Reality Check

Today’s objectives: Get to know each other, introduce essential questions of this class, and establish classroom norms and routines

If you really knew me …

• This works on different levels. • Surface: You’d know I’m growing out my hair• More intimate: You’d know I used to be a

newspaper reporter• Most intimate: You’d know my sister was killed by a

drunk driver when I was 12

• You decide how much to reveal. Say your name and one thing we’d know if we really knew you.

About me: Mary ButlerIf you really knew me, you’d know: I’m the

youngest of seven children

Six-Word Memoirs-Memoir is one kind of storytelling in the reality

genre -Unlike biographies, memoirs tend to be slices of

life rather than all-encompassing tales that capture a person’s life from birth to death.

Hemmingway was famously challenged to write a novel in six words.

Since this is a class about the reality genre, you’re going to write three six-word memoirs to help us get to know one another.

1.) Write your six-word masterpieces on Post-It notes (one each).

2.) Attach your Post-It notes to your shirt.3.) Then walk around and ask your classmates to tell

the story behind one of his/her memoirs.4.) Repeat! (You’ve got 5-7 minutes to write your

memoirs and 20 minutes to share them)

Example Six-Word Memoirs… from the book

Nearing 60, still on rough draft -- Sydney Smith Zvara

My life made my therapist laugh-Isabel Lara

No siblings means complicated adult relationships- Jamie Denbo

What are some reasons people tell their own stories?

• Turn to a neighbor and discuss for 2-3 minutes.

• We’ll be sharing as a group.

Stories come in many forms … and serve many functions

• Fable: meant to teach a moral lesson: the characters are usually talking animals. The Tortoise and the Hare (slow and steady finishes the race).

• Parable: short, simple, realistic story, usually of an occurrence of a familiar kind, from which a moral or religious lesson may be drawn. The Prodigal Son (see the error of your extravagant ways and seek forgiveness, i.e. importance of confession and penance).

• Myth: a traditional story of unknown authorship, with a historical basis, but serving usually to explain some phenomenon of nature, the origin of man, or the customs, institutions, religious rites of a people. Prometheus – explained where fire came from

• Epic: a long narrative about the deeds of a traditional or historical hero or heroes. Beowulf expressed the early ideals and traditions of a people or nation (bravery, loyalty, generosity)

• Satire: ridicules vices, follies, stupidities or abuses of others through the use of irony. The Onion

• Parody: imitates the characteristic style of some other work in a satirical or humorous way. The Daily Show parodies the TV news (often using satire)

The “Work” of Stories• Comedies, dramas, romances … stories help us

make sense of life: What’s culturally normal, what’s not.

• Through stories we learn about our world and the worlds of others (in the past and today)

• Stories tell us we’re not alone – other people have gone through the same things we have

• Stories help us form identity: Who am I? Who do I want to be?

Break (9:50-10 a.m.)

Why Reality Stories?• This class is looking at a specific kind of story

that has become popular in the 21st Century.• ‘Reality’ stories are told in different ways,

through different mediums• Our job is to better understand these stories

and what work they do. Why are so many people interested in the lives of the Kardashians?

Syllabus• The overarching objective of this course is for each

of you to be able to apply the rhetorical questions, ‘Who is saying what to whom and why?’ to any text in order to assess author, message, audience, and purpose.

• Based on this analytical structure, the class is broken into five central questions that will be explored over 10 weeks.

• Who is creating reality in the 21st century?

• What is the reality genre? • Why these kinds of stories? • Who are the intended audiences for

these stories? • What has given rise to this genre?

Small weekly activities (30%): • Journal responses and reflections• Reality Check in-class writing• Thoughtful and engaged class participation Small papers and projects (45%): • Mini memoir• Blog project• Social identity project• One-pagers and reality log entries

Final paper and project (25%): • Final paper• Socratic seminar • What's next group project

• Grading: • A: Student exceeds all expectations: Effort and quality of work

are excellent and the student pushed him or herself to do the best work possible; assignments are completed and submitted on time and meet the requirements outlined. Participation is phenomenal.

