Topic Brainstorm

As I read through the Project information for this semester I chose four topics that I currently think I could do well in. Each one I'm interested in due to knowing my strengths, weaknesses, and past readings.

Choose one short story or novel excerpt. Write a piece in which you explore the following:

1. In what ways could this story be considered an artifact of history? 
2. What does this story teach us about history? 
3. How does a story teach us about a time or place differently than a history book? 

I chose this topic because I felt that I have strength in analysis. I feel that I can pick out purpose in a text but also that I can do well in comparing it to it's time. I think also, that by going through the text and researching the era/movement/geographic location that it takes place in, I could learn new things about the history of California. In terms of previous knowledge, I was born and raised here in this state so I may possibly know a few historical facts already that I could use for my benefit.

Choose a reading. 

In your project, consider the following: 
What does this work reflect about its historical, social, political and/or economic context? You may focus on race, class, power, cultural values and beliefs, historical events, the author’s biography, gender, psychology, etc. In terms of this submission, I chose it because like being able to chose my own reading. This is because I can choose something I've had experience in; i.e. previous readings or discussions. By choosing this topic I hope to learn more about the author and their relations to their time period, such as their occupation or their socio-economic class, to see why they portray the events the way they do. I also hope to learn how events or time-periods can effect the writings of that particular time. 


Choose a reading selection. Explore the relationship between elements of the selection. For example: how does setting influence character development?
I think that this already is a pretty easy topic for me. I feel as though I currently already have strengths in analyzing imagery and characterization. This gives me a boost because now that I can analyze both, I just need to connect the two together. In fact, I had already done this. In "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, I had noticed that the protagonist, Rodia, was driven into delirium because of where he was living and the conditions it was in. He had gone mad due to his poverty and the eerie feel of his area. By being able to notice this in readings of my past, I believe I'd be great in doing this in the future, while also improving my character analysis skills.

Think about a theme you see running through your life (failure is the best lesson, love is eternal, etc). Choose a reading that you think also discusses this theme (even if it reaches different conclusions about it). Explore connections between how the theme plays out in your life, and how the theme gets played out in the reading. 

I like being able to compare readings to my personal life. It tends to give me more of a drive to continue reading. While I'm not sure I have any strengths on the matter, I do feel as though it would be interesting to consciously think about likenesses between black-and-white text and the realness of my life. Hopefully, with attempting this assignment I'll also see themes in my life that I've never noticed before and possibly learn more about myself. It will be awkward for me to go into details about my life, but it may just become a great way for me to open up as a person, knowing that a character went through a similar situation.