3 things for HOMEWORK DUE TUESDAY

1) Write out all known/existing prepositions. There are 40 or so.
Be resourceful and search for them! English books! Websites!
EXPLORE!!!!!

2) That worksheet that I gave you.

3) Vocab definitions and POS:

-Contemplate
-Absurd
-Perception
-Thorough
-Docile
-Partial
-Perceive
-Oppressive
-Rational
-Excessive

FOR THURSDAY, Post-Pumpkin Run!

Assignment: Due Thursday: Major progress on the paragraphs that support your thesis.

You must have drafts of all three paragraphs that go into the body of your paper.

FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR DRAFTS
(struckey@thecollegeschool.org)


Here's some tips!

-The opening sentence of your first paragraph in your body should introduce your first support.
-The opening sentence of your second paragraph in your body should introduce your second support.
-The opening sentence of your third paragraph in your body should introduce your third support.

Read this example, taken from Lily's statement we worked on in class:

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
In The Giver, Jonas is a boy who lives in such perfection, he begins to wonder if his utopia is, in fact, a dystopia. This realization comes once he receives memories that reflect a world that is the opposite of his own. Thus, Jonas's community proves to be a dystopia because of the lack of decision-making, color and emotion.

FIRST PARAGRAPH'S INTRO SENTENCE
Throughout the novel, there are many examples of the community relying on rules rather than making decisions on their own. One is seen in Chapter........

[body]

SECOND PARAGRAPH'S INTRO SENTENCE
In addition to the inability to make decisions for himself, Jonas also experiences his dystopian society through the absence of color--an element in our world that creates much emotion.
[body]

THIRD PARAGRAPH'S INTRO SENTENCE
The final piece of evidence that proves Jonas's world is not utopian is exhibited in the way no member of the community feels emotion.

[body]

CONCLUSION

Advice on Good Theses! (Thesis, singular)

1. A strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand.

Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:

There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea Supplement.

This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague.

Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.

This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.

2. A strong thesis statement justifies discussion.

Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:

My family is an extended family.

This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading.

While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.

This is a strong thesis because it shows how your experience contradicts a widely-accepted view. A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial. Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.

3. A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.

Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:

Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.

This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear. One way to revise the thesis would be to write:

Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.

This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because, since, so, although, unless, and however.

4. A strong thesis statement is specific.

A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-to-ten page paper on hunger, you might say:

World hunger has many causes and effects.

This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this:

Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.

This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.

Found at http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml

You're Right, I'm Wrong

THIS IS NOT DUE TOMORROW!
ONLY READ THIS AND KEEP IT IN MIND FOR TOMORROW!

Required:
Thesis/topic sentence
Supporting statements and paragraphs
Conclusion

12-pt font
Times New Roman/Times
Heading info in UPPER LEFT-HAND corner


Evens:Write an essay identifying Jonas's world as a Utopia.

Include the following:

In what ways is his world perfect? How is this way of living best for its citizens? What foreseeable problems are erased by having a lifestyle such as his? What types of decisions are made for him that otherwise would be difficult to make?


Odds: Write an essay identifying Jonas's world as a Dystopia.
Include the following:

In what ways is his world bad? How is this way of living rotten for its citizens? What rights and freedoms are not allowed? What types of decisions are made for him that he should have the choice to make himself?

What the Heck is a Motif, Anyway?

Check it!
(Cheat sheets I used in high school...)

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/themes.html

LA #2 Accidental Story

(This story was complied by the LA #2 class's descriptive writing pieces. The following is a combination of the first lines of each of their stories.)

Listen. Silence. There is for me a place of peace far off and distant from all others. As you slowly walk up the paved hill you turn right into the shady, dark, gravel driveway. The fountain has the clearest water I’ve ever seen. The cabin sits on the top of a hill, last in the line of four cabins. A small lion-like figure scuttles into my view. Duncan was a reddish-orange rough collie with a white mane, a long, narrow nose, and an almost fox-like tail with its white tip and black stripes. My once-a-week guitar lesson is beginning to unfold. The music rings through the large room making a gentle and calming sound. The strings feel soft, smooth, to allow fingers to glide over them quickly. Peanut butter from the cabinet, jelly from the fridge, bread from the bread drawer. When I eat a piece of chocolate, I step into a new and yummy world. Ahh, the great American pastime.

LA #1 Accidental Story

Snorkeling is always calm. Simply quiet. Everywhere there were sights, sounds and smells. Right as I was walking up to the stadium I could smell smoke. The remnants of new car smell fought its way up my nose as my head swung back to face my sister. It’s warm in Asia now, the red leaves, the bamboo thistling together in warm, autumn breeze. The wind whispers in my ears. I watched my sister run around the house loudly as she bangs her heels on the hard wood floor. She grins from ear to ear. A sweet lullaby of an owl’s hoot fills the air on a dark, dank night. The glow of the candles sends flickering shadows around the room. I have three dogs, but only one favorite. I look at the sauce-covered ribz that don’t even look like ribz because of all the sauce. The cloud-shaped silver sign read, “Star Clipper.” A gust of mixed dust and wind blows into my face as I open the wooden, red, dull door. It’s big, not by width, but by length. Gus is my Siamese cat. You must be dreaming.

The Giver--Apple and Jonas Draw

We each have our own perception of what Jonas look like. From what you've read so far, and what you can infer, draw a picture of Jonas based on those facts.

We know he has different eyes, right?
And that he wears a tunic? Yes?

Find a picture online or draw a picture of your perception of Jonas. Also, portray him with the apple. What does the apple look like? What is his relation to it? Why did it "change?"

Be descriptive and detailed! And reallllllly think about what went on with the apple. What does it mean for him and his abilities?

The Giver: Chapters 3-5 (Pages 20-39)

Do in LA #1 notebook!
These questions have a few parts, so make sure to answer thoroughly. Completely! Wholly!

1) Describe what happened with the apple on page 24 and 25. What do you think was going on?

2) What is the significance of the name Gabriel? Do some research!

3) At the end of Chapter 4, Jonas and Larissa have a discussion about someone being released.
What do you think is on the other side of that door? Why do you think children aren't allowed to see the release? Why did Larissa "hoot" and sarcastically say "Right!" when Jonas said he wanted to mention a change to the committee? What do you think is going on?

4) What are "Stirrings?" What is happening to Jonas?
Why do you think they're so looked down upon?
What is the treatment for these "Stirrings?"

I think it's weird that the parents have treatment for the stirrings. On a deeper, more logistical level, what does this mean? Really think about it!

The Giver-Chapters 1 & 2

1) Name three instances that allude to something being a bit different or weird or "off" in Jonas's world.

2) There are a few words that are capitalized that aren't usually capitalized...name 3, and what do you think they symbolize? Why did the author choose to capitalize them?

3) What age group is Jonas a member of? And what ceremony is coming up?

The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Descriptive Piece Final Draft Checklist

Requirements/Checklist for Descriptive Piece FINAL DRAFT
DUE MONDAY OCTOBER 11

• Double-spaced
• 12 point face
• Four paragraphs (I won't read more than 6!)
• Times or Time New Roman font
• Correctly indented and margined
• Name and date and class in UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER
• Stapled (if more than one page)

In addition to spelling, grammar and overall quality, I will be grading on the things above. Just follow the directions!

peace out.

For WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 6TH

#1 Turn in typed draft, DOUBLE-SPACED, with corrections from today's revising exercise.

#2 Find the definitions to these words! All words use in literature!

-Allegory
-Allusion
-Diction
-Foreshadow
-Tone
-Protagonist
-Antagonist
-Motif