A Long Way Gone - Essay Paragraph 3

This post if for JUNIORS only.

And here it is...part of your essays. Remember, here is the overall arc of the essay: What is Ishmael like at the beginning of the book, in the middle, and in the end?

This third paragraph is going to focus on what Ishmael is like during his time in the rehabilitation center and at the convention. In other words, answer the following question in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph:

Which two words (from the list provided) best describe Ismael's character

during his time as a rehab patient and as a speaker in New York?

1. hesitant
2. courageous
3. angry
4. respected
5. respectful
6. detached
7. vengeful
8. careful
9. scared
10. polite
11. happy
12. innocent
13. spiteful
14. humorous
15. generous
16. selfish
17. honest
18. deceitful
19. curious
20. loving
21. loyal
22. lonely
23. strong
24. foolish
25. wise

Your paragraph must contain two examples/two cited quotations - one for each of the words you select. Your paragraph must contain a topic sentence. It must contain a set-up for each quotation, as well as an explanation for each quotation. In addition, please pay special attention to the following editing criteria:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization

A Raisin in the Sun Essay Revision

This post is for freshmen only.

Here's an editing checklist for your A Raisin in the Sun essays. Be sure to double check all of your work.

Content

• Creative, original title centered (no bold, no ital., no underline, regular font)
• The introductory paragraph must contain (1) a hook, (2) a link, (3) a thesis statement, and (4) a bridge.
• There must be transitions between body paragraphs.
• Body paragraphs must contain topic sentences, evidence, and explanations.
• Each piece of evidence must consist of two components: set-ups and cited quotations.
• The conclusion must answer the question, "So what?"

Mechanics/Grammar

• properly cited quotations
• no first or second person
• present tense only
• no contractions or slang
• book titles italicized

Sometimes Nuthin' Can Be a Real Cool Hand - Part II

This entry is for freshmen only.

Let's start off with a new term:  'antihero.'

Think of an antihero as a main character (a protagonist) who, in at least in some ways, is very unlike a typical hero.  While heroes uphold the law, fight for justice, and follow the rules, antiheroes often fight the law, treat the world unjustly, and break the rules.

Some fans of the film have called Luke an anti-hero. Your task is to name another antihero from literature or cinema. Then briefly explain why the character you've chosen is indeed an antihero. In other words, prove it!

Be sure to read all of the responses before yours; remember, no repeats! Grammar and spelling counts. Your responses should be a short paragraph. Post your responses in the comments section bellow.

Sometimes Nuthin' Can Be a Real Cool Hand - Part I

This entry is for freshmen only.

After "beating" Dragline in the fight (and by "beating" we mean "getting pounded on until the other guy gives up"), and after "winning" the poker game (and by "winning" we mean "playing with an inferior hand until the other guy gives up"), Luke claims that "Sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."

In the comments bellow, give an example from another film, a book, a short story, etc. that proves Luke is right, that proves that sometimes "nothin' can be a real cool hand."

Be sure to read all of the responses before yours; remember, no repeats!

A Long Way Gone - Essay Paragraph 2

This post if for JUNIORS only.

Okay, folks, it is time to work on the second part of your essays. Remember, here is the overall arc of the essay: What is Ishmael like at the beginning of the book, in the middle, and in the end?

This second paragraph is going to focus on what Ishmael is like during his time as a child soldier - narrative time as well as flashback time. In other words, answer the following question in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph:

Which two words (from the list provided) best describe Ismael's character

during his enlistment as a child soldier in A Long Way Gone?

1. hesitant
2. courageous
3. angry
4. respected
5. respectful
6. detached
7. vengeful
8. careful
9. scared
10. polite
11. happy
12. innocent
13. spiteful
14. humorous
15. generous
16. selfish
17. honest
18. deceitful
19. curious
20. loving
21. loyal
22. lonely
23. strong
24. foolish
25. wise

Your paragraph must contain two examples/two cited quotations - one for each of the words you select. Your paragraph must contain a topic sentence. It must contain a set-up for each quotation, as well as an explanation for each quotation. In addition, please pay special attention to the following editing criteria:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization

A Long Way Gone - Essay Paragraph 1

This post if for JUNIORS only.

Now that we are about a third of the way through the book, it is time to start working on the essay. Here is the overall arc of the essay: What is Ishmael like at the beginning of the book, in the middle, and in the end?

This first paragraph is going to focus on what Ishmael is like in chapters one through ten. In other words, answer the following question in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph:

Which two words (from the list provided) best describe Ismael's character

while he is on the run in the first third of A Long Way Gone?

