In-class work for Monday

First, I want to bring your attention to the use of the passive voice in Language Awareness's bio of Erdrich: "'The Names of Women'...gives readers a glimpse at some of what was lost when Native American cultures were diluted, and then died out." Do you notice anything significant about this statement, especially in light of what you know about American history?

Here are instructions for the individual and group work for today.

Post your combined and broken up sentences in the favorite sentence file.

Procrastination check-in and reflection

Recall your procrastination self-scores from the first day of class:

In your notebook, score yourself on your procrastination level for your work in this class during the semester so far, and then specifically since we began working on essay #3. Have you been more or less involved in the writing process and more or less prone to procrastination of the unhealthy variety? Discuss and consider.

When you're done reflecting on procrastination and the writing process, write for at least ten minutes on the following prompt:

You can’t go to college. For whatever reason, it’s not an option. What do you do with the next ten years of your life?

Michael Pollans's "The Apple": notebook and group work

First, in your notebook (10 minutes)

1. Do you like apples? If so: name your favorite variety and describe it in detail. Try to use both descriptive language and metaphorical language to create a vivid sensory portrait of this variety. (If you like apples but don’t have a favorite variety, vividly describe in detail your Platonic ideal of an apple, flavor- and texture-wise.) If not, describe in as much detail as possible why not.
2. Look through the apple chapter and find:
• Two facts that were new to you and struck you as interesting or important
• One big idea or revelation that came from your reading this chapter
3. Think of a “coevolutionary” relationship you have with some plant or animal (see Pollan p. xiv in the “Introduction” photocopy if you need to be reminded what he means by “coevolution”).  Describe that relationship and the effect it has on your life. 

Then, in groups of two or three (6-8 minutes):

Share the new facts and revelations that you gleaned from the apple chapter

Look at the chapter and the photocopied sources page. What do you notice about the combination of different kinds of information Pollan blends, what he does with the information, and how he shares his sources in the notes? Try to come up with at least two specific observations. Each of you should write a concise summation of these observations in your notebook in your own words.

Parallel Structure

Here is the information I shared today on parallel structure, if you want to take another look. The Writing Center at the Evergreen State College also has a clear handout on parallel structure, if you're interested in exploring this strategy further. Parallel structure is also sometimes referred to as "parallelism."

In-Class Writing

1. Compare Estella to Biddy. How are they different, in their outlook, habits, and character? Find a quotation that you think offers particular insight into each of them. Compare Joe and Pip in a similar way. Find a quotation for each of them
2. Why do you think Joe addresses Pip instead of Miss Havisham when he and Pip go for their interview with her in Ch. 13? What effects does this create in this scene?

Information Brainstorming for Essay #3

In your notebook, or on a notecard:

Describe your imagined topic or direction in one or two sentences.

Now think of four different kinds of information you could theoretically incorporate into an essay on this topic. List them. (Consider all the essays/pieces we've read/heard for inspiration about kinds of information).

Now come up with a list of places you could look for, access, or unearth the information you imagine above. Make a list of those places.

Preliminary Brainstorming for Essay #3

First, look at your writing for the "untranslatable" prompt from yesterday. If you wanted to turn this bit of writing into an essay that incorporates information and some research, what information might you incorporate and where might you go to find this information? Make a brief list in your notebook.

Then, on the notecard I gave you, come up with three ideas for an information essay you might write. They don't have to be brilliant, but try to come up with three ideas for a personal essay incorporating information that enriches the essay in some way.

Then, turn the notecard over and come up with two or more ideas for a personal essay incorporating information that enriches the essay in some way that you would like to read, though you don't see yourself writing on that topic.

Prompt options for Thursday, October 12

If we have less time: 

Think back to the “How do you feel about your name?” prompt you wrote about first quarter. If you were going to write an informational essay on your name and related ideas and questions, what sorts of information might you seek out to incorporate? Make a list.

OR

If we have more time:

Choose a word that you feel is untranslatable. Discuss how this word is significant to you and what you might do to make someone unfamiliar with the word (or with your understanding/use of the word) begin to comprehend its meaning.