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Panel Discussion
Choose a genre group to
join and choose one novel within the group for which you will be
responsible. You may purchase the novel from MCC's bookstore, a local
bookstore or the via
the link to Amazon.com , or you may borrow it from a local library if available.
The group will present a 20-30 minute panel discussion to the
class.
During the month of Unit 2, the group members must
participate in the genre discussion as detailed on the course syllabus
and the Angel Discussion Board.
The entire group is responsible for addressing
the following questions, but you should decide who will answer which question in
class:
1. What are the
conventions associated with the genre?
2. What is the origin of the genre? How did it develop during the 20th
Century?
3. Have practitioners of the genre used their novels for social or political
commentary? How?
4. What is the position of the genre in the popular literary scene? In the
critical literary scene?
5. How does the author of your novel adhere to the genre's
conventions?
6. How does s/he bend the conventions? To what effect?
7. What has been the critical assessment of your author?
Book Review
Write a 3-4 page (750-1000 word) review of the book you have chosen.
Before you begin to write the review, read a number of professional book
reviews, including some written about your book. The best source for book
reviews is the New York Times Book Review, published in the Sunday
edition of the New York Times and online: www.newyorktimes.com.
Other book reviews may be accessed via The
Complete Review (more British and European-oriented) and LINCC's Electronic
Resources,
especially J-Stor, Academic Search Premiere and the Gale Literary Resource center.
Your book review should cite at least two professional reviews -- you may agree
or disagree with the reviewers or use their insights to enrich your
review.
Don't hesitate to quote from the book itself to illustrate your
points.
Remember that you are writing a review for readers who may not have read
the book -- try to avoid "spoilers" -- information that might spoil the surprise
or mystery of the book for the reader.
Your book review should contain at least the following elements:
1. The author, title, publisher and year of original publication
2. Some discussion of the author's reputation and previous books
3. Discussion of the themes -- what is the author's purpose in the novel?
4. Discussion of the author's style -- diction, use of description, use of
dialogue, use of the conventions of the genre, etc.
5. Some character analysis of the major characters
6. Your evaluation of the novel as an important novel, a work of art
and/or an entertaining read
The citations in your book review must follow MLA format,
both in the text and in a Works Cited List. See MLA
FORMAT and Samples
of MLA Citations.
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