Portfolio Assignment paper

Portfolio Assignment paper

Portfolio Assignment 1
Submission Instructions
This document contains the checklist of the assignments from lesson 1 for your first portfolio submission. You may use this document to complete and submit your portfolio assignment. Please follow the directions in the Syllabus. These assignments total 8 percent of your grade.
Portfolio Checklist
Carefully follow the directions given to you Syllabus and then compile the following writing assignments in this order:
• 2 Poetry Analyses
• Introduction
• “I Am” Poem
• Extended Metaphor Poem
• Response journals from Lesson 1
o 2 from each lesson
o Your journals should be typed and written in 12-point font and Times New Roman type should be used. Your response journals should be at least 300 words in length.
Carefully check off each portfolio assignment. Once you are sure you have everything completed, submit your completed portfolio electronically to Independent Study by following the instructions in the Syllabus. I have included the document “First Portfolio Assignment” to help you.
A word about plagiarism. . . . Plagiarism is defined as the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work. This means whether a student copies and pastes directly from another source and passes it off as his or her own, or doesn’t cite a source after loosely summarizing it into his or her own words, it is plagiarism, and I have a no-tolerance policy in regards to plagiarism.
If you are discovered to have plagiarized in any of your portfolios you will automatically fail the lesson and the course.
Submit
After you have compiled all the items above, submit your work electronically. Rough drafts may be handwritten and scanned if you wish; however, final copies need to be typed!
You should submit your best work for each assignment. If you know that you hurried through an assignment, then I advise you to re-evaluate what you have finished and revise it. The written portions of this course are a significant part of your final grade. Carefully check off each portfolio assignment. Once you are sure you have everything completed, submit your completed portfolio electronically to Independent Study.
You will submit your completed assignments to Independent Study electronically through this course. To make sure that I can open and read your paper, please save it as an .RTF (rich text format) file. Here’s how to do it:
1. Type your paper in a word-processing program (such as Microsoft Word).
2. When you save the file, click the Save as type: drop-down list.
3. Select Rich Text Format (*.rtf).
4. Use the course number, your first and last name, and the assignment name for the filename. For example, “ENGL-47_[KelleyShane]_[ResponseJournal1].rtf.”
5. Click Save.
6. Submit the lesson’s .RTF file through the course for grading.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT
PORTFOLIO ASSIGNMENT: POETRY ANALYSIS
Now that we have read and analyzed several poems together, it is time for you to try the analysis on your own. You will be answering the six poetry analysis questions for each of the following poems. Read each poem carefully.
“Incident in a Rose Garden” by Donald Justice
The following poem, “Incident in a Rose Garden,” by Donald Justice, is another of my favorite pieces of literary work. (Can you tell that I am passionate about what you are reading in lesson 1? I want to share some of my “favorites” with you.) It is what we call a dramatic poem, where the speaker is someone besides the author. As you read this poem, notice how the perception of the gardener is not the reality surrounding why Death has come for a visit. The poem contains a rather surprising tone. I hope that you will enjoy this selection.
Incident in a Rose Garden” by Donald Justice
It is time for you to complete your first poetry analysis assignment. Please answer the six questions for “Incident in a Rose Garden.” You can find this assignment in your First Portfolio document.
DOWNLOAD FIRST PORTFOLIO DOCUMENT

