Week 6 assignment
Assignment: Final Reflection
Throughout this course, you have explored the use of various forms of literature to understand areas of women’s life experiences. Consider how each author achieved a piece of a social change vision through her work. Looking at the topics and literature collectively, how will you regard women’s literature after this course has ended? Are you eager to explore the works of a particular author further? When reading literature in the future, you might consider intentions or outcomes related to social change.
To prepare for this Assignment:
• Consider the form and style of the literature you have been exposed to throughout this course.
• Review literary techniques in the “Glossary of Terms and Techniques for Literature and Creative Writing” document, located in this week’s Learning Resources. What techniques have been particularly appealing to you as a reader?
• Review assignments throughout this course. What insights have you gained from the readings, the Discussions, and the Assignments about women’s
• literature and social change? What resonated deeply and why?
The Assignment:
Write a literary piece in a form used in this course (essay, personal narrative, short story, poem, song lyrics) that summarizes your learning from the readings, research, Assignments, and Discussion activities in this course. Address the following items in your work:
• Considering the resources, you have been exposed to throughout this course, in what ways is women’s literature important to efforts for social change?
• Consider why the medium of literature will continue to be important for women to express social issues and concerns. What future trends do you foresee in women’s literature?
• Include three new insights you gained from this course.
The Reflection must be a substantive piece of literature 1–2 pages in length.
Shange, N. (1997). For colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. New York, NY: Scribner.
Reprinted by the permission of Russell & Volkening as agents for the author. Copyright 1993 by Ntozake Shange.
“somebody almost walked off widalla my stuff” (pp. 63–65)
“a layin’ on of hands” (pp. 84–88)
Note: All of the poems listed above are also available as audio recordings, located under Media in this week’s Learning Resources.
Dickinson, E. (ca. 1862). The soul selects her own society (303). Retrieved from http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20283
This poem speaks to a set of complex themes and exhibits various elements of poetic style. This poem informs this week’s Final Reflection Assignment.
Moraga, C. (1983). The welder. Retrieved from https://theusesofanger.wordpress.com/2014/05/20/the-welder-ch/
This poem uses metaphor to address various facets of women’s experience in life. This work informs this week’s Final Reflection Assignment.
Walden University. (2015b). APA style: Overview. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/apa
Walden University. (2015e). Writing center. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/home
Document: Glossary of Terms and Techniques for Literature and Creative Writing (PDF)
This resource provides support in analyzing various forms of literature. Use this to identify elements of style and apply literary terms to assignments.
Required Media
With this week’s content on future trends in women’s literature in mind, review the timeline information on Emily Dickinson and Cherrie Moraga.
The following audiocasts are readings of excerpts from Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf. Hearing poetry read aloud deepens the experience of the reader/listener and may increase comprehension and connection to the meaning behind the words. To enhance your interaction with the work, consider listening to these recordings as you read the assigned poems.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2010h). Somebody almost walked off widalla my stuff [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2010g). Positive [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2010a). A layin’ on of hands [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
Optional Resources
Web resources
The following resources provide a varied look at women’s voices today:
The International Women’s Writing Guild. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.iwwg.org/
Kay, S. (2011, March). If I should have a daughter [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter
A performing poet since she was 14 years old, Sarah Kay is the founder of Project VOICE, an organization that uses spoken word poetry as a literacy and empowerment tool.
Neary, L. (2013). What’s in a category? ‘Women novelists’ sparks wiki-controversy. NPR Books. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2013/04/29/179850435/what-s-in-a-category-women-novelists-spark-wiki-controversy
Poetry Foundation. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.poetryfoundation.org
Simon, E. W. (2014). 3 girls got on national television and told the not-so-pretty truth about America. Fearless. Retrieved from http://www.upworthy.com/3-girls-got-on-national-television-and-told-the-not-so-pretty-truth-about-america-fearless
In this presentation, three young women present a perspective on America today.
Walden University. (2015a). About. Retrieved from http://www.waldenu.edu/about
Walden University. (2015c). Student experience. Retrieved from http://www.waldenu.edu/experience
Words Without Borders. (2015). Retrieved from http://wordswithoutborders.org/
For this week’s Assignment, you may consider the following songs
Carey, M., & Margulies, B. (1990). Love takes time. On Mariah Carey [CD]. New York, NY: Columbia Records.
Crow, S., Trott, J., & MacLeod, B. (1997). A change would do you good. On Sheryl Crow [CD]. Los Angeles, CA: A&M Records.
Estefan, G., Estefan, E., Jr., & Secada, J. (1991). Coming out of the dark. On Into the light [CD]. New York, NY: Epic. (Recorded: 1990).
Lennox, A., & Stewart, D. (1985). Sisters are doin’ it for themselves [Recorded by Eurythmics & A. Franklin]. On Sisters are doin’ if for themselves [CD]. New York, NY: RCA Records.
Sainte-Marie, B. (1964). Universal Soldier. On It’s my way! [Record]. New York, NY: Vanguard.
Image preview for”consider how each author achieved a piece of a social change vision through her work.”
APA
649 words