Department of English
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Special Project Guidelines
The course special project is an opportunity for you to bring together various skills and topics learned in this course and collaborate with classmates.
In six groups of four students, you will work on a course project on one of the six themes below related to our external reading, Patrick Ness's novel Release. Each theme comes with an extra-novel reading and listening component (indicated on the theme list). This is to provide perspectives on the topic aside from those presented in Release and from your own that will help generate lively and relevant debate in your group preparation sessions and in a class discussion forum, as well as more informed paragraphs for the writing component. The discussion forum will take place on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 where you will share the results of your group's critical thinking on the theme and have an opportunity for your ideas to be challenged and expanded with the engagement of the rest of your classmates.
Plan so that every member can use their English language skills (ex. reading, writing, speaking, listening) in a real way both during the project's preparation and presentation. In the spirit of thoughtful creativity that we have practiced through the provocative units of this course, challenge yourself to think critically, research your themes using reliable sources, ask each other exciting questions, and share your experiences and ideas. Use your sense of humor, curiosity, and have fun!
Important Dates
November 6: (7:30 a.m.) I will be available for consultation before class in our classroom for any groups who want to discuss their plans, presentation outline, and prepared discussion questions with me.
November 13: Discussion forum
November 20: (7:30 a.m.) I will be available before class time for paragraph consultation if groups want to discuss ideas or want me to look at their outlines or drafts.
November 22: Paragraphs due
Discussion Forum Guidelines
Class on Tuesday, November 13 will be devoted to the discussion forum where each group will have 14 minutes to present and lead class discussion.
Themes
Each special project theme below includes a reading and listening component for groups to make use of in their preparation, presentation, discussion, and paragraph.
The reading links are, for your reference, the original articles of the paper ones handed out to each group. It is intended that you read the handout articles, and refer to the original if you would like to consult the authors' ideas in more detail while you plan your project.
Most of the video clips for the listening component have subtitles/closed captions capability. Click on the CC button on the YouTube videos to view the transcript and check your listening.
Project Theme 1: Religion and
Community
(Shunya,
Suvipath, Nathakrit, Yathip)
How do religious establishments (ex. the church, temple, mosque) operate
as focal points of community and society? What are the positive/negative
aspects of this?
Further exploration
Project Theme 2: Mythical
Figures and the Supernatural
(Tharameen,
Ornnicha, Paween, Thanyatorn)
What do the Queen and faun represent? What role does the supernatural play
in the novel and in our daily lives? In a world shaped by science and
technology, why are mythical and supernatural elements still so much a
part of our everyday existence?
Further exploration
Project Theme 3: Adolescence
and Sexuality
(Poomrapee,
Jidapa, Taratorn, Passkorn)
Why is adolescence a particularly important and often difficult time? How
does sexual identity relate to a person's overall identity? Are
adolescents more promiscuous nowadays? Is this book (and Thai teen movies)
a realistic portrayal of this, or is fiction always exaggerated?
Further exploration
Project Theme 4: Authority
and Freedom
(Piyapat,
Phakanutt, Sunicha, Napaphat)
Look at the ways either parents or religion attempts to limit individual
choice in the book. Do these authorities aim to protect or to control
people? To what extent should parents or religious leaders try to control
the lives of children? What is freedom? What are the limits of freedom?
What freedoms should youth have and what freedoms should they not? What
are freedoms or limitations of freedom associated with a certain age or
cultural group not applicable to others?
Further exploration
Project Theme 5: Family
(Pattaranun,
Chonnikan, Ramida, Pinwipa)
Adam and Angela have very different families. Think about who Adam
considers his real family to be. Are you born with a family or do you
build one over time? What is a family and why does it matter so much?
Further exploration
Project Theme 6: Dangers
(Sahatsawat,
Pranchalee, Praphatsorn, Nichapat)
There is a drug-related death in the book, unplanned pregnancy, potential
for sexual assault. Is it more dangerous growing up now? Think about the
consequences of actions and punishments.
Further exploration
Paragraph
Guidelines
Last updated November 21, 2018