OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS we completed our first workshop of the entire class. Our discussions focused on the descriptive object essay. For this workshop, I tracked students' oral participation on a daily basis. I asked that students provide feedback on their peers' written feedback via the google-doc spreadsheet. The deadline for submitting those evaluations is this Wednesday. All revisions should be submitted by Wednesday as well. Over the next few weeks, we will return to Short Takes, looking at narrative essays more closely.

Monday

Journal: tell a story about a surprise. Collecting OTIS questions on the peahen narrative. Read the pointers for using narration (exploring the topic) on pages 44-45. We will use these to review "A Foul Trick to Play on a Lawn Tractor." We will then do the same for the next essay, "The Night of Oranges" which we have previously read.
HW: Read and complete the OTIS questions for "Learning, then College."

Tuesday

In class journal: tell a story about being proud. Reading "The Lie" by Kurt Vonnegut, and then reviewing the "Drafting the Paper" pointers for narration.
HW: Finish reading the story for class on Wednesday. How does Vonnegut create character?

Wednesday

In class journal: tell the story of your most important lesson (since August, 2014). Examining Vonnegut's characterization. We will then write a letter to yourself via the FM website...sometime in 2020?
HW: As soon as your memoir has been approved, you will want to obtain a copy of the book, one that you can write in. You should plan on having the book completed by the start of Winter Break. Create a reading calendar for yourself, due Friday.

Thursday

In class journal: What is the purpose of education? Writing your life: brainstorming activity for your personal memoir essay. We will then look briefly at selected scenes from The Graduate, a film based on Charles Webb's novel.
HW: Work on brainstorming on your early life.

Friday

TBD
HW: Finish brainstorming activities on your early life, due Monday. Also, continue reading your memoir.