Unpacking the Bookstore

     The goal of this assignment is for everyone to now work with their respective bookstore group to reflect collectively on all the information gathered in the first three assignments. Each group should interpret how that information describes the cultural function(s) of the bookstore the group has researched and that bookstore’s definition and configuration of “literature.”

This will require that each group assess all the data and descriptive material that the group members included in their previous posts and determine what seems most important to include in this final post.

The group will also need to decide how to divide up research, narrative, and analytical responsibilities. Groups may elect to have each member take charge of a particular post topic—Place and People: Present, Place and People: Past, Space and Objects, Final Post: “Cultural Function(s),” Final Post: “Literature.” Or groups may decide to divide up responsibilities by grading rubric—Content, Narrative, Use of Maps, Graphics, & Multimedia, and Research/Citations. You’re free to divide up responsibilities in any manner that works best for your group. But whatever your strategy all members must have an opportunity to contribute equally and to review, edit, and approve the final post. Finally, each group must also incorporate into their interpretation at least four or five ideas or terms from the course readings, or from any additional research conducted by the group.

     For this assignment you will compose a long blog post that forwards both an argument and interpretation about the bookstore that you’re researching, and that incorporates information and material from the previous assignments: a Google map of the neighborhood (with pins dropped on significant sites); visual materials that illustrate the geographical location of the bookstore, the history and demographics of that neighborhood, and images of the bookstore; a timeline; visual materials that illustrate the bookstore’s space and its presentation; a floor plan of that space; and relevant citations for, as well as links to (if necessary), websites and sources included in your post. Each group is also free to conduct additional research to investigate specific historical events, theoretical perspectives, or literary issues. As usual, what items and information you deem most important to your narrative and how much material you incorporate into the final blog post will be up to you.

     As in the previous assignments, your blog post can reflect a personal tone, although it should not become intrusive or distracting. But this time it’s important that the post include a clear argument that leads to a specific interpretation of the bookstore’s cultural function(s) and definition/configuration of “literature.” You’ll see that I use the second paragraph of my example to spring an argument and, though I reuse material from previous posts in the first third of the example, the majority of my final post is devoted to interpretation and reflection. I also cite texts from outside the course readings because they speak directly to the Jewish literary and cultural issues important to my interpretation.