September 26, 2013 - Thursday

Class Work

1. EMCC Writing Rubric Review: You need to have a copy of your "I Am A Writer" essay showing on the screen or printed on paper. I will give you a paper copy of the rubric.

2. Register for EasyBib: www.easybib.com

3. We will register for My Comp Lab on Tuesday. I ran into trouble creating the course.

4. Let's talk about body art.

5.  What do you think about body art? Do you have piercings or tattoos? If so, is there a story? (sharing) Consider your hair - styling it is also a form of body art. You might have a story about it as well! How about the way you dress? Have you ever worn something that "changed you or impresses or shocked others?
Make up is also body art. Do you have any stories to go with a make-up experience?

6. Group Activity:

• History of tattoos
• History of hair design
• History of piercings
• History of body modifications
• History of clothing/fashion design
• History of make-up.( War paint counts!)

Join one of the five groups listed above. You will conduct a quick Internet search and look for the beginnings or history of your body art assignment. Consider:

• Where did it begin?
• Why was it done?
• Did age have anything to do with the "ritual?" Was it a ritual?
• How was it done? What were the materials/tools that were used?

Prepare a brief presentation for the class. Feel free to use PowerPoint to show pictures or to point out amazing facts! Keep track of your sources. Create a Works Cited page for the group. What sources did you use?

Homework

Part I: Read "Under My Skin" by Jon Bowen http://www.salon.com/1999/06/23/tattoo/

Answer the following questions for "Under My Skin." Be prepared to discuss in class.

1. How do the anecdotes about himself and his tattoo artist ("Flash Gordon") enrich this essay?

2. Bowen deliberately shifts from first person "I" to second person "you" as he describes the process of getting a tattoo and reconsidering the tattoo. Find three examples of the second person perspective as you evaluate this strategy.

3. Find three examples of Bowen's use of humor, catchy phrases or lively tone to keep this informative essay from becoming tedious or predictable.

4. The author uses allusions that may be familiar to many readers. Do you know the origin of "Flash Gordon", "tabula rasa" or "to undo or not to undo - that's the question?" How do references to familiar characters or phrases help or hinder an essay?

5. Evaluate Bowen's inclusion of direct quotations from tattoo technicians and medical specialists to describe the reasons for removal, the degree of pain, and the results. How does Bowen keep this research from making his essay too technical or inaccessible for the readers?

(Questions from Between Worlds pp. 32-33.)

Post your responses in Canvas. You do not need to type the questions. Simply number the answers. This is due Tuesday.

Part II
Write the final copy of your introductory essay - The Writer in You. Post the final in Canvas. Please print a paper copy for me to use.

Part III
On paper, write out your personal Body Art story. This should be about a page long. Post in Canvas.