get a suprise on tuesday..

There won't be any class today. Yesterday my son gashed open his leg when he crashed his bicycle so I was up most of the night with him so I'm in no condition to teach today. The revision of the essay will be due Wednesday instead of Tuesday so anyone who planned to drop by with questions today (or anyone who now might think it a good idea to drop by Tuesday with questions) can do so. See you Tuesday.