4th Short Writing - 45 points

For the final short writing assignment, students will submit 4-5 sentence proposal for their final paper along with a rough outline.

4th Short Paper

Final Paper Proposal & Outline

1-page minimum, 2-page maximum.

Due April 8th or at the latest April 17th

Goals:

• Propose the topic for your final paper.
• State your inquiry, the problem you'll explore, your intent.
• Plan and outline, see Dr. Fike's example here.
• Not sure what to write!? Submit at least 2 separate ideas and see this post for ideas.

Format:

• use your 3rd Short Writing Annotated Bibliography, and begin writing this assignment immediately below it in Dropbox Paper, re-title that Paper XMEN-Lastname-proposal
• 5 free bonus points for early delivery April 8th or April 10th

Evaluation

Worth 45 points:

• 15 points: craft of writing, spelling, grammar
• 20 points: statement of intent, opinion or point of view, reason why your paper would be worth reading (what value it delivers), clarity and organization of outline
• 5 points: thought provoking ideas or a singularly provoking idea
• 5 points: presentation, professionalism, following directions

Final Writing

You must address at least two of these issues in your Final Paper paper: History, Culture, and/or Art, and Language Arts also qualify.

Write anything you want for the Final Paper. Students will deliver their paper on our Final Exam day, but there's no exam, this Final Paper is all that's due.

Final Writing

Due Thursday April 30th

Some options using existing work:

• expand short paper 1 or 2
• expand the mid-term
• expand the Microagressions Weekly Response, looking closely at how that happens to Mutants across different X-Men titles across different time periods

Some prompts:

• compare/contrast any of the graphic novels on our reading list
• compare/contrast a graphic novel to one of the movies it's been adapted into
• explore social issues, civil rights issues, human rights issues, gender issues, and how they're reflected in one or more X-Men comics, or movies
• look at the the class website, which has lots of Further Reading and History links in the right-most sidebar; use one of those articles, ask a big question
• Which X-Men story or character is the closest to you, and why?
• What can the X-Men, and elder Mutants, teach us about parenting, education, or human rights, across history and cultures?
• Is Logan, specifically Old Man Logan from the movie and comic, an ideal parent, why or why not?
• Is Professor X a foster parent, guardian, employer, therapist, teacher, or a combination thereof, why or why not?
• Are the Female Mutants, the characters depicted in comics or movies, authentic enough, layered enough, relevant, why or why not?
• How do any of the Mutants speak up and stand up for themselves, moreover, how do the Female Mutants' actions break out of the boxes that male team members attempt to put them in?
• What villain in the X-Men Mutant universe is the most dangerous, and why? Somebody like Cameron Hodge, a lawyer who became a successful advertising and public relations professional, secretly creating the Right, devoted to the destruction of all Mutants.

NY Times prompts:

• How can these writing topics be molded into a paper about X-Men, the Mutants?
• Still stuck? Use the NY Times and their reading, research, and writing methods.

 

Minimum 6 pages, Maximum 8 pages

• bibliography equals a separate page, and does not count towards the written 6–8 page count
• Georgia, Times, or Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double-spaced

Final Writing due Thursday April 30th
Email as a Word attachment or PDF attachment
Early deadline April 27th, receive 15 extra points
Worth 120 Points:

• 15 points: (5) craft of writing, (5) spelling, (5) grammar
• 15 including social issues or a social issue within your paper and its arguments, (5) show the issue in the past, (5) near past, (5) present
• 10 showing the other side of that social issue within your paper and its argument, to provide broader context—this is showing “the other side” that may differ from your own point of view, social norms, or what’s right and just
• 20 ideas and argument, (10) flow of writing including use of transitions between ideas and/or paragraphs, (10) use of at least two supporting materials such as a quote or statement or statistic
• 30 outside research, (10) citing specifics from a movie and/or comic book and (10) using at least two direct quotes from outside sources to further your argument, (10) sourced from a book, magazine, website, interview
• 20 originality and (10) synthesis of ideas, (10) use of your own opinion(s)
• 10 presentation, professionalism, proper submission using Dropbox

 

Ultimately, find something you like to research, read, dig into.

Have your own idea for a Final Paper theme, idea, thesis?

• Email me your pitch.
• And definitely include it in your Short Paper 3 Annotated Bibliography.
• Make sure you pitch it in Short Paper 4 due in early April.

3rd Short Writing - 45 points

In preparation for your Final Writing, collect all of the sources you intend on using, and create an annotated bibliography.

