Oral Presentation-Symposium: April 21-May 7

Each student will give an oral presentation in the last three weeks of the semester in a symposium (colloquium) style format. Your presentation will be based on your term paper and must include a short PowerPoint or a Prezi presentation. You must also provide a short handout including a bibliography of all of your primary and secondary sources to all who are present so that they can follow what you are talking about. Please, don’t just make a copy of your PowerPoint. It must be a 1-2 page handout with your thesis, main talking points and conclusion. Your presentation should be 10-15 minutes long with a 5-10 minutes discussion.

 

Image Source: https://thehungergames2012.wordpress.com/photo-gallery/photo-gallery/#jp-carousel-1700

Blog Entry 10: Due on Sunday, May 3

This is your final blog. In this blog, please reread all blogs you have written and reflect about what you have done and learned in the semester. How did you like the material covered? Was it challenging for you? Did you spend enough time reading the required material? Etc.  Blog is due by Sunday, May 3, 9 p.m.

Image Source: http://jwwartick.com/2012/02/20/hunger-games-christian/ 

Blog Entry 9: Due on Sunday, April 12

Write a reflection either on “Apocalypticism” or on “The Nature of Evil.” Do you believe in the End of the World? Why? Why not? Which scenario is according to you most likely to happen? Discuss that topic and make sure to include the lecture by Dr. Krebs and the readings in your reflection. Write a reflection on the nature of Evil in our times and in The Hunger Games. Make sure to include the lecture by Dr. Baron and the readings in your reflection.  Blog is due by Sunday, April 12, 9 p.m.
 
Image Source: http://dursocapital.com/end-of-the-world/

Blog Entry 8 - Due on Sunday, April 5

Write a reflection on gender relations and romance in The Hunger Games. Include the lecture by Dr. Raley and the required readings in your reflection. Blog is due by Sunday, April 5, 9 p.m.

Blog Entry 7: Panem et Appalachia

 In chapter 16 of Mockingjay, Collins writes about District 12 “We may have been the smallest district in Panem, but we know how to dance.” Discuss the importance of music in The Hunger Games compared to Appalachia. Make sure to talk about at least one of the 3 songs mentioned in the trilogy: “Deep in the Medow,” “The Valley Song,” or “The Hanging Tree.” Also include the talk by Mr. Walt Michael. Blog is due by Sunday, March 29, 9 p.m.

Term Paper

All students are required to write a research paper including in-text citations for all quotations, as well as a “works cited” list including all internet sites you used at the end of the paper, all in the proper MLA style. Please use the latest edition of The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, seventh edition when citing sources or creating a works cited page. The Writing Center and the library have a copy of this book. Use the following source for “Citing Electronic Resources Using MLA Style” https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

The term paper (at least 1,500 words) must be typed (double-spaced). Include a bibliography of all sources you have used, both books and Internet resources. Use Times New Roman, size 12 and leave a 1-inch margin on all sides. Title page, table of contents, pictures and bibliography are not considered part of the required word count. Please include a word count at the bottom of your paper. The term paper is due at the beginning of class on the day indicated on the syllabus. Unless I have explicitly granted an extension before the due date, late papers will be penalized one-third of a letter grade per day. (A paper that would have earned a B+ will receive a B if it is one day late, a B- if it is two days late, and so on.) Topic, Thesis & Bibliography (20% of grade) are due by March 12, First draft of paper (40% of grade) is due by April 14 and final draft (40% of grade) is due by May 5.

In the research paper, you should carefully choose a topic discussed in one of the secondary books and related to The Hunger Games and write an analytical paper about it. You must find scholarly articles about the topic and engage critically with one of or all three books in the trilogy and/or the two films made from the first two books. The bibliographies in the books we have on reserve have a good collection of secondary sources. However, you must apply one of the theories (disciplines) we have studied in the semester (political science, religious studies, sociology, philosophy, communications, literature, art, music, etc.) in your analysis. In addition to the primary sources (the 3 books and the films) You MUST use at least 3 scholarly print (articles, books, chapters in books) sources. Here is a list of some general topics (see pages 11-12 for a few specific topics):

·       Choose any topic covered by anyone of the various guest speakers, research it and write a paper on that topic.

·       The nature of evil and The Hunger Games

·       End of world scenarios and The Hunger Games

·       Christian themes and symbolism in The Hunger Games

·       President Snow, Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein

·       The inequality between rich and poor

·       The Hunger Games and the Arab Spring

·       The Hunger Games and totalitarian regimes today

·       The Hunger Games and Colonialism

·       Suffering as entertainment

·       The importance of appearances

·       The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell and The Hunger Games

·       Mentors and mentees in The Hunger Games

·       District 12 and Appalachia: Culture, history, geology, environment and more

·       The Hunger Games and dystopian literature (George Orwell: 1984; John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath; William Golding: Lord of Flies; Aldous Huxley: Brave New World)

·       Katniss and other revolutionary figures: Similarities and Differences (Spartacus, Joan of Arc, Oliver Cromwell, Lenin, Gandhi, Che Guevara)

·       Weapons and weapon systems in The Hunger Games

·       Probability and Game Theory in the Hunger Games. See the following link for a good commentary: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/04/probability-and-game-theory-in-the-hunger-games/

Blog Entry 6

How is it possible that we still have totalitarian regimes in our time? What makes a regime or government totalitarian? What are the features/ characteristics of a totalitarian system? Relate these questions to the two readings required for this week and The Hunger Games. Blog is due by Sunday, March 8, 9 p.m.

