1. Culminating Activity: Synthesizing Universal Ideas and Connecting to Argument
Learning Targets:
Recognize elements of transcendental writing.
Synthesize multiple texts in order to establish universal truth statements
Apply universal truth statements to real-world situations.
Craft an argument stance.

2. “Self-Reliance”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (237)

3. Pair-Share – 5 minutes How does Emerson define self-reliance?
How does your definition of self-reliance mirror or challenge Emerson’s claim?
Are most people self-reliant? Why or why not?

4. Essential Questions Should be able to answer at the end of class
How does an author convey a universal truth in a text?
What universal ideas found in transcendental writing are still prevalent today? How is transcendentalism relevant in modern times?

5. Nature Individuality Tradition Optimism Spirituality Simplicity
Texts
Universal Ideas
“Nature” – Emerson pp
“Walden” – Thoreau pp
“Self-Reliance” – Emerson pp
Nature
Individuality
Tradition
Optimism
Spirituality
Simplicity
Conformity

6. Notice how all three examples relate to UT Think about how you
can turn your UT into a question that can have multiple answers/ perspectives.
Notice how all three
examples relate to UT

7. I need to check your UT before you move on to Question
Think of this as
a “discussion”
question.
The question should be arguable;
there could be multiple sides that one could take.
The message that can be applied
outside the text(s).
What do these
examples have in
common?
Do all your textual
references contribute to the UT?
What position does your group take?
Provide concise reasons and examples for your answer.
Make reference to all three texts. If not possible, use at least two.
Choose examples that best reflect the UI.
Choose examples that relate to each other.
20 minutes total
Think about “delegating”

8. Universal Truth Poster
Create a poster to share your ideas with your classmates.
Include:
Your universal truth
Your real-world question
A visual that represents your UT

9. Gallery Walk Wednesday
Each group needs sticky notes
For each poster, use a sticky note to identify:
suggestions for improvement or clarification
what you liked or found interesting
an “answer” to their question

10. Essential Questions Answer on an index card and turn in
How does an author convey a universal truth in a text?
What universal ideas found in transcendental writing are still prevalent today? How is transcendentalism relevant in modern times?

11. Last Child in the Woods
Richard Louv

12. Goals for Today: Unpack the prompt for “hints”.
Read and annotate the rhetorical analysis prompt, Last Child in the Woods.
Annotate for what?
Craft a rhetorical analysis thesis statement.
Topic
Claim
Directions
Qualifier UT
Craft three topic sentences.
Complete a rhetorical analysis graphic organizer for devices.

13. Unpack the prompt
The passage below is from Last Child in the Woods (2008) by Richard Louv. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well- developed essay, analyze the rhetorical strategies Louv uses to develop his argument about the separation between people and nature. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.

14. Annotations Rhetorical reading entails comprehending both the meaning and purpose of an author’s argument and its intended audience(s)
Rhetorical Devices = PURPOSE and EFFECT
How do the devices impact the audience?
Who is the intended audience? How do you know?
How do the devices contribute to the meaning or purpose of the passage?
His argument: what is he saying about the separation between people and nature?
Diction
Syntax
Rhetorical Questions
Anaphora
Coordination
Anecdote
Point of view – shifts?
Examples
Details
Imagery
Shift/contrast

15. Rhetorical Triangle
After reading, be able to answer the following questions:
Who is the intended audience?
What is Louv’s message?
How would you describe him as a speaker?
What is his tone toward your generation?
What is his tone toward his generation?
What is his tone toward the separation of people with the natural world?
What two ideas are being contrasted?
Where is the shift?

16. Who is the intended audience?
What is Louv’s message?
How would you describe him as a speaker?
What is his tone toward your generation?
What is his tone toward his generation?
What is his tone toward the separation of people with the natural world?
What two ideas are being contrasted?
Where is the shift?

17. Thesis Statement Write on a clean piece of paper
Topic
Claim (shift/contrast + purpose)
Directions
Qualifier
Universal Truth
Rearrange parts

18. Topic Sentences Write below your thesis
Claim
Direction UT
Write one for each direction

19. Rhetorical Analysis Graphic Organizer
Will turn in along with:
Thesis
Topic sentences
Conclusion
One per partnership

20. Identify elements of rhetorical triangle first.
Why? It will help you with discussion of effect!

21. WRITING CONCLUSIONS

22. THE PURPOSE OF A CONCLUSIONIS
IS NOT
to bring closure
to repeat, paraphrase, or summarize the thesis
to highlight the universal idea in a “mini essay”
to present a new essay or new direction
to offer a “human connection” to the essay

23. THE PARTS OF A CONCLUSION
Topic sentence
Links the topic (think message – R.T.) to the universal idea
Connecting commentary
Discusses the significance of the universal idea in relation to literature, life, and/or the human condition
Clincher sentence
Recapitulates the overall significance of the universal idea in a thought-provoking statement, perhaps a witticism or aphorism

24. Ideas/Guiding Subjects for Commentary
