Questions and Answers About the Class
Please put your question at the TOP of the page, under the triple lines, and remember to sign and time-stamp your post. To do this, put your name in the “author” field and enter four tildes (this is a tilde: ~) after your message.
If you want to send me a personal communication — for example, why you missed class last week — please use ANGEL Mail.
Professor Fish, As I was looking over the review sheet for our final, I was wondering if there is any way I would be able to find out what retentive is for one of the levels of survival. I could not find anything in my notes. Meghan Lance · Monday · 12–10–2007 · 11:13AM
For those of you who are interested,the Newport Jazz Festival is still going on in Newport, Rode Island. I googled it online and in 2007 they had a huge festival.Trisha Sirianni · Monday · 12–10–2007 · 08:50AM
Professor Fish, are all 3 exams weighted equally. Is each exam worth 15% of our final grade including the final exam? Chris Cangialosi · Tuesday · 12–04–2007 · 04:28PM
Yes, the three tests are weighted equally. Nick Ortman · Wednesday · 12–05–2007 · 05:03PM
The articles Carlson on Thanksgiving,and Santa Cecilia that you sent will not print under the pdf file. I tried to copy them to something else so I can print them, but it’s not working. Is there any way you can send them under a different file so I can print them up? Kristie Dubaj · Wednesday · 11–28–2007 · 08:29PM
Dear Kristie
The files come up in PDF format without any problem. Perhaps you have an outdated version of Adobe Reader on your computer. Try downloading the current version from http://www.adobe.com or print out the files on a college computer. Lydia Fish · Thursday · 11–29–2007 · 02:34PM
Are you going to post our grades on the paragraphs we did in the beginning of the semester; or did only the test on the songs count for a grade? Kristie Dubaj · Monday · 11–26–2007 · 04:36PM
Dear Christie
Yes I am. I’m sorry for the delay — I’ve been having some problems with my ANGEL account and right now my left hand is almost useless, which makes using the computer difficult.
As I explained in class, the paragraphs won’t affect your grade much one way or another. I am curious about the correlation between your understanding of the songs as shown in the paragraphs and your grade on the test and I wanted to have a sample of your writing early in the semester.
If your paragraphs are markedly better than your test grade I might deduce that you are a nervous test taker and adjust your grade a bit accordingly. However, this rarely happens! Lydia Fish · Monday · 11–26–2007 · 06:46PM
Professor, would you like our Fieldwork papers to be printed single spaced or double-spaced? Erin Sheahan · Sunday · 11–18–2007 · 09:19PM
Specifications say 1.5
http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/fishlm/ant144/project144.htm
David Wilde · Monday · 11–19–2007 · 09:05AM
Dear Erin
David is correct. Since these projects will be filed, smaller spacing will mean less space. Next year I’m thinking about going to half-inch margins as well. Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 11–20–2007 · 09:55AM
Professor Fish, Will the last exam be cumulative of the entire class or on the material covered after the last exam?
Rachel Keller · Thursday · 11–01–2007 · 12:53PM
The final exam will only cover material assigned or presented in class since the midterm. Lydia Fish · Friday · 11–02–2007 · 12:41PM
What is the format for the midterm? Will it be short answer, essay, multiple choice or a combination of the different forms? Richard Kimmich · Wednesday · 10–24–2007 · 12:26PM
The test will consist of true-false and multiple choice questions. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 10–24–2007 · 05:46PM
Since we did not get our paragraphs back, (or our tests) how can we assume that our interpretation was correct? I hope I do not make the same mistakes.
The grades for your first test were posted on ANGEL two weeks ago. If you wanted to know if your analysis of the song was correct, you had only to ask me in class any time during the past two months. I have asked for questions concerning the CD at the beginning of every class meeting since the first week in September. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 10–24–2007 · 05:46PM
On the study guide it says that we should know all about the songs on the CD. Should we just review what was on the the test we took on the songs already? Kristie Dubaj · Tuesday · 10–23–2007 · 05:06PM
I would suggest going over your paragraphs again. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 10–24–2007 · 10:17AM
I just got an email in my regular Buffalo State email saying that I have been removed from this class on Angel. I can no longer access our class information or my Angel mail. I haven’t changed anything on Angel myself, so I have no idea how this happened. Sorry I had to use the wiki to contact you, but I have no other way right now, or I can talk to you in class about this. Thank you. Megan Westenfield · Tuesday · 10–16–2007 · 09:15AM
Dear Megan
Sorry about the mistake! I’ll get you back on the list when I return to campus next Monday. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 10–17–2007 · 07:37AM
Are we to read the entire “Fieldwork” book for the midterm examination? If not, what chapters?
