Read 'How to: Read, Watch, and Write About Literature':

Before you begin your first assignment, please read the section

How to: Read, Watch, and Write About Literature

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Text Assignment:

• Introduction, pp. 18-24, 201-202
• “The Origin of the Stories” (Seneca), pp. 53-55; “Iroquois or the Confederacy of the Five Nations,” pp. 56-59
• Champlain, pp. 205-209

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Program One:

The following link is to an outline of the main ideas in Program One. Use this interactive outline to guide you through the video. Print off a copy of this outline and add your own notes. Using this link requires a broadband connection and Windows media player 8 or higher.

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Introduction and Practice Journal:

I ask you to send me two short writings: an introduction telling me a bit about yourself, so I can get to know you, and a practice journal, so you can get used to writing for this course.

Directions:

1. Using MS Word, write an introduction in one or two paragraphs which tells me these things about you, as a student, as you begin the course:

   •  Why you enrolled and what you hope to accomplis

   •  What previous experiences you've had (good or bad) in studying literature--especially in writing about literature (NOTE THAT ENGLISH 112 OR MY APPROVAL IS A PREREQUISITE FOR THIS COURSE.

   •  How you feel about the work ahead, as outlined in this course site.

   •  What other areas of your life--other classes, job, personal obligations--you think may affect your study in this course

2. Write a Practice Journal of no more than one page, following the “Rules” and sample journals in the How to: Read, Watch, and Write About Literature section. The topic for this Practice Journal is as follows:

   Daganowedah is the hero of “Iroquois or Confederacy of the Five Nations,” and Samuel de Champlain is the hero of The Voyages of Samuel de Champlain. Explain how Daganowedah's and Champlain's heroic actions and outcomes are different. Incorporate three brief quotations from these early writings to illustrate your reasoning.
3. Save your file as: [your last name]_intro&practice_journal.doc (example: Riggin_intro&practice_journal.doc)
4. Attach document to an email and email as directed below:

   Email instructions:

   Email to jriggin@nvcc.edu

   subject line should read:

   [your last name] Introduction and Practice Journal

   Example: Riggin Introduction and Practice Journal

Grading criteria:

The introduction and practice journal earn the 5 bonus points when they are submitted.

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What To Study for Exam #1:

In the TEXT introductions, the editors provide a very thorough background to your readings. In particular, you should study these topics for Exam #1:

•  ethnocentrism, pp. 1-2

•  the oral tradition in Native American story-telling, pp. 18-21

•  the types of Native American stories, pp. 21-24

•  the names of the countries which explored America , pp. 5-8

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