Essay #2 – Two Possible Structures

Posted on December 11, 2023 by JSylvor


As promised, I am sharing a written version of the information that I provided in class about how to organize your final essay. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about these guidelines.

How does one organize an essay about two different texts?

To begin, let me state the obvious:  Before you begin to draft your essay, you MUST have a plan!  It doesn’t matter whether your plan is a traditional outline or just a list of body paragraph ideas, but you need to sketch out the structure of your essay before you begin to write.

When I write a paper, I start by collecting the “textual evidence” that I want to use (all the quotations and examples from the text that address my question).  Then I sort the evidence into different paragraphs, based on the idea that each piece of evidence illustrates or supports.  Then I decide what order of paragraphs would be most effective.  This means that before I begin writing my first draft I already know what idea each body paragraph will be exploring, what textual evidence I will be including in each body paragraph, and what order I will be presenting my ideas in.

For your final essays, you have two different possible paths for organizing your body paragraphs:  The Sequential Option and The Alternating Option.  I describe both below.  The alternating option is slightly more challenging to execute.  It works best when you discover that your texts are very closely aligned and that the ideas you have about one text hold true for the other text as well.  Do not “mix and match.”  Choose one of these structures, and stick with it!  These examples each have three ideas.  I just stopped at three because that was enough to make my point; I would imagine that you would have at least three ideas for each of the texts you’re writing about.  By “ideas,” I mean claims about the text that respond to your over-arching question.  Each of these ideas gets its own body paragraph.  You will notice that in both options, only the introduction and conclusion discuss the two texts together in a single paragraph.  Each body paragraph focuses on a single text.

The Sequential Option 

1.Introduction:  Lays out your question in relation to both Text A and Text B

2. Text A – Idea #1

3. Text A – Idea #2

4. Text A – Idea #3

5. Text B – Idea #1

6. Text B – Idea #2

7. Text B- Idea #3

8. Conclusion – Brings together Texts A and B, recaps the argument you have made in the body of your paper, and provides an answer to the “so what?” question.  What are the implications of what you have shown us in this essay? What do we learn from it?

The Alternating Option

1.Introduction – Lays out your question in relation to both Text A and Text B

2. Text A – Idea #1

3. Text B – Idea #1

4. Text A – Idea #2

5. Text B – Idea #2

6. Text A – Idea #3

7. Text B- Idea #3

8. Conclusion – Brings together Texts A and B, recaps the argument you have made in the body of your paper, and provides an answer to the “so what?” question.  What are the implications of what you have shown us in this essay? What do we learn from it?

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Isabel Allende, “And of Clay are We Created”

Posted on December 10, 2023 by JSylvor

–What do you think the significance of Allende’s title is? What does it mean to be made of clay? –

-What happens to Rolf in his encounter with Azucena?

–Why do you think Azucena becomes a symbol of the tragedy that is unfolding in the story?

–What did you make of the President’s visit to the site of the disaster? What kind of commentary is Allende making here?

–How can you connect this story with your own experiences of natural or other disasters? Are there elements of the story that you can relate to? How?

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Toni Morrison, “Recitatif”

Posted on December 6, 2023 by JSylvor
  • How is the theme of maternity explored in the story? Give at least two examples.
  • Morrison adds issues of class to what is already a complicated story about race. Why? Where in the story do you see evidence of this?
  • What is the meaning of Morrison’s title, Recitatif? How does it work as a title for this story?
  • What are Twyla and Roberta fighting about in the section about school busing? What’s going on between them?
  • Is the story’s perspective on race relations ultimately pessimistic or optimistic? Why?
  • Why do you think Morrison chooses not to be explicit about which girl is African American and which girl is Caucasian?
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Tayeb Salih, “The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid”

Posted on December 3, 2023 by JSylvor

–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?

–What seems to be the story’s perspective on the government in newly independent Sudan? What’s the relationship between the government and the villagers?

–Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text

–At the end of the story, the old man refers to his own son and says, “it is my hope that he will stay where his is and not return.” How do you explain this?

–What do you think this story’s ultimate perspective is on the issue of tradition vs. modernity?

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Kafka, “The Metamorphosis”

Posted on November 27, 2023 by JSylvor

–Do you think that Gregor is more powerful BEFORE or AFTER his metamorphosis?  Explain your response.

–How is Gregor’s family transformed in the wake of his metamorphosis?

–At the end of the second section of the story, Gregor’s father pelts him with apples.  What do you think this episode is about?

