12-15 November and Homework for Break

Monday was a holiday to celebrate Veteran's Day!

Tuesday, 13 November, writers gave their toasts in class.

Thursday, 15 November

The prompt for the day was: "As rare as sun in November...."

Writer's who could not toast on Tuesday, toasted today.

We heard several pieces of Morbid fiction that have not perviously been shared.

Writers began by making a list that described who they are.

Mr. Zartler began the next unit with the following notes:

College Essays a form of the Personal Essay

A personal essay is a kind of a self-portrait. By telling a story, and also sharing objective facts the author shows what kind of person he or she is, and attempts to engage the reader in thinking about an event, issue, or thing in a new way. By examining some aspect of the world that anyone might experience, but showing that examination from a personal point of view, the author tries to help the reader connect the idea being examined to the rest of the world. Also the author may reveal him or herself to the reader – particularly in an college application personal essay.

The college essay is a special case. In a college essay you want to “put your best foot forward.” However you want to avoid the clichés and common pitfalls that the situation invites  (see reverse). An art professor, who I hate, but who is pretty smart used to say, “One way I judge a self portrait is by whether or not I would want to have dinner with the artist.”  He meant that when he looked at a self-portrait he was looking to see if it revealed something interesting about the artist. You HAVE HAD interesting experiences and thoughts: babysitting you little brother; talking with you grandma; sitting on a swing…. You probably have not devised an elegant solution to the problem of world hunger. Yet you have good friends, people who have known you and seen you do dumb things and learn from them. Take a risk: show yourself!

A Personal Essay Should:

ü  Essay reveals something about the author

ü  Essay prompts the reader to think through asking questions; challenging assumptions; and introducing and examining multiple perspectives

ü  Essay grabs the reader’s interest

ü  Essay contains interesting language including imagery, vivid descriptions, specific (rather than general) words; Essay employs the elements of story telling

ü  Essay is passionate with evidence of author’s knowledge of the subject

ü  Essay is presented in a careful, complete, and mechanically polished way.

ü  Essay avoids repetition

Think about SOAPS + Claim when considering your essay. Your essay should have a Subject, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Speaker, and a Claim.

HOMEWORK: Writers are to write two pages on one of the following topics, or one page on two of the following topics:

Describe any personal hardships or barriers you’ve had to overcome and explain how they affected your education.

In the context of your life experience describe your understanding of differences, how this awareness was acquired, and how it has affected you.

What motivates you?

Who is your role model?

What is your favorite book and why?

What is significant either negative or positive that has happened to you and why was it significant?

Who do you consider to be a role model and why?

Are there things that humans should not know?

What makes you feel alive?

What character in a book that you have read can you relate to best?  How do you see yourself in this character?

Discuss some issue of local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you’ve taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and it’s impact on you.

Describe your room and relate it to you personality, interests, and dreams.

How have you taken advantage of the education opportunities you have had to prepare for college?

Tell us a talent, experience, contribution, a personal quality you have to bring to the school.

What is the point of a high school education?