Synthesis #4

Steps to Writing the Open Prompt

1)   Read through the prompt and identify what they are asking of you, you should spend about five minutes.

2)   Choose a work to answer the prompt

a.     Make sure you map out T.E.M. if that is what the prompt is asking.

                                               i.     Techniques

                                              ii.     Effects

                                            iii.     Meaning

3)   Start with a simple intro paragraph that contains

a.     A catchy first sentence, make sure it’s not an obvious statement like “Many authors choose themes that pertain to love.”

b.     The second sentence should contain background info on the chosen work.

c.      A thesis that answers the question should be last and may be more than one sentence

4)   Organize your essay by arguments not techniques (didls)

5)   Proofread

6)   KNOW  THE VOCABULARY 

Synthesis #3

Background Info (Your Arsenal)

You are only as strong as the information you know. Starting out the class with a summer assignment of reading Foster’s How to Read Literature Like A Professor which gave us a rough idea of how to approach literature. Basic points expressed were every choice has a meaning and there is no original story following on these two major principles we can analyze literature accurately. Reading excerpts of the Bible and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology familiarized us with stories that are referenced the most. By knowing these stories we are then able to recognize it. Furthermore by mastering the literary devices and techniques we are able to correctly label the technique and  tie it to the overall meaning of the work.

Big 3

·      Popular Classical References

o   Mythology

o   The Bible

·      Literary Techniques

·      Vocabulary

Synthesis #2

Annotations and Close Reading (Finding the Hidden Meanings)

       An author’s goal is to create meaning, and to read effectively we must figure out the intended meaning. To close read it is crucial that you read the text twice. On the first read you should note observations on tone, mood, and setting. On the second read is where you annotate, write in your observations and the conclusions you draw about them. Now after reading the whole text you should have fully developed ideas on the meaning of the text. It is important that to annotate successively you must be familiar with literary devices as well as classic literature that is often referenced. 

Synthesis #1

DIDLS

·      Diction- the author’s choice of words, single words

o   Different characterizations and considerations

§  Elevated Language

§  Colloquialism

§  Regionals

§  Connotation v. Denotation

§  Sources of Words

§  Repetition

·      Imagery- langage that appeals to the senses: smell, texture, sight, taste, sound

·      Details

o   Conscience choices the author makes to create meaning

§  Setting

§  Names

§  Actions

§  Allusions

§  Allegories

·      Language

o   Figurative language

§  Metaphors

§  Simile

§  Analogy

·      Syntax- arrangement of words into phrases again to create meaning

o   Patterns seen:

§  Repetition

§  Sequences

Revised Open Prompt #4 (Open Prompt 2)

Huge Impacts can be made in little or no time at all, as many important ones have. The amount of time a character has in a story doesn't reflect how much the character affects the story, in fact many stories such as Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech. In this novel Sal, the main character, has embarked on a journey with a grandparents to learn more about her deceased mother. The characters develops immensely on this trip to retrace her mother's steps. Despite the fact that Sal's mother never appeared in the story alive, she still highly affected the action, development, and theme of the work.

The death of her mother takes a toll on Sal's whole family. Her father and her decide to move to Euclid, Ohio to restart their lives. This move, driven by the death of the mother, allows them to meet interesting characters that contribute to the novel's action. There’s for one Phoebe, a young girl who is in a similar predicament as Sal; her mom too is no longer with them. By aiding Phoebe find her own mother Sal attempts to understand her mother's circumstances as well. Sal's had mother decided to take a trip on her own to Idaho to visit family, on her way there she was killed in a bus accident. The major event however that was caused by Sal's mother, was the road trip to Idaho to visit her grave on her birthday. This trip was the major component in the story where everything is revealed. We learn about Phoebe and the other characters during said road trip.

In addition to contributing to action, Sal's mother also affected the development of the characters. The actions mentioned above which were caused by the mother also lead to major character development, especially seen in Sal. At the end of the book Sal finally comes to terms with the death of her mother and improves her relationship with her father and Mrs. Cadaver. During the trip with her grandparents Sal, finally finds out the whole story behind her mother's death and much confusion and anger is cured. This also mends her relationship with her father because of new found knowledge and understanding.

The character development is elicited by the theme of the novel: do not come to conclusions about someone until you fully understand their situation. Sal prejudged a lot of characters in the story like Mrs. Cadaver and her mother.. Sal also didn't realize how miserable her mother truly was when she left for Idaho. She realizes all of this during her road trip with her grandparents to see her mother's grave.

In Walk Two Moons, although Sal's mother posthumously appeared in the novel briefly she affected many aspects of the plot such as the action, character development, and them. Her mother’s impact was due to her importance to all the characters.

Revised Open Prompt #3 ( Open Prompt 3)

1970. Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

Consumerism and conformity are almost synonymous with 1960s America.  Illustrated impeccably in Edward Albee’s play the “American Dream”. Mommy’s actions in the play are clearly a reflection of the currents society’s value of consumerism and peer approval.

The 1960s were a trying time for Americans, with the end of the Second World War more than a decade prior and the start of the cold war. Events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis created an environment of constant fear of nuclear destruction. Possibly in order to escape the scary times, the country turned even more towards materialism than ever before. It also began to value the opinions of others even more, allowing others to virtually make decisions for them.

Mommy epitomizes both values of consumerism and the need for approval by peers; this is seen in the details chosen by Albee. Mommy strives to attain what she believes is the American dream but in reality is nothing but a shell. Her acceptance and keenness toward the young man, who Albee chooses to be visually appealing and young two things valued at this time is a great example of this. Reexamining the hat fiasco also strengthens this point. Mommy willingly accepts Mrs. Barker’s view of what color the hat is. There is also significance in the color Albee chose it to be, beige.  A color that some may say is bland but also one that is associated with a higher class versus the color wheat. Mommy submits to the pressures of society though with an underlying feeling of never being able to truly be satisfied. Lack of satisfaction is usually the result of only divulging in the superficial.

Albee’s character Mommy in the play “American Dream” epitomizes the value places on consumerism and societal approval in 1960s America.