–Gregor emerges from his room one last time when he hears his sister playing her violin for the lodgers.  What is the significance of this? What meaning does music hold for Gregor here?

–Ultimately, what do you think Gregor’s metamorphosis means?  What does it mean to be transformed into a giant bug?

–Explain your understanding of Gregor’s death.  How/why does he ultimately die?

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Modernism in Visual Art Assignment

Posted on November 15, 2023 by JSylvor

As an extension of our study of Modernism, you will be exploring Modernism in visual art through a visit to one of the NYC museums listed below.  All of these museums are currently requiring that visitors book their visit ahead of time, so be sure to go to their website and follow instructions to make a reservation before your visit. 

Museum of Modern Art (www.moma.org) 11 W.53rd Street

CUNY students can visit MoMA for free.  When booking your visit, click on the button that says “Reserve Affiliate Tickets”.

Neue Galerie (www.neue galerie.org) 1048 Fifth Avenue

This small museum focuses specifically on Austrian and German art.  It is housed in a beautiful mansion.  Admission is free on the first Friday of every month.  All other times, student admission is $12.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org) 1000 Fifth Avenue

This museum is “pay as you wish” for full-time students in NY and for all NYC residents. There is a suggested price listed for students, but you can choose how much you want to pay for admission. However you may still need to make a reservation to book your visit!

At the museum, you will select one piece of work created between 1890 and the beginning of WWII in 1939 that you believe can be described as modernist.   It might be helpful to keep in mind that impressionism, expressionism, cubism, and surrealism are all streams of modernism. 

On our course blog, post an image of the work (preferably a photograph taken by you at the museum or an image found online) and a post of 400-500 words about the work.  If you consult any sources to complete this assignment, please include that information.  It’s fine to look up basic biographical information, but all description and thoughts about the work you’ve selected should be entirely your own.  Be sure to include the following elements:

–Basic information about the artist.

–A description of work you selected.

–An analysis of how this work reflects the aesthetic preferences associated with Modernism.

–A description of the context in which you encountered the work. 

–An explanation of what drew you to this piece.

–Any questions you have about the work.

***Your work must be posted to our course blog by Wednesday, Dec. 6th. Please retain proof of your visit and either email it to me (by taking a picture) or show it to me in class after your visit.

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Isabel Allende, “And of Clay are We Created”

Posted on December 14, 2023 by MERICHEL ALMONTE


What do you think the significance of Allende’s title is? What does it mean to be made of clay?

The clay could tell the story of how Rolf got created from his history and set free. It could have been a biblical reference when God generated humanity from soil. It could also represent how the media formed us to be clay-like. It causes us to think in particular ways, and because clay is dirt, dirt is the deception or exaggerations that the media is trying to show. It is sometimes more vital to cover the story than help Azucena.

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Mary Wollstonecraft, a vindication of women’s rights

Posted on December 14, 2023 by MERICHEL ALMONTE


Do you think women are still raised to be “nice”? Why or why not?

In the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, you can see how women observe that women should supposedly be shown only to “make them submissive” to please men, live to please, however this has changed over the years because Before we could see how women were housewives, in the house the decisions that were made were beneath the man but now women if they have to live alone without a man by their side they do it or if they have to work equally or more than He does it too, over the years women have become more independent with more equality. It does not mean that there have stopped being women who are housewives, no less than before.

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Toni Morrison, “Recitatif” Merichel

Posted on December 14, 2023 by MERICHEL ALMONTE


Is the story’s perspective on race relations ultimately pessimistic or optimistic? Why?

I understood from the story was that it talks about the ways in which relationships can be optimistic as well as pessimistic with the racial form. It shows the lives of Roberta and Twyla from a racial perspective, telling how they both treated each other and how they thought differently from each other but at the same time shared family themes and certain similar conditions. As at the beginning of the story they did not get along very well but little by little they began to form a friendship and in a certain way support each other both inside the asylum and when they leave and start a family.

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Modernism in Visual Art Assignment, Stewart Deleon

Posted on December 7, 2023 by STEWART DELEON

The work I chose for this assignment is called Eternal City, which was painted by Peter Blume. Peter Blume was born in a small town in Russia called Smorgon. He then emigrated to the United States and ended up settling in Brooklyn, New York. Before fully pursuing painting, Blume left high school early to work at a jewelry factory and a lithography plant. In 1932, he was awarded the Guggenheim fellowship which allowed him to travel to Europe. In this trip he visited Rome 10 years after the fascist takeover of Italy; which sparked his inspiration for the painting, ” The Eternal City”.

