Assignment for Wed., Oct. 1st AND Thurs. Oct. 2nd

Make SURE you've read BOTH "The Minister's Black Veil"  AND  "The Birthmark" 

Answer the following questions and EMAIL your answers to me at: sharon.aiken@mga.edu

"The Minister's Black Veil:"  Questions 4, 6, 8, 10 AND all 3 questions under: "Connections to Other Selections" AND this one: Identify Rev. Joseph Moody and explain how he may have been the inspiration for Hawthorne's story.

"The Birthmark:" Questions, page 344: 2,3,5,6,7,8,9 

A Study of Nathaniel Hawthorne via Youtube.com

Use youtube.com to your advantage!!  Each of the following stories by Hawthorne can be found on youtube. My suggestion is to locate the story in your book OR online and tune in to the youtube channel to listen to the story as you read the story. These are stories with complex sentences and elevated vocabulary. You might find it easier to read the stories in "chunks," stopping periodically to ask yourself questions over the section you've just completed. These stories require you to think more deeply and pay attention more closely than any of the other stories we've read.

"The Minister's Black Veil"

"Young Goodman Brown"

"The Birthmark"

In addition to the stories being found on youtube.com, you can also find background to the stories, analysis (whether good or bad) of the stories and various additional information on the author and his work.

It is up to YOU to read and understand the stories as best you can, and to bring questions you may have to class for a better understanding.  

After you've read "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Birthmark,"  watch this video (which is really a powerpoint that has been placed on youtube.com:  Commentary on Hawthorne, "YGB" and "The Birthmark"  If you really want to understand "YGB," watch the analysis given of the various scenes; here is the first analysis [you can locate the rest]: Scene 1 "YGB" Analysis.

As  you have [I hope] guessed, you'll need to spend some quality time on your own, outside of class, making an effort to understand these works.

To Prove We ALL Think Differently

This paper was turned in by a 2nd grader with Autism. Read the directions and look over the paper carefully. Did the student follow directions?

Rubric for Essay #1

The purpose of essay #1 is to take an element of fiction and illustrate how it is implemented in specific examples from the stories read and to demonstrate an ability to write a formal, collegiate essay, written in third person, in MLA format. Minimum Length: 2.5 pages. (If there are any questions regarding what constitutes a half, fold the paper horizontally in the middle. Voila! In other words a “half” does not mean three lines.)

CORRECT MLA FORMAT - 10 pts.

~ Correct header

~ Correct heading

~ Title is in correct placement, font

~ Double spaced

~ Correct margins

Introduction - 10 pts.

~ Interesting/adequate opening introduces topic

~ Makes thesis statement regarding the element to be analyzed

Body Paragraphs - 30 pts.  [content and support----SPECIFICS!!]

~ introduces the stories and authors and supports thesis statement through specific examples presented in each story

~ contains an implied or explicit topic sentence

Coherence & Unity - 25 pts.

~ information is in a logical, interesting order & sequence

~ no illogical OR unnecessary statements to distract

~ paper is fluent; flows with adequate transitions so that ideas are easily followed

Grammar & Mechanics - 15 pts.

~ At the LEAST, the essay has NO:

                                    misspelled OR misused words

                                    fragments OR comma splices OR run-on sentences

                                    faulty tense shifts

                          pronoun/antecedent errors

                                                vague pronoun references

Conclusion - 10 pts.

~ intelligent, relevant, compliments the paper

            ~ leaves reader with positive impression of composition as a whole

In addition to the above, every misused homonym or sound alike word will cost a point. Examples:  

its/it's                            they're/their/there                          mist/midst
are/or/our                     then/than                                       weather/whether
were/where                  quiet/quite                                     fulfilling/foe filling
higher archery/hierarchy                                                   reviled/revealed
reins/reigns/remains                                                          doing/during
closes/clothes                          

                       

Because EVERYONE wants an "A:"     An "A" paper contains exemplary language, correct usage, and insight—these qualities  separate a paper that is exceptional or outstanding from a paper that is very good.

