CSDS 90 Deaf Literature Writing Assignment:

Each student will write a research paper with a minimum of 750 words (approx. three pages) in APA format.  Maximum 1000 words (not including cover/reference pages) Please use a minimum of 4 reference sources. Do not cite Wikipedia or similar websites. Instead use the citations within those pages. If a citation does not exist for the information then it is suspect and should not be used.   Direct quotes must always be cited.  Paraphrasing from another author’s work must also be cited.

NO ABSTRACT REQUIRED.

 Paper will be graded on the General Education Scoring Guide for Writing which covers:

• Knowledge of Writing Conventions
• Clarity and Coherence
• Rhetorical Choices

Topic:

 In Module 1:Unit 1, we learned about the Face-to-Face Tradition.  In this tradition, we find three important elements: The Teller, the Tale, and the Audience.

 Choose one Teller from the various Deaf storytellers that you have been introduced to through this class and write about the following: (Teller must be Deaf)

1.      Who is the Teller, what is the person’s background, how did they become a “smooth signer”, did they utilize formal or informal training, how did they get started?

2.      What Tale or Tales does this specific Teller usually share? What venue is used to share this Tale? What genre does this tale fit into?  What themes are often incorporated into the Tales that are shared?  Through the Tales that you have chosen what are (or might be) the Teller’s goals?

3.      What did the Teller’s audience usually comprise of? Deaf only? Hearing only? Both groups?  What type of information did you find about the audiences that the Teller usually attended? Did the teller get feedback from the audience? How did this feedback affect the Teller’s adjustments to the audience?

4.      In summary, how did this teller combat a myth(s) that we learned about in the Primer (introduction to Deaf Culture)

Possible Tellers are:  George W. Veditz,  Charles Krauel, Dr. Ben Bahan, Manny Hernandez, Terrylene Sacchetti, Steve Longo, Ella Mae Lentz, Robert Panara, Laura C. Redden, Peter Cook, Patrick Graybill, Bernard Bragg, Mary Beth Miller, Marlee Matlin, Russ Harvard, Rosa Lee Timm, CJ Jones, Robert DeMayo, Wayne Betts, Bob Hiltermann, TL Forseberg, Linda Bove, Deanna Bray, Troy Kotsur, and more.