English 104 Lecture 5

Lecture Overview

• English 104, Lecture Number Five

• Duration: Expected to be long due to multiple topics covered.

• Structure of Lecture: Divided into three parts with pauses at transitions.

Purpose of the Lecture

• Encouragement to exercise curiosity and adventure in writing.

• Emphasis on exploration in personal interests and in writing.

Course Assignments

• Reference to course outline for deadlines and due assignments.

• Upcoming Assignments Schedule:

  • Current: First scene or portion of a scene is to be submitted.

  • Next Week: Poetry assignment.

  • Following Week: Rewrite of the scene based on feedback.

  • Three Weeks from Now: Rewrite of the first short story and first draft of the second short story.

• Reminder to pace oneself regarding upcoming assignments.

Scene Assignment Details

• Specifics on Scene Assignment:

  • Required length: 3 to 5 pages of dialogue between two characters.

  • Setting and situation are chosen by the student.

  • Each character must possess strong desires or motivations with high stakes involved.

  • It’s important to include missing information where neither character is privy to the complete story.

  • Writer should avoid clichés and focus on original ideas.

  • Simple settings acceptable (like a coffee shop).

  • Proper formatting details provided as part of instruction.

Feedback and Analysis of Drafts

• Importance of not resolving the scene; leave it open-ended. Just write what feels necessary without a conclusive ending.

• Critique methodology: Shared anonymous contributions from another class to learn from.

  • Example Scene Analysis: Scene Title: "Old Half Packed Truth"

    • Setting: Bedroom night before college departure.

    • Characters: Sam and Riley.

    • Opening mood and action described (messy bedroom, lack of resolution).

    • Discussion of character dynamics, motivations, and dialogues.

    • Importance of on-stage directions (e.g., use of silence, pauses, and emotional states).

    • Noting necessary actions and gestures without over-specifying them to allow actor interpretation.

    • Summary of thematic highlights such as freedom and character desires.

  • Critique of potential weaknesses, such as unresolved tension and overuse of silence.

Second Scene Example Analysis

• Second Scene: Scene Title: "The Breakup"

  • Setting: Local coffee shop ambiance explained.

  • Characters: Aria and Brandon engaging in conversation, depicting tension and relationship dynamics.

  • Observations made regarding communication gaps and expressions of feelings.

  • Reference to audience engagement and need for clarity in dialogue.

  • Emphasis on character development through exchanges that reveal deeper issues.

  • Importance of sustaining audience curiosity without providing all information upfront.

Revising Short Stories and Poetry Assignments

• Revision Questions for Upcoming Short Stories:

  • Ability to articulate the story's theme

  • Protagonist's wants and needs.

  • Description of visual imagery and its symbolic meanings.

  • Highest tension point in the narrative.

  • Resolution assessment and genre considerations.

  • Discussion on time passage in narrative structure.

  • Recommended maximum number of scenes for clarity and pacing.

Technical Aspects of Poetry Assignment

• Assignment requirements for poetry: 3 poems with specific forms.

  • Poem Types Required: One villanelle, one ode, and one free choice.

  • Submission deadline: Midnight on October 6.

  • Commentary on experience working with a fixed form required (e.g., findings on creative constraints).

Villanelle Explanation

• Definition of Villanelle: A fixed form of poetry with a specific rhyme scheme (ABA) and repetition of lines.

• Structural Components:

  • Five tercets (three-line stanzas) followed by a quatrain (four-line stanza).

  • Specific rhyme patterns and refrain lengths defined.

  • Example: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas facilitates analysis of themes around mortality and emotional resistance.

Ode Overview

• Definition of Ode: A poem directed towards a specific person or object, often expressing praise or acknowledgment.

• Example: “Ode to My Socks” by Pablo Neruda elaborates on beauty found in simple objects.

• Emphasis on how language creates meaning and emotional resonance in odes.

Final Thoughts and Assignments

• Importance of understanding what constitutes good writing and moral implications of storytelling.

• Reflection on audience engagement and the responsibility writers hold through their content.

• Discussion of personal aesthetic development and authorial intent.

• Upcoming portfolio submission expectations outlined including select drafts of work and artist statement.

• Encouragement to reflect on personal growth as a writer throughout the course.