1. Vietnam Acronym Test
SOP RTO AO’s PRC-25 Radio RPG’s KIA CS USO PFC’s Spec 4 M-16 GI C-rations AWOL USS SEATO NVA EM Club LZ Gator VC Lt MIA ARVN NCO KIA CO R&R DDT

2. The Things They Carried
Written by Tim O’Brien in 1990
Not a cohesive novel
A set of short stories that are tied together through themes and characters

3. Tim O’Brien
Drafted in 1968
Served from in 3rd Platoon, Company A, 5th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Division

4. Autobiography, Semi-Autobiographical, and Memoir
Autobiographical: Story, written by you, about your life. Semi-Autobiographical: Fiction + autobiography Memoir: Story about part or parts of your own life.

5. Realistic Fiction? Blurs the line between fiction and reality
Stories contain actual details of what happened, though he calls his book fiction

6. Exit Slip
Why would an author choose to write a story as semi-autobiographical rather than simply autobiographical? Think about the nature of the subject.

7. PARADOX
What is paradox? A statement that appears to be contradictory, but actually makes sense with more thought (when explained).

8. Examples of Paradox Pick one to explain in your notes.
You have to spend money to make money.
Gotta be cruel to be kind.
Rush hour traffic
I close my eyes so I can see.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
War is peace.

9. Exit Slip “I was a coward. I went to war.” How is this a paradox?
How might this paradox make sense in context?