Writing Workshop II: Heaven or Hell?

Fall 2001: Heaven or Hell after the Millenium

Check out "Self versus State" theme for Fall 1998 breakdown

Come to Hell and Heaven for Baby Boomers

This is a research, critical and creative writing class focusing on the themes of heaven and hell. You will be improving computer and library skills as you continue the recursive processes of reading, thinking, writing and reflecting on your development as a writer.

• Do you ever feel as if you're living in or at least visiting a hell on earth?
• What makes a place, person or situation "hellish?"
• Can we create a heaven on earth?
• How would you describe your fantasies or beliefs about heaven?
• Do humans enter a heaven or hell as a reward or punishment for their actions or thoughts?
• Why do most utopias turn into dystopias?
• If the binary nature of heaven or hell bothers you, how would you solve your research problems by analyzing the ambivalence of reality with its degrees of heaven and hell?

As in all of Keefer multidisciplinary classes, there are group projects, individual paths, core material and the class project.

Groups: Humanities majors can analyse the heavens and hells of literature and philosophy; Social science majors can research utopias and dystopias; and health science majors can describe the subjective hells of a specific disease or disability.

Individual paths: Plan the semester to make the most of your talents and research interests by choosing a topic that you love (on the theme of Heaven or Hell) and keep your focus on self-directed learning.

Click on the following sites for information about the readings:

YOU BET YOUR SOUL!

Course Objectives

1. To improve library, community and online research skills through ORIGINAL research into the heaven and hell of your choice;
2. To identify, define and solve the problems inherent in your research topic;
3. To complete a MYfolio (as messy and cathartic as you like) including weekly assignments, in-class writing, a daily journal about your PERSONAL exploration into heaven and hell, research notes and all the projects;
4. To do a CRITICAL analysis of classical readings on heaven and hell such as Dante's Inferno, Sartre's No Exit, William Blake's The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, the Bible, Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus and Plato's Republic, and the Portable Nietzsche;
5. To practise in-class writing every week, culminating in a midterm paper, 5-7 pages on your research area.
6. To complete a WEBfolio with samples of your best poems, stories, multimedia and photos, as well as a 6 page internet outline/description of your research in html form;
7. To improve your logic and oral communication skills with an ARGUMENTATIVE class presentation on your research topic, followed by debate and rebuttal:
8. To SYNTHESIZE all your work into a research paper (15 pages) that turns your hell into a heaven, your heaven into a hell, or creates a mixture of the two. This paper should include a synthesis of the best of your expository, argumentative, critical, creative and descriptive writing on your research subject, meticulously ORGANIZED around a central thesis (question, statement and dilemma) that is developed through every paragraph of the paper. You may choose MLA or APA documentation, but you must be consistent. The paper is accompanied by a 3 page BIBLIOGRAPHY of books, articles, audiovideo material, interviews and online sources.
9. To upload your paper and webfolio by December 12 and to fully participate in CYBERPERFORMANCE II: HEAVEN OR HELL?

Course Requirements and Grading

The most important requirements are attendance and participation. You cannot get an A if you miss more than one class. If you miss more than 3 classes, you will not even get a B. When you miss class, you must ask classmates for notes, submit assignments and check online for any changes. The professor gives special attention to those who come to class, not to those who are absent. Class participation will be evaluated by punctuality, discussion, in-class writing and the performance of your chosen role for the semester as an expert consultant to the rest of the class in one or more of the following areas: library research, word games including spelling and vocabulary, grammar, logic, software/hardware, web design, psychology, literary analysis, or creative exercises. You may also be asked to play God, Satan, a tormented existentialist or one of Plato's philosopher kings/queens. All weekly assignments and in-class writing will be marked Excellent, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. Final grade is based on attendance, participation, weekly assignments, midterm, final paper and webfolio and participation in CYBERPERFORMANCE II: Heaven or Hell?

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