Wednesday, October 16, 2013

HONORS - Argument about "Found Objects"

Use our discussion of short arguments to write a paragraph about the story "Found Objects" by Jennifer Egan. Some possible topics for you to choose from:

  • Sasha can/cannot stop stealing
  • Coz is/is not helping Sasha
  • Sasha wants to please Coz
  • Sasha is "stuck" and cannot make progress
DUE:
per. 3 - Thurs., Oct. 16
per. 4 & 5 - Fri., Oct. 17

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

HONORS - "Found Objects" Creative Writing

For this assignment, you will focus on a minor character from the story "Found Objects" by Jennifer Egan. Be creative, but accurate; put yourself in the character's shoes. Choose one of the following 4 options and post a response on your blog.

  1. You are Alex, and you have realized that your "I BELIEVE IN YOU" note is missing from your wallet.
    • Imagine that you know Sasha took the note and confront her.
    OR
    • Use your reaction to realizing the note is missing to show the story of the note's meaning to you.
  2. You are the woman whose wallet Sasha took in the bathroom of the Lassimo Hotel.
    • Write Sasha an email that you will never send. (Imagine what message you would want to relay to Sasha if you were the wallet woman. Do you feel sorry for Sasha? Are you angry? Go with the message that feels right based on what the reader knows about the character.)
    OR
    • Imagine that you have returned to your hometown from your trip to New York. Tell the story of your stolen wallet to your friend.

Friday, October 11, 2013

CP - Response to the Ending of "Sonata for Harp and Bicycle"



Joan Aiken, the author of "Sonata for Harp and Bicycle," once said that "A flat or unsatisfactory ending is the worst sin a writer can commit." Is the ending of "Sonata for Harp and Bicycle" satisfactory or not? Why? If it was unsatisfactory, what would you have changed?

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

HONORS - "To Build a Fire" argument

Now that you have read Jack London's short story "To Build a Fire," please write a paragraph defending one of the following claims:


  • The man dies because he tries to use reason to outwit nature; the dog survives because he uses instinct to work with nature.
  • The man dies because he tries to use reason to outwit nature.
  • The dog survives because he uses instinct to work with nature.
  • The man dies because he dismisses the advice of the old-timer on Sulphur Creek.
  • A claim of your choice.
Remember that this is formal writing and you should follow the guidelines we discussed last week!

Resources:




Monday, October 7, 2013

Toy Story

Think of a childhood toy that you loved dearly. On your blog, please write one paragraph about the toy. Some questions to consider:
  • What is the toy? 
  • How did you get this toy?
  • Why do/did you love the toy so much?
  • Describe how you feel/felt about owning the toy.