“The Albatross” by Charles Baudelaire
The second and final poem you will read in this section is another poem that was originally written in a language other than English. The poem is called “The Albatross,” and it was written by Charles Baudelaire, a famous French poet who lived in 19th century France. There are many different translations of “The Albatross” into English, and all of them are slightly different. If you speak a language other than English, you know that sometimes words have slightly different meanings in different languages, and so different people might choose to use different words in translations. However, although all of the translations of “The Albatross” are slightly different, they are all true to the theme and focus of the poem. I have included three copies of the poem for you here. For those of you lucky enough to know French, you will be able to enjoy the poem in its original form. I am also including two English translations of the poem. They are very similar, but reading them both might give you a more complete understanding of the poem and its meaning.
As you read, notice the main metaphor in the poem. What does “The Albatross” represent? What does this say about Baudelaire and the way he viewed himself?
L’Albatros by Charles Baudelaire
Souvent, pour s’amuser, les hommes d’équipage
Prennent des albatros, vastesoiseaux des mers,
Qui suivent, indolentscompagnons de voyage,
Le navireglissant sur les gouffresamers.
..
À peine les ont-ilsdéposés sur les planches,
Que cesrois de l’azur, maladroits et honteux,
Laissentpiteusementleursgrandesailes blanches
Comme des avironstraîner à côtéd’eux.
..
Ce voyageur ailé, commeilest gauche et veule!
Lui, naguèresi beau, qu’ilestcomique et laid!
L’unagace son bec avec un brûle-gueule,
L’autre mime, enboitant, l’infirme qui volait!
..
Le Poèteestsemblable au prince des nuées
Qui hante la tempête et se rit de l’archer;
Exilé sur le sol au milieu des huées,
Sesailes de géantl’empêchent de marcher.
Albatrosses by Charles Baudelaire
Often our sailors, for an hour of fun,
Catch albatrosses on the after breeze
Through which these trail the ship from sun to sun
As it skims down the deep and briny seas.
..
Scarce have these birds been set upon the poop,
Than, awkward now, they, the sky’s emperors,
Piteous and shamed, let their great white wings droop
Beside them like a pair of idle oars.
..
These wingèd voyagers, how gauche their gait!
Once noble, now how ludicrous to view!
One sailor bums them with his pipe, his mate
Limps, mimicking these cripples who once flew.
..
Poets are like these lords of sky and cloud,
Who ride the storm and mock the bow’s taut strings,
Exiled on earth amid a jeering crowd,
Prisoned and palsied by their giant wings.
• Translated by Jacques LeClercq, Flowers of Evil (Mt Vernon, NY: Peter Pauper Press, 1958)
The Albatross by Charles Baudelaire
Often, to amuse themselves, the men of the crew
Catch those great birds of the seas, the albatrosses,
lazy companions of the voyage, who follow
The ship that slips through bitter gulfs.
..
Hardly have they put them on the deck,
Than these kings of the skies, awkward and ashamed,
Piteously let their great white wings
Drag like oars beside them.
..
This winged traveler, how weak he becomes and slack!
He who of late was so beautiful, how comical and ugly!
Someone teases his beak with a branding iron,
Another mimics, limping, the crippled flyer!
..
The Poet is like the prince of the clouds,
Haunting the tempest and laughing at the archer;
Exiled on earth amongst the shouting people,
His giant’s wings hinder him from walking.
• Translated by Geoffrey Wagner, Selected Poems of Charles Baudelaire (NY: Grove Press, 1974)
Once again, complete the poetry analysis for this poem and submit it in your first submission at the end of this lesson.

THIRD WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Write an introduction following the example I have provided for you.
Writing Assignment 3
In this writing assignment, you will introduce yourself using prose, rather than poetry. You are to follow a specific format such as I have done in the example below:
I Am
Kelley Shane
I am a mother of two—a sweet little angel girl, and a beautiful little boy whom we often called “Mowgli” (after the character in The Jungle Book) because he is a little wild thing. I am a bit of a gypsy who has traveled all over the world and who has loved every minute of it, but I am also a homebody who loves more than anything just to be home with my family. I am married to John, my prince charming and soul mate, and I still get butterflies in my stomach when I see him.
I like books, especially those that enthrall me so much I can’t put them down and I end up reading all night long. I like running mile after mile to the point of satisfied exhaustion; I don’t, however, like competition, and so I never race—I run purely for myself. I like spending time at home with my children, laughing at their antics, and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they learn new things.
I don’t care for negativity and pessimism, being late, intolerance, and mediocrity. I believe my mother’s saying is true: “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” I don’t care for whining or complaining, poor table manners, and being late. I also don’t care for junk food, fried food or any food you can find at a state or county fair, fast food restaurant, or in the TV dinner aisle.
I believe that everyone is divine. C.S. Lewis said it best when he said, “There are no ‘ordinary’ people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” I believe that we are all unique and special and that the only people we do not like are people we do not understand. I believe everyone deserves a chance to find their passion and divine potential.
The colors that best describe me are yellow and blue. Yellow because I LOVE to laugh and have fun! I am happy and full of life. Blue also describes me, however, because I also love to sit quietly and talk to people one-on-one. I love deep, abiding relationships that are not merely “Facebook” posts, but relationships that involve the communion of souls. I love understanding people, who they are and why they believe what they do.
I am a fan of the BYU COUGARS! But I am also a HUGE Indianapolis Colts fan. We lived in Indianapolis when the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2006, and the Colts will always have a special place in my heart. I am also a fan of people who never give up and who keep trying no matter how daunting the task may be.
I favor the view that we choose to be happy. The world is full of sorrow and pain, but I believe that every moment of every day we are faced with the choice of how we will act. I favor joy.
I get tired of people who do not act with integrity and who do not honor their vows and commitments. I believe your word should be your bond. I also get tired of poor manners and callousness. I want people to treat each other and the world around them with respect.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be that sometimes I forget to live in the moment. I am a planner, and so I am always thinking about the future. I have to remind myself that each day is its own adventure, and that it is there for me to experience. Planning tomorrow is important, but enjoying today is essential.
Your “I Am” introduction should look just like my example, but it should tell me all about you. Take the headings that have been written using underlined type and then elaborate on yourself. So, you would begin with: I am . . . Once you have completed that section, then you would proceed to I like . . . and so on, finally finishing with If I could change one thing about myself . . .
Here is a complete list of the headings you should use in your introduction:
I am . . .
I like . . .
I don’t care for . . .
I believe . . .
The colors that describe me best are . . .
I am a fan of . . .
I favor . . .
I get tired of . . .
If I could change one thing about myself it would be . . .
Please be thorough, thoughtful, and sincere. This is an opportunity to tell me all about different aspects of your personality. Try to include things that not everyone will know about you. For example, the fact that I’m picky and have a very long list of foods I don’t like to eat isn’t something that I’m particularly proud of, nor is it something I tell very many people (most people just think it’s strange), but it is something that is a part of me and that makes me unique. What is unique about you? What makes you special and different from everyone else?
You will submit this first written assignment as part of your first portfolio that you will submit after this Lesson.

