Into The Wild (25%)
For this project everyone will read Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer. Your grade will be based on three factors.
1. Class participation (%5): Everyone will be expected to participate in class discussion on the reading for that day. You need to show not only that you have read the material, but that you have thought about it and have formed your own opinions of both the content and writing style of Into The Wild. These classes will be conducted in a Socratic style.
2. Marking your book (%5): Everyone is expected to be an active reader of the text. To help facilitate this you will be expected to mark your book up in the style outlined in “How to Mark a Book.” You can mark your book up anyway you like (there is no set method). You should underline important passages, jot down your feelings on a chapter or line, and write the definition of words you don’t understand; work to become an active reader. When you turn in your paper on Into The Wild you will also turn in your book.
3. The paper (15%): Below are listed a number of different paper ideas. Choose which one speaks most to you, or you can propose another idea to me. All papers must be at least five pages, before graphics, and must pull strongly from and quote widely from the text.
a. There is a lot of controversy surrounding Chris McCandless’ death. He has been called a fool, a hero, an innocent, a monster, a dreamer, a child, and suicidal. What is your take? Make a convincing argument, based on your reading of Into The Wild, on how we should view Chris McCandless. Also, you must incorporate what you feel Krakauer’s take on Chris McCandless is. Does his take influence the reader? How so? Why might Krakauer feel the way he does about Chris McCandless?
b. In Chapters 13 and 14 of Into The Wild, Krakauer relates a story about his own youth that mirrors Chris McCandless’ in many ways. He tells of his own struggles, but always brings the story back to the text. If you have a personal story that relates to Chris McCandless’, that has helped you understand Into The Wild and why Chris McCandless acted the way he did, you can turn that into your paper. However, you must show, with textual examples, how your journey and Chris McCandless are connected and how your personal experiences have brought you to a fuller understanding of the book.
c. Choose a person who has attempted to go “into the wild” as Chris McCandless did. You, like Krakauer, may write his biography. Like Krakauer you must do more than just list facts. Analyze your subject and make conjectures about why he/she made the choices he/she did. Connect your subject to Chris McCandless by quoting from the text and making rational comparisons (such as Krakauer did in Chapter 8).
d. View the movie adaptation of Into The Wild. How does it differ from the book? Not just in the little moments, but in the approach. Krakauer approached the book as a cross between a journalistic investigation and a personal essay. How did the movie director approach Chris McCandless’ story? Use scenes and rhetorical devices from the movie and sections/language from the book to back up your assertion.
Final paper and annotated book due April 16
Documenting Your Own Reality:
Zine Project (20%)
A zine is usually a non-commercial, non-professional publication—kind of like a magazine but with a twist. The main difference between a magazine and a zine is that zines are not out there to make a profit but, rather, to add other, often unheard voices into the mix. Zines are usually made out of interest and passion and are often self-published by the writer/artist/creator.
Typically zines are made using collage techniques, photocopied, and distributed on a small scale. They are cheap to produce, and are often spread by hand through the relevant community; for example, a punk zine might be available at punk performances, and a poetry zine would be featured at poetry readings. A zine is often viewed as a news organ of an underground or cliquish community, and a zine’s readership often has an inclusive sense of pride at being part of the movement the zine relates to.
For your final project in this class you will create your own zine. You can choose any topic you like (but please, no list zines). Your zine must be a mix of writing and graphics, but what type of both are up to you. There are very few rules for this project, but please be aware that your grade will be based on the obvious time and care that went into the creation and writing of your zine. You can use a computer if you wish, but you don’t have to. We will look at examples of different types of zines and the different ways they are created. You can then use the vehicle that works best for you.
Your zine should be an expression of something that is of interest or even a passion to you. You don’t have to be serious (many of the best zines are humor based or have silly premises such as reviewing candy or knuckle tattoos), but your zine does need to be created with care.
A three-page paper needs to accompany your zine. This paper should outline your creative process. Why did you make the choices you did? What were your influences? This paper should have little to no errors.
On April 2nd you need to bring to class a review you have written on the Zine of your choice. You can borrow a zine from me or you can procure a Zine on your own. You may write your review on more than one zine if you like, and you can also discuss how the Zine(s) you review will influence your own Zine, for good or ill. This review must be at least two pages long.
On April 9 you will need to bring to class one finished page of your zine. Please bring 20 copies; one for me and one for everyone else in the class.
A hard copy of your final zine is due to me on April 27th. I will be keeping this copy, so be sure to make a copy for yourself. The last week of class everyone will give a short, informal presentation on their zine.
