[ Introduction and Description | Schedule and Readings | Assessment and Policies | Related Resources ]
In en5210/6210, we want to do something slightly different from the usual "presentation". One problem with a presentation is that it sometimes tends to become a mini-lecture, addressed to the lecturer or tutor, and can kill debate or discussion. We will thus ask you to present a short paper arising from the reading for the week which takes ten minutes to read out (at the most 1000 words). You should distribute copies of the paper to your fellow students, and, after reading it, facilitate discussion for about 15 minutes.
You should email Philip Holden or Ismail Talib and sign up for slots before week 2's class meeting. Your final essay should be on a different topic from your presentation.| Week | Topic | 3 |
Stories from the Straits Chinese Magazine Open topic, but I'd prefer you to concentrate upon only one of the stories chosen for analysis that week. |
| 4 |
Poetry (1): Robert Yeo
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| 5 | Poetry (2): Robert Yeo and Arthur Yap
|
| 6 | Poetry (3): Arthur Yap
|
| 7 | Philip Jeyaretnam (1) |
| 8 | Philip Jeyaretnam (2) |
| 9 | Kuo Pao Kun (1) , "Coffin" and "No Parking" Consider the extent to which Kuo can be seen as a "political" writer. |
10 |
Kuo Pao Kun (2), "Mama Looking for Her Cat" and Kuo's
article in Singapore: Re-Engineering Success Kuo's "Mama" is the first of his multilingual plays, a new practice in Singapore theatre. While his article was written almost ten years after the play, both deal with the issue of ethnicity and community under "multiracialism." Try to use the article to help your fellow students explore the play. |
13 |
Lau Siew Mei (Playing Madame Mao I'll have hopefully covered the political references to Singapore in the previous session. There are at least three possibilities here: 1) Use of mythology, 2) the formal structure of the novel, 3) In conjunction with the interview we'll read from the Quayum and Wicks reader, the extent to which you think Playing Madame Mao can usefully be thought of as Singapore Literature. Choose ONE of these topics only. |
1. Be selective. You won't be able to cover all potential issues raised by your topic, but try to bring up a few representative ones .
2. Make sure your paper is readable and attractively presented.
3. Please chat with your tutor about your presentation agenda at least one week before the presentation.
An excellent presentation/discussion will display the following qualities:
1. Able to clearly and effectively communicate to the class key issues, debates, or concepts.
2. Able to stimulate active and inclusive class discussion.
Last updated: 18 November, 2003