In the ” The Eternal City”, the most prominent piece of the painting is the blue head popping out of the jack in the box. The blue head is a representation of the Italian fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. You can see the head is looking over the elderly woman with a leg covered in plaster; surrounded by ruins of Roman statues and people in tunnels running down the underbelly of the scene. The tone of the painting is chaotic and oppressive, with people in the background being seen fearful as a threatening officer lords over them with a horse and armor. I believe this painting is trying to represent how Mussolini and his idea of fascism ruined one of the most historically significant and beautiful cities in all of history. I also think the naming ” The Eternal City” was to showcase how no matter what, Rome will always be present and significant; I believe when Blume chose this name he shared his hope that one day Rome will be free of this oppressive regime and return to it’s former glory and beauty.

This work incorporates some of the key characteristics involved with modernism such as surrealism and cubism. From the distant mountains to the use of a pink sun; the bold colors force a sense of amazement and attention to detail. Using vibrant colors on the head of Mussolini overlooking the dark corner which the elderly woman in a cast with a bejeweled christ being displayed. Blume used this painting to show his feelings of disgust towards fascism and how it made a once beautiful city, a ruin.

I chose this piece because I am always attracted to bright/vibrant colors and the amount of detail in this painting made me find something new every-time I looked at it. The use of shading and shadows in the window pane of the bejeweled Christ left me in awe. The mixture of realism and surrealism gave me the vibe of a dream like appearance; the amount of detail in every little face and even the ruins of the statues makes this ridiculously impressive to me. The use of landscape and depth also adds to the wow factor of this painting.

Some questions I may have is: Were any aspects of this painting foreshadowing the coming of WWII? Do the two men staring at Mussolini while everybody else runs in chaos have any significance? And lastly, what does the bejeweled Christ represent?

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Modernism assignment

Posted on December 7, 2023 by ZEXI LI

The artwork that I chose is “Wheat Field with Cypresses,” by Vincent Van Gogh. Vincent was borned on March 30,1853 in a city called Zundert. He is one of the most famous impressionist painters whose work had a impact on the history of art. Throughout his life, Vincent struggled with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. His emotional state serves as an important factor that influences his artwork and we can see this affection in his use of color and brushwork.

He created this paint work during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. This artwork displays a peaceful and vast wheat field, Vincent’s use of color on the wheat field conveys a sense of energy and brightness to the painting, the rhythmic pattern of the wheat indicates a calm breeze flowing through the field. Overall the use of strong colors such as yellow, green and white provide a visually appealing image.

This artwork reflects the aesthetic preferences associated with Modernism because of its unique style and its significance in modern art. During the late 19th and 20th centuries, most of the artists were seeking for new ways of expressing themselves and moving away from conventional techniques in art. Van Gogh’s unique style in using color and brushwork in this painting. For instance, the swirling pattern in the sky and the distinctive shape of the tree is a symbolization of an abstract work and played a crucial role in the transition from traditional art.

I think what drew my attention in this painting is Van Gogh’s use of expressive brushwork and color. His use of color on the wheat field makes the artwork visually captivating. Furthermore, the unique pattern of the wheat and the sky gives me the impression as if these objects were moving. 

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Modernism in Visual Art Assignment, Xiaolin Huang

Posted on December 6, 2023 by XIAOLIN HUANG

The artwork I selected is Vetheuil in Summer by Claude Monet. Claude Monet is a French artist. His active period was during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Claude Monet is the founder of impressionism, which became a core feature of modernist artwork. Claude Monet is a master at using colors, lights, and shadows in terms of expression. Monet experimented with the combination of light and color by depicting the same spot at different seasons and drawing a conclusion on the application of color in expressing impressionism.

Vetheuil in Summer was created in 1880. The artwork depicted the view of Vetheuil from the opposite side of the Seine river bank. The painting is a typical representative work of Claude Monet in terms of color and light depiction. Monet’s art focused on accurately recording the sensation of color and light in nature, which is a reputation of modernism in the visual arts. Modernism focuses on the reflection of society, nature, and the real lives of people in artworks. While Impressionism focused more on depicting light and shadow in nature, it emphasized conveying ideas from nature and ideas from humanity instead of only recording nature and human activities.