           

For Your Serious Consideraton

We will discuss the conventions of writing essays based on literature the first day of next week. The key to writing about literature is to have done a close, active reading of the work(s). If you don't know the material, you cannot write about it successfully. Failure to develop the essay from specific examples and illustrations in the story or failure to get basic story facts correct can also  weigh heavily against you. The topics for the essays will focus on an analysis of specific aspects of each story; this is not a book report and story summaries will fail.

Your essay will need to be written in correct MLA format, including internal citations for quotes and a Works Cited page. Two excellent references you may find helpful are The Purdue OWL and Easybib. Both are listed on the sidebar.

 

Contemplate the following as topics for the first essay:

 

Compare and contrast the three protagonists. In many ways, Pepe, the protagonist of John Steinbeck’s story, “Flight,” is no different from Sammy in “A&P” by John Updike or the narrator of “That Room” by Tobias Wolff. Discuss the traits the three young men share as well the differences that set them apart. Be sure to provide examples and support from each story.

 

Importance of the socio-economic setting. Discuss the degree to which the socio-economic environment plays a significant role in the lives of the Sammy from “A&P” by John Updike, the narrator of “That Room” by Tobias Wolff, and Pepe in “Flight” by John Steinbeck.

 

The inevitable darkness. Discuss the similarity of the “dark watchers” in John Steinbeck’s “Flight” to the description of “that room,” in the story of the same name by Tobias Wolff.  In what way to both the “dark watchers” and “that room” bring each protagonist to a harsh realization?  In what way does Sammy from "A&P" also experience his own harsh (if not exactly "dark") epiphany?

 

One Coin; Two Sides: Success and failure: .  In the stories we have read, “A&P” by John Updike, “That Room” by Tobias Wolff, and “Flight” by John Steinbeck, each protagonist is struck by a “case of independence” that hinges on his gaining a sense of control over what? The success and control  each one hopes to achieve is replaced by failure and a sudden awareness. What does each one gain in his moment of failure that he had not had when his story opened?  Is Pepe's control greater than that of the other two? Why or why not?

 Symbolism and imagery. Symbolism and imagery are prominent in “A&P” by John Updike, “That Room” by Tobias Wolff, and “Flight” by John Steinbeck.  Explain the importance of each of the following images in the respective story: sheep, that room, the knife and the “dark watchers.” What does each image suggest or represent and how does it figure significantly in the story?

 

 

 

 

 

Assignment for the week of September 8

Your first essay will come from a discussion of the following three stories: "A&P,"   "That Room," and "Flight"

** The story "A&P" can be found in the book and also can be found online. The link can be found on the sidebar to the right.

** The story "That Room" is in the text. I have not been successful finding it online, although there is a plethora of information about the author, Tobias Wolff, especially an article from NPR that you can listen to. Caution should be taken, however, in reading a summary of the story. Although short, this is a powerful story that goes beyond what a paragraph summary may provide.

** The link for the story "Flight" can be found below and on the sidebar.

For the first day of next week:  Read the story "A&P" by John Updike (201) and the story "That Room" by Tobias Wolff (222)

1. Who is the protagonist of each story? What do the two protagonists have in common?
2. In what way do their attitudes regarding the work they are engaged in differ? Why?
3. In the "Glossary of Literary Terms," look up the word FOIL.  In what way is Stoksie a foil for Sammy in "A&P"?  Give specific examples. How are Eduardo and Miguel foils to one another in "That Room"?  Again, be specific and explain.
4. In what way is setting important in each story?
5. How does the motel room and what happens in it take on symbolic meaning in the plot of "That Room"?
6. In what way is point of view important to each story?
7. In "A&P" what is the story's central conflict and what is its climax? How does the climax affect your attitude toward Sammy? 
8. With what kind of Values is Lengel associated? Do you feel any sympathy for him?
9. What role do the girls play in "A&P"?  
10. Explain the significance of the final paragraph in BOTH stories. 

 For the second day of next week:  Read the story "FLIGHT"  by John Steinbeck. (Click on the title of the story for the link to the page.)  It could be helpful to print out the story so you can have a copy to discuss in class.