Capote's "Literary Experiment" - POST #5

Hopefully you are intrigued by Truman Capote's literary experiment -

the non-fiction novel. Based on what you have read thus far (you should be

reading Part III now!) how do you feel about reading this

genre of writing? What are the benefits of taking a true account and writing it in

a fictional way? What are the negatives? Discuss this (one - two paras), using at

least two textual passages. Quote and cite...15 pts, due by Fri., 12/11. Midnight!

Post #4 - Salinger's Life and Catcher!

Many critics have said that The Catcher in the Rye is almost autobiographical of Salinger's life. Find some information on Salinger and discuss any connections, parallels, etc. What conclusions can you make? (1 lengthy para., include text from both novel and source. Be sure to cite source!) Due by Sun., Nov. 22. - 15 pts!

Catcher...it kills me, it really kills me...

I really hope you are enjoying listening to Holden - it is quite a rollercoaster ride, isn't it? He has us laughing one moment and then crying another. Typical emotional life of a 16 - 17 year old?

Continue to "converse" with Mr. Salinger, and use Post-its for comments, reactions, questions, etc. Think about narration and description writing strategies.

Post #3: Discuss what makes Holden a universal, typical teen...worries? angst? opinions? general beliefs? fears? Why is he so sad? Use at least two textual passages (quote and cite) in your lengthy 2 paragraph discussion. Due sometime next week (by 11/7) - 15 pts.

"I still had my red hunting hat on, with the peak around to the back and all. I really got a bang out of that hat" (Salinger 27).

For some information on J. D. Salinger and this very controversial book, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Salinger

Truly Cuckoo...

When you are finished creating your blog and typing up your first post, check out the link below. Peruse info about Mr. Kesey; click on the links within the site - the Merry Pranksters, The Beat Culture, the 1960s...you might also want to Google search mental institutions in the 1950s.

http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/kesey.html

A Newsweek photographer recently traveled the world and documented horrific, deplorable conditions of mental institutions. Take a look - click on the Newsweek link, and look for "A Shameful Legacy."

http://xtra.newsweek.com/

"...that big wide-open laugh of his. Dials twitch in the control panel at the sound of it" (Kesey 22). You should be brainstorming ideas for a metaphor paper - it is your own creative piece, written as a narrative story or as a descriptive essay. Think in terms of relating a person to an object or animal, or an emotion to an object...i.e., love is a pencil, a book is nourishment, summer is freedom, my car keys are my life. Develop every nuance, every detail - create the extended metaphor. Use Cuckoo's Nest as an example. 1 - 1 1/2 pgs rough, typed dbl sp - due Wed., Sept. 30th.

"Who's the bull goose loony around here?"

Post #1: Mr. Kesey does an outstanding job building up the characters

of McMurphy vs. Nurse Ratched. The battle has begun! Who will win this power struggle? Will McMurphy get Big Nurse's goat? Discuss this, using two textual passages to support your reasoning. (cite). 1 - 2 paras; due anytime next week. (15 pts)

Post #11 - Ayn Rand Lexicon and Anthem

YAY!! Your final Post! - Maybe. :) Hopefully you have all enjoyed your extra days off (well, most of you) and have finished up Anthem. Please go to the Ayn Rand Institute link (to the left), click into the Ayn Rand Multimedia Library, peruse, and visit the Ayn Rand Lexicon (do you think it will be similar to your own Teenspeak Lexicons that you created??!). Read about the lexicon, pick any letter (they are along the top) to search for a topic, go there, and read any particular bit of Rand's philosophy/discussion/personal opinion of that topic. Based on your reading of Anthem (or Fountainhead, or any other Rand work), does it surprise you that Rand feels this way about this particular topic? Explain, using specific references to Anthem and the excerpt from the lexicon. 1 - 2 paragraphs, 15 pts., due by 6/5

Big Bro is always watching...Post #10

George Orwell's famous novel, 1984, is one of


the most quoted and referred to. Make any one connection


to our society today - use a news source -
(you can use the invasion of privacy piece, or search for another...how about finding an article on the U.S.'s use of torture on prisoners of war? Or on presumed terrorists?? Or on other places around the world where journalists are silenced - through death? Sri Lanka...) and

write up a two - paragraph discussion of the
connection. You need to include at least one

specific textual passage from 1984 (quote and cite) and one from your news source. I can't wait to read what you find!! (15 pts)

WALL - E!!!!!! Huxley's response??

For your post #9, please discuss what you think Mr. Huxley would say about the film WALL-E. Explain your reasoning, and use specifics. ( 1 - 2 paragraphs; 15 pts.; due this week sometime - by Thurs., 3/19)

Brave New World...Disturbing? Post #8

At this point, you should be through ch. 11. Please read chs. 12 - 13 (and use those Post-its) for Tuesday, Feb. 24th.

Post #8 - Some of you have actually had nightmares from reading this novel! Discuss what you feel is the most disturbing from what you have read thus far. Incorporate text, cite, and explain what point you think Huxley is making. 1 paragraph, 10 pts, due Thursday, Feb. 26th.