Basic instructions for the first out-of-class
assignment for ENC 1102, sec 1415.

Spring 1995.

before you start writing you should always ask yourself what is thetopic/subject/object/character(s) you want to write about.

when you express your opinions, you should always ask yourself:WHY you think in the way you do. That is:

• On what basis do you make a statement about something?
• Are you using one section/sentence/paragraph of the text in order to explain another part of the text?
• Are you using other "texts" (in the more general sense) in order to make of your primary source the center of an interpretative network?
• Which are your texts/connections (theories, ideas, ideologies, "filters", other pieces of fiction-drama-poetry)? Make them explicit.
• Can you explain why you decided to choose those particular connections/texts?

Do you have a direction/goal? (what is your point?)

Is what you want to talk about clear enough, so that your reader understandswhat you mean? (In other words: have you re-read your paper? Do you understandit? Do you think I will?)

Who is your reader (in terms of voice/competence)? So, what is your voice forthat reader?

Here there are some concepts/questions that can help you to work on the shortstory Steps of Silence, by Carlos Solina (that you find at the reserve desk, WestLibrary). They are (intentionally) not ordered according to some logic/sequentialorder. What you should do is:

1. pick up one, or two, or three, or all, or none (in which case you should find out your ownquestions/ideas) of the following concepts/questions;
2. make a well-developed diagram (by using the clustering technique);
3. write a typed draft (no longer than 2 pages);
4. write (by using the draft) a well organized AND well written paper (no longerthan 3 double-space, typed pages).

When you start working on this paper (possibly not the day before it is due) sit down, relax, don't panic and write as if you were doing this also for yourself (thatis, because you like it), and not only for the grade. Don't forget that if you have towrite one paper, I have to read all of them! And if I get bored/annoyed with yourpaper you won't be very pleased with your grade. The first draft (together with the diagram) is due on Thursday, March 2; thepaper is due on Thursday 16. Drafts and papers submitted after these dateswithout a valid and written justification will be graded with a B or less.

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CONCEPTS/QUESTIONS:

1. What is the short-story about? Characters, ideas, communication, language, game(s),fear, impossibility? What else?

2. Communication:
   • What is, in the short-story, communication?
   • How does silence, in the short-story, affect/modify communication?

3. Language:
   • What is 'the' relationship between 'the' language and 'the' world?
   • Can we really talk about one relationship, one language, and one world?

4. Non-verbal languages:
   • What are they?
   • How can we communicate through/with/by means-of them?
   • What is the difference between verbal and non-verbal languages?
   • Are non-verbal languages as effective as 'the' verbal language?
   • How do they work in the short-story?

5. Impossibility:
   • How is the concept of impossibility presented in the short-story?
   • What are the relationships between impossibility and knowledge, hope, fear,communication, control?

6. Game:
   • What is 'game' in the short-story?
   • Is there only one game?
   • Who is playing the game(s)?
   • Who is part of the game(s)?
   • Who are the victims and who are the Punishers?
   • What is the relationship between crime and punishment?
   • How much does language contribute to the construction of the game(s)?
   • What is the relationship between the game(s) and power?
   • Who has the power?

7. General questions:
   • Are you sure about....? Good! Then tell me who-what-when-where-how-why.
   • You are not sure about....? Good! Then try to understand why you are not sure of your thoughts.
     • Does it depend on the story?
     • Does it depend on your reading? (How many times have you read the story? One? No, no, that's not enough!)
     • Does it depend on your not making a good/well-developed diagram?
     • Does it depend on the fact that you are writing the paper just a few hours before the paper is due, burning your midnight oil?
     • Does it depend on your total lack of interest for this class, for this short-story, for these topics, for the world(s) of words that I force you to read while wild parties are waiting for you?