Goals:

• reflect on the written, audio, or video sources that will contribute to your Final Writing
• use those sources to sharpen your intent, your thesis and purpose
• if you do not yet have a thesis or purpose, this is the chance to create one
• your sources may include the actual comic books or graphic novels, but you also need sources that touch on or focus on social issues, historical issues, cultural issues, and/or the arts and humanities
• at least two of your outside sources should be neither comic books nor graphic novels; you may use any of the sources shared with you during the course of this class, including those from small group work, weekly reading, and any/all links found in the further Reading and History links in this site's side menu
• teach the reader about the sources you've read or intend on reading; it's okay if you've not yet fully read your sources, just state that in your annotations
• why will you use these sources, of if you're unsure, state why you're unsure
• state your source, and write 3-4 sentences about each one below
• see an Annotated Bibliography sample here that is comprehensive, and exceptional work
• you're not required to write 1/2 page for each of your sources, but in doing so, you'd be better prepared for your final research paper
• read more from Winthrop's Writing Center about the Annotated Bibliography

 

 Format:

• Dropbox Paper is required for this submission and also your forthcoming 4th Short Writing
• 1-page minimum, 2-page maximum, approx. 500-900 words
• title/subject: XMEN_Bibliography_Lastname_First
• submit Wednesday April 1 for up to +5 added
• extended deadline, if needed, Friday April 3 NOON, all students may use this extra time if needed
• when sharing via Dropbox Paper, share to the instructor's Winthrop.edu email
• to ensure your Paper arrives without errors, only use your Winthrop.edu email when in Dropbox and when sharing from Dropbox Paper

Evaluation

Worth 45 points:

• 15 points: (5) craft of writing, (5) spelling, (5) grammar
  20 points: (5) addressing the required content, (5) educating the reader about your sources, including social issues, history, and aesthetics, (5) appropriately communicating about your sources, and how they relate to your research, (5) use of prior assigned reading
  5 points: appropriateness of content overall, connection to X-Men, Mutant characters and/or story
  5 points: presentation, professionalism, proper submission using Dropbox

Microagressions Creative Writing

In the same Dropbox Paper that you began your Microagressions response, the one titled XMEN-Lastname-Firstname-Weekly, continue to write for this new assignment by creating a new space below, as shown in the demo Paper.

Creative Writing: Imagine that you're one of these Mutants.

1. Bishop
2. Cable 
3. Colossus
4. Cyclops 
5. Deadpool
6. Domino
7. Emma Frost
8. Jean Grey
9. Kitty Pryde
10. Magneto
11. Mystique
12. Nightcrawler
13. Professor X 
14. Rogue
15. Storm 
16. Wolverine, Logan, Weapon X
17. Wolverine, X-23

For this weekly response, choose a character that you know because you've read comics about them, seen movies, and/or watched cartoons starring them. How would they respond to a Microagression? Consider what somebody else would say to them, or physically do when near them, or from far away.

What would this person, this person, this Mutant say? What would they do? Physically, would Wolverine say nothing, but just SNIKT his claws, or SNIKT one claw? Maybe he'd grunt really loudly too, or spit out his cigar? Nightcrawler, who's often a peaceful person, might not say or do anything but instead, pray for that person, saying a Hail Mary in his head all to himself, and asking for God to forgive them?

Those are just some possibilities. Consider others, all the while, adopting the voice and persona of that character you've chosen.

Write three different responses, one for each of these time periods.

1. 1960s-1970s
2. 1980s-1990s
3. 2010s-Present Day

If you want to be specific, you may choose a single year from the span given, such as 1975 for 1960s-1970s. Choosing a single year could be helpful, especially if you align that year with a particular comic book, movie, or other place and space where your chosen Mutant has been.

Consider how your own experiences with microagressions could inform this writing, and the persona you take on, being one of these Mutants, and writing from their perspective.

Write Approx. 70-100 words per time period.
Accurate voice, representing the character.
Relevant to the chosen time period.

Due March 25th, worth 25 points.

• 5 points, writing craft, spelling and grammar
• 15 points, addressing the required content, writing for one character, 3 time periods, appropriate voice of that character per time period
• 5 points, professionalism and following instructions

Remainder of Term

Coursework and assignments will continue for the rest of the semester, following the syllabus and reflected on our Google Calendar.

