Lesson 5

Today’s Agenda Finish Thoreau discussion Summarize paragraphs Fill in the chart on page 264 Formulate definition of Transcendentalism Tackling a Timed Writing Notes OBJECTIVES: Develop a working definition of Transcendentalism and its key tenets Analyze foundational works of American literature to identify philosophical tenets Explain how the Transcendentalist envisioned the pursuit of happiness Create a process for tackling a timed writing

Writing Prompt #2 PERIODS 2 AND 6 need to do this Choose a line or two from “Self-Reliance.” Write a personal response to these lines, reflecting on how they compare with your own beliefs. Highlight Emerson’s full name and title of essay (inserted correctly, of course). Circle your quote. Underline your summary of the quote. Star your personal response to the quote. Turn in!

“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” pp. 260++ Read your assigned paragraph(s). Choose a quote that portrays the central idea of the paragraph. Write this quote on a sheet of computer paper. Be prepared to put it in your own words. Create an illustration to help portray the main idea. You will present yours with your group! Group A: paragraphs 1&2 Group B: paragraph 3 Group C: paragraphs 4&5 Group D: paragraph 6 Group E: paragraph 8 Group F: paragraph 9

Group A: paragraphs 1&2 Group B: paragraph 3 Group C: paragraphs 4&5 Group D: paragraph 6 Group E: paragraph 8 Group F: paragraph 9

Writing Prompt: Summarize Thoreau’s criticisms of society. Then identify an asset of modern society that Thoreau would object to and explain why he would find it objectionable. Circle Thoreau’s name and title of essay. Squiggly line under summary of criticisms. Star aspect of modern life Thoreau would object to. Underline explanation. May skip this

Clip What connections can you make to the ideas Thoreau expresses in Walden? http://northenglish11.weebly.com/transcendentalism.html

Working Definition of Transcendentalism p 264 Fill in the right- hand column of the chart with inferences you can make about Thoreau’s world view. Thoreau

Transcendentalism defined Look at the information that you added to the chart on page 264. Look at the Riley-O board we completed the first day. What are FIVE or SIX key beliefs of Transcendentalists?

Transcendentalism defined The individual is good. Follow your instinct and you will always be right. Civilization is corrupt and corrupts the individual. Simplify your life. Be a non-conformist. Being close to nature is being close to God.

Tackling a Timed Writing Much of this information comes from the following source: Gallagher, Kelly. Teaching Adolescent Writers. Portland: Stenhouse, 2006.

Why do we care? State-mandated assessments SAT Advanced Placement On-Demand Writing Why do we care? State-mandated assessments SAT Advanced Placement Employment

The ABCs (and D) of on-demand writing Attack the prompt Minute 1 B Brainstorm possible answers Minutes 2-5 C Choose the order of your response Minutes 2-5 WRITE THE ESSAY! Minutes 6-22 D Detect errors before turning the draft in Minutes 23-25

A = Attack the Prompt There is usually some sort of intro in the form of a quote, thought, or story. READ THIS! By the time students enter high school, they have learned about many moments in history that have influenced our world today. Think about a moment in history you studied and consider its importance. Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure to support the moment with details and examples. Don’t get confused/distracted by the verbiage. Get rid of extra words – cross out “write a composition” Circle any word that asks you to do something (discuss, share, support) – prompt is asking for THREE THINGS not just one (keep you from partially answering the question) draw an arrow from each circled word to what it specifically tells you to do 3. Under the prompt, rewrite and number the circled words and what the word asks you to do – becomes your prompy Actual prompt doesn’t come until here.

HOW to Attack the Prompt Cross out any unneeded information. This places your focus on what’s most important. Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure to support the moment with details and examples. *** We should cross this out because we already KNOW we are writing a composition.

HOW to Attack the Prompt 2. Circle whatever the prompt tells you to DO. - This ensures that you know exactly what you need to do to fully answer the prompt. Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure to support the moment with details and examples.

HOW to Attack the Prompt 3. Draw arrows from the verbs to what you should do WITH the verbs. - This draws your focus to EXACTLY what you should do. Write a composition in which you discuss a moment in history. Share its importance in today’s world. Be sure to support the moment with details and examples.

B=Brainstorm Possible Answers 9/11 Holocaust Declaration of independence Iraq War WWII

B=Brainstorm Possible Answers Security -airports amusement parks sporting events The moment -4 planes -2 NYC -1 Washington -1 Pennsylvania Patriotism -American flags -pledge of allegiance -flags in restaurants Recognition of dead 9/11 Economy -airlines -hotels Restaurants -Tourist attractions War -Iraq Lots of bombing/deaths -Osama Suffering -widow -widowers

C=Choose the Order of Your Response 9/11 Security -airports amusement parks sporting events The moment -4 planes -2 NYC -1 Washington -1 Pennsylvania Patriotism -American flags -pledge of allegiance -flags in restaurants Recognition of dead Economy -airlines -hotels Restaurants -Tourist attractions Suffering -widow -widowers War -Iraq Lots of bombing/deaths -Osama 1 2 3 4 5

This is when you would WRITE THE ESSAY! Minutes 6-22

D= Detect Errors Before Turning in Draft Reread your essay Fix 1st draft errors