Final Project

So, what have we learned?  The final project for this course is a creative, collaborative and personal response to a particular aspect of the course based on texts, discussions and experiences.This response should be deeply grounded in the readings, effectively presented to classmates and thoughtfully explained in individual blog posts.

Performance-

• Choose key idea/theme and frame it as a thoughtful question. 
• Possible ideas/themes include: aspects of Romanticism (such as the sublime, noble savage, feral/Rousseau-like wisdom, Byronic hero or Hawthornian gothic) sustainability, Greek pastoral/Arcadian ideals, hypocrisy, the declentionist narrative, Hemingway's/Realism's Darwinian nature. You could return to efforts to define the relationship between man, nature and culture based on our opening exercise, transhumanism or the singularity. Or, you could choose approaches that address the retreat to nature a la Thoreau, or gardens, or anthropomorphism or even particular animals.
•  Example question- "What do I experience on trail or in the woods?" or "Can we only appreciate nature from a safe, hypocritical distance?" or "What would it mean to live sustainably?" or "What do we mean when we use the word 'garden'?"
• Choose four key passages from four different class texts (could be videos, poems, essays, or books) that best explore or develop this question. Thoughtfully annotate these texts, or write separate annotations that focus on how the passage addresses the idea and how it compares or contrasts with the other readings.
• Each group member needs to find, copy and annotate an outside text (of any type) that further answers the question and develops the idea. If it's a video, screen shots w/ text annotations would work well. 
• Create a skit, spoken word poem, song, or other performance that synthesizes these ideas in a creative, compelling manner. Write a script and rehearse your performance so you can deliver it effectively.
• Write individual blog posts that answer the following questions:
• What are your personal answers to the question your group chose? How does the text you chose fit this?
• What particular contributions did you make to the project?
• What worked and what would you have changed in the project? 

Evaluation Criteria 

Reading Place                                                                        names:

• Quality of writing- 30 points
• Incorporates details/examples from sources effectively
• Develops the idea thoughtfully
• Goes beyond cliche/superficiality into substantive tensions/questions
• Uses specific details to ground ideas in appropriate context.

• Creativity- 30 points
• Finds engaging, appropriate structure for performance 
• Adapts source material to suit genre of presentation
• Synthesizes ideas coherently into a thoughtful, relevant point/purpose.

• Performance- 20 points
• Shows rehearsal in knowledge of text/material
• Uses gesture, movement, props, music or costumes effectively
• Effective voice, volume, pace & clarity
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• Annotations-20
• Shows effective choice of four (4) texts and passages
• Passages copied or annotations printed and turned in
• Include detailed observations about and connections between the passages

Individual Work-

• Individual work text + annotations printed and turned in.
• Your final blog entry of 500-700 words addressing the following:         
• What are your personal answers to the question your group chose? How does the text you chose fit this?
• What particular contributions did you make to the project?
• What worked and what would you have changed in the project? 
• Personal reflection shows depth and insight
• Thoughtful reflection of group process and your role in it.