• Review the Reading Response and Syllabus on the reading(s) prompt

For Anzaluda's chapter on Conocimiento.

Prompt for Reading Response:

These should have a title of your choice, a brief summary in a complete paragraph giving title of the reading and the author, four direct quotations from the text (with page number), and last, respond briefly to two of the following questions:

1. What were my first impressions and personal responses of the reading?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the /article/chapter?
3. What are the major points or themes of the /article/chapter?
4. What are some significant passages that support the main themes of the /article/chapter?
5.  If I chose an aspect of this text to further research or Google, what would it be, and why?
6.  How does the reading relate to my own ethnicity, class, and gender experiences?
7.  In what ways can I link the reading to the contemporary world? To another reading?
8. What interesting fact or significant idea from this text would I choose to share with a relative or friend?
9. Do I like the material?  Why or why not?
10. What don’t I understand?  What questions do I have?

These responses should be a FULL page typed double spaced. Grading is complete/incomplete. I encourage you to take these reading responses seriously.  It will play a major role in shaping class discussion and will also have the added benefit of being helpful in your writing assignments.  Reading Responses are due every week.

SAMPLE Reading Response:

Magic: An Earthy Perspective

Starhawk’s “Introduction” to The Spiral Dance makes a case for witchcraft as an ecological religion. She traces the history of witchcraft as a goddess-based religion, distinguishing the concept of witchcraft as the "old religion" from the popularized notions of occult witchcraft, which is often incorrectly believed to be a satanic cult responding to medieval Christianity. Although Starhawk advocates a "magic" of sorts, it is a magic to influence human minds in a conscious manner, not necessarily a calling of supernatural forces out of hiding to make magical changes in the non-supernatural world.

1. “The Spiral Dance linked Goddess spirituality with political activism decades ago” (7).
2. “One of the core principles of the theology presented here is that the earth is sacred. Believing that, I felt that action to preserve and protect the earth was called for” (18).
3. “The feminist movement has prompted the culture as a whole to reexamine questions of maleness and femaleness. For the definitions are no longer working. These are oppressive to women and confining men” (19).
4. “The renewal of the Goddess religion and other earth-based spiritual traditions will continue to grow over the next decade. As the community grows, our spirituality becomes more embedded in every aspect of our lives” (23).

What interesting fact or significant idea from this text would I choose to share with a relative or friend?

I would love to share the third quote as it really stood out to me. It relates a lot to how our society is today and how gender is looked upon. It is true in fact that the feminist movement had a big impact on our culture. I would like my family and friends to know this.  I would like to talk to them about it. I would like to have them understand what Starhawk says. I would like it to inspire them to read her work. 

What are the major points or themes of the /article/chapter?

One of the major points of this reading was about the future of our culture and society’s spirituality. I hadn’t ever considered the future of spirituality for myself or for women or for people of color.  It also talks about witchcraft as somewhat of a religion, which was greatly interesting. It interested me because I didn’t realize just how false the stereotypes about witchcraft have been in education and in stories.

Sometimes people try to destroy you, precisely because they recognize your power- not because they don't see it, but because they see it and they don't want it to exist.  - bell hooks

• For each module: Start a thread of 3 sentences and Respond to 3 threads 3 sentences each.

How has your perspective on Latina/Chicana Identities shifted after reading Castillo this week?

For Saintly Mother and Soldier's Whore, Massacre of the Dreamers Ana Castillo

Prompt for Reading Response:

These should have a title of your choice, a brief summary in a complete paragraph giving title of the reading and the author, four direct quotations from the text (with page number), and last, respond briefly to two of the following questions:

1. What were my first impressions and personal responses of the reading?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the /article/chapter?
3. What are the major points or themes of the /article/chapter?
4. What are some significant passages that support the main themes of the /article/chapter?
5.  If I chose an aspect of this text to further research or Google, what would it be, and why?
6.  How does the reading relate to my own ethnicity, class, and gender experiences?
7.  In what ways can I link the reading to the contemporary world? To another reading?
8. What interesting fact or significant idea from this text would I choose to share with a relative or friend?
9. Do I like the material?  Why or why not?
10. What don’t I understand?  What questions do I have?

These responses should be a FULL page typed double spaced. Grading is complete/incomplete. I encourage you to take these reading responses seriously.  It will play a major role in shaping class discussion and will also have the added benefit of being helpful in your writing assignments.  Reading Responses are due every week.

SAMPLE Reading Response:

Magic: An Earthy Perspective

Starhawk’s “Introduction” to The Spiral Dance makes a case for witchcraft as an ecological religion. She traces the history of witchcraft as a goddess-based religion, distinguishing the concept of witchcraft as the "old religion" from the popularized notions of occult witchcraft, which is often incorrectly believed to be a satanic cult responding to medieval Christianity. Although Starhawk advocates a "magic" of sorts, it is a magic to influence human minds in a conscious manner, not necessarily a calling of supernatural forces out of hiding to make magical changes in the non-supernatural world.

1. “The Spiral Dance linked Goddess spirituality with political activism decades ago” (7).
2. “One of the core principles of the theology presented here is that the earth is sacred. Believing that, I felt that action to preserve and protect the earth was called for” (18).
3. “The feminist movement has prompted the culture as a whole to reexamine questions of maleness and femaleness. For the definitions are no longer working. These are oppressive to women and confining men” (19).
4. “The renewal of the Goddess religion and other earth-based spiritual traditions will continue to grow over the next decade. As the community grows, our spirituality becomes more embedded in every aspect of our lives” (23).

What interesting fact or significant idea from this text would I choose to share with a relative or friend?

I would love to share the third quote as it really stood out to me. It relates a lot to how our society is today and how gender is looked upon. It is true in fact that the feminist movement had a big impact on our culture. I would like my family and friends to know this.  I would like to talk to them about it. I would like to have them understand what Starhawk says. I would like it to inspire them to read her work. 

What are the major points or themes of the /article/chapter?

One of the major points of this reading was about the future of our culture and society’s spirituality. I hadn’t ever considered the future of spirituality for myself or for women or for people of color.  It also talks about witchcraft as somewhat of a religion, which was greatly interesting. It interested me because I didn’t realize just how false the stereotypes about witchcraft have been in education and in stories.