Hi Students-

Just a reminder of what we discussed in class:

1. First state the quote "If they give you lined paper, write the other way"-Juan Ramon Jimenez
2. Next, interpret this quote, what does it mean to you?  In class we came up with "Not letting others define your life "  *Remember -do not use the word "you" in an academic essay.
3. Agree or disagree with the quote.
4. State two works that support your opinion (Romeo and Juliet and Fahrenheit 451)
5. Name the ways these works prove or disprove the quote (literary elements)

Have your introductory paragraph in class tomorrow for homework.   

I found a great slide show that itemizes the steps that we took today in class. Below is the slide show created by Lauren Mucaria.  I also attached notes below to further guide you in this process.
critical_lens_notes.docx
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Starting Essays 10/11/2011
 
All classes are beginning the essay writing process.  The tenth grade is focusing on the "Critical Lens", and the ninth grade is focusing on a literary device used in a selected piece of literature.

The entire week we will take the essay writing process piece by piece, from introduction to conclusion.  My goal is for students to take home a completed draft of the work to type and turn in on Monday.

Keeping in mind: writing is a 'process', please anticipate that all students will have revisions.  It is exceedingly rare for even a college student to have an error free paper.   

Tenth Grade H.W.-Introductory paragraph
Critical Lens Introduction paragraph:
"In this world goodness is destined to be defeated" -Walker Percy (The Moviegoer, 1962)

Steps to take:
1. state the quote
2. Interpret the quote, do you agree or disagree? (remember, this does not have to be obvious) 
3. Mention the pieces of literature that support your belief .

Ninth Grade H.W.-Introductory paragraph

Steps to take:
1. Choose a literary device: imagery, characterization, foreshadowing or irony
2. Choose a piece of literature that you have read in this class or previous classes.
2. Introduce the literary device, and its use.  (attention getting statement) Remember,  there is a Literary Devices section in your text.
3. State your point about the device and that it is used in your chosen piece of literature.
4. Thesis statement  (see the bold text below) the conclusion/belief/theory you have about the device and its impact on the piece.

For example,  here is a passage from sparknotes that bases a thesis on reason in The Most Dangerous Game: 

      Pitting Rainsford and General Zaroff against each other in the hunt allows Connell to blur the line between hunter and prey, human and animal, to suggest that instinct and reason are not as mutually exclusive as people have traditionally thought. Writers and philosophers have traditionally placed human intellect and the ability to reason above the bestial instincts of wild animals, which have no moral compulsions and act solely to satisfy their own needs. Reason, therefore, transforms mere animals into people and allows them to live together in functioning societies.



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