All students are responsible for monitoring the class website and calendar, keeping up with work. Weekly reading and response writing will be posted here, with weekly writing work submitted using Dropbox Paper, our preferred writing tool.

Mid-Term Writing

All Mid-Term writing has been read and graded. Great work! Overall, the research and writing was excellent, and I'll be sharing grades with everyone beginning the week of March 23rd. Feedback is made directly on your Dropbox Paper. Google Docs users should see comments within that document.

Response Writing, Dropbox Paper

• Weekly reading and response work will continue, and count towards your participation points for the term, up to 200 participation points can be earned this term. 
• The weekly response writing will happen using a single Dropbox Paper. 
• Create that Dropbox Paper, titling it XMEN-LastName-FirstName-weekly.  
• Example here.
• Share your Dropbox Paper with the instructor's Winthrop email address.
  

Using the weekly reading and response as note-taking, and research in and of itself, can be very helpful, and extremely beneficial! (See below.)  

 

Final Writing, Research Paper

• Much of your weekly reading and response writing could and should be used to scaffold and build towards your Final Writing. But not every weekly assignment may do that, so don't fret if you can't connect it back to your own research.
• In preparation for planning your Final Writing, read Winthrop Writing Center's advice on thesis statements and outlines
• Student's Short Writing 3 and Short Writing 4 will be used for planning your long-term, Final Writing, due April 30. 
• Short Writing 3: due April 1, write a thesis, an abstract, your statement of intent, this driver directs your research and your writing and should be 100-200 words; also include a 1-2 page annotated bibliography, a list of proposed sources used for your Final Writing
• Short Writing 4: due April 8 for extra credit, late submission (if needed) April 15, create a two-page outline that plans out your Final Writing; have each numeral I or II or III represent a paragraph, each subsequent item acts as ideas within that paragraph; see Dr. Fike's outline overview online
• Follow the class website for Short 3 and Short 4 and Final Writing briefs and rubrics, and consider using an app such as Feedly so you get RSS push notifications when new posts debut here on our class blog.

Microagressions

Watch the video below and read the short article in preparation for a short response writing assignment.

3–4 minute video, NY Times
Microagressions, Comments that Sting

8–10 minute read, NY Times
How to Respond to Microagressions

Part A 

Microagressions, Your Personal Point of View (POV)

• Create a new Dropbox Paper and share it with the instructor, addressing each of the following.
• Have you ever been subjected to microagressions—been on the receiving end—and how did you feel during that event and aftwerwards?
• Have you ever unintentionally delivered a microagression through spoken or written words, or physical response(s), and how was the mistake brought to your attention?
• Some believe that microagressions are a "non issue" and people need to have thicker skin, or just brush them off entirely. Do you agree with that, why or why not?

This reading and response is worth 20 points.

• 5 points, writing craft, spelling and grammar
• 10 points, addressing the required content
• 5 points, professionalism and following instructions

X-Force, X-Factor, New Mutants, Solo Mutants

Further Reading, Remainder of the Term

Winthrop's bookstore houses (most of) the following trade paperbacks and graphic novels, and you can purchase them there. For those using comiXology, hoopla, Marvel Unlimited, and other e-book services, links below are intended to show you a cover image for reference only.

Solo Adventures
Cable & X-Force, Wanted
Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan, multiple volumes
Deadpool: Mercin’ Hard for the Money
Domino Vol. 1: Killer Instinct
Domino Vol. 2
Storm: Make it Rain
X-Men Storm
Magik, Storm, Illyana

Seismic Events, Time Travel
Dark Phoenix Saga
All New X-Men
Days of Future Past (Hoopla has complete trade paperback)

Shattering Shake-Ups
House of M
House of X & Powers of X

Backstory, History

The links below take you to articles and videos that add to our lecture content, and they may also assist with your weekly participation activities, plus your long-term and Final Writing.


The House of M a primer, from Marvel
The House of M, background (30 minute version)
The House of M, the decimation (3 hour video)

The House of X and Powers of X HYPE machine
even more House of X and Powers of X

X-Factor Explained

The New Mutants, explained, with some spoilers

The New Mutants, movie trailer

GLAAD, the Vito Russo Test

X-Men & Gay Men

What Deadpool 2 gets right and wrong about Hollywood's first LGBTQ Marvel heroes

GLAAD's Hollywood report shows LGBTQ representation increased, but there are caveats

Deadpool Co-Creator Rob Liefeld Draws Zazie Beetz As Domino

Zazie Beetz casting in Deadpool 2