• B: Student meets all requirements: Quality and effort of work are good and it is clear the student works to improve; assignments are completed and submitted on time. Participation is acceptable.

• C: Student does not meet all course requirements: All assignments are not completed and submitted on time; quality, effort, and participation could be stronger.

• IP: Student does not meet all course requirements: Few assignments are completed and submitted; quality, effort, and participation are poor.

Important Class Resource

• Class wiki: Our class Wiki will be a resource for everyone. Here I will keep a database of reality texts and class materials, such as PowerPoints, web links and handouts. Students are encouraged to share resources on the Wiki and use it to find sources for projects and papers. By the end of the week, you’ll have access.

• http://realitycheck2012.wikispaces.com

Class norms & expectations• You’ll need a notebook or journal for this

class. Class will typically start and/or end with a writing activity.

• If there’s a prompt up on the board/screen, you can get started writing when you arrive.

• You’ll have a class folder (provided) where you keep writings/handouts that you’ll turn in and sometimes use for future classes

Kindness & Respect … and no electronics

• Above all else, it is my goal to be kind and respectful to you. Please be kind to one another (and me!).

• This means being engaged in class … and no electronics.

What are three things that would make you feel comfortable in class?

• For instance: Do we want a five-second rule for discussions? (If someone has already contributed, they need to wait five seconds and look to see if someone else wants to say something before speaking again?

• Spend a couple minutes to write yours down.

Share one thing that would make you comfortable …

• Play devil’s advocate (take a counterpoint for the sake of providing a different perspective/argument) … in moderation• If possible back up your opinions with evidence/facts• No making people say stuff if don’t want to say anything• Don’t assume all have the same view on [pop culture] (like hating Justin Bieber).• More creative activities besides reading and writing• Debate• Please be objective before getting emotional• Don’t interrupt• Let people finish their points/be specific about time frames for discussion• Be confidential … if people tell intimate details don’t go out in the hall and be gossipy. Respect people’s privacy with personal

stories. Don’t names.• Don’t shout over other people• Answer questions when asked … within reason• No patronizing … if someone made a point and one of their sources was kind of off … don’t be like “actually …” don’t be a jerk.

Be respectful when making a counterargument.• Appropriate cursing is okay; if adds to your point.• No bashing of opinions.• Let’s not gang up on people during debates/don’t shove your opinions down people’s throats.• Please don’t complain about posture or eye contact (not paying attention, looking at paper)• Don’t judge people based on their opinions … try not to be judgmental • Don’t hog the floor … be respectful of classtime• Be respect of people’s ticks (idiosyncratic behaviors … like saying the word “like”)• During individual activities can listen to music.• Respect class materials

Is there anything you cannot live with?

How comfortable are you? Thumbs up or thumbs down

Student Survey

• Please help me get to know you!

To Get Us Thinking … What Do We Believe about the Reality Genre?

• Agree/Disagree? • I will ask a series of questions. To each, you

will take a position. • If you agree, move to the right side of the

room (if you’re facing the board). • If you disagree, move to the left.• After each, we will discuss your positions.

• The authors of reality texts—such as TV show producers, bloggers, the authors of memoirs, celebrities who Tweet—are motivated mostly by money.

• Most nonfiction stories are meant to be informational whereas most fictional stories are written to be entertaining.

• People who watch reality TV shows need to get a

life.

• There is no reality in reality TV.

• When people write status updates for Facebook, or post tweets on Twitter, they tell the good, the bad, and the ugly, regardless of what other people will think of them.

• It’s a coincidence that memoir-style books started to grow in popularity at the same time as the rise of the Internet.

• Reality style TV shows, such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians, are more interesting and appealing than fictional sitcoms, such as Glee, because they’re about real people.

• It is clear what is advertising and what is not on

reality TV shows, in blogs, books, magazines, and on Facebook and other social media sites.

• People have one true self that is their identity.

Reality media—whether online, on TV, or in print—have nothing positive to offer society.

Homework

• Pass in/or bring back your informational survey!