Final Exam Essay

Wow!! The semester has simply flown by. I guess it’s true what they say—Time flies when you are having fun. At least I was having fun this semester, and I hope that you were too. The one of my goals is to create an environment that destresses people concerning the writing process. I hope that you found our 2 hours per week together relaxing. And now what you have all been waiting for—the absolute final paper.

Your final exam essay is to be a reflective paper. In other words, I want you to reflect on the mountains of writing, the forests of grammar exercises, and the deluge of class discussions that we have had this semester and answer the question: What’s the point? In other words, what was the purpose of the activities of the class and how did they help you grow as a writer and become more confident in your writing abilities? Finally, hat are the take aways? How do you feel that this class has adequately prepared you for ENC 1102 and/or the writing demands in your other classes?

Yeah. I know. It’s hard and you have to think, but you can do it. Your essay should be 4-6 pages, have an effective introduction that ends in an appropriate thesis statement. It should cite specific examples and use and identifiable organizational strategy. Finally, because all is well that ends well, it must have an effective conclusion.

Your essay can take any form that you wish and employ any organizational pattern that you feel would be appropriate and effective to convey your ideas.

And so now you’re thinking, wow, there has to be a catch somewhere. So here’s the catch: You will complete this essay completely on your own without any input or editing from me.

This activity is designed to test to see how well you can apply the skills and tools that we have been working on all semester in a completely autonomous way. I look forward to reading what you have to say!!!

Happy writing,

Mrs. M

Due: Your essay is due by Wednesday, December 17 at 10:00 am. You may not submit your essay via email.

Extra Credit Opportunity

Want Extra Credit points? Have I got a deal for you!!

Attend the presentation by Dr. Delaino (PJC President) on Wednesday at 10:30. Not only do you get a chance to see, hear, and ask any burning questions you have of the president, but you also get free lunch. The festivities take place in the commons (email me if you don't know where that is). Find me so that you will get your 10 extra credit points.You'll have a new blog to reply to tomorrow.

Reading Log #2--Flannery O'Connor

It's time to read some more literature. As I consider what to assign you to read, I try to think about which stories appeal to me and then sift through to find the ones that I think might appeal to you. O'Connor is one of my top 10 favorite authors, and top 2 American authors. I'm not going to tell you, at this point, why I like her so as not to influence your opinion of her, her stories, and her writing abilities. What follows are some links--one is a critical essay that outlines some of the elements common to O'Connor's fiction. The other is a short story.

For your reading log, I'd like for you to write a 150-200 word, well-developed paragraph in which you either agree with the critic and the issues he raises in his essay or disagree with him. Use "A Good Man is Hard to Find" as support for your paragraph.

http://www.cyberpat.com/essays/flan.html Critical Essay

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html "A Good Man is Hard to Find"

Reading Log #1

I think that this first literature unit will focus on injustice, and our first foray into that will be Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." I'm not going to give too much of the plot away, but suffice it to say that I think you will be horrified by the end of the story. So here is your link for the story:

http://www.americanliterature.com/SS/SS16.HTML

I'll go easy on you for this first reading log entry. Here are a list of questions. Pick two that you can answer well and post them to the website. If you see someone's answer that you disagree with or that you think could use some more support, you can also reply to someone elses post--as long as you answer two questions and demonstrate an understanding of the story, I'll be happy. I know the length question is coming soon. I don't want an entire essay. I do want a good, well-developed paragraph with good, specific examples from the text. Plan to have this done by Monday, October 1, 2007

Here are your questions:

1. Where do you think "The lottery takes place? What purpose do you suppose the writer has in making the setting appear so familiar and ordinary?
2. Take a close look at Jackson's description of the black wooden box and of the black spot on the fatal slip of paper. What do these objects suggest to you? Are there any other symbols in the story?
3. Do you expect the end of the story? What details foreshadow the end?
4. What do you understand to be the writer's own attitude toward the lottery and the stoning? Exactly what in the story makes her attitude clear?
5. What do you make of Old Man Warner's saying, "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon"?
6. What do you think Jacks is driving at? Consider each of the following interpretations and, looking at the story, seel fi you can find any evidence for it:

• Jackson takes a primitive fertility rite and playfully transfers it to a small town in North America
• Jackson, writing her story soon after WWII, indirectly expresses her horror at the Holocaust. She assumes that the massacre of the Jews was carried out by unwitting, obedient people like the villagers.
• Jackson is satirizing our own society in which men are selected for the army by lottery.
• Jackson is just writing a memorable stoy that signifies nothing at all.

7. React to the story--did you love it or hate it? Why?

Happy reading and writing--

Mrs. M