Themes


 * Weeks 2 - 5: September 20 - October 18 - Culminating activity: A creative presentation that demonstrates your synthesis of ideas from "around" and "within" the novel**

There are many ideas developed in //The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum//, which, when compared to those in other works you have studied before, and to other works you will be studying soon, will be enlightening to explore!

Over the next few days, as we read the novel, we will come up with a list of themes and motifs to explore in this novel, and then break into groups to explore them. Later, we will identify pertinent questions that these explorations address, and create presentations to share back with the class (final assignment). At the same time, we will be looking at the function of narrative in the book and in real life, as well as the craft of story-telling. Our work looking at style should help to add another dimension to your work developing ideas about themes and motifs.

1. Discuss possible topics to explore here in our [|Discussion Forum.] Some will appear as you read; others as you discuss; others we may have touched on last week. I will join you in the Discussion Forum each evening this week to contribute to our conversation. Keep in mind that the broader the topic range, the better. When you write your World Lit Paper 1, each person MUST write on an original topic. We are using "group think" to explore literature thoroughly, but must think independently once it is time to come up with your actual topic for your paper, later in the course.

2. Once we have a list of topics, I will divide you into groups to trace the development of these ideas through the novel. Members of your group will trace those ideas in a Google Document, so that it can be edited, shared, and exported as need be. The Google Docs we will use are here:
 * [|Topic 1]
 * [|Topic 2]
 * [|Topic 3]
 * [|Topic 4]
 * [|Topic 5]
 * [|Topic 6]
 * [|Topic 7]
 * [|Topic 8]
 * [|Topic 9]
 * [|Topic 10]

3. Once you have compiled your list of ideas, supporting details, and commentary on the Google Doc, above, read over the comments provided by other groups. Then, considering all you have read, **identify one unique observation AND one question that relates to that observation. Post that observation and question on the Discussion Forum, [|here]. This will become a topic starter for the final presentation.**

//Helpful note:// as you work on this information-collection and analysis activity, you should also be keeping in mind the function of narrative and the craft of story-tellling. Don't miss that link on the sidebar menu!


 * As you are reading the novel, from **September 20-28** - identify topics and decide which ones are of most interest to you. (You will also be working on the "Function of narrative and the craft of story-telling" project at this time. That project is due **October 1**.)
 * By **September 29**, I will have transferred the key topics onto the Google Docs (identified above).
 * **September 29** - sign up on one of the Google Docs AND on this page next to the Google Doc link for a topic you will explore in that document with your group members.
 * **October 2-6** - complete your analysis of that topic on your Google Doc.
 * By **October 6** - given your analysis on your Google Doc, each student is to **identify one unique observation AND one question that relates to that observation, to be posted on the Discussion Forum, [|here]**
 * By **October 7**, decide who is in your group and which topic (from the list in the Discussion Forum) you would like to present on. Submit a one-paragraph (half-page) Statement of Intent to me via Share email: jbell3@share.epsb.ca.
 * **October 7-18** - create presentation.
 * **October 18** - submit presentation.


 * Support**: This is the most constructivist part of this novel study -- this means that this is where you are provided with a very general framework where YOU and your group members construct all of the information from what you have read. You might find this awkward, to have such an open-ended assignment. Be sure to ask questions in the Discussion Forum, or contact me directly, if you would like help through this section of the unit.