Name: ______________________________________________________________________ The Namesake: Jhumpa Lahiri Mini-syllabus College English Frazier-Booth 2012 This mini-syllabus has the essay assignments for The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri and the nightly reading assignments. YOU ARE EXPECTED TO READ EVERY NIGHT! The way I will check your reading is through reading checks and journal responses. Reading checks consist of 5 or more questions about the previous night(s) reading. They are detail oriented, but are usually details you should know—i.e.: What is the setting? What new character is introduced? Describe Ashima and Ashoke using at least two adjectives and/or one specific detail from the text. There is also a bonus question about a very specific detail, for example: What is the topic of Gogol’s senior thesis project? In addition to reading checks, you are expected to maintain a journal that will be checked at least twice. I will be looking specifically for entries about the characters, reader questions and vocabulary. You may use a Reciprocal Teaching format, or a format that you develop. I will collect journals periodically to give you credit for this work. Occasionally you will be given assignments where you may use your journal, but not your text to help you answer a question or maybe a reading check. The more complete your journal is, the better support you will have on these assignments. You will also answer questions in your journal as part of your daily “Do Now” and/or homework to help you connect with the characters. ESSAY I am giving you your essay assignment now so that you can get into the habit of marking passages and quotes. You should use your pack of small post-it notes to help you remember pages where important events happen. You final essay will require in-text citations. The essay is due Friday November 9, 2012 by 2:45 if printed, 5PM if e-mailed. DO NOT LEAVE ANY ESSAYS IN MY MAILBOX. Because grades close on this day, no late assignments will be accepted. Essays received early will receive a 5-point bonus. The Essay grade will be reflected on your first quarter report card. It will be worth 100 points and will be part of your papers and projects grade, which averaged with the Henrietta Lacks essay is 1/3rd of your total first quarter grade. Essay Questions: Choose one of the following topics: Writing Prompts - Choose 1 of the following: 1. Gogol and Moushumi seem perfect for each other. Both characters are somewhat successful Indian- American hybrids with a common cultural and familial connection and similar life experiences. In the end, however, this marriage does not work out. Analyze the relationship between Gogol and Moushumi. Why did this near perfect match end poorly? What was missing from their relationship? 2. Throughout the novel, Gogol has had a few different girlfriends/lovers. What was Gogol looking for in each of these women? What attracted Gogol to them? Analyze all 3 of Gogol’s relationships. Consider tracking the evolution of Gogol’s ideals and attraction. Why was each woman right for Gogol at the time, and why didn’t these relationships last? 3. Why is the novel called The Namesake? What is the value of names? Why are names so important? Analyze the role of names in the text and complete a deep analysis of the names from the novel. Research Indian naming traditions in more detail. 4. Write about the influence of architecture and art on Gogol’s life. What inspires his career choices? Make sure to do some research on the Taj Mahal and analyze its influence on Gogol. Why would it have such a profound impact on him? 5. Gogol says, “in these moments [with Moushumi], these glimpses, he believes he has known no greater intimacy” (211). Investigate intimacy in The Namesake. Throughout the novel, intimacy can be found in both physical and nonphysical ways. Must intimacy be sexual? How is intimacy expressed differently across cultures? How might naming be considered an intimate experience? 6. A common event throughout The Namesake is parties. Parties occur for many reasons and with many different groups of people. Analyze the social, cultural, and familial roles of parties in the novel. How are the parties Gogol attends different at various points throughout his life? How does this relate to his character and identity? A sophisticated essay should include quotes and MLA documentation (which we will review in class). Your paragraph should be at least five paragraphs in length, but may be longer in order to thoroughly respond to the question. Use quotes that are properly formatted as well as internal citation. Your essay MUST be typed, and double-spaced. Use Times, Times Roman, Geneva, Helvetica or Palatino fonts, 12 point. Your margins may not be more than 1.25 inches on either side, and one inch top and bottom. The Namesake Reading Assignments: Reading is due ON the date it is listed next to. By 11th grade you should be able to easily read 20 pages a night. The pacing is slightly less than this goal with occasional breaks where you can catch up. Reading checks will be based on the reading schedule below. The reading checks will never go beyond the assigned reading allowing you to adjust your reading schedule as needed. The reading schedule is