Regarding Citations and Multimedia

Okay, here we go a few housekeeping points on citations. 


In regards to the actual novels--we're playing it pretty loose. Just a page number is acceptable for the time being because it's informal. In regards to author research, this should be done with flawless precision.


Example of a source (Yes, I know it's Wikipedia):

The College Board publishes a recommended reading list, while emphasizing that it "does not mandate any particular authors or reading list." The reading list contains four major categories:

Poetry, ranging from the 16th century (William Shakespeare) to living poets (Seamus Heaney);

Drama, ranging from Greek tragedies (Aeschylus) to post-modern absurdists (Tom Stoppard);

Fiction – novels and short stories, from the 18th century comedies of manner of Jane Austen to the famous "Lost Generation" of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway;

Expository prose (essays), including Ralph Waldo Emerson and George Orwell ("Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition.").

On quotes: 

• Block Quotes--more than four typed lines of prose, indent twice (so it should be 1 inch indentation) 
• Shorter than the above can go into the paragraph you are writing without special indentations

Things that should be cited:

• If you rephrase anything. I.E. In AP Literature and Composition we'll read poetry from the last 500 years ("Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition").
• If you directly quote it. 

Now if you use information from one source you should cite at the end of each paragraph. 

• AP Literature has no required reading list, but there are guide lines for each genre of literature. For example, students should be exposed to poetry from the 16th century forward, dramas ranging from the Greek tragedies to the post-modernist era, and fiction dating back to the 18th century.There is also an element of expository writing but the guidelines there are even more fluid ("Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition").

You'll notice that almost the entire paragraph is from the source yet reworded. As you go through and cite your author's background you may only use one source, but if you only have 1 citation at the very end of the entire document, you're treading on dangerous ground. 

In regards to multimedia, yes the multimedia must also be cited. Many of you who have already begun inserting pictures and videos are already doing this, kudos. Also, after you write your entries you are welcome to go back and add the multimedia elements to the post. I urge you to collect things that will do more than just look pretty. Think of it as a scrap book. Images, videos, and music that jog your memory of important emotional or psychological moments in the work will be more useful than a pansy because they mentioned pansies in the work. 


So for an example of positive use of multimedia, one that comes to mind now--someone has a Snoopy with a Christmas tree--has absolutely nothing to do with the text on the surface, but I'm sure in 6 months when she is looking back on the blog she will easily be able to remember the scene revolving around the Christmas tree. This makes the multimedia truly worthwhile. 

This blog will in many ways be a sword and shield for the course, but the blade is only sharp if you spend the time sharpening it and the shield only strong if you reenforce it. 

If you have any uncertainties please feel free to hit me in the inbox or in the comments. 

Keep Calm and Carry On,

KHdz

I write like
H. P. Lovecraft

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

Sweet back to being evil :)


Addition: Also about 20 people have made contact with me via e-mail. Some of you haven't gotten me your URL, and I've e-mailed you about this. Please get on that. Of the remaining people, five have been reported as stating they are not doing the project. If you know one of these people, please contact me. Starting the semester with four failing test grades would make for a painful senior year. 


"Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 5 May 2011. 10 Jul 2011. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Literature>