1. hesitant
2. courageous
3. angry
4. respected
5. respectful
6. detached
7. vengeful
8. careful
9. scared
10. polite
11. happy
12. innocent
13. spiteful
14. humorous
15. generous
16. selfish
17. honest
18. deceitful
19. curious
20. loving
21. loyal
22. lonely
23. strong
24. foolish
25. wise

Your paragraph must contain two examples/two cited quotations - one for each of the words you select. Your paragraph must contain a topic sentence. It must contain a set-up for each quotation, as well as an explanation for each quotation. In addition, please pay special attention to the following editing criteria:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization

A Dream Deferred

This post if for FRESHMEN only.

First read the following poem by Langston Hughes:

A Dream Deferred

by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up 

like a raisin in the sun? 

Or fester like a sore-- 

And then run? 

Does it stink like rotten meat? 

Or crust and sugar over-- 

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags 

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Now go to my 'tostu' folder (look under the C folder, and then open the jcowlin folder) and open the document entitled "A Dream Deferred: Text and Activity." Complete the activity by typing directly into the document. Be sure to save your copy to your personal folder and to print out a copy to receive credit.

Proverbs

This post is for JUNIORS only.

A proverb can be defined as "a short, popular saying that expresses effectively a commonplace truth. Ishmael Beah states a proverb in the book:

"We must strive to be like the moon" (Beah 16).

Beah goes on to explain what the proverb means:


“We must strive to be like the moon.' An old man in Kabati repeated this sentence often... the adage served to remind people to always be on their best behavior and to be good to others. [S]he said that people complain when there is too much sun and it gets unbearably hot, and also when it rains too much or when it is cold. But, no one grumbles when the moon shines. Everyone becomes happy and appreciates the moon in their own special way. Children watch their shadows and play in its light, people gather at the square to tell stories and dance through the night. A lot of happy things happen when the moon shines. These are some of the reasons why we should want to be like the moon" (Beah 16).

Here are a few English proverbs:

• "Let sleeping dogs lie."
• "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
• "Actions speak louder than words."
• "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
• "Justice delayed is justice denied."

And here are a few more from Africa:

• "A champion bull starts from birth."
• "A tree not taller than an ant cannot shade you."
• "A dog knows the places he is thrown food."
• "Water cannot be forced uphill."

Notice how most of these are figurative in nature. In other words, the proverb is "a champion bull starts from birth." The proverb is not "great athletes start practicing when they are young." There is a degree of poetry in most of these. A degree of metaphoric language. For example, one way to write a proverb would be to say:

"You need to help yourself when times are tough."

A better way, though, would be:

"A turtle on its back will cook in the sun."

Your task? Write a concise, one sentence proverb of your own. Then, like Beah does with his moon proverb, explain both its meaning and its implications in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph.


Hint: Try your best to be figurative and poetic. Consider writing about the weather, animals, geography, calendars, clocks, athletic events, jewelry, food, etc.

Reactionary vs Progressive

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

As we discussed in class, texts come in two varieties. Well, maybe three. One kind is REACTIONARY. These texts want things to stay as they are, to maintain the 'status quo'. If a country is in war, a reactionary text wants everyone to pitch in...

...even women. (Who pretty much belong in the kitchen making food while the boys go out to fight.)

Reactionary texts are all about tradition...

PROGRESSIVE texts, on the other hand, want things to change. If there's a government policy, a progressive text would try to get it repealed...

...and to make tomorrow different from today...

Progressive texts want change...

The third type of text, I suppose, are the ones that pretend to be one but are really the other. Look at this ad for Apple. Get it? It wants you to BE DIFFERENT! To BE AN INDIVIDUAL! Pretty progressive, right? (Except that it wants to to buy more stuff and spend more money just like everyone else.)

Be radical! Be outrageous! Be an individual! (How? It's easy...Obey!)

Your task: In a thoughtful, thorough paragraph, respond to the following prompt...

Identify a book or film you have recently read or viewed,

and explain, in detail, why it is either reactionary or progressive. 

Remember, your instructor likely will not have read/seen your book/film, so be sure to summarize adequately and supply plenty of details.

Your editing conventions of the week: 

• No 1st or 2nd person. (1st: I, me, we, us, our, ours, my, mine, etc.; 2nd: you, your, yours, yourself) Write in third person only. (3rd: he, she, him, her, it. its, they, them, themselves, one, etc.)
• No contractions. ("It is" instead of "it's." "Cannot" instead of "can't." "Is not" instead of "isn't." Etc.)