designed to help you establish a reading pace and meets minimum proficiency standards. Date DUE: October 3 October 4 October 5 October 9 October 10 October 11 October 12 October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 25 October 26 October 29 October 30 October 31 November 1 November 2 Assignment Chapters 1 {Reading Check #1} Chapter 2 (To the break at the top of page 38) Chapter 2 {Reading Check #2} Chapter 3 Chapter 4 {Reading Check #3} *Chapter 4 Journal Entry question (homework). Collect and Grade 5 journals (5 extra credit points) Chapter 5 (To the break on page 116) Collect and Grade 5 journals Chapter 5 {Reading Check #4} Collect and Grade remaining journals (late journals lose 10 points) Chapters 6 Chapter 6 {Reading Check #5} Chapter 7 (To the break at the end of page 169) (No Class PSAT) Chapter 7 {Reading Check #6} Chapter 8 (To the break) Chapter 8 {Reading Check #7} Chapter 9 (To the break) Chapter 9 {Reading Check #8} Collect and Grade 5 journals (5 extra credit points) Chapter 10 Collect and Grade 5 journals Chapter 11 Collect and Grade remaining journals (late journals lose 10 points) Chapter 12 Namesake final Test Essay draft due (Peer feedback) Content and completion grade only. Pages 1-21 22-38 38-47 48-71 72-96 97-116 116-124 125-139 140-158 159-169 169-187 188-207 207-218 219-230 230-245 246-267 268-273 274-291 November 7 November 9 Namesake Final Essay Due First term grades close. No late work, no make up taken. Journal Entries will be graded based on the following rubric: To receive a(n): A AB+ BC (50 points) (47 points) (44 points) (40 points) (37 points) Detailed RT Complete RT Meets the Fails to meet Missing 2 or Each week entries entries requirements any one the more of the you must and/or and/or to the left, requirements requirements have: detailed paragraphs but may be listed to the for an A. paragraph for each missing one left as for each chapter. entry or detailed chapter + 6 May lack fewer than 5 below. or more some detail, words for challenging but there are each words and entries for chapter. their each definitions. chapter. Include page Includes a number and minimum of sentence 5 words + where word their is found. definitions. Students who participate in the first journal collection will receive 5 extra credit points. Students who participate in the second collection will receive 2 extra points. Students can also receive extra credit for listing up to 5 “gems”. To receive credit for a gem, list any lines that you find are especially beautiful, funny or memorable. List the page number, copy the entire quote, then explain in a solid paragraph why you selected the line. Each gem is worth 1 point. Character List Journal Check #1 Subsequent Checks A (10 points) B (8 points) C (7 points) All characters listed and described. All characters updated and/or additional characters added. Most characters listed and described. Most characters updated and/or additional characters added Some characters listed and described. Some characters updated and/or additional characters added Journal: Model your journal entries after this format. Include a regularly updated list of characters, Questions that you have as you read (especially discussion-worthy questions), and vocabulary. Your questions can be formatted in any way you would like, but you should have a personal response to them with updates if and when the answers are finally revealed. Consider questions that predict outcomes (I wonder what will happen to…) as well as questions that look at character behavior (Why doesn’t Gogol date in high school?). You should ALWAYS have a list of vocabulary words that you learn as you read. Copy the word, the page where you first saw it, the sentence in which is was used. Then write what you guess the word means. Look up the dictionary definition that fits how the word is used in the text. Make sure you include the part of speech for the form of the word as it used. Sample journal pages: Gogol Ganguli The title character The story starts with his birth at the beginning of chapter 2 Chapter 1 is about the last two weeks of his mother Ashima’s pregnancy and a series of flashbacks about her life in Calcutta, India and his father’s life in India that inspired him to more to America. Questions: Why does Ghosh, a total stranger, offer to help Ashoke? Answer: Guess—Maybe he sees a bit of himself in Ashoke. Actual Answer: Ghosh is the literary device Lahiri uses to inspire Ashoke to leave India, which sets the story in motion. Predict Clarify Ashima will be reborn again in his son’s life, because of how significant his first “three” births seem to be. (pg.21) Question Why does Ashima feel so grateful to the Russian writer Gogol? Why would Ghosh tell Ashima to “Pack a pillow and a blanket?” Chapter 1 tells of the weeks and hours before the baby’s birth, and a horrendous train accident that his father survived years earlier. Summarize Vocabulary: sartorial: page 17. "Immersed in the sartorial plight of Akaky Akakyevich, lost in the wide, snow-white, windy avenues of St. Petersburg…” I think sartorial is a harsh and negative, bad. Dictionary: sartorial adj. of or relating to a tailor or tailored clothes. My own sentence: My sartorial taste served me well when I interviewed with Donna Karan.