WRITTEN PAPER ON EACH READING

• Depth of thought and accuracy to the text istelf.
• The reflection questions are not about you and your FEELINGS or BELIEFS. Rather, they are about the text and the world. You should have clear REASONS for why the text may be said to say this or that, and when you are reflecting on issues, the point is not what you personally feel or believe, but what you can give clear and strong evidence of from the text and the world to support the case. All controversial claims MUST be defended with careful reasons. Just asserting you think, believe, hold, feel or whatever, without clear reasons given to support and controversial claim (any claim where reasonable people are likely to disagree) will be seen as a severe weakness in the paper.
• Within the restriction above and within the specific space requiments signified in the assignment, you are free to write in any form of presentation you wish as long as it is in standard English grammar and spelling.
• Is the paper on-time? Late papers will not be accepted and please note: THE PAPER MUST BE TURNED IN DURING THE CLASS WHEN IT IS DUE. I WILL ACCEPT NO PAPERS BY E-MAIL. I MUST HAVE A HARD COPY IN HAND DURING THE CLASS ON THE DATE IT IS DUE.
• I need to specify the above: Since we will begin discussing the work, and thus touch on the questions in the assignment, I ABSOLUTELY will not accept papers after class. Class begins at 10 A.M. You must have the paper printed before then. If your disc fails or the computer lab isn't open or the printer is broken or there is no paper -- whatever, then you simply receive no credit for that paper. This is a non-negotiable deadline.
• Is the thesis well-defended by reasons?
• Is the paper original and seeming the student's own work? A special note about this: One of the primary reasons I have such rigorous space requirements for each question is this makes it much more difficult for any student to apply "found" texts to my questions. The lessens the likelihood of plagiarism, hopefully discouraging you from an activity which would earn you an F for the course. Secondly, and very important to good writing, the rigorous space requirements seem to make it much more likely that students will have to edit texts with care, otherwise they wouldn't make the space requirements.

• A grade of A will mean: The paper is a thoughtful response to the questions and accurate to the text. There are no controversial views which have not been defended by reasons, or are simply left at the "feeling" or "believing" level without textual and or evidence from the world itself. The papers would rigorously meet the space requirements and fully in standard English grammar and spelling.
• A grade of B will mean: All parts of the process asked for in the above were present, but the paper just didn't match up to the superior quality expected of the A. Perhaps the paper didn't follow the specific guidelines of form; or there were lapses in standard English; or the content was just a bit off from what was promised; or the paper just lacked the grace and style expected of a superior paper.
• A grade of C will mean: All parts of the paper process were done and on-time. However, the final products were just not in the category of above-average. The paper represented a solid piece of work which should be expected of any undergraduate, but nothing above that. It was good, solid, unexceptional work.
• A grade of D will mean: Some deviations from the criteria expressed above were present in some area of the paper. Perhaps lapses in seriousness of content, or presentation; perhaps failures to adequately express the paper in standard English; perhaps lapses in following the form required.
• A grade of F may mean anyone of three things:
  1. The paper did not meet the time requirements given. Late work is simply unacceptable for any reason at all.
  2. Significant failures to meet the assignment at the level of reasonable university expectations of thought, attention to detail, significant lapses in the content's accuracy. (Specifics will be pointed out).
  3. The paper form (rather than the content) was seriously flawed. This could mean the time peramaters or such things as clarity of expression, or use of the English language. All of these would be expected to be used in a reasonable fashion for university level work. However, a grade of F on these grounds would require some quite serious deviation from the expectations listed above.

THE QUESTIONS FOR EACH WORK WE ARE READING AND DISCUSSING ARE BELOW

QUESTIONS ON ZORBA THE GREEK

1. Who are the SIX most important characters in the film. For the first four simply name them since it is rather obvious. However, the last two are such that reasonable viewers may different. For #s 5 and 6 name them and then make a short case in each case why this person deserves to be understood as the fifth or sixth most important character.
   
   Length: The first four are simply names. The last two will have to have a few sentences attached to defend your position.

2. Zorba is seen by most people as one of the great champions of human freedom. Others might see him in a less favorable light -- as a selfish person willing to walk over others in order to get what he wants. Take a FIRM stand on the character of Zorba in relation to this question. Is he a great person since he is a model of an important value -- individualism, or is he a much less valuable person who displays an excessive level of selfishness, or is he something altogether other? Since reasonable people will disagree about this do not tell me about YOU, rather give reasons from the film and concerning the nature of human persons which best defend your position.
   
   Length: You must have a MINIMUM of a full 1/2 page. You may not exceed 3/4 a page in any case.

3. Basil (Boss) is seen by many as an uptight repressed person who needs Zorba to liberate him. How do you see the person of Basil? Since reasonable people will disagree about this do not tell me about YOU, rather give reasons from the film and concerning the nature of human persons which best defend your position.
   
