Blackboard site and Course EValuations

The Blackboard site for this class is now visible. I am using the "announcement" function to send you all mass emails. These are set up to go to your LMU address. Be sure to check that email address for these announcements and log in to Blackboard. If your LMU address doesn't work or you can't get in to Blackboard, email Sherry Lang and ask her to fix it. The final exam will be administered over Blackboard, so make sure this works now.

I am going to set up Blackboard for the papers to be submitted there. I realize it's easier for you to email it to me, but for some reason the web portal I use at home for our LMU email sometimes doesn't let me open attachments. It's random as near as I can tell, but since right now I can't get to my LMU office computer, I need to make sure I can open your documents. Please remember that I cannot read Word Perfect files, and save it as a Word document.

Finally: free candy! Norma Wells will have it (if you get there fairly soon) and she'll give you some when you drop by to fill out course evaluations. Please, please make sure you do that at some point in the next few weeks.

Discussion questions for the Scarlet Pimpernel

Class will meet on MSN this coming Tues at 9:30 to discuss the Scarlet Pimpernel. Remember, your annotated bibs must be emailed to me by 9:30 on Thursday. You must also set up a time to meet with me on messenger to discuss your bib. This can be on Thurs or Friday--let me know!

Here are some questions to consider for the Pimpernel:

1. This genre is historical fiction. What (besides being set in the past) does this genre demand? How does this book meet or alter those expectations?

2. Does the novel do anything that shows the Revolution and its aims as sympathetic? What? Why would this be part of the book?

3. What minor characters might serve as foils for the major characters? What do they suggest about them?

4. Chauvelin's downfall comes about because of his dislike for Jews. Does the novel invite the reader to reject his opinion? Or does it still expect that the reader holds a low opinion of them? What do you know about the treatment of Jews in Europe when this book was written?

5. Male and female roles in the novel. Where do characters act in a way that doesn't seem to conform with what the audience expected of their gender? Is this really resisting the gender roles that are assigned, or do the characters set them aside only to assert them?

I'll see you all on-line on Tuesday!

no class Thursday November 8

Sorry folks, on-line class will be cancelled Thursday.

We'll discuss The Scarlet Pimpernel on Tuesday.

Keep watching the blog for more information.

Have a good weekend!