Thank you. Rachel Keller · Sunday · 10–14–2007 · 03:54PM
Dear Rachel
The chapters in Fieldwork were assigned on 3–4 September. Check your syllabus! Lydia Fish · Monday · 10–15–2007 · 04:56PM
Professor,
Are we required to include annotations in our preliminary bibliographies? Carrie Morgano · Sunday · 10–07–2007 · 11:29PM
No, although you certainly may if you want to. Lydia Fish · Monday · 10–08–2007 · 10:22AM
Would we be able to use the people from past classes in our papers? Lindsay Gayhart · Friday · 10–05–2007 · 10:14PM
Dear Lindsay
You can’t use them as informants unless you track them down and interview them — but you certainly can use their posts as comparative material in your own paper. EasyBib will show you how to cite websites — a wiki is just an interactive website. Lydia Fish · Sunday · 10–07–2007 · 08:35AM
With regards to my fieldwork project on wedding folklore, I was wondering if the fact that I am a banquet chef outside of class and actually experience all sorts of weddings and receptions would count as research? How would I go about citing such fieldwork? Also, you mentioned before on my actual fieldwork page that I am not suppose to be including the history of wedding folklore. This confused me because without the history, how else do I describe the folklore of weddings? Abbey Love · Thursday · 09–27–2007 · 04:24PM
Dear Abbey
Please read carefully the documents “Directions for your Fieldwork Project” and “Improving your Preliminary Bibliography,” with special attention to the section on occupational folklore, which is your topic. You will find the links on your class page of my website. You should also finish reading the assigned chapters in Fieldwork by Bruce Jackson.
If you still have questions I suggest that you ask this question again in class. I’m sure lots of your classmates would benefit from the information! Lydia Fish · Friday · 09–28–2007 · 04:54PM
Is there a specific format required for the “CD” paragraph papers you would like? (i.e. heading, titles, pages numbers, etc.) Adam Kessler · Wednesday · 09–26–2007 · 05:25PM
Just make sure your name is on every page. Please single space — we might as well save as many trees as possible! Lydia Fish · Thursday · 09–27–2007 · 09:18AM
Is anyone doing their paper on urban legends / ghost stories? I was also wondering if it would be useful to take one of the Haunted History Ghost Walk tours listed on the Mason Winfield website. Could the tour be used for one of the ten required sources? http://www.masonwinfield.com/ghost_walk.php Chris Cangialosi · Tuesday · 09–18–2007 · 10:36PM.
It would be even more useful if you would check your spelling and capitalization when making a post to the wiki :) Remember, this is a writing intensive course and spelling, capitalization, grammar and punctuation count!
It would be interesting and helpful to take one of Mason Winfield’s tours and, yes, you may count it as one of your sources for comparative material. However, you can’t count him as an informant; like me, he is a folklore scholar rather than a tradition bearer. You might also like to use the DVD he produced about haunted places in upstate New York, Haunted Places. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 09–19–2007 · 10:34AM
I went to the website immortalia and was able to find it. I was just not able to find the lyrics to the songs. Can I please have some help? I have also choosen the topic halloween customs.kimberly clark · Tuesday · 09–18–2007 · 09:08AM
Your assignment, which was to send me the proposed topic of your fieldwork project by ANGEL mail, was posted on the “(Almost) Everyday Bulletin from the Professor” on 9 and 18 September. If you will send me ANGEL mail concerning your proposed project I will answer you.
On 6 September I posted the new URL which should be used instead of Immortalia (which is no longer updated) and directions for looking for songbooks there on the “(Almost) Daily Bulletin from the Professor” page of the wiki. The complete text of each songbook listed and a catalog page describing the contents is included. If you are still have trouble come by my office or ask me in class and I’ll show you how to do a search.
