Assignment for EDUC3450/7450 for Class 1

Complete the following work prior to the first class session on February 3, 2010.

PRE-READING ACTIVITY: The purpose of pre-reading activities is to engage the reader in thinking about the text about to be read, to whet the reader's appetite and help connect her prior knowledge to the literary work that is about to unfold. The following is the first part of an activity known as KWL (what do you already know, what do you want to know, what did you learn).

After looking at the back and front of The Golden Compass and reading all the front matter through the table of contents, write a few sentences stating what you already know, OR using your prior knowledge, what you can guess the first five chapters might be about, given the quote from Paradise Lost that sets a context for the story, and the titles of the chapters. Write briefly in response to each chapter title (not separtely to the quote).

Quote:
Into this wild abyss,
The womb of nature and perhaps her grave,
Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,
But all these in their pregnant causes mixed
Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,
Unless the almighty maker them ordain
His dark materials to create more worlds,
Into this wild abyss the wary fiend
Stood on the brim of hell and looked a while,
Pondering his voyage....
John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book II

Chapter one: The Decanter of Tokay
Chapter two: The Idea of North
Chapter three: Lyra's Jordan
Chapter four: The Alethiometer
Chapter five: The Cocktail Party

Now write a question for each chapter that you hope will be answered as you read; what do you want to learn?

Next, read the first five chapters making notes about what you LEARNED as you read. Bring these notes and your book to class to use in a discussion of the chapters.

There is no frigate like a book

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll-
How frugal is the chariot
That bears the human soul.

---Emily Dickinson