Writing Assignment 2
Writing Assignment 2 is similar to the introduction that you have just written. The biggest difference is that this assignment will be written as a poem and your introduction was in the form of prose. Assignment 2 is called an “I Am” poem. You will have the opportunity to express who you are in the form of a poem, and use figures of speech to help with that expression. Below you will find the structure for the “I Am” poem. You are to copy the first two words in each line, and then fill in the rest using what has been written in italics as a guide. You will begin by describing two things about yourself—special things about yourself. Avoid the obvious, such as “I am a 16-year-old girl with brown hair.” There are millions of 16-year-old girls with brown hair. Think of things about yourself that are distinctive.

“I am a girl who likes astronomy and who lies awake at night watching the stars swirl along the night sky.” That is better because it gives a sense of the speaker and how she is different from other people. Don’t be afraid to be different.

Once you have an opening line, you are ready to take off. Here is a line-by-line guide you can follow. It may seem strange at first to write a poem this way, but give it a try. You may surprise yourself. Some students who have tried this approach have been amazed by the results.

I Am
First Stanza

I am (two special characteristics you have)

I wonder (something you are actually curious about)

I hear (an imaginary sound)

I see (an imaginary sight)

I want (an actual desire)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

Second Stanza

I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)

I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)

I touch (an imaginary touch)

I worry (something that really bothers you)

I cry (something makes you very sad)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

Third Stanza

I understand (something you know is true)

I say (something you believe in)

I dream (something you actually dream about)

I try (something you really make an effort about)

I hope (something you actually hope for)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

Your “I Am” poem is to be typed and must follow the format above. I have included the first stanza of an “I Am” poem so that you can see how it is designed.

I am of mystery and uninhibited youth.

I wonder if a woman became president would her husband be called “the first man.”

I hear the grass growing.

I see the wind lift the eagle to its highest flight.

I want to jump from the tallest mountain and land with my feet firmly on the ground.

I am of mystery and uninhibited youth.

Writing Assignment 4
Writing Assignment 3 is called an extended metaphor poem. It is called such because the first line of the poem must be a metaphor and the rest of the poem focuses on that same figure of speech. The following are examples that I wrote of extended metaphor poems.

Examples of Metaphor Poems.
Island In my fears I am an island, surrounded by water, scarce from everything else. My age is unknown. My outskirts are cold. Water beats upon my shore. But in my center rests a volcano. Hot, molten lava eats away at my greenness adding land to water. Bitter In my dreams I am a princess in a palace wearing a yellow dress that fits close. Beggars cry for food at the palace door but I am too selfish and give them nothing but harsh words and a body of whip marks. But the regret of being cruel and giving food is hard to carry. It makes me feel sour like I am surrounded by thick yellow skin. Hope I am hope as old as earth, sun and moon. Yet, I feel young, like a crisp, warm breeze sweeping down rainy dew fields. I am the blue of skies, oceans and rivers, flowing gentle as rain. I am hope. I will not perish, born of the first man.

To begin your metaphor poem, consider who you are and then connect yourself to a specific object that has similar characteristics to yourself. For example, you might be “a rose that is afraid to spread its petals” or “a pencil that is always sharpened.” Once you have decided on the metaphor that you will be using to describe yourself, extend it further by thinking of the object you have chosen and your own characteristics. Use the preceding examples as models to help guide you.

