Here is the exam, the take-home questions about Flash Boys are on the last page. Email a Word document with answers. (Please do not answer any of the other questions, at this point.)
Final Paper: PAPER COPY -- Due Dec 11, by 3pm in my office, HV 112
ALSO: UPLOAD to TurnItIn.com on Moodle (http://cms.whittier.edu/course/view.php?id=10347#section-15)
Please bring a typed, double-spaced fully proofed and MLA formatted copy to my office, and upload the same copy to the Moodle.
Final Take-Home Exam Question: Due by Word doc via email by NOON on Monday December 8.
Dos Passos/ Wolfe Quiz questions (11/11)
The Bonfire of the Vanities is dedicated to Counselor Eddie Hayes: “Doffing his hat, the author dedicates this book to…” Author Tom Wolfe has acknowledged in the press that the character of Tommy Killian was based on Eddie Hayes. The novel is thus in effect dedicated to Killian. Also, the author gave this character his own name (Tom).
In many ways, this novel is a satire. This means that the exaggerated vices, stupidity, callousness and greed of the characters are exposed and cast in a critical light. The society of wealthy New York is portrayed as decadent: So obscenely self-indulgent and wealthy that the culture seems to be in a state of decline. In that sense, this is a book with no heroes. Everyone is being satirized.
What if Killian is the only character not being satirized? The dedication suggests that Killian might be an exception to that rule.
Look at the beginning of Chapter 24 (p. 520).
1) Summarize what is happening in this scene.
2) Answer this question by using evidence from the text:
How might it change the way you understand the satire of The Bonfire of the Vanities if Killian is meant to be heroic?
[EITHER THIS QUESTION (2) OR THE NEXT QUESTION MAY BE TURNED IN BY EMAIL, BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY, WITH A WORD LIMIT OF 250 WORDS]
(10 min total – with option for email extra time)
On page 41 of The Big Money, Dos Passos writes about Henry Ford, “The American Plan; automotive prosperity seeping down from above; it turned out there were strings to it…”
Paraphrase this passage, between “The American Plan” and “the great American of his time” [summarize what it means]. Then say why you think this passage is included in the story of Charley Anderson.
[SEE ABOVE]
(6 min – with option for email extra time)
(22 min total)
The Bonfire of the Vanities is dedicated to Counselor Eddie Hayes: “Doffing his hat, the author dedicates this book to…” Author Tom Wolfe has acknowledged in the press that the character of Tommy Killian was based on Eddie Hayes. The novel is thus in effect dedicated to Killian. Also, the author gave this character his own name (Tom).
In many ways, this novel is a satire. This means that the exaggerated vices, stupidity, callousness and greed of the characters are exposed and cast in a critical light. The society of wealthy New York is portrayed as decadent: So obscenely self-indulgent and wealthy that the culture seems to be in a state of decline. In that sense, this is a book with no heroes. Everyone is being satirized.
What if Killian is the only character not being satirized? The dedication suggests that Killian might be an exception to that rule.
Look at the beginning of Chapter 24 (p. 520).
1) Summarize what is happening in this scene.
2) Answer this question by using evidence from the text:
How might it change the way you understand the satire of The Bonfire of the Vanities if Killian is meant to be heroic?
[EITHER THIS QUESTION (2) OR THE NEXT QUESTION MAY BE TURNED IN BY EMAIL, BEFORE CLASS ON THURSDAY, WITH A WORD LIMIT OF 250 WORDS]
(10 min total – with option for email extra time)
On page 41 of The Big Money, Dos Passos writes about Henry Ford, “The American Plan; automotive prosperity seeping down from above; it turned out there were strings to it…”
Paraphrase this passage, between “The American Plan” and “the great American of his time” [summarize what it means]. Then say why you think this passage is included in the story of Charley Anderson.
[SEE ABOVE]
(6 min – with option for email extra time)
(22 min total)
READING QUIZZES
- The quizzes will test both your knowledge of the text and your comprehension of the text.
- Information that is clearly gleaned from online summaries alone is a type of plagiarism (but you wouldn't do that anyway).
- You can and should study together! Talking about complex material is an excellent way to help yourself remember it.
PRESENTATIONS
- The presentations are designed to force you into conversation with each other. The only requirement is that you bring a serious question about the material to the class, and lead a discussion based on that question.
- Your presentation grade will rest, in part, on how well you get your peers to participate.
- Effective leadership skills are economically valuable!! This is great practice.
- See me in office hours, before your presentation, to discuss your question.
THE THREE PAGE PAPER ASSIGNMENT
- Choose a text. Do not use Big Money or The Crying of Lot 49.
- Identify one economic reality that creates the foundation for specific aspects of the narrative, or one economic change that has a significant impact on the structure of the text. What economic change is affecting these characters' lives? or, what economic reality is a crucial precondition to understand this story?
- Use some evidence from the text to support your claim.
- Describe one economic assumption that relates to this economic change.
- Bring outside historic evidence to support your claim. Cite at least 2 academic or primary sources to link this historic, economic evidence to your claims. Wikipedia is a good place to start. It is not, however, an acceptable source
- The second paper will follow the same prompt, but you must choose a new text.
- The 3pp limit is a maximum. The idea is to force yourself to choose only the best evidence that supports your claim, and to hone your writing.