WEEK 7

Happy Monday!

Here's your work...

1) Revise the comparison essay.

2) Write a review on the book or film of your choice (check last week's post for the no-no list, and I'll add no cartoon character works as well). 

• Include the title of the book or film and its author or director in the introduction paragraph.
• This writing is not highly prescriptive like the comparison or editorial was, but still be thinking beginning, middle, end.
• Your review should include a recommendation--to watch it or not, thumbs up or down, etc. Even a qualified recommendation (as in "read this book only if you're interested in....") will work. Whatever you do, don't leave your review completely neutral. 
• Be careful of how much of the plot you give away. Remember your audience--assume they haven't seen or read it yet, but they might based on your recommendation. NO BIG SPOILERS. Just give enough plot to build interest.
• 500 words minimum.

3) Limited Literary Analysis readings / characterization...

• Read this: Maybe this will be review, maybe not, but "characterize" means that the author gives the character some personality and makes him or her "real." Characterization is direct when the author tells us about the character explicitly. "Joe was cruel" or "Joe weighed 400 pounds" would be direct. Characterization is indirect when we have to infer something about the character from something that happens or something he or she says. "Joe hid a flower for his wife to find in her luggage" implies that Joe is thoughtful. It's indirect.  
• Read the short story The Necklace; In one, well-developed paragraph (75+ words), explain how the author characterizes Messr. Loisel (the husband). In a 2nd paragraph explain how the author characterizes Mathilde. Include one quote from the text for each character. 

Next week you'll be writing a Limited Literary Analysis. This sounds fancy, but it's really just an essay that focuses on one element of literature in a novel, short story, poem, or play. Essays that discuss such things as characterization, character development, theme/motif, voice, setting, figurative language, point of view, or allegory are in the category of literary analysis. You'll be writing on the element of theme. I'll tell you what the theme is next week.

4) LBGB

1. Read chapter five, "The Comma."

2. There are four comma rules (it looks like five, but I won't make you review the misc conventions; you should look through those though). For each rule, A) Write out the rule in your own words; B) Write out two examples from the book; C) Write out two original (your own) examples.  

3. Explain each of these usage problems as though you were an expert (What's the problem? And what is the fix?): 

• action verbs over linking
• ambiguous they
• parallel structure
• begs the question
• mano a mano
• Choose one of your own.

Have a great week!