Monday, March 21, 2011

Prompts for Borges, Week 2



Option 1:  Write a Borges story about a Borges story.  Here's what I mean:  Borges obviously likes telling stories and getting ideas across through stories, essays, and essay-stories about other authors, both real and fictional.  Do the same to him:  write a story, or story-essay, which uses one of his stories to make a point which *you* want to make.  The content of the story, and your area of interest, are up to you.  The only other requirement - and you will be evaluated on it - is that you show a good understanding of Borges in general, and your chosen story in particular.


Option 2:  Yes, this is a repeat.  Go to the library, either physically or virtually.  You need to find a scholarly article on Borges, or an excerpt from a book about Borges (think 20-40 pages) *or* on a clearly related topic (for instance, gnosticism), which *must* be from the Pitt library.  I strongly suggest that you use the MLA Database.  I'm going to give you a link - you may need to log in if you're off campus, and the link may be different on campus, etc.  If you have trouble, you can ask me for help, but it might be easier to deal with a librarian - it's up to you.


MLA

Once you have picked and read an article, you need to do two things.

1)  Summarize one of its arguments, making use of citations and possibly quotes from it.
2)  Apply it to our class discussion - either extend or critique something we/I had to say about the poem, using this scholarly article.

FOR THIS OPTION ONLY, you may take until 4 p.m. on Saturday (that deadline is firm).  If you're doing so, just email me to let me know IN ADVANCE.

Also, you must cite your article, using whatever citation method you know.  If you don't know any, google either the MLA method of citation, or the Chicago style, and use one or the other.

Option 3:  I may, or may not, add another option after class.  Let me know if you have any suggestions.

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