ESSAY ASSIGNMENT #11:
FINAL ESSAY
Topic:
YOUR CHOICE
For this final essay of the year, please select a topic
that would both inspire you
and be fun for me to read.
The only requirement for the topic
is that it must have something to do with learning.
It should be a 5-paragraph essay
using 11 -sentence body paragraphs.
In the essay, you must use two examples of each of the following:
* alliteration
* appositive as subj-verb split
* appositive as sentence closer
* participle as subj-verb split
* participle as sentence opener
* parallelism (not containing participles or appositives)
* FAST words
On Google Docs, please label and identify each of these by clicking "comment".
As usual, be very specific in your statements.
DO NOT BE VAGUE.
Don't "wander around", saying nothing specific.
Try to say exactly what you believe about this topic,
and please support your statements
by giving specific details from the world today,
and specific incidents from your life.
Labeling your sentence is optional.
Do it if it helps you keep your thoughts organized,
but please delete the labels before posting the final draft to Google Docs for grading.
Be sure there are clear transitions between chunks
-- not necessarily specific transition words,
but very clear divisions and connections
between the chunks.
Please do a careful self-assessment
at the bottom of your essay.
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue you continuing to work on
2. One strong point you see in this piece of writing
3. One possible weak point you see
* * * * *
Assignment for Essay #10
THE FINAL COPY FOR GRADING MUST BE POSTED ON GOOGLE DOCS
BY next Thursday evening, April 12
Assignment: Write a 4-paragraph essay in which you discuss the benefits you received
by reading A Tale of Two Cities
This could be a stretch for you. You might have found the novel to be a very difficult book to read. You might have struggled with certain pages, or even whole chapters. You might have severely disliked the book at certain points.
But think of climbing a high mountain. Surely there would be points along the trail where you would struggle, points where you would hate the mountain because of how hard it is to climb.
But wouldn't there also be sections of the trail that are really fun and beautiful, and wouldn't the views along the trail be sometimes spectacular?
The question for this essay is: Despite the difficulty of reading this classic novel, what good did you receive from it? In what ways are you grateful that you read it?
This doesn't mean that you liked the book. All you want to do is write about what you did like, what you did appreciate, what you did enjoy, how it did help you as a student and a person
GOOD LUCK ON THIS HARD ASSIGNMENT!
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays.
Use the 8-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,highlight and identify (by inserting a "comment") the following tools for writing:
AT LEAST ONE FAST WORD
ONE EXAMPLE OF AN APPOSITIVE
AND TWO SENTENCES OF AT LEAST 20 WORDS.
Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, APRIL .
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
* * * * *
Assignment for Essay #9
THE FINAL COPY FOR GRADING MUST BE POSTED ON GOOGLE DOCS
BY next Thursday evening, April 12
Assignment: Write a 4-paragraph essay relating the poem by Ellen Steinbaum, "Letter Home", with something in either your own life or A Tale of Two Cities.
This could be a stretch for you. At first glance, there may seem to be no similarities
between the poem and the book or your life. However, read the poem again ... and again,
and think quietly and carefully about it.
Are there people in your life who have been separated for a time, and then reunited?
How about people in the novel?
Or, think of another connection -- something no one else might think of.
Make your essay something different, something special.
The first body paragraph should be about the poem itself, discussing what you think it means,
and using short quotes to support your thesis.
The second body paragraph would be about the similarities between the poem and the book or your life.
GOOD LUCK ON THIS HARD ASSIGNMENT!
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays.
Use the 8-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,highlight and identify (by inserting a "comment") the following tools for writing:
AT LEAST ONE FAST WORD
ONE EXAMPLE OF ANAPHORA
ONE PARTICIPIAL PHRASE
Be sure your sentences have an average of at least 15 words.
Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, November 18.
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
* * * * *
Assignment for Essay #6
THE FINAL COPY FOR GRADING MUST BE POSTED ON GOOGLE DOCS
BY FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9.
Write a four-paragraph essay in which you discuss your thoughts about the motif and symbolism of "light" in A Tale of Two Cities, and how light is a motif and symbol in your own life.
First, you will have to go back through the chapters we have read, looking for places where light of some kind is mentioned. It could be the light of stars, or the light in houses, or the light of lamps, or perhaps other kinds of light. Read these sections carefully, asking yourself how Dickens is using light, and what the light might symbolize, or stand for, or represent. Could it symbolize freedom, or hope, or love, or something else?
Also, what role does light play in your own life. How about lamps? Or stars? Or sunlight? Or the light of candles, or flashlights, or the light in someone's eyes?
As usual, be very specific. Discuss specific passages in TOTC, and specific incidents or situations in your own life.
