Character Homework for "Of Mice and Men"

Do all work by Friday please. Write two short paragraphs (50 to 75 words), one on the protagonist and the other on your assigned character.

For the protagonists, George or Lennie, explain one of either character's traits based on his dress, or a gesture or an action.

For your assigned character choose one of the topics below:

Write an interior monologue (what a character might be thinking) during a scene where the character is silent (speaks no dialogue for a period of time).

Give an example of any repeated actions or gestures made by the character and how these help to communicate a trait of character to the viewers.

YouTube Short Videos from the Film

LINK to a copy of the script for Of Mice and Men

A Film with Impact

Please put your final copy of your writing here before our class on December 10. For film research, use the Internet Movie Database. Remember to quote any information taken from outside sources! I will post a sample for you by Saturday night.

Sorry everyone to let the movie go to the disturbing part with poor Thelma. I didn't intend to show that to you. I apologize!

Poem

Please post your poem here before 9pm on Tuesday, November 25th . Remember to stick to the guidelines - minimum 10 lines and 3 stanzas. Refer to the handout for more specific criteria.

Using Literary Elements to Compare Stories

Put your examples of three different literary elements that occur in both stories (as a comparison) as comments to this post. Each student in the group is responsible for a single example.

Remember to make your comparison based on, for example, how effective it is (you may decide that each story uses the element equally effectively but be sure to explain why you think that).

Persuasive Essay Assignment

Copy your essay here as a comment and please finish before class begins next Wednesday. Remember this is a first draft; however, I expect a full, 500 word draft. Be sure to design your essay based on the example given to you in class: "Addicted to Oil?"

Writing Comparison Paragraphs-Student Feedback

I have the impression that students found the in-class write challenging today.

Please write a short comment on what you found difficult (and anything you found easy) while doing the writing on Friday. Do you have any suggestions to help you improve your writing in the future?

Write your comment before coming to class next Wednesday. Please also read the handout, Developing a Media Education Language: From Persuasive Techniques to Analytical Tools. Have a safe and happy Halloween and stay dry . . .

The Week Behind; The Week Ahead

Last week’s paragraphs were a mixed bag: some better than others. The major problems are not (in most cases) grammar or spelling related. They are, instead, related to communicating clearly your thoughts on a complex piece of work and on your overall comprehension. Some students got bogged down in the “correct” answers (no doubt influenced by my teaching and secondary sources). Others showed more original thinking. To do well, do your own thinking.

Some of you are giving a “signal” before quoting the text and then going on to explain the significance of your quote. If you are, congratulations! I expect a ratio of at least 2 to 1 of original content to quote. Thus, if you quote 20 words, your signal (introduction to) and explanation (after the quote is used) ought to be 40 words or so.

Overquoting makes it harder to pick out your thoughts from those of the writing to which you refer. I also encourage those of you who paraphrase well, especially for factual matters that are not important to quote. Beware the tendency to tell me what a quote says and then hitting me with a quote that says the exact same thing! I’m much more interested in why you’ve chosen it, actually.

 Another area students could improve on is reading the question carefully. When I asked about a character and then specified that you look at “two actions” and what each one shows, some of you responded only to the beginning of the question, thus avoiding the requirements! 

 

This week, we’ll be looking closely at our current story, using a specific way of reading a text: writing annotations. We will also be working in groups to compare our annotated versions.

 I’ll be giving out some resources for writing good comparison/contrast paragraphs as Friday’s class will be more challenging than usual: writing paragraphs that compare and contrast stories we've studied.

After the break on Friday, I will give you a media-based assignment and resources to help you complete it. Your work will be posted to the blog. Since the American election will occur between our Friday and Wednesday classes, the media will be abuzz with information that we can discuss on November 5. It should be interesting!

Blogging Journal Questions for "The Heyday of the Blood"

Please answer one of the following questions for the story, "The Heyday of the Blood." Make your answer a comment to this post. Write about 125 and 175 words; provide your word count at the bottom of your paragraph(s).

If you have answered one of the questions before, you must choose a different one! Please finish your work by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28.

1. Write about something you learned from the reading.

2. Write about something that surprised you, angered you, delighted you, or evoked any strong reaction as you were reading. Write about anything that stays on your mind after reading.

3. Write about the most effective things you notice in the writing.

4. What does the work mean and why do you think that?

5. Write about something in this work that reminds you of someone you know or of something that has happened in your life.