Questions?

If anyone has any end of the year questions, here's the place to let me know. I'll try to check in at least once a day through next Tuesday.

Mockingbird Perspective Activity

Early on in the book, Atticus claims that "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

So, okay. Here's your task. You need to consider things from a few points of view. You need to climb into the skins of a few of the characters and walk around in them for a bit. Ready? Read the following claims:

1. Bob Ewell is a victim.
2. Atticus is unfair.
3. Scout should act more lady-like.
4. The mob should have hanged Tom Robinson.
5. Miss Maudie is a sinner.

Each of these claims is made by a character in the text. And yet, we as an audience automatically want to discount each as false. So, your task? Select two of these claims and prove that both are correct.

Both of your responses should be presented in a thoughful, thorough paragraph using (1) evidence from the text as well as (2) your absolute best effort to produce a convincing, thought provoking argument.

Good luck.

What About Peace? Entries

This entry is for period 6 and 8 students only.

Feel free to post your entry in the comments section. I'll try to look at most of them over the weekend and make comments. Also, please feel free to comment on other's entries. As long as someone gets a first place in your class, we're having a party!

Welcome, Newbies!

This entry is for students in periods 6 and 8 only.

This entry will serve two purposes. First, it will help everyone to get to know each other a little bit. Second, it will verify that you know how to post a comment.

Here's what to do: In the comments section for this post, answer the following question...

What is your favorite book of all time, and why?

It's pretty easy, but here are the steps anyway:

1. Click on "Comments".
2. Enter your comment in the field. Be sure to check for correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
3. Click on "name/URL".
4. Enter your first and last name (so you can get credit for your comment).
5. Leave URL empty.
6. Click "continue".
7. Click "Post Comment".
8. The screen might say that your comment could not go through. Just press "Post Comment" again.
9. This time you might be asked to verify your comment by typing in a given word. Type in the word and click "Continue".
10. The screen should read "Your comment was posted".
11. Feel free to check the comment section again. Your answer should now be entered.

To Kill an Essay

Here it is - your final formal essay of the semester. Time to unleash! Time to use everything you've learned this semester! Time to shine, babies! It is time to be a writer!

Essay Overview
A ‘maxim’ can be defined as a concise rule of conduct, a way in which one should behave. In her novel To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee presents to her audience a character who not only possesses a fair, forgiving moral code, but chooses to live by these rules he believes naturally exist in society. In other words, Atticus chooses to ‘walk the walk’ in lieu of merely ‘talking the talk.’ Following are three maxims Atticus teaches to Scout. Your task in this essay is to either prove or disprove one of the statements. (Page numbers may vary depending on your edition.)

“You never really understand a person until

you consider things from his point of view” (30).

Courage is “when you know you’re

licked before you begin but you begin anyway and

you see it through no mater what” (112).

“We all know men are not created equal

in the sense some people would have us believe” (205).

Format
First, select one of Atticus’ statements. Then plan on whether or not you will prove or disprove it. Finally, find three characters whose actions support your claim.

Focus
Focus especially on the following directives when drafting and revising.

• Have a clear, concise thesis.
• Have a clear, concise bridge.
• Include direct quotations to support each of your body points.
• Create an interesting, original title that both grabs your readers' attention and gives some insight into the topic of your essay.
• Follow the correct format for citing direct quotations.
• Use sophisticated transitions between body points.
• Avoid awkward language usage. You language should be thoughtful, graceful, and concise.
• Avoid 1st and 2nd person point of view, contractions, slang, and other informal language usage.
• Write in present tense.
• Leave a day or two between the time you write your first draft and the time you revise it.
• Use the writing consultant in the A.R.C. or your instructor as resources when you hit road blocks in your writing.
• When you are finished, ask yourself this question: "What am I trying to communicate, and have I succeeded?"

Feel free to post questions in the comments section below. I'll check in occasionally. Again, this is it, folks. This is the last essay of the semester. Your job is to demonstrate how good of a writer you've become. Attention to detail, kids. Revision. No wimps allowed.

