The purpose of the expertise partner project is twofold: first, it ensures that at least two people in the class have a deep understanding of a significant approach/theory to Asian American narrative; second, it creates an online archive for that knowledge so that it can be referred back to for later research. By working in a team, I expect that you’ll achieve greater depth and a clearer sense of the argument and the stakes of the argument.
To achieve these goals, please read and re-read your piece carefully, and discuss it with your partner. Consider seeing what other outside sources have to say about the author, the book, the important terms or ideas. Think about meeting with me to discuss the piece. Then prepare the following:
1. For the archive, prepare a blog post on one of your blogs with the following components:
- In your own words, articulate the theorist’s argument. Here, you may also want to include and define his/her significant terms, ideas, or references to other theorists. If the theorist uses an example or two, pick the one that you find most compelling and explain it in your own terms. [You may use direct quotes from the text in this section, but your own language should predominate.]
- Next, give your own example of the theory. Please choose a common or well-known text. If you can use an example from a class text, you’ll know that everyone can relate. Be as specific as you can here: apply the theorist’s terms and explain in detail how each component from the text exemplifies that term. If it’s not an exact fit between the argument and the text, explain what doesn’t fit and why.
- Contextualize the argument. What do others have to say about it? Explain what this argument adds to our understanding of contemporary narrative, and why it’s important. Does it concur or contradict other arguments? Are there important ideas or terms that it neglects or gets wrong?
- Finally, locate a few outside resources that can help the class better grasp the import of the argument, and link to them. These might include secondary articles, websites, video, pictures, etc. Aim for 2-3.
- Plan for the blog post to be no longer than your average blog post (500-750 words). The idea here is to be comprehensive and concise, simultaneously!
2. For the class, prepare a short (10 minutes, tops!) presentation of the secondary piece; BOTH OF YOU SHOULD PLAN TO SPEAK.
- I’m not kidding about SHORT!! Assume that the class has read your blog post.
- Whittle down your articulation of the author’s argument to a sentence or two, and explain why it’s important.
- Direct us toward a passage or event in the most recent text (this should be different that the one that you used in your blog post) that can serve as an example of the theory.
- Ask for questions and answer them.
3. At least 24 hours before class, send me a link to the post so that I can link to it from the course site.
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