Your poem should be typed, at least three stanzas in length, with approximately 15 lines. Your poem needs to include a title. I look forward to reading your introduction, “I Am” poem, and extended metaphor poem. These assignments will be submitted at the end of this lesson.

fifth Assignment
RESPONSE JOURNALS

I am very interested in getting your input and feedback about the literature in these lessons. I really want you to share your experiences and perceptions with me in relationship to the literature that will be shared with you. I ask that you be completely honest with yourself. Don’t tell me what you think I want to hear, because I would probably surprise you. Be honest with your responses.
After each lesson, you will have a list of response journal options. Please choose two from the list in each lesson. (You will always have the option to come up with your own way of responding if you can’t find a response question that interests you.) Each response journal relates in some way to the literature you read for each lesson. Your journals should be typed and written in 12-point font and Times New Roman type should be used. Each response journal should be at least 300 words in length. If you do not have access to a computer, then you may neatly handwrite them using blue or black ink. Remember to include paragraphs and, to ensure your thoughts are clearly stated, always read the entries out loud before you turn them in for me to grade.
Label each response journal with the lesson number and the number of the response journal option you have chosen. Please also include the prompt you have chosen with your response. For example, if you are writing in response to journal option 2 in Lesson 1, this is how you would format your response:
• Lesson 1, Option 2:

Think about aspects of your life and your personality that truly make you feel proud. Then complete this statement: I am ____________. Back up your statement by elaborating on the adjective you have selected. Include examples that will prove this.

Include you 300 word (or more!) response below the prompt.
• Lesson 1, Option 5:

The Civil War was fought largely because people took a strong stand on an issue and were willing to fight for what they believed. Have you ever taken such a strong stand? Describe the circumstances surrounding your choice.

Include you 300 word (or more!) response below the prompt.
Portfolio Assignment
Follow the instructions given for this assignment. The journal responses for Lesson 1 will be submitted at the end of this lesson.
Response Journal Options
Select two responses.
1. Locate at least three pieces of music that contain figures of speech and elements of sound. (The music must have lyrics.) The songs may only have one figure of speech/element of sound or they may have twenty; it makes no difference. Include copies of the song lyrics and identify the figures of speech in each song by underlining them. After you have underlined the simile, metaphor, alliteration, etc., label each line with the name of the figure of speech that it exemplifies. For example:
1.
Fields of Gold
by Sting
(who, by the way, used to be an English teacher!)
You’ll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You’ll forget the sun in his jealous sky
(Example of personification)
As we walk in fields of gold . . .
See the west wind move like a lover so
(Example of a simile)
If you haven’t noticed already, music is literally poetry in motion!
Response Options Continued
1. Think about aspects of your life and your personality that truly make you feel proud. Then complete this statement:I am __________. Back up your statement by elaborating on the adjective you have selected. Include examples that will prove this.
2. Think about a childhood event that has made a significant impact on you. It should be something that you can remember vividly. Describe the circumstances behind the event and explain why it has made such an impression.
3. Do you ever feel that the world is overrun with problems? What good do you see in the world? How do you keep up your spirits in the face of chaos and tragedy? Include specifics to support your opinions.
4. The Civil War was fought largely because people took a strong stand on an issue and were willing to fight for what they believed. Have you ever taken such a strong stand? Describe the circumstances surrounding your choice.
5. What are some ways that people react to the death of a loved one? Consider yourself. Elaborate on one of your loved ones that has passed away. How did you react? How did others react? What causes their reactions to vary?
6. Refer back to“Out, Out—”for this response. This poem ends on a surprising matter-of-fact tone. Why is this tone ironic—that is, given what has happened, why is this tone inappropriate? What do you think of Frost’s message? Also make a connection between Macbeth’s words and the particular situation in the poem. What do you think of Macbeth’s view of life?
7. Have you ever chosen “the road less traveled”? How did this choice affect your life?
8. Describe a time when you were physically hurt. What were the circumstances behind your injury? How did you react? How did others around you react?
9. What is your philosophy on life? Do you agree with the philosophy of Max Ehrmann, the poet of“Desiderata”?
10. Locate biographical information on one of the poets included in lesson 1 besides the brief biographical information that I have given to you. For this response, include facts about the individual’s life that you found interesting.
11. Think of emotions that you have experienced, then describe them using at least 15 figures of speech.
12. Consider the poem“the lesson of the moth,”and respond to the following question. What do you want most out of life? What are your most cherished dreams? What would you be willing to sacrifice to make those dreams come true?
13. In “the lesson of the moth,”the moth believes it is worth dying to be part of beauty; the speaker of the poem believes that long life is better than happiness at the price of death. Which do you agree with and why?

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