GOOD LUCK ON THIS HARD ASSIGNMENT!
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays.
Use the 11-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,highlight and identify (by inserting a "comment") the following tools for writing:
AT LEAST ONE FAST WORD
ONE APPOSITIVE
ONE ASYNDETON
BE SURE THESE SPECIAL TOOLS ACTUALLY IMPROVE THE WRITING.Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, November 18.
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
* * * * *
Assignment for Essay #5
Final draft due on Google Docs by Friday, November 18
Write a four paragraph essay in which you discuss your thoughts about The Beatles' song, "Here Comes the Sun", and how it relates to the quote below, and to your own life.
The quote:
"It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness."
-- Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Pick out some words in the song that seem to connect somehow with the quote from the book and with the increasing darkness at this time of year. These days, darkness is increasing every day (mornings and afternoons getting darker and darker), but maybe (I hope) some light comes into your lives from different sources. Where do find "light" at this time of year? From friends? From books? From TV shows or movies? From one or two special people? From a hobby that you enjoy? A sport?
And how does this light (and darkness) relate to the song?
GOOD LUCK ON THIS HARD ASSIGNMENT!
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays. Also, be as specific as you can. Avoid vagueness. In other words, don't wander around the topic, but use quotes from the song and specific incidents from your life or someone else's or a book or movie.
Use the 11-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,highlight and identify (by inserting a "comment") the following tools for writing:
AT LEAST ONE FAST WORD
ANTITHESIS
ASSONANCE
Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, November 18.
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
4) The grade I would give myself.
Assignment for Essay #4
Final draft due on Google Docs by Friday, November 4
Write a four paragraph essay in which you discuss your thoughts about U2's song "Walk On", and how it applies to A Raisin in the Sun and to your own life.
Pick out some words in the lyrics that seem to connect somehow with the play and with something you have experienced, or will probably experience. For instance, Walter and his family are going to "walk on" to a very new experience in their new neighborhood, and you are going to "walk on" next year to a new school. Or, what about Beneatha? Do some words in the lyrics apply to her? And was there a time in your life when you experienced some serious stress, maybe even a tragedy, but you just bravely "walked on"and got through it? Or, did you "walk on" to a new neighborhood, or to a new summer camp, or a new school -- and did you have to be brave and strong?
GOOD LUCK ON THIS HARD ASSIGNMENT.
Remember that almost anything goes, as long as you connect the song somehow to the play and to your life.
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays. Also, be as specific as you can. Avoid vagueness. In other words, don't wander around the topic, but use quotes from the song and specific incidents from your life or someone else's or a book or movie.
Use the 8-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,underline and identify (using parentheses) the following tools for writing:
ANAPHORA
FAST WORDS
ASYNDETON
Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, October 21
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
4) The grade I would give myself.
* * * * *
Assignment for Essay #3
Final draft due on Google Docs by Friday, October 21
Write a four paragraph essay in which you discuss your thoughts about what it means when The Eagles sing these words in the song, "Desperado":
"Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get."
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get."
What do these words mean to you? State what you think they mean, but be sure to give some specificexamples from your own experience -- your own life, a book you have read, a movie, or someone you personally know.
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays. Also, be as specific as you can. Avoid vagueness. In other words, don't wander around the topic, but use quotes from the song and specific incidents from your life or someone else's or a book or movie.
Use the 11-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and in each body paragraph,underline and identify (using parentheses) the following tools for writing:
ANAPHORA
FAST WORDS
POLYSYNDETON
Please include the usual self-assessment at the bottom of your paper when you post your final draft on Friday, October 21
The self-assessment should be written painstakingly,
in complete sentences.
. Please use at least one thoughtful and detailed sentence for # 1, 2, and 3.
1. One writing issue I am continuing to work on:
2. One strong point I see in this piece of writing:
3. One possible weak point I see:
4) The grade I would give myself.
*******
Assignment for Essay #2
Final draft due on Google Docs by Friday, October 7
Write a four paragraph essay in which you discuss your thoughts about what it means to be a "simple" person, as described in Lynrd Skynrd's song "Simple Man". Are you a "simple" person in the good way that the song describes? Do you know someone who is "simple" in that way? Is a character in A Raisin in the Sun simple in this way? Do you recall a movie or book in which a person was "simple" in the way the song describes?
Please remember to study the rubrics for formal essays. Also, be as specific as you can. Avoid vagueness. In other words, don't wander around the topic, but use quotes from the song and specific incidents from your life or someone else's or a book or movie.
Use the 11-sentence formula for the body paragraphs,
and underline and identify the following tools for writing:
