You are required to prepare and submit a book report or a film report. The book report will react to chapters 8, 9, and 10 of Einolf's "The Mercy Factory". The film report will react to the two films Becoming American and The Letter. Reports are to be at least 700 words in length. Watch for specifications online.
The anticipated book report specifications are presented below. You may select any of the following forms for your book report. Bluebooks are recommended for option #3.
1. You may write a traditional book/film review of about 700 words (about five, typed double-spaced pages). Your review should clearly focus on the main point (or thesis) of the book/film as you understand it. You should then relate that main point to the study of African immigrant and refugee communities in Oregon and the United States which you are currently undertaking; that is, you need to place the book/film--and the author's/director's main idea-- in the context of what you are learning in this course. A book/film review must be submitted typed or printed in its final form.
2. You may write a character study of one of the main characters in the book. This study should be about 700 to 800 words long. It should briefly trace the development of the character, indicate how the character fits within the main theme of the book/film, and explain how the character helps you better understand African immigration to Oregon and the United States. A character study must be submitted typed or printed in its final form.
3. You may submit a reading diary for the book segment. This requires that you make a substantive entry for every reading session and for every chapter of the book/film. Your entries should not merely recount what you read. Rather, they should record your reactions as you read, including questions about the book. Your comments may be very personal; they may also be very academic, relating to how various episodes in the book relate to your study of African immigrant and refugee communities in Oregon and the United States. You may have a variety of entry types, but each should include the date, times, and duration of your reading and the page numbers you read. There is no specific length requirement, but as the purpose of the diary is to explain your ideas and reactions as you read, it will likely be considerably longer than either of the formal reports (formats 1 & 2). Since this is a record of your reactions as you read, it likely will be submitted handwritten.