For Tuesday, May 5

Relax!  Think about the skills you have gained this year.

Synthesis Essay:

Opinion Driven
Use 3 sources
Let sources talk to each other
Make sure my own opinion is clear

Analysis Essay:

How does the author persuade his readers to change their thinking or move them to action?
In your thesis, include the author's goal.
You are looking for rhetorical strategies.  You are writing about the writing.

Argument Essay:

Make sure your opinion is clear.
Fill your essay with current events, reading, and experiences that support your opinion.

For Monday, April 27

For Monday, I want you to write a "spoken word" piece.   "Writing" a "spoken" word piece might seem impossible, but I am positive that these performers begin with a manuscript that the writers memorize to present to their audiences.  AND...no worries, you will get a chance to "speak" your written word to our class.  (This is like poetry or heavy impact paragraphs.  Stylize your "word" with intentionality.)

Step One:  Select a social "issue" about which you feel strongly.
Step Two:  Think about words that will express your feelings on the subject.
Step Three:  Think about scenarios in which you would find your "issue" in action.
Step Four:  Think about ways you see to fix the problem...or at least make an effort to fix it.
Step Five:  Start writing.
Step Six:  Read your work aloud.
Step Seven:  Rewrite, fine tune, restructure, and refine.
Step Eight:  Read your work to your parents.  What do they think?  Do they have any suggestions?
Step Nine:  One more look, refine...one more time.
Step Ten:  Get ready to present...

For your review:  This is the clip we watched in class:

http://goo.gl/xWbT50  You can find many more clips online.

For Thursday, April 23

Prepare yourself mentally and physically for class Thursday by brushing up on current events, breathing in God's spirit, reading a poem, reading a news article, thinking about life as you know it.  We will write a 40 minute essay and do a multiple choice sample.

Enjoy your time off...just be aware of all that is going on around you.

For Tuesday, April 21

This weekend you will read a stream in the NY Times Room for Date which asks the experts the question:  Does poetry matter?  I would like for you to read the discussion (all articles).  Then, formulate your own opinion.  Select three of the sources that you will use in a synthesis essay.

DON'T WRITE THE ESSAY~JUST PREPARE TO WRITE AN ESSAY.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/07/18/does-poetry-matter

On Tuesday, we will discuss the debate.  Then, I will set the timer for 40 minutes and away you will go...writing for a full 40 minutes, sharing your informed opinion as to whether poetry matters:)

You may choose to print out the specific articles you will cite in your essay.  I will also have copies of each of the articles for your use on Tuesday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

For Friday, April 17

Walk...barefoot
Look at a painting
Listen to music
Taste an exotic fruit
Touch a flower
Breathe deep
Watch your grass grow
Write a poem

For Monday, April 13

Bring in any work you have completed on the rough draft of your The Road paper.   You will have time in class to work on your essay.  I will be available for questionss.  The final paper is due on Wednesday, April 15.

For extra credit, select one of the images below.  Next, let it inspire you to write a poem.  Bring me the poem.

For Thursday, April 9

Select a paper topic for your essay over The Road.  Remember: your topic must be narrow enough to cover in approximately 1000 words.  PRIMARY GOALS:  ANALYZE MCCARTHY'S PURPOSE FOR THE NOVEL; FORM YOUR PERSONAL OPINION REGARDING HIS PURPOSE/WORLDVIEW AND STATE IT.

Write a working thesis (we can change as necessary) and find (highlighted or typed) a minimum of six insightful and apropos quotes from the novel that you will use to prove your thesis. 

Know the definition of apropos.

EXAMPLE:  If you choose to analyze McCarthy's use of light imagery, you will justify your interpretations regarding light imagery with multiple concrete examples from the novel. In your conclusion, you will agree or disagree with the way McCarthy sees light in his post-apocalyptic world.  You might ask yourself:  What does light mean to me?  How has light been used or seen (in a literary sense) throughout history?  How does God (our God) define light?  In a landscape without moral absolutes, does light/hope have any purpose?

Comparing The Road to another piece of literature, film, painting, song, tv series could be excellent. Make sure to check with me if you are unsure about the validity of a companion piece.

Off the top of my head:

Father-Son Relationships
Night by Elie Wiesel
A Beautiful Life 1997 film
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Post-Apocalyptic Novels/Films
The Book of Eli
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (think about the importance of story/history/memory)
Brave New World by Alex Huxley (think:  Does society make a difference in moral absolutes? or even Which world is more cannibalistic?)

If you want to run some ideas past me, feel free to email or text.

DUE DATE FOR ESSAY:  BOP - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015