UNIT ONE: OBSERVING THE ORDINARY

Observing the ordinary is both the simplest skill to start exercising as a writer and a practical means of training ourselves to think and to write analytically.

Response #1 “Television Moon” by Alfred Leslie Jot down your impressions of the photograph using observation and inference.

Assignment: Read William Carlos Williams’ “The Great Figure”

The Great Figure the rain and lights I saw the figure 5 in gold on a red fire truck moving tense unheeded to gong clangs siren howls and wheels rumbling through the dark city

Response #1 What senses, in addition to sight, does Williams draw on to describe the fire truck? Point to specific words and phrases to verify your reading. To what extent do you agree with the claim that this poem is Williams' attempt to create with words a compelling image of a fire truck?

Response #2 Let’s look at Charles Demuth’s painting. What is your first impression of the painting?

“The Figure 5 in Gold” by Charles Demuth

Response #3 Compare the description of the fire truck presented in the poem and in the painting. Which representation do you find to be more compelling and engaging? Why?

The Great Figure the rain and lights I saw the figure 5 in gold on a red fire truck moving tense unheeded to gong clangs siren howls and wheels rumbling through the dark city

Assignment: Read Larry Woiwode’s “Ode to an Orange”

Response #1 Woiwode takes great pleasure in lingering on the special qualities of what most of us would view as an altogether ordinary piece of fruit. What impression of an orange does he create? When, how, and why does he draw on each of the five senses to create this overall effect?

Woiwode was a child in the 1940’s and the 1950’s, the same time that labels such as “Have One” were used to promote the fruit. Note the labels on the next slides…

Response #3 Here are other orange crate labels. Note how the graphic elements help to focus attention. Do the images appeal to a certain “audience”? Why? How?

Journal One: Comp “Description of a Fruit” Choose any fruit and describe it in detail. Make your audience “see” what you are writing about. Appeal to all five senses: one paragraph minimum.

Journal One: Honors Fruit- Write a minimum of two fully developed paragraphs in which you describe a fruit. You must appeal to all five of the senses, and underline and label one example for each sense. In addition, utilize at least one simile, and underline it. As always, no personal pronouns or the words thing(s) or stuff.

Assignment: Read “Shoelaces” by Nicholson Baker, a narrative in which the author reappraises everyday objects and rituals.

Response #1 As Baker’s thoughts about shoelaces unfold, what other aspects of ordinary experience do his eye and mind seem to be drawn to? What ties these thoughts together?

Response #2 Following Baker’s lead, make a list of your own top ten “moments of life that are remembered as advances.” Prioritize the list. What do the items have in common?

Journal Two: Comp Using the observations you have written down, and write an entry in which you concentrate your attention on the details of an everyday ritual to explain a “personalized an already adult procedure.” No personal pronouns things, stuff, a lot. Two paragraphs. VARIED sentence structure. Staple you observations to the journal page after I check them off.

Observing Closely: Jonathan Schell

Look at the following photographs. Jot down what you see…

Assignment: Answer Response Questions for “Letter from Ground Zero” by Jonathan Schell. Refer to handout.

Observing Memories: Carl T. Rowan

Assignment: Read “Miss Besssie” by Carl T. Rowan. Refer to handout.

Journal Write: In a minimum of three fully developed paragraphs and using “Bessie” as a model, describe any teacher or coach who has influenced you. You need to use vivid action verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; also, incorporate at least two descriptive similes.

Observing the Ordinary: Hands Take into consideration the following photographs…

Writing Assignment: Hands See handout entitled “Hands.” Using the photograph of the hands you have been given as a writing prompt, write an essay in which you describe an everyday activity that these hands might perform. Give your piece a creative title.

Homework: Visit my website and go the “Diane Arbus Gallery” or “Richard Avedon Gallery” for Unit One. Find and print a photograph which appeals to you, and bring it to class with you tomorrow.

Take into consideration the following portraits by renowned photographers Diane Arbus and Richard Avedon. Galleries can be found on my website.

Writing Assignment: Portraits Avedon and Arbus See handout entitled “Portraits.” Using the photograph of the person you have been given or printed on your own as a writing prompt, write an essay in which you describe this person.

Essay Assignment: MAJOR GRADE!!! Choose any writing response you created in Unit One, and write a fully developed essay in which you truly observe the ordinary. See handout entitled “Unit One Essay: Requirements and Rubric.”