Homework for Wednesday, 10/29, and Thursday, 10/30

For Wednesday, those sections that received the in-class essay should type it over, edit it, and make any revisions necessary for making it a formal essay. These include making revisions according to my comments, referring to specific examples from Antigone, repairing the introduction, and the like. On Wednesday, you will receive the directions for converting this essay into a new essay that compares Antigone to a story of your choice from Uncle Tom's Children. We will have access to a laptop cart on Wednesday, so make sure that you bring a hardcopy of your typed revision and e-mail the essay to yourself so you can continue working on it in class. If you own a laptop, you may bring it to class. 

The section that did not receive their in-class essay (due to my error) should read and annotate the handouts distributed in class and write one journal that combines a response to both handouts. In response to the Margolies article, you should focus on your response to his analysis of Wright's writing; in response to the Miller essay, you should concentrate on the differences between Miller identifies between ancient and modern tragedies.

In-Class Essay Wednesday, 10/15, and Thursday, 10/16

In class on Wednesday and Thursday, you will have to write one essay about Antigone. For reasons I will explain in class, I have decided to offer the same two topics for all of the sections, and you will be able to choose your topic. Here they are:

In a well-organized and well-written essay, address one of the following topics. Be sure to skip a line and write on one side of the page.  You may not use your book, your journal, or any notes of any kind. 

Topic 1: A critic has written that "tragedy begins as art, which real life then imitates." With this observation in mind, do you consider Antigone to be tragic, or do teachers and critics overstate its tragic qualities? In your response, be sure to define tragedy, refer to specific aspects of the play (plot developments, characterizations, conflicts, themes, and so on) in support of your position, and discuss the connection (or lack thereof) between Antigone and real-life tragedies.

Topic 2: Concerning Antigone, one critic has claimed, "The play is about Creon's failure." Another critic has argued that Antigone's "very defeat is [her] triumph," which gives her a "sublime dignity." Based on these observations, who is the play's central tragic figure? Or, can you reconcile these perspectives and argue that the play is about both Antigone and Creon? If you select Creon, consider the following: What exactly is Creon's failure? How does this failure render him tragic? If you select Antigone, address the following: Is Antigone's defeat in fact a triumph? If so, how does this triumph render her tragic? If not, in what ways is Antigone a tragic figure?

How to Write a Journal Entry

With the reading from Antigone due next class, you will write your first journal entry without a prompt. Follow the guidelines in the Google document posted to the right that is labeled "How to Write a Journal Entry." The main thing I want to see in your journal entry is that you are thinking about what you have read. You should annotate as you read Antigone, and you should be prepared to discuss your observations, your significant passage, and your questions. If you have any questions, as always, don't hesitate to ask.

Grading Analytical Essays

Just to remind you of the the standard criteria I use to assess your analytical essays, I have posted separately the section of the syllabus labeled "How I Grade Essays." You can find it to the right with the links to other handouts that have been posted as Google Docs.  

Homework for Friday, 9/26, and Monday, 9/29

For homework, write one page of the essay that is due next week. You should type it, print it out, and bring a copy to class. You will find the topics below. If you wish to print out the topics, click on the link to the right. 

Topics for Narrative Essay due 10/1 and 10/2

Select one of the topics below for an essay that is due either Wednesday, October 1 (Day 5), or Thursday, October 2 (Day 6).  This essay must be approximately three pages in length. 

As you prepare to write your essay, look over the readings you have liked so far and recall our discussions of their strengths. Especially keep in mind that they employ specific language, use “I” only when absolutely necessary, incorporate dialogue, and have something to say beyond merely telling a story. You should strive to write your essay as though it is being considered for publication in a book like The Eloquent Essay. 

1.  Annie Dillard’s “The Death of a Moth” presents her observation of a moth as an analogy about herself as a writer. Write an essay that describes your observation of or interaction with an object, animal, or person that allows you to draw comparisons between you and you subject.

2.  Orwell’s “The Hanging” tells an anecdote in order to have the reader think about an issue that is of interest to everyone. With “The Hanging” as a model, write an anecdotal essay tha aims to do three things: to tell a very short, plausible story; direct your reader to think about an issue that has meaning for people beyond the narrator of the anecdote (preferably without directly identifying the issue); and plant enough clues along the way to suggest to the reader the attitude you believe he or she should adopt toward that issue.

3. Using Steinbach’s “The Miss Dennis School of Writing” as a model, write an essay that pays tribute to a person who has strongly influenced you.  Your essay should include some details of that person’s life.  In addition, the essay should clearly describe that person’s appearance, mannerisms, sayings, and impression on others.  The ideal essay will also show your interaction with this person and clearly explain what you learned from him or her.

4.  Following Iyer’s “In Praise of the Humble Comma,” write an essay that praises an object that is well-known and frequently used, but is nonetheless underappreciated. Realize, as you write the essay, that you are essentially redefining this object for your reader. That is, you must write about this object in a way that no one previously considered. In the ideal essay, the writing style will suit the subject matter, much as Iyer’s exaggerations were suitable to elevating the status of the “humble comma.”

5.  Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue” explores her, and her mother’s, relationship to English. Write
an essay that explores how a person’s use of English influences how others perceive him or her. What does that person sound like? Would you describe his or her English as fractured or limited, or does some other adjective apply? Does that person’s language use limit his or her opportunities? The ideal essay will use that person’s words to capture his or her expressiveness.

6.  Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” describes the obligation of philosopher kings to put their talents in service to society. In contrast, his “Ring of Gyges” story describes the selfish use of a special gift, invisibility. With these ethical contrasts in mind, write an essay in which you describe how you would use a superpower. Which superpower would you want to have? What would you do with it? The ideal essay will identify the benefits and drawbacks of your selected
power, discuss what your choice reveals about you personally, and explore the ethical implications of your power (whether you would use your power selfishly, for the benefit of society, or would you keep it hidden to yourself and not use it much at all).

Revised Homework Wednesday and Thursday

Given the difficulties with reading Plato's "Allegory of the Cave," we will not read Crito, the Apology, and "When Free Speech Was First Condemned." Instead, over the next two classes we will focus our attention on the narrative essay that is due next week. Therefore, for class on Wednesday and Thursday, I want you to select one of the in-class writing exercises that you have started and try to turn it into a polished piece of writing. You may write it in your journal or you may type it up; it doesn't need to be more than a page or two pages in length. Whichever piece you decide to revise for next class, you are not obligated to make that the essay you turn in next week. 

As you revise the in-class writing, try to turn it into the first page or two of an essay that could be included in The Eloquent Essay. Pay attention to the narrative voice, descriptions and details, figurative language, dialogue, plot (if applicable), and so on. We will spend our next two classes working on these aspects of your writing.  

For next class, be sure to bring The Eloquent Essay, A Pocket Style Manual, and your journal in addition to your revised in-class writing.