Enriched 11-14-2012

There are two big things that we are going to concentrate on tomorrow.

First will be the connections between "Harrison Bergeron" and "Flowers for Algernon".  We'll write about them.  We'll discuss them.  The results will be important as we progress to our first nonfiction articles.  Yes, there are more connections coming your way with the two steroid articles. More on that later.

Second, you will be trying your hand at an in-class timed writing.  If you are reading this now, as you all should be, you'll have time to do a bit of planning.  Throughout the story "Flowers for Algernon", you will find an assortment of pictures, seven in all, from pages 190-215.  I am going to ask you to write an essay (intro, body, and conclusion) that explains the relevance of one of the pictures (your choice) to the story "Flowers for Algernon".

You probably do not want to look at the pictures on a literal level.  Instead be thinking how the picture you choose relates to the text in a figurative or symbolic way.  Be thinking, perhaps, about how the theme of the picture relates to the theme of the story.  You might also consider how the mood of the picture you choose captures the mood of the story.  No, you don't need to do all of those things I just mentioned; you only need to do one; however, you need to do that one very well.  Of course, cited quotes from the text will help you be successful.

While I wouldn't spend a ton of time tonight preparing for this tonight, I would want to at least identify the picture I will use.  I'd also like to decide what type of connection I'd be making  Thematic?  Mood?  Symbolic? Something else?  Time permitting I might find the info in the text that I need to support my ideas.

Any preparation you do ahead of time will help you in class tomorrow.  However, if you decide not to do any, then you should still have enough time to write the paper well.  You'll have at least 35 minutes to complete this essay.  As with the last in-class timed writing, length will not guarantee success.  Jump in.  Say what you need to say.  Back it up effectively.  Get out.  A sentence or two for the intro and conclusion is all you need.  Develop the body paragraph(s?) well.

Nuff said.  I want to get this posted quickly.  Good luck.

One last thing.  Remember to be actively reading the two steroid articles for class Friday.  After reading, highlighting, and annotating both carefully, be sure to come to a decision on which one you believe does the better job of  arguing for the use of steroids.  Whatever you decide is fine, but, as I'm sure you can guess, you'll be writing about why you feel the way you do on Friday.