   Length: You must have a MINIMUM of a full 1/2 page. You may not exceed 3/4 a page in any case.

4. What was your favorite scene in the film and why? What does the film tell us about human persons and their interrelationships or about the nature of individuals?
   
   Length: You must have a MINIMUM of a full 1/2 page. You may not exceed 3/4 a page in any case.

5. Who is your favorite character and what is it that makes this character the one you think is the BEST person in the film. Since reasonable people will disagree about this do not tell me about YOU, rather give reasons from the film and concerning the nature of human persons which best defend your position.
   
   Length: You must have a MINIMUM of a full 1/2 page. You may not exceed 3/4 a page in any case.

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QUESTIONS ON THE ZOO STORY

1. Give a careful summary of the play choosing the most important things to explain to a person asking that you may write in EXACTLY one full page, following Corbett's carefully demanded margins.

2. Reflect on the character of Jerry. Talk about his person, his need of Peter, his relationship with the dog and the landlady. What do you think about HIM. What do you think about the situation he is in? I want to know what you are thinking, but not about YOU. Since reasonable people may see Jerry differently and those particular scenes differently give careful reasons from the text and from our general knowledge of human behavior.
   
   Length: 3/4 on page. No more, no less. Edit carefully for both quality and length.

3. Reflect on the character of Peter. Talk about his person and his response to Jerry. Is it believable that he would defend the bench? Since reasonable people may see Peter differently and disagree with your stance give careful reasons from the text and from our general knowledge of human behavior.
   
   Length: 1/2 page. No more, no less. Edit carefully for both quality and length.

4. 4. Reflect about this play and these two people in relation to human interpersonal relationships. Say the most significant things you can that directly relate to it. This is not a question about you it is a question about human interpersonal relationships. Since reasonable people may see the situation differently and disagree with your stance give careful reasons from the text and from our general knowledge of human behavior.
   
   Length: Exactly one full page. No more, no less. Edit carefully for both quality and length.

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QUESTIONS ON NO EXIT

Describe each person and his/her life as best we know it from the play. Since you are very limited in space, tell us the most important things we learn which contribute to understanding this person.

Length: each must be EXACTLY 1/2 page, no more, no less.
1. Tell the story of the play. Since you are very limited in space tell us the most important details in keeping with Sartre's intent and plan in writing the play.
   
   Length: Exactly 1 page to the line. No more, no less.

2. Garcin, seemingly representing Sartre has the most famous line in the play: "Hell is other people."
   1. In 1/4 a page what does he mean?

   2. In one FULL page, no more no less reflect wisely on this. Basically you are answering and defending a view of: Is Garcin correct in maintaining that hell is other people? This is about your belief in how the world is and how interpersonal relationships are. It is not about YOU. Since reasonable people may see the situation differently and disagree with your stance give careful reasons from the text and from our general knowledge of human behavior.

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QUESTIONS ON THE GRAND INQUISITOR

1. In exactly 3/4 a page, no more and no less, tell the essential story of the Grand Inquisitor story.

2. Dostoevsky, through the story of Ivan's poem, takes a stand on the nature of human persons, that we are essential of two extremely different types: those capable of freedom and who take freedom, and the masses who are neither capable of nor interested in freedom.
   
   In exact one and one half pages, no more and no less, investigate this view of human existence. Take a very clear and precise stance and defend it. This is about your belief in this question of human nature. It is not about YOU. Since reasonable people may see the situation differently and disagree with your stance give careful reasons from the text and from our general knowledge of human behavior.

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QUESTIONS ON A HAPPY DEATH

1. There is some puzzle as to whether or not Zagreus actually intended for Mersault to kill him. Take a clear stand: Did Zagreau give permission to Mersault to kill him? Defend your claim with careful reasons. This is not about your "feelings," or "beliefs." It is about textual analysis and reasons which my be defended or attacked by others. It asks about what happened, not about your purely subjective feelings.
   
   Length: In more than 1/2 page and less than a full page.
2. In the afterword Jean Sarocchi claims that the women of the novel are poorly written characters. Take a clear stand on this issue. You may have different stances on different women characters. Defend your position with careful reasons. This is not about your "feelings," but about the textual evidence and positions for which you give reasons that are public and questionable by others.
   
   Length: One full page of carefully argued text.
3. Note that the will to happiness which Mersault favors is not about the achievement of happiness. He says: it isn't whether you get "…women, art, success…" it's rather the will to happiness itself. What does this mean? You are writing the answer to this question for a person (any person, not a specific person) who has read the novel, but who doesn't understand what Camus means by the will to happiness.
   
   Length: Exactly 250 words.
   
   Use absolutely NO QUOTES from the novel. Tell it in your own words as clearly as you can. Feel free to illustrate with examples, but don't use examples from the text, or one's just like the text. Create your own.

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