Kate Tierney’s Language Arts Classes

Part A:
Choose ONE of the following topics about which to write a fully developed essay that explains the theme as illuminated by the story. In order to receive full credit for the essay, you must underline your thesis statement and use examples from the book that support your point.

1. Masculinity and War
2. The Nature of Competition, Envy and Friendship
3. Redemption and Reconciliation
4. Loss of Innocence
5. The Journey from Boyhood to Manhood

Part B:
Choose ONE of the following questions (or group of questions) to answer in a fully developed essay that supports your answer using the text.

1. Does Gene make peace with himself by the end of the novel? Explain why he is conflicted, and then what parts of the story show his conflict and its resolution (or lack thereof).

2. Was jouncing the limb a planned, conscious decision on Gene’s part or was it an impulsive act? Why might Gene have wanted to see Finny fall? How did the “accident” change both boys’ identity from the beginning of the novel?

Parable of the Sower
Part Three: Essay
Choose ONE topic to answer in a fully developed response.

A. Trust is a major issue in the novel. How is trust established and maintained by the characters?
B. Lauren says, “That’s the ultimate Earthseed aim, and the ultimate human change short of death. It’s a destiny we’d better pursue if we hope to be anything other than smooth skinned dinosaurs—here today, gone tomorrow, our bones mixed with the bones and ashes of our cities.” What does Lauren mean by this? How does Earthseed address this statement?
C. How does poverty contribute to the decline of American society in the novel? Provide specific examples to illustrate your point.
D. Discuss how gender either limits or frees characters to achieve their goals. How do the boys’/men’s responsibilities and limitations differ from the girls’/women’s? How does this compare the society in which we currently live?

Please e-mail me if you can’t open the documents so that I can send them to you in a different format.

Parable of the Sowerchs 1-9

parable 10-13

parable 14-25

Poetry Packet

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixy5FBLnh7o[/youtube]

For this activity, you will record what you learn in your journal.

Go to the following website:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/maps/index.html

Explore the map feature to find out more information about nuclear test sites. Click on “People & Events” (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/peopleevents/index.html) and read about three people listed on the page. Read about three events listed on the page. Summarize what you find.

Then, click on “Special Features”

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/bomb/sfeature/index.html

Take the panic quiz and record your results. Write a quick reflection of what you felt while taking the panic quiz. Then explore the other links.

Persuasive Essay Options
Minority Report

Choose ONE of the options below. Write a well developed (5 paragraph) persuasive essay that uses examples from the text to support your thesis.

1. Think about the implications of a justice system that punishes future criminals rather than criminals who have already damaged society. Write a persuasive essay in which you defend the justice system (the Precrime system) as described in Minority Report.

2. Write an essay in which you defend the justice system as it is now, where someone is accused of a crime first and then is tried and found either guilty or innocent of the crime. You must first describe and define the justice system before you support it, making sure to point out the flaws of the Precrime system.

3. In Minority Report, the protagonist chooses to murder another character because he does not wish to discredit his life’s work. Write an essay in which you either defend Anderton’s choice or you persuade an audience that Anderton’s actions are indefensible.

4. In the end, Anderton’s sentence is that of exile. Write an essay in which you persuade an audience that this is either a just (fair) sentence or an unjust sentence.

Every student in the 4j district has access to email and google docs, which provides a great way to keep in touch with instructors, request missing assignments, and collaborate with other students. Now that you have access to google docs, you will never again have to worry about not having the required software to construct a presentation or to turn in a paper. I have added links to the side bar to get you there, but if that is confusing, follow the following directions.

To access email:
– Go to the Sheldon website: http://www.shs.lane.edu
– Scroll down; about halfway down the page you will see a section that reads “Quick Jump Resources”
– Click “Webmail”
– Enter the same username and password that signs you onto the network on campus.

To access google docs:
– Go here: http://google-web.4j.lane.edu/index.html
– Click on the link “Google Docs”
– Enter the same username and password that you use for email and internet access
– On the left side of the screen, you will see a tab that says “Create New”
– Drop down to choose between a document, a presentation, a spreadsheet, etc.
– Note that you can also create a calendar that will email reminders to you for, like, a due date for an English paper.

In class on Wednesday, you will answer ONE of the following questions. You may prepare an outline ahead of time if you wish, but you must write the essay in class on November 4.

Guidelines:
1. Underline thesis statement
2. Five paragraph format
3. Topic sentence for each supporting paragraph
4. Each answer must include specific evidence from the novel.

Option 1:
The following is a quote by William Golding: “The theme of Lord of the Flies is an attempt to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human nature.” By citing three (3) incidents and comments from the book, prove that this is indeed the theme of this novel.

Option 2:
In “loss of innocence” novels, we see the protagonist first as innocent. Then we watch him as he undergoes a crisis or crises; finally, we observe him either gradually change or have a sudden moment of insight. Using this model, trace Ralph’s loss of innocence in this novel.

Option 3:
This novel is filled with irony. Identify and explain the final note of irony on which this novel ends. Be sure to include the idea of the island as a microcosm of the larger world.

Option 4:
State what you believe to be Golding’s view of the nature of man. Relate how civilization (and its institutions) functions to keep this essential nature in check.

Study Questions LOTF