 

Blog Entry 5

Write a reflection on one of the following 2 topics:

1. Describe how the Hunger Games Trilogy can be seen as Dystopian fiction. Make sure to incorporate the required reading (Chapter 6 by Henthorne) and the lecture by Dr. Carpenter.
2. What is the relationship to/ influence of text/ television on society? Make sure to include the reading (Chapter 5 by Henthorne) and compare the film The Condemned with The Hunger Games Trilogy in your reflection. Blog is due by Sunday, March 1, 9 p.m.

Blog Entry 4

Which one of the three books did you like the most or least? Why? You must be specific and elaborate on why you liked/ disliked the book. What did you like about it? Character development, storyline, ending, … Blog is due by Sunday, Feb. 22, 9 p.m.

 

Blog Entry 3: Catching Fire - Book and Film

In this Blog entry, please compare and contrast the second book with the film. You can either focus on a few similarities and differences between the book and the film or on one aspect of both, either storyline, characters, staging, portrayal of capitol and district 12, etc. Another option would be to compare the first with the second book. Blog is due by Sunday, Feb. 15, 9 p.m.

Images Source: 
www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/catching-fire-0

http://www.lionsgate.com/movies/catchingfire/

Blog Entry 2: The book and the film

In this Blog entry, please compare and contrast the first book with the film. You can either focus on a few similarities and differences between the book and the film or on one aspect of both, either storyline, characters, staging, portrayal of capitol and district 12, etc. Blog is due by Sunday, Feb. 8, 9 p.m.

Images Source: 
www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/hunger-games

http://www.lionsgate.com/movies/hungergames

Blog Entry 1: Why this course?

Why did you choose this class? What are you hoping to accomplish in the course? What is your favorite character of The Hunger Games and why? Blog is due by Sunday, February 1, by 9 pm.

Which Hunger Games Character Are You

From Katniss to Cato,
find out which 'Hunger Games'
character best matches your personality.
Take the Quiz!
http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/CJQlMz7dD4A/Hunger+Games+Character

 

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives: Through close readings and critical analysis of the 3 books, the students will explore the wonderful world of "The Hunger Games," discussing various themes using multiple disciplines (literature, political science, philosophy, religious studies, sociology, film studies, music, psychology, and more). They will improve their reading, writing and speaking skills and at the same time develop the analytical skills needed for a better understanding and an in-depth interpretation of the myriad of topics touched upon by the trilogy. We will use the content of the books to discuss relevant issues in our society today (war, poverty, starvation, freedom, democracy, oppressions, rebellion, environmental problems, and more). The students will also improve their writing skills by creating their own blogs and composing weekly blog entries to specific prompts on various topics and from various perspectives.

The Learning Objectives will be met through close readings of the 3 books and various secondary sources, through daily discussions and guest lectures, writing weekly Blog entries, a symposium style oral presentation at the end of semester, midterm and final exams, and one long research paper.

Required and Recommended Books

Required Book:

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. Print.

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010. Print.

Gresh, Lois H. The Hunger Games Companion. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin Press, 2011, Print

Pharr, Mary & Leisa Clark. Of Bread, Blood and The Hunger Games. Jefferson and London: McFarland. 2012. Print

Recommended Books on Reserve in Hoover Library:

Dunn, George A. and Nicolas Michaud. The Hunger Games and Philosophy. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012.

Egan, Kate. The World of The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012.

Egan, Kate. The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012.

Egan, Kate. Catching fire: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013.

Henthorne, Tom. Approaching The Hunger Games Trilogy. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland. 2012.

Boyer, Paul S. (1992). When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap/Harvard University Press.

List of Books

Required Book:

• Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.
• Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. New York: Scholastic Press, 2009. Print.
• Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic Press, 2010. Print.
• Gresh, Lois H. The Hunger Games Companion. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin Press, 2011, Print
• Pharr, Mary & Leisa Clark. Of Bread, Blood and The Hunger Games. Jefferson and London: McFarland. 2012. Print

 Books on Reserve in Hoover Library:

• Dunn, George A. and Nicolas Michaud. The Hunger Games and Philosophy. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012.
• Egan, Kate. The World of The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012.
• Egan, Kate. The Hunger Games: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012.
• Egan, Kate. Catching fire: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013.
• Henthorne, Tom. Approaching The Hunger Games Trilogy. Jefferson, NC and London: McFarland. 2012.
• Boyer, Paul S. (1992). When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap/Harvard University Press.

Welcome to the World of The Hunger Games

Welcome to the wonderful world of  The Hunger Games. This course is an exploration and in depth study of "The Hunger Games" trilogy. In addition to a literary analysis of the 3 books by Suzanne Collins, this course will explore the various aspects and themes that the 3 novels tackle and are based on: Greek mythology (Theseus and the Minotaur); Roman history ("panem et circenses,"  Spartacus and the gladiators); sociological issues (poverty and starvation, gender and class stratification); political issues (totalitarianism and democracy, self-determination, oppression and rebellion, old and modern art of war); reality TV and film (Survivors, The Condemned), the nature of evil (ethics and philosophy), end of world theories and apocalypticism (religious studies), survivors stories (the Holocaust, trauma, recovery and narrative), art (Jewelry), music and more. McDaniel Plan: Sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies, Textual Analysis.