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

Here is the link to the ny times debate room stream...does poetry matter.  Read through the discussion...take 15 minutes to do this.  If you do not get to all 7 articles, that is fine.  You just need to cite three articles.

Set your timer on 40 minutes.  Write a synthesis essay which is driven by your personal opinion.  In this case, the entire stream of the discussion within the debate room is one side...contending that poetry does matter.  If you disagree, you will
give your point of view with personal examples and then cite 3 of the sources in your counter argument paragraph.

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

For Tuesday, April 21

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 Friday, April 17

The Road essay is due BOP on Friday, April 17.

I would at least look through the questions below.  If you want an A, proofreading will be an important part of this essay writing process.

Essay Writing: Writer’s Checklist
Introduction:
 Does your thesis include the "why" of your statement?  Why does McCarthy make the choices he does?
 Is the introductory paragraph interesting? Does it make the reader want to keep on reading?
Body Paragraphs:
 Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence that is related to the main idea of the essay?  Does each body paragraph include specific information from the text (including quoted evidence from the text) that supports the topic sentence?  You need solid evidence for each claim...think a minimum of three.
 Is there a clear plan for the order of the body paragraphs (i.e., order of importance, chronology in the story, etc.)?
 Does each body paragraph transition smoothly to the next?
Conclusion:
 Are the supporting ideas summarized succinctly and clearly?
 Is the concluding paragraph interesting? Does it leave an impression on the reader?
__ Does the conclusion speak to the lessons learned by contemporary readers?  or demonstrate McCarthy's purpose?
Overall Essay:
 Is any important material left unsaid?
 Is any material repetitious and unnecessary?
 Has the writer tried to incorporate “voice” in the essay so that it has his/her distinctive mark?
 Are there changes needed in word choice, sentence length and structure, etc.? Think:  vivid verbs
 Are the quotations properly cited?
 Has the essay been proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.?
 DOES THE ESSAY HAVE AN INTERESTING AND APPROPRIATE TITLE?

For Wednesday, April 15

Bring in a rough draft of your The Road paper.  The final paper is due on Friday, April 17.

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

For Wednesday, April 8

If you have not alread done so, finish reading The Road.