English 324 -- Reflection Essay and Official Course Ballot

In column A, vote for the work with the most potential for impact or change (on you, on the world, is this the work that is the most polemical?).

In column B, vote for the work that is the most "fictional" (that is, uses the most narration, metaphor, etc.).

In column C, vote for the work that is the most "non-fictional" (informative, descriptive, factual?).

In column D, vote for the work where the author is most present.

In column E, vote for the work where the place (or the sense of place) is most present.

In column F, vote for the "best" thing we’ve read this semester (however you define "best")

 

A

B

C

D

E

F
Barry Lopez, The Rediscovery of North America            
John Muir, Mountains of California            
Gretel Ehrlich, The Solace of Open Spaces            
Scott Russell Sanders, Staying Put            
Terry Tempest Williams, Refuge            
Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire            
Henry Beston, The Outermost House            
Janisse Ray, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood            
Charles Siebert, Wickerby            
Bill McKibben, The Age of Missing Information            
Richard Hague, Milltown Natural            

Then, in a brief reflection essay, justify your choices. Reflect back on the material you read this semester and attempt to rank it according to the above criteria. To answer, you may have to define what you mean by those terms--"fictional," most "placed" (does that mean natural?). Provide as many specifics and examples as you can (2-3 pages). Then, think about what your choices suggest: about your own reading habits, about your sense of place, and about how non-fiction writing about place "works" (that is, what conclusions can you draw based on your choices?).

 

 

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