Scene from the film "12 Years a Slave" (2013)

(IMG. credit Fox Searchlight)

Here is a scene titled "Let Me Weep" from the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave. Amazing acting and scriptwriting make for a very emotional scene. Please find the associated lesson plan below.

Video

Lesson plan

Course Materials for Modern Japanese Literature 演習II

These are the class materials for my 演習II (Modern Japanese Literature) class. Note that links to all class handouts and materials are also included in the syllabus.

Class syllabus

Reference guides

• Elements of a story
• Basic written report format

External database links

• CiNii Articles (Japanese)
• Jstor (English)
• 国会図書館

Class materials for Basic Seminar II (基礎演習II): TOEFL Test-taking Strategies

Below are links to class materials for the course Class materials for Basic Seminar II (基礎演習II): TOEFL Test-taking Strategies. Students in this course should access these materials from this page. Students should also print off these materials when necessary, as the instructor will not bring extra to class.

Class syllabus

Essential Academic Skills: For General Purposes and TOEFL Test

Reading Analysis Worksheet

Sample written essay: "The Little Prince, Chapter 15"

This is a sample written essay for The Little Prince, Chapter 15.

"The Scholar as Metaphor"

by Justin Aukema

June 11, 2018

In Chapter 15, the little prince meets a geographer. Although the little prince is impressed with the geographer’s job at first, he changes his mind when he realizes that the geographer doesn’t actually visit the places that he studies. In fact, the geographer is a metaphor for scholars and scholarship in general, and the story subtly pokes fun at the somewhat paradoxical and hypocritical way that many scholars today approach their subjects. In other words, The Little Prince indicates that it would be better to actually experience somethings in person, rather than study them “objectively” from afar and only rely on second-hand information. Moreover, the little prince also discovers that, despite his scholarly air of “objectivity,” the geographer is, in fact, much more similar to other adults than he may like to believe. 

At first, the little prince exclaims that the geographer’s job is “very interesting” and says, “at last, this is a real job” (120). Yet his excitement soon changes to disappointment. “It is not a geographer’s job to look for cities or rivers or mountains or oceans or deserts,” says the geographer, “a geographer is too important to do that” (122). In other words, instead of visiting the places he studies in person, the geographer relies on second-hand information from “explorers.” Moreover, the explorers must present the geographer with “evidence” which the geographer must then verify the veracity of. Of course, this situation bears much similarity to the work of actual scholars today, who often study their subjects from afar without actually going to experience what it is they are writing about. Moreover, considered in this way, The Little Prince also throws into question the actual “objectivity” of scholars and the authenticity of their second-hand information and “evidence.” The story questions, therefore, whether it is really possible to know something without directly experiencing it. 

In addition, the geographer’s elitist and detached position vis-a-vis his subjects border on the point of absurdity. Geographers are “too important” to actually visit the places they study, he explains, and he continues to say that “geography books are the most important books of all” (122, 124). With these statements, we see that, in spite of his “objective” appearance, the geographer (scholar) is, in fact, more concerned about his own perceived “importance” rather than discerning the truth of reality. In this sense, the geographer is very similar, indeed, he is the same, to the other adults that the little prince has met thus far. That is to say, he mainly acts out of selfish desire rather than from pure curiosity and in the interest of others.

Structuring an argument (and the five-paragraph essay)

This Powerpoint presentation demonstrates one model for structuring an argument (the house model) and written essay (the five-paragraph essay). 

Structuring an argument (and the five-paragraph essay)

Parts of a Media Story I: Plot and the Plot Pyramid

Identifying the plot is an essential part to analyzing any story and particularly works of fiction. This plot pyramid with exercises trains students to recognize the basic parts of plot. This is also an excellent way to structure simple summaries of works of fiction.

Plot Pyramid with Exercises

Course materials for Japan Studies I and II

Here are class materials for the KWU courses Japan Studies I and II (Japanese history). The materials include the Class Syllabus, Student Study Guide, and Reading Analysis Questions.

Japan Studies I

General resources
Class Syllabus

Student Study Guide
Analyzing Primary Historical Sources

Reading analysis questions

Reading Analysis Questions, pp.14-23

Reading Analysis Questions, pp. 26-29
Reading Analysis Questions, pp. 30-41
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.44-53


Japan Studies II

General resources
Class syllabus

The Little Prince Study Guide and Reading Questions (演習I)

I am posting the Student Study Guide and Reading Analysis Questions below. Students in my classes should complete the Student Study Guide as homework for each reading. We will answer complete the Reading Analysis Questions together in class. Enjoy the book!

Syllabus
Sample Written Summary
Sample Written Essay

Student Study Guide

Reading Analysis Questions, pp.16-28
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.28-39
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.48-56
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.56-69
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.76-91
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.92-97 (Explanation of subjects and themes)
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.104-118

Sample Study Guide (Complete), pp. 118-129 (With sample written essay)

Reading Analysis Questions, pp.170-181
Reading Analysis Questions, pp.192-200 (Special discussion lesson focusing on topic of "anxiety")

Using and Citing Sources (Guide)

This is a guide on how to use and cite sources in academic writing. Namely, it covers how to paraphrase, summarize, and use quotations.

"Using and citing sources (guide)"

Class materials for 専門英語I、及び専門英語II (Language and Society in Film)

These are class materials for the KWU courses 専門英語I and 専門英語II. Please find links to class handouts and other materials in the syllabi.

専門英語I 

Syllabus


専門英語II

Syllabus

Black Mirror s03e01 "Nosedive"

This is one of my favourite episodes of the fantastic series Black Mirror. It explores the mainly negative effects of technology on human relations. In this episode, society and behaviour are regulated by an SNS-style ranking system. Rank is collected like capital and used as a kind of currency for various transactions. People are superficially nice to each other to obtain a higher self-rank. 

Video

Lesson plan