'I am not one and I am not just one, but I am many that says "I". An "I" agaist the fiction of the little 'me' that acts as if it were universal and mistakes its own cowardice for the right to erase, in the name of others, everything that contradicts it.'

Tiqqun, from Sonogram of a Potential on writing against patriarchy

 

Who are you; writer, watcher, reader; mirror to reflect or hammer to smash illusion!?

Is it clear what you are are saying and why?

Are you present in what you have written?

 

Take note of the style of writers you are enjoying reading. Consider where they place themselves in terms of the questions above. A creative writing style I will always love is 'escatic' as in the free-flowing, stream of consiousness, trance-like, excited and honest writing of Beats like Jack Kerouac (On the Road) You might notice I've cited the feminist Tiqqun a lot on this site. She refers to her own feminist essay 'Sonogram of a Potential' as 'escatic feminism'. Here's the link if you want to read something pretty out there! Warning - contains explicit language. You cant write your PIP like this, there's just too much personal reflection.

http://caringlabor.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sonogram.pdf

 

 

Methods to make sure paragraphs in your extended responses and PIP are well-developed:

-Apply an example
-Apply data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
-Examine testimony (secondary research - what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
-Apply an anecdote or story (personal reflection - dont do TOO much of this - only once or twice in whole extended response or PIP chapters)
- Define terms (e.g special jargon) in the paragraph (especially early on in the piece of writing e.g introduction or chapter 1)
- Compare and contrast (e.g theories and what secondary sources argue)
-Evaluate causes and reasons (here you are synthesising)
-Examine effects and consequences (again, synthesis that builds on primary and secondary evidence and theory
- Analyze the topic (most important!)
- Describe the topic (only do this at the beginning and be very concise. Description will lower marks if it is not integrated with analysis and evaluation!)
-Outline a chronology of an event (time segments) (do this very sparingly and it must be integrated with analysis and evaluation

(based on points from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/)

 

 

Some extra concepts to apply in academic writing - see the 'Concepts' page for syllabus concepts

 

Anthropology - this involves analysis of how groups of humans have moved and changed over time. Globalisation means that there is a spread of ethnic groups around the world. SAC students may question how some societies maintain dominant cultural characteristics and others become more diverse.

 

Cultural capital - Pierre Bourdieu (1930–2002), said that persons in society get power through other means than wealth. These include education, ways of speaking and dressing and particular knowledge obtained. For example, knowledge that the social elite regards as valuable may get a person further in life than knowledge that is regarded as unimportant. (E.g. Studying classic literature has more prestige than reading Twilight…)

 

Discourse - conversation out there in the macro world about any topic - eg. queer discourse is all scholarly debate on alternatives to heteronormative culture. You should describe discourse in a literature review - something you should do before starting your PIP.

Discourse is discussion. Academic discourse describes the ways of thinking and using language which reflect academic literacy. That means being able to show you know whereideas started and from whom, and how they have evolved and changed over time. This is part of social and cultural literacy and involves referencing information sources.

 

Historiography -his involves learning about how history is understood. Who or what decides what is important enough to be recorded in history? What methodologies are used in recording and disseminating histories? How do these methodologies impact the way we understand the past? How do these methodologies give some histories more authority than others?  SAC students need to investigate social and cultural interpretations of the past so may at times practice historiography.

 

Literary criticism - this involves analysis and interpretation of literature (writing). Its only relevant for SAC if you are analysing how literary culture reflects society. The focus should be more on society than on the style and quality of the text itself, and the literature will only be relevant if it is popular or influential on society.

 

Semiotics - this is the study of signs and symbols in relation to communication. We rely on semiotics to communicate: we communicate verbally, through gesture and through images. Today, communication is increasingly complex with multi-media entertainment, information and advertising. What signs and symbols can you identify around you now? Many artists and cultural commentators are concerned with how media (rich with signs and symbols) manufactures versions of reality – and how this shapes our experience of society and culture.

 

Getting started

Get into some preliminary reading for your topic!

Ideas:  Circle as many as you like that relate to your area of interest for your PIP. Add other words.

For each word explain how it relates and consider synonyms (alternative words)

-stereotypes 

-Racism

-Sexism

-Youth

-Homophobia

-Class inequality

-Revolution

-Generation gap

-Identity

-How a culture is perceived

-Where an idea comes from

-How a group in society develops

-Taboos

-Conflict

-The environment

-National identity vs cultural diversity

-Being different

-communication styles

-colonialism

-the legacy of a historical event (war/colonialism/massacre etc)

 

Explanation:

Use the internet to find each of the following relating to your area of interest. Annotate which item on this page.

WIKIPEDIA: Skim-read a relevant Wikipedia page.

Important historical periods/dates:

Important personalities/figures:

Prominent scholars listed on the page for my area of interest:

Debates/controversies mentioned:

GOOGLE BOOK (In the Google menu select “more” then “book”)

Skim a couple of the introductions for relevant books until you find one that interests you.) Complete the following:

Title:

Author:

Publication date:   Country of Publication:

Brief abstract (one paragraph, what’s it about, what’s the argument)

Key words from the book:

What does the author say that you agree/disagree with?

Interesting quotes – things you couldn’t say better in your own words or that are unique in what they’re saying (list 3-4)

DOCUMENTARY

Don’t start with youtube. Start with google web. Find a documentary that has been screened either on TV or at the movies then see if it’s on google video/youtube.

Brief abstract (one paragraph, what’s it about, what’s the argument/purpose)

Key concepts:

What do you agree with/disagree with in terms of what the producer/director/narrator says?

Quotes (list 3-4)

How has your question developed/changed with this reading activity? Where to from here? Discuss.