Thursday, December 17, 2015

(Due Friday)

"An Ill Wind Off Cape Cod" VERSES "Cape Wind Is Sound for the Sound"

Now that you've read both of the above essays, choose the argument you think is best supported by the use of logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.  Just as we did today with the essays on Harry Potter, choose ONE  essay to support, and in one developed, well formulated paragraph, explain why that particular author's essay is stronger.  You must use at least two direct quotes to support your assertions.

Monday, December 14, 2015

"Stone Soup" VERSES "Women and the Future of Fatherhood"

(Due Tuesday, December 15, 2015)

After reading both "Stone Soup" and  "Women and the Future of Fatherhood," whose assertions do you agree with most-Kingsolver's or Whitehead's?  These are controversial issues.  Both authors make poignant, appealing claims.  In one well considered, thoughtful paragraph, identify whose views you support most and why.  You must choose only one.  Use at least two quotes to support your response.  

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Response to "Stone Soup" by Barbara Kingsolver

(Due Thursday)

Directions: In one well thought out paragraph, discuss any element or aspect of purpose, audience, OR strategies of "Stone Soup."  (Choose only one.)  Proofread your responses for grammatical errors BEFORE submitting.

Group Post Assignment 

(Due at the end of the block Tuesday, November 17)

Post your group's assigned paragraphs here.  At the top of your post, type all group members' names, the title and author of your assigned essay, and the heading name of the questions you were assigned.
Example:
Group Members' Names
Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts by Bruce Catton
Questions About Purpose

Monday, November 16, 2015

(Due Tuesday, November 17, 2015)

After discussing Mark Twain's Two Views of the River, you should have a working understanding of his purpose for writing the piece, his intended audience, and the strategies he uses to convey his message/knowledge.  Review your notes and think back to our class discussions.  Then answer the following question: What is Mark Twain's purpose for writing this piece?  Since you should already be familiar with the content of the question, the purpose of this post is for you to practice writing an A.P.-level paragraph that is WELL-FORMULATED and DEVELOPED.  Your paragraph response should include at least two direct quotations, properly MLA formatted.  Be prepared to share your paragraph with the class and have it critiqued.

Friday, October 30, 2015

(Due Monday, November 2, 2015)

Directions: Using the notes you took on Eighner's, Giovanni's, and Ehrlich's purpose for writing, write one well thought-out, articulate paragraph in which you discuss the author's purpose for one of the above pieces.  Since you are already familiar with the content (what the paragraph is about), your primary focus and goal for this blog is to PRACTICE writing A.P.-level sentences using elevated diction and clearly and concisely worded sentences which convey your meaning.  Avoid the use of "dead" words such as many, a lot, really, and very.  Do NOT write in first person, and maintain a formal tone.  Lastly, proofread for proper comma and semicolon use BEFORE publishing your work.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

TONE

Choose either your nonfiction supplementary novel OR one of the summer novels of your choice in which to consider the author's tone and the overall mood of the piece.  You may refer to the definitions of both terms in your "Things You Should Know: Brief Note on Tone" packet we read together in class.  For this blog post, you must do the following:

1. Write a paragraph in which you discuss the overall tone and mood of the writing.  Use at least TWO of the tone words from our packet (underline them in your post).  In addition to identifying the tone and mood, you must explain how you identified the both AND provide one sentence that supports the particular tone and mood of the piece you identified.
2. Proofread your response BEFORE publishing it to ensure there are NO grammatical errors, lowercase proper nouns, etc.  Italicize the titles of books.
3. This blog response is due Thursday, October 8.

Writing Style (Due Monday, September 14)

For any of your three novel selections, reflect on the writing style presented throughout the book. (To be clear, you are choosing ONE of the novels you read this summer and reflecting on the writing style.)

In one developed paragraph, first introduce the title of the book and its author.  Then respond to TWO of the questions below.  Use ONE direct quote from the book to support your answer.

Consider how the book is organized.   Is it largely narrative?

Does it make use of process analysis to reveal the steps in something?

Does it include sections that compare and contrast or reveal cause and effect?

Is it largely a persuasive work?  Explain.

Does it divide and classify to reveal important concepts?

Nonfiction or Fiction Response (Due Monday, September 14)

Choose ONE of the following to respond to (either A or B): 
(A) Reflecting on your summer reading, IF one of the books you read is fiction, begin your blog response (two developed paragraphs) by introducing the title of the book and its author.  Then choose TWO of the questions listed below to respond to.  Use two direct quotes from the novel to support your answers.

What is the role of point of view in this book?
What is the organization of the work (chronological, flashback, multiple points of view, etc.)?
What is the setting, and how does it impact the meaning of the story?
What are some of the conflicts (both internal and external)?
What is the main theme of the story?

(B) Reflecting on your summer reading, IF one of the books you read is nonfiction, begin your blog response (two developed paragraphs) by introducing the title of the book and its author.  Then choose TWO of the questions below to respond to.  Use two direct quotes from the novel to support your answers.

Is the book an autobiography, biography, memoir?
What is the role of point of view in this book?
What is the impact of pace (as influenced by description, dialogue, etc.) on the reader?
What is the impact of diction (word choice) on quality of work and intended audience?
What is the impact of syntax (sentence structure) on quality of work and intended audience?
What is the tone of the book?

Response to Opinion Writer  (Due Monday, 9-14-15)

This summer, you were asked to choose one opinion writer whose work you will read and examine this trimester.  For the writer you have chosen to follow and study, please write one developed paragraph reflecting on the following:

1. Does the writer primarily focus on local issues?  National issues?  World issues?
2. Does the writer primarily focus on political, social, sports, or other issues?
3. What persuasive techniques do they often rely on in their writing: research/support; logical, ethical, or emotional appeals; repetition of key words and ideas; diction; syntax; figurative language, etc.

In your paragraph response (blog response), MAKE SURE YOU do the following:

• Identify the writer.
• Provide the primary publication he or she writes for.
• Explain/present his or her primary focus (topic/subject for which to write).
• Identify his or her dominant persuasive techniques.
• Provide two specific quotes from the writing that support the writer's use of the persuasive techniques you identified.