This painting is not my favorite work among Monet’s paintings, but it was the most outstanding to me during this visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The contrast of the indoor lighting at the museum and the sunlight outside made this bright painting of a sunny afternoon at the Seine River bank catch my attention. The painting illustrates the ideal sunny afternoon that’s always in my imagination. The combination of the blurry contour of objects and the use of bright color conveyed the feeling of being at the river bank instead of how it looks at the river bank. By looking at the painting, I can sense the warm breeze of early spring and the joy of a relaxing day.

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Modern Art Assignment Ecaterina Costrovet

Posted on December 6, 2023 by ECATERINA COSTROVET

The work I chose for the assignment is called Rouen Cathedral: The Portal (Sunlight) and was painted by Claude Monet. Claude Monet was born on November 14, 1840 in Paris. He is best known for his Impressionistic style painting. According to Britanica, Impressionism is characterized by “an attempt to accurately and objectively record visual reality in terms of transient effects of light and color.” Claude Monet was able to do so by focusing on the study of light and form over many canvases depicting the same subject. The Rouen Cathedral is one example of such work. According to the Met Museum website, this collection of paintings was done over the period of multiple days, after which he worked on those same paintings in his studio in Giverny. At that time, he was able to adjust the images in relation to each other to come up with the final result of having done over twenty cathedral pictures. Furthermore, Monet focused on portraying the structure by using detailed and textured brushstrokes, which again is portrayed in the Cathedral painting. This reflects the stylistic choices of modernism because while Monet was trying to portray the reality he saw around him, he was able to take stylistic decisions. Furthermore, making multiple copies of the same subject and then basing the works on each other deviates more from the reality noticed during a concrete moment in time and creates more leeway for the artist to layer his individual view of the subject.

I think that what drew me to this piece is its use of color and the textured brush. When I saw this hanging on the wall, the first thing that came up to me is the contrast Monet was able to achieve between the blue of the sky and the lighter color of the cathedral. Furthermore, I found it interesting that Monet was able to portray so many details of the cathedral using so many similar shades of the same color.

The questions I still have about the work is what inspired Monet to do multiple completed paintings of the same subject, and did all of those works supposed to be considered pieces or merely sketches before the arrival to the final work? Another question I have is why did Monet start to paint using the impressionistic techniques and deviate from the original styles?

Overall, I believe that this painting does a good job at depicting the world around us while also taking some artistic leeway to depict that world through the eyes of the artist.

Claude Monet – Impressionist, Paintings, Art | Britannica

Claude Monet | Rouen Cathedral: The Portal (Sunlight) | The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org)

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Modernism in Visual Art Assignment

Posted on December 6, 2023 by BRITNEY MORGAN

The museum I chose to go to was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I found the artwork “Still Life with a Guitar” by Juan Gris in 1913. Juan Gris’s full name is Jose Victoriano Gonzalez-Perez born 1887 in Spain. He studied engineering at the Madrid School of Arts and Manufactures in 1902, but decided to transition as a full-time artist in 1906 and moved to Paris. There he was mentored by Pablo Picasso where he learned Cubanism. He is most known for his still-life works using this technique.

Still Life with a Guitar is a deconstruction of a table with a guitar on it. There is a wooden table split diagonally into two, the top and underneath. The top right is a wooden top side intersected by various black shapes. Music sheets, grapes, and a glass lay on top of it of various bright colors. The underneath side on the bottom left is a yellow rectangular shape with two green cylinder table legs. In the center is a rectangular base and wooden guitar while the strings are blue. The background is a deep blue filled with various colorful shapes that segment the guitar and table and in turn give all elements sharp, rectangular, and angular shapes. 

The Modernism artistic movement is defined by its, uses of abstract shapes and forms, vibrant and bold colors and the explorations of time, movement, and space. This artwork reflects some of these characteristics by using bold and bright colors, such as royal blue, light blue, yellow-green, and purple. He also uses wooden texture to differentiate the table and guitar from the rest of the elements. Another aspect of modernism it displays is its use of abstract layout and shapes that form into a picture. However, these use of shapes are mostly rectangular and are broken down into its distinct planes which is an aspect of cubanism.  

I chose this artwork because when I first saw it I could not originally tell, what I was looking at. I could recognize some aspects of the painting, such as the glass and music sheets, but I had difficulty seeing the full picture. It took some time to see it. I admired how although Gris uses abstract shapes, it would take a considerable amount of consideration and time to place these shapes to form a recognizable image. I also liked its bold colors and the use of the realistic wooden texture on the table and guitar in an abstract painting. I haven’t seen texture in an abstract painting before.

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