Archives for June 7, 2016

HW due 6/8: PBA

June 7, 2016 By

1. PBA–Keep in mind that you should bring in a working draft of your essay tomorrow. Looking ahead to your Poetry PBA Portfolio, start thinking about your main opinion, or thesis, about your poet’s work. Some good questions to ask yourself as you read:

  • What themes do you notice in your poet’s work?
  • Where and how do these themes appear?
  • Which poems you’ve read most clearly show these themes?
  • What techniques (poetic devices, style, language, etc.) does this poet use most often, and how do they affect the poems?
  • What effect do they have?  In other words, how do they shape and change your reading of the poems?
  • What tone, or mood do you get from these poems? How do they make you feel?

Take some notes on your answers to these questions, and start coming up with an opinion about your poet’s work. Ultimately, your thesis will include a claim about your poet and his/her work. Again, this claim should be informed by research but more importantly, informed by what you see in the poetry.

Your PBA will include:

  • A 1-2 page mini-bio of your poet.
  • A 5-7 page foreword that introduces and analyzes the work of your poet. In this analysis you should demonstrate great control of your poet’s work. (First draft due June 8th!)
  • The 6 poems (untouched) chosen for this project.
  • Two original poems mirroring your poet’s style.

2. Index cards…One index card per student! Remember, do not write your name on the index card; only write the name of each student on the back. Class Lists:  [Read more…]

HW due 6/8: PBA

June 7, 2016 By

1. PBA–First drafts are due tomorrow! This first draft will be graded for completion. So, if you have 5-7 pages, you will receive full credit. Guidelines for the Independent Research Paper! Be sure you follow the guidelines.

2. Index cards…One index card per student! Remember, do not write your name on the index card; only write the name of each student on the back. Class Lists:  [Read more…]

HW due 6/8: PBA and More

June 7, 2016 By

Wondering how to quote a play in your essay? Click this link!

1. First Drafts are due Tomorrow! These must be completed first drafts (4-5 pages) to receive full credit. Keep in mind, the better the first draft, the better the final draft (of course the reverse holds true as well) PBA–Keep in Mind: What is your frame of reference (This is the context within which you place the two things you plan to compare and contrast; it is the umbrella under which you have grouped them.)? What are your grounds for comparison (The rationale behind your choice of frame of reference)? What key literary element(s) do the authors use in order to convey the theme? How is the authors’ treatment of theme different/similar? How do the two novels compare/contrast in terms of how they convey the role of the individual in society? Why do they have similar and/or different views on this topic? In what light is society portrayed in both texts? How do the novels treat the theme of morality? How do the protagonists respond to their environments? How do the texts differ in their depiction of the human will to survive?

Possible Literary Elements (this is not an exhaustive list):
Setting
Motifs
Symbolism
Irony
Language (figurative language, dialect, etc.)
Character
Point of view
Cultural context (i.e., time period in which it was written, author’s background, etc.)

General Requirements:

  • 4-5 pages
  • Comparative or Critical Lens/Comparative

General Formatting:

  • Double-spaced; size 12 font; Times New Roman or similar
  • .75 margins on both left and right sides. Indentations– .5” or 1 tab space.
  • All pages beyond the first page should be numbered. Page numbers should be placed at the bottom right of each page.
  • No Cover Page. Include name, class/band, and date in upper left-hand corner of first page only
  • Be sure TITLE reflects the theme of the essay.
  • Include Title, Author, and General Theme of work in first paragraph of essay…For Example—Jean Paul Sartre’s No Exit
  • Follow MLA guidelines

Order of Arrangement:

  • Final Draft on top. Staple or fasten with a paperclip.
  • 1st Draft—with significant corrections made + name and signature of reader
  • Thesis and thesis process

Avoid the Following:

  • Avoid Pronouns: I, it, you, me, we, us
  • Avoid Troublesome language. DO NOT USE ANY of the following words: it, these, this, those, kind of, almost, seems, maybe, like, then, later, eventually, basically, so, many, a lot, things, due to the fact (or any variations of the fact that), in reality, very, really, forms of the verb “to be”
  • In the intro, nix all book-review commentary—i.e. “is fascinating, interesting…”
  • Be extremely careful with your use of all words…yet, for these words in particular, don’t think they are cheap: Truth, Beauty, Love, Nature, Reality

Keys to Good Writing:

  • Cohesion—Every sentence fits together; paragraphs flow smoothly. Ensure that the entire discussion comes together as one unified discussion of your text and its context.
  • Concision—Less is more. Use fewer words to explain yourself. Begin fusing sentences by merging ideas into tightly knit phrases.
  • Precision—Accuracy. Use words that accurately capture what you mean. Don’t settle for words or expressions that come close.
  • Coherence—Does your essay make sense? Are your ideas organized in a logical sequence? Do you prove your thesis? Do the parts contain the essence of the whole?

2. Index cards…One index card per student! Remember, do not write your name on the index card; only write the name of each student on the back. Class Lists:  [Read more…]