No...wimps...allowed.

(Click to enlarge and learn how NOT to be HALF A MAN.)

Macbeth Quotation Essay

It’s time for another one-page essay. Your task this time is twofold:

First, select a single lone or phrase or sentence from the play and give a close reading of it. This should include the speaker, the audience, the context, the meaning, and the significance. Feel free, if you like, to also comment on the poetic/aesthetic quality of the excerpt – it’s natural beauty and musical quality.

Second, tie the significance of the quotation into the real world. In other words, what universal truth is contained in the quotation? Feel free to discuss apply the quotation to examples from other literature, real life events, politics, film, etc. Avoid getting too personal, however. Remember, this is a formal, 3rd person essay.

Be sure to pay close attention to the one-page essay criteria. If you don’t have a copy, you can click on it over on the right of the blog under “Class Handout.”

Keep in mind this essay doesn’t really have a specified central thesis. The thesis is more implied. Just break your essay into two parts and discuss your quotation thoughtfully and thoroughly. Your real purpose here? 1. To show me how well you can think about Shakespeare’s words 2. Show me how good of a writer you can be. That’s all I’m asking for.

One more note: You might want to check out the entry on “5 Qualities of Good Writing.” You can click on it over on the right under “Composition Cornerstones.”

Good luck, and have fun.

Gump'n It - "How to Echo Your Hook the Tom Hanks Way"

If you want some examples of how to echo your introductory hook in your conclusion, you have no further to look than Tom Hanks movies. First up, Forrest Gump. Remember how the movie starts? That feather floating around?



There it is. Just floating through the air for, like, a million years. Then, finally, it lands at Forrest's feet. He bends down, picks it up, and we learn he's sitting on a bench and waiting for the bus.

Anyone remember how the movie ends? That's right. It ends with Forrest sitting on a stump, waiting for a bus. And what's that down by his feet? Could it be?

Now, does the film actually have anything to do with that feather? Well, yes and no. I mean, is the movie about a man with mutant chicken powers who hides his feathers from the world in fear that they will judge, mock, and, ultimately, capture and dissect him in the name of science? Not exactly. Is the film about a small town chicken rancher trying to make it in the big city as a chicken robotics expert? Of course not. Thematically, however, the movie is all about the feather. Forrest, like the feather, is blown by the wind from place to place with no direction or free will of his own. Chance is piloting Forrest's ship, not fate - just like the feather. We call this symbolism. So yeah, the filmmakers chose an opening hook that connects with the body of the film thematically, just like you can choose a hook for your essay that connects thematically - via your link - to your essay's central topic.

Next up, Saving Private Ryan. At the beginning of the movie, an elderly vetran visits the graves of his fallen soldier brethren. We then flashback to the war:



Later, near the end of the film, as Ryan's flashback comes to a close, we flashforward, back to the present with Ryan still kneeling in Arlington Cemetary.



And that's how you know the movie is over. The end echos the beginning, and the audience has closure. It just wouldn't make any sense to suddenly cut back to the war one last time. In the writing business we call it "The End."

One last example. So, okay, Forrest Gump won the Academy Award for best picture (beating Pulp Fiction?), and Saving Private Ryan was nominated (losing to Shakespeare in Love?), but you know what film was robbed of awards and glory? Splash. That's the one where Tom Hanks falls in love with a mermaid. Oh yeah. I don't care how many award-winning films Hanks stars in. For me, he'll always be the guy falling in love with a fishlady. And how!

The movie starts with Hank's character as a kid on a boat, staring at the water. He then jumps overboard and, while everyone panics on deck, sees a mergirl. They, of course, fall in love.



And just try to guess how this thing ends...



So that's how you echo your hook in your conclusion. You think like a Tom Hanks movie.

Question time: What other films, short stories, books, etc. can you think of that utilize the echo technique and 'Gump it'? Please give an example and describe it in detail. (I would expecially like to hear any ideas you might have on Tom Hanks movies I failed to mention. If anyone can think of any, I'll probably post them, too.)