Queering Crip Cripping Queer

You've read Chapter 7, Booth's overview of how to make a good argument. Using Booth's ideas in that chapter, break down the argument in "Queering Crip Cripping Queer." What is the essay's claim? Name at least three reasons the writer presents for that claim. Provide a couple examples of evidence the writer provides. How does she acknolwedge and respond?

Blog posting for Ch 6 & 7 of Booth-- due Sunday, 3/28 by midnight

I'd like you all to practice what Booth covers in Chapters 6 & 7, and I thought, since Foster's "Choreographies of Protest" will still be fresh in your mind, we could practice with that essay. I'd like you to pretend that you will use Foster's essay as one of your 8 sources-- for a couple of you who plan to write on manifestos, you actually won't be pretending... In your post here, type out how you would take notes on Foster as a source you planned on using in a research essay. Some folks use note cards, some type up the notes in a word document on their computer. Either way, type up something to post here that would appear to be notes on this source as a researcher would use it.

Choreographies of Protest and Manifestos

How do you think the protest movements Foster describes in "Choreographies of Protest" act as manifestos? In other words, how do their bodies act, in a sense, like the written manifestos you read?

You'll find you have to consider/think about the following in order to answer the above question: a. what do all the written manifestos have in common (King's Letter is also a manifesto even though he doesn't use that word). In other words, what makes a manifesto a manifesto? b. what do the three protest movements have in common?

For over the weekend: Booth pages 31-83

Have you ever done research in the steps like the ones the writers propose in these pages? If so, how did it go and what was particularly frustrating or exciting about the steps and why? If you have never explored a topic in depth and/or moved from a topic to question, do you believe that these steps would have improved a research essay you’ve done in the past? If so, describe briefly what happened in that research writing and how the steps in Booth would have helped/improved the essay you wrote. If you don’t think they would have helped, discuss why not.

Booth's the Craft of Research, pages 3-27

Have you ever thought of research the way the writers of The Craft of Research are describing it in these pages? What have been some of your myths/misconceptions about research in the past? Why do you think you held those myths/misconceptions? After reading these pages, how do you think of research now? Are your opinions the same or are they changed? Why or why not?

"Queering the State" for Tuesday, March 16th

Paraphrase Duggan's argument-- what does she suggest is a better method to gain citizenship rights for those within the LGBT community? Next, do you think it's a good plan? Would it be effective? Ineffective? Why or why not?

Chapter 9: LGBT and Literature

Please respond to question #3 under "Questions for Discussion" on page 247. Also, you don't need to respond to this in your response, but something I'd like you to think about for our discussion on Thursday: did you study any of the writers detailed in Chapter 9 in high school or here at LSU? If so, were you told they were LGBT? Also something to think about: many instructors in English Departments teach classes called Gay and Lesbian literature or LGBT literature, etc. But remember, there wasn't a homosexual identity as we know it before the 19th century, according to Michel Foucault. Sexual acts, of course, that we would now see as homosexual sex acts, but not an "identity." If that's the case, how should we decide which works to include on a syllabus in a class like LGBT literature? To exclude? Would we only include literature written after the 19th century? When we read certain literature without knowing the sexual orientation of the writer, is there a way to "tell" if the writer is discussing homosexual issues? For example, many literary critics have determined that Herman Melville's (yes, the author of Moby Dick) character Billy Budd, from the novel of the same name, is a homosexual character. How would we decide a literary character is a homosexual character, especially if, since we're talking about early 19th century literature, overt sexual acts aren't discussed?

Ch. 13: Film and Television

Please respond to question number 1 under "Questions for Discussion" on page 357 of the textbook-- it's an excellent question! Please use an example or two from a film or TV show you've watched-- if you haven't watched any LGBT visible film and TV, you may use an example from the textbook.