Honors students should know what their final essays will be about. If not, please see me immediately. Here are the specific topics for the non-honors students.
Bookseller of Kabul
After reading the book and the New York Times article, who do you think should have won the lawsuit? You may do more research on the topic if you’d like - Sultan has his own website! This is a 5 paragraph essay, so you’ll need three strong points for your argument that you support with specific facts and quotes from the book. Any summary of the facts should be in your introduction. This essay is meant to convince the reader of your opinion – argue passionately!
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/29/books/bookseller-kabul-v-journalist-oslo-host-surprised-his-guest-s-account-condition.html
Kabul Beauty School
After reading the book and the New York Times article, do you think that Debbie exaggerated her role in the Beauty School simply to write a great book? The heart of this question truly lies in whether or not Debbie is a trustworthy narrator. This is a five paragraph essay, so you will need three convincing arguments as to whether or not you believe Debbie’s side of the story. You may do other research, including information about the upcoming film version. Any summary of the facts should be in your introduction. This essay is meant to convince the reader of your opinion – argue passionately!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/fashion/29kabul.html?_r=1&sq=kabul beauty school&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=3&adxnnlx=1301491471-EazfwzsnlsD7V9+U+rZzow
Kite Runner
In light of the controversy surrounding the filming of the rape scene, do you think it should have been included in the film version of the book? This article was written before the controversy was settled; you will need to do further research to discover how the matter was resolved. This is an argument essay – you need three strong reasons to include or not to include the rape scene. Any summary of facts should be included in the introduction. Argue passionately!
http://www.slate.com/id/2175373/
Three Cups of Tea
The first edition of the book was not very successful. Wikipedia explains:
The original hardback edition of the book was released in 2006 with the subtitle, One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism One School at a Time. Mortenson fought against the subtitle, and the edition sold only 20,000 copies. He continued to prevail upon the publishers to change the subtitle for the 2007 paperback edition to his first choice, "One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time." His publisher relented, and the re-titled book made the New York Times nonfiction paperback bestseller list. Mortenson explained his reasoning for the subtitle in a lecture given in Fairfield, Connecticut: "If you just fight terrorism, it's based in fear. If you promote peace, it's based in hope."
Explain the success of the second edition with the change in title. Do you think the title itself made all the differences? You need to think of three convincing arguments as to why you think the book was successful later. You will need to do further research to back up your opinions, but this is a 5 paragraph opinion essay. Use research and quotes from the book. Argue passionately!
Horse Soldiers
This book has received tremendous critical praise. There is no question that Stanton did his homework (see the Acknowledgments and Sources section). The question for this essay is based on the book’s subtitle. In your opinion, did the troops achieve “victory”? Was the title appropriate then and is it appropriate in hindsight (i.e. 10 years later)? Using additional research and quotes from the book, argue for or against the appropriateness of the book’s subtitle.
This is an opinion essay. You’ll need three strong arguments for or against this subtitle. You may do further research, but the opinions need to be your own. Argue passionately!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Weekly Assignments - 3/28-4/1
Monday – Test on first half of book with discussion questions, plot questions and world map. Reading time if you finish early.
Tuesday – Watch trailers from Lions for Lambs and compare. Brief group meeting to discuss this week’s project – what makes a good movie trailer? Groups will present on Thursday, and show one movie trailer that meets all your criteria. Submit list, explanations, and link to trailer (one submission per group – unless you are absent).
Wednesday – Reading time. Work in group to finish project. Meeting with regular English on last essay topics.
Thursday – Presentations on movie trailers. Watch youtube video on kite flying in Afghanistan.
Friday – Kite flying. Test bonus points if you bring kite and string to class.
Tuesday – Watch trailers from Lions for Lambs and compare. Brief group meeting to discuss this week’s project – what makes a good movie trailer? Groups will present on Thursday, and show one movie trailer that meets all your criteria. Submit list, explanations, and link to trailer (one submission per group – unless you are absent).
Wednesday – Reading time. Work in group to finish project. Meeting with regular English on last essay topics.
Thursday – Presentations on movie trailers. Watch youtube video on kite flying in Afghanistan.
Friday – Kite flying. Test bonus points if you bring kite and string to class.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Weekly Assignments 3/21-3/25
Monday – Share current events assignments. Free reading time after you are finished. Bring your book to class!
Tuesday – Afghan poetry handouts. Your original poem (plus worksheet) is due on Friday. There will also be a memorization quiz on Friday for your choice of one of the four poems.
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
Wake! For the Sun who scattered into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heaven and Strikes
The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
The Winter garment of Repentance fling;
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly - and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
Wednesday – Dr. Dunlap lecture on Afghanistan.
Thursday – Reading and question time. Turn in one possible test question on your book - either fill in the blank or multiple choice. Bonus points if I use your question. No discusssion questions turned in this week – but you may get ahead for next week.
Friday – Rudyard Kipling’s The Man Who Would be King after poem quiz. For the quiz, you must write the four lines of poetry you memorized – simple! Test on first half of the book on Monday - discussion question, plot questions, and world map.
Tuesday – Afghan poetry handouts. Your original poem (plus worksheet) is due on Friday. There will also be a memorization quiz on Friday for your choice of one of the four poems.
A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread--and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness--
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on; nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it.
Wake! For the Sun who scattered into flight
The Stars before him from the Field of Night,
Drives Night along with them from Heaven and Strikes
The Sultan's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
The Winter garment of Repentance fling;
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To fly - and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.
Wednesday – Dr. Dunlap lecture on Afghanistan.
Thursday – Reading and question time. Turn in one possible test question on your book - either fill in the blank or multiple choice. Bonus points if I use your question. No discusssion questions turned in this week – but you may get ahead for next week.
Friday – Rudyard Kipling’s The Man Who Would be King after poem quiz. For the quiz, you must write the four lines of poetry you memorized – simple! Test on first half of the book on Monday - discussion question, plot questions, and world map.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Weekly Assignments 3/14-3/18
Monday – First short essay due Friday. (one to two pages). Choose a real place mentioned in your book. Summarize the action in that place in the book. Then go to the New York Times or Washington Post (or other national newspaper) and search on recent news in that location and summarize the current events. Works Cited for book and newspaper article needed.
In-class discussion on Westboro Baptist Church and recent Supreme Court case. Divide class into two sides and debate.
Tuesday – Read and group work on second and third questions.
Wednesday – Read in class.
Thursday – Read and group work. Second and third question outlines due Friday. Be sure and list your entire group on your outline.
Friday – Charlie Wilson’s War summary, making of and trailer. Discuss what makes a successful film trailer. Short test Monday on half of book and world map.
In-class discussion on Westboro Baptist Church and recent Supreme Court case. Divide class into two sides and debate.
Tuesday – Read and group work on second and third questions.
Wednesday – Read in class.
Thursday – Read and group work. Second and third question outlines due Friday. Be sure and list your entire group on your outline.
Friday – Charlie Wilson’s War summary, making of and trailer. Discuss what makes a successful film trailer. Short test Monday on half of book and world map.
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