Address one of the following questions in a paragraph answer of 150 words.
Why are drop out rates so high (in secondary and postsecondary education) in your opinion?
What is more important to our future, the arts or the sciences?
Find out more about ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). What is your reaction to this information?
Post your answer here as a comment and please bring a word processed and printed copy to class on Wednesday.
Write a short, 100-word, paragraph response to one of Kurt Vonnegut's suggestions about style. Include at least one short quote from Vonnegut (not one of his rules; choose from one of the sentences instead) and be sure to incorporate it into your own sentence. Respond to what he says either positively or negatively and explain why you think that.
Put your finished work here as a comment.
Your words to us and to the class that follows you. Remember what Kurt Vonnegut advised: "Sound like yourself" and "Say what you mean." Oh, and "Keep it simple" too.
1. What does the work mean and why do you think that? Explain the writing's overall significance or message to its readers.
2. Tell about how you feel toward this writing or its author and why.
3. Does this work confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
Write about 150 to 200 words in one or several paragraphs. Refer directly to the story at least once in the form of a quotation.
Online copy of story (for easier copy and paste quoting)
*I've given you the wrong location for Yiyun Li's residence on our worksheet, sorry. She currently lives in Oakland (across the bay from San Francisco) and teaches at the University of California. She's 37 years old and has written fiction only in English and never in Chinese.
Also of great interest is the fact that Yiyun Li is a huge fan of William Trevor, the author of "The Woman of the House"! She, in fact, pays tribute to him in the story in its design. If that idea intrigues you, read this interview with her (the comment on Trevor is about half way down the page). Interview with Yiyun Li
Write about any ideas or facts that surprised you, angered you, delighted you, or evoked any strong reaction as you were reading. Write about anything that stays on your mind after reading.
Refer directly to the text using quotation, but only quote about 10 to 15% of your total word count. Write a minimum of 150 words and a maximum of 250. You may use multiple paragraphs if that suits your comments.
Bring your completed work, printed and double spaced, to class next Wednesday.
From today's notes, identify a line or an idea or an image that sticks with you. No need to refer to the poet by name, but please do say why (at least as much as you know) that it has reached you as a reader. Write about at least two (and as many as four).
Beginning with "Life is the only way," write your own list poem using "A Note" as a model. Your poem must use the same number of words and structure as Szymborska's.
Try to find a rhythm to the words you choose (note the number of syllables as well as the number of words). Be careful to punctuate exactly the same way and be aware of how the poet has used punctuation to divide and compare ideas.
Post a copy of your poem to the blog before coming to Wednesday's class.
Be prepared to do a recital of your poem (please practice ahead of time!) and give some short remarks on the process you followed and any difficulties you experienced.