Please use correct capitalization when posting to the wiki — this is not text messaging!
Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 09–19–2007 · 10:34AM
Regarding my question before about Tolkien: The legend of The War of the Ring is completely based on the folklore of the First Age. It is mentioned in various parts of the trilogy, such as when Aragorn sang of Beren and Luthien. Also, the fear of the Balrog goes back many ages, despite no man having seen one since the fall of Durin in Moria. Would I be able to do my fieldwork project of the effects of folklore (First Age “legends” such as Feanor, Beren, and Turin) on the Third Age of Middle Earth?
Mira Mistretta · Sunday · 09–16–2007 · 02:57PM
Dear Mira
Please send all questions about your fieldwork project via ANGEL mail.
This would be a fascinating topic for a research paper in a course on Lord of the Rings. You obviously know your Tolkien!
Unfortunately it would not be possible to do fieldwork on this topic and your assignment is to do a fieldwork project. Why don’t you talk to me after class and we’ll see if we can come up with a Tolkien topic for you Lydia Fish · Monday · 09–17–2007 · 10:49AM
I have listened to “Has Anybody Seen My Smoke” and I am very confused by the song. I did try to google the song to understand what it means but I did not find anything. Does it have to do with cigarettes?
Meghan Lance · Sunday · 09–16–2007 · 01:44PM
This song is a bit confusing — if you will ask me about it in class I’ll go over it so everyone can get it straightened out. Lydia Fish · Monday · 09–17–2007 · 10:49AM
From the Angel e-mail you asked that we list all the Harry Potter movies we have seen by name on our personal Wiki pages. Will it be acceptable to just say that we have seen them all, if that is true or would you still like us to list them by name? David Skierczynski · Thursday · 09–13–2007 · 12:12PM
If you have seen all five films just saying “I have seen all the films” should be sufficient. Lydia Fish · Friday · 09–14–2007 · 04:44PM
Could you please help me with the meaning of the song, “ Throw a Nickel on the Grass.” I have listened to it several times and can’t seem to figure it out?
Megen Schiffler · Wednesday · 09–12–2007 · 07:26AM
Try Googling the phrase “Throw a Nickel on the Grass” — you’ll be amazed at what turns up! Also, check out the lyrics on the website I posted on the “(Almost)Daily Bulletin from the Professor” page a few days ago.
If you’ll ask me in class I’ll go over it then. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 09–12–2007 · 10:08AM
I’ve never heard of angel before. How do you use it? lindsay gayhart
ANGEL is the course management software used at the college. If you need assistance go to the Help Desk in Butler Library. Lydia Fish · Wednesday · 09–12–2007 · 10:08AM
Would you like a formal proposal regarding our fieldwork projects or just a brief explanation? Abbey Love · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 04:33PM
Just send me a brief statement by ANGEL mail.
Please place all posts to the wiki at the TOP of the page. Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 08:59PM
Would it be possible to change our field research project after selection. For example, if I were to choose Polish folklore and find that I am having difficulty finding enough information could I change subjects? David Skierczynski · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 08:57PM
It is certainly possible to change your topic — but I am sure that you can find LOTS of Polish-Americans in Buffalo to talk to! You can’t do fieldwork on Polish folklore unless you are planning a trip to Poland. Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 09:17PM
Would “wivestales” be defined as folklore? Clifford Hill · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 03:52PM
I have no idea what you mean by “wive’s tales” — can you be more specific? Perhaps you should reread the document on definitions of folklore. Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 09:06PM
Are we going to be discussing J.R.R. Tolkien at some point? Mira Mistretta · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 03:47PM
We certainly can — he is one of my favorite authors! What particular topic did you have in mind? Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 09:06PM
Do we have to write a paragraph for every track on the cd, including the introductory tracks? Katherine Teall · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 03:45PM
You need a paragraph for every SONG on the CD. It would probably be helpful if you included material from the introduction in your paragraph. Lydia Fish · Tuesday · 09–11–2007 · 03:47PM
