Slaughterhouse Five

HW due 12/22: Writing Workshop

December 21, 2015 By Sean Leon

1. Intro Review–You were given a handout with two sample 1984 introductions. Both introductions are well done! Tonight focus on the 2nd intro and note the positive elements. Why would I say it is done well? Why is the intro necessary? We are very good at identifying weaknesses in the writing of others; now, let’s see if we can find strengths.

2. Research and take notes on the bombing of Dresden during WWII.

HW10 due 2/10: SH5 Thesis Posting

February 9, 2015 By Sean Leon

1. Class Forum–Post your Slaughterhouse Five thesis.

2. Slaughterhouse Five Essay Process–On Thursday you should have your topic sentences typed and you should have relevant supporting evidence. I would encourage you to spend some time tonight tracking down evidence that is relevant to your thesis. Also, feel free to tweak your thesis as necessary.

3. Tomorrow, we start The Alchemist so please bring in your copy!

HW10 due 2/9: SH5 Thesis Process/Thesis

February 6, 2015 By Sean Leon

1. Slaughterhouse Five–This weekend revisit your class forum and choose one of the posted questions that you think will lead to a compelling thesis. So, you can choose any question and use that question. Feel free to tweak any question to your liking. After you have chosen a question, develop an answer to that question. Ultimately, your answer should be the root of your thesis, an argument! Think about parts of the novel that will be necessary to answering the question. These parts (i.e. devices, elements) become your points of analysis.

So, on Monday here’s exactly what I want to see:

On one sheet of paper, your typed question followed by a thesis statement (that would be a response to that question).
On another sheet of paper, the handwritten process that led you to your thesis.

2. We begin The Alchemist on Monday!

3. Review your class vocabulary!

HW10 due 2/4: Slaughterhouse Five and More

February 3, 2015 By Sean Leon

1. Writing Workshop–In preparation for your SH5 thesis, craft a discussion question whose answer would be a thesis. Remember, begin this process by choosing a subject to focus your question on (think of the examples from the end of class). A sample question:

It has been suggested that Vonnegut uses supporting characters (i.e. Edgar Derby, Paul Lazarro, and Roland Weary) to portray the modern American psychological paradigm. Further, this paradigm creates the socio/political atmosphere necessary to fuel the war machine. How do the supporting characters in V’s SH5 help to shape the 20th Century American mindset necessary to the war effort? (This question is clearly focused on the subject of V’s use of supporting characters)

I want to see the process leading up to your question! Keep your chosen evidence in mind (homework from last week) when crafting your question.

2. Class Forum–1984 Skeleton Essay

2. Class Vocab–Print out and have in class on Tuesday.

3. The Alchemist–This is the translation of The Alchemist that we will use if you are interested in buying your own copy.

HW10 due 2/3: Slaughterhouse Five

January 27, 2015 By Sean Leon

1. Satire/Parody Term Final (DUE 2/5): Remember, in addition to the visual element (i.e. film), you must also turn in a written component (i.e. script). If you are making a book then the written component would be the text within your book.
The following will be considered when assessing the satire/parody project:

* Project’s visual impact (The visual should be aesthetically pleasing…more simply, it should look amazing). Many of you are making films! Be thoughtful/creative in how you compose each shot and how you edit the film.
* The project should demonstrate control of satire and/or parody.
* Project is thoughtful. Beyond the visual element, the written element should also reflect great thought on subject and form.
* Project is well-designed/executed.
* Project reflects exceptional effort. This one is very important as I (and my fellow assessors) expect to see a project that “took time and effort” to complete.
* All projects are expected to employ irony as one of the primary figurative elements to carry the project’s purpose/message. Be thoughtfully/creatively ironic!

2. Slaughterhouse Five—Complete the novel! You know that this week you will have to decide between 1984 and SH5 for your next essay. With that in mind, I want you to focus on evidence for SH5. Choose three pieces of evidence! Each quotation should relate to a different device/element. Then, you should explain how the three quotations can be used together to illustrate a greater point to be made about the novel.

3. Class Vocab–Print out and have in class on Tuesday.

4. The Alchemist–This is the translation of The Alchemist that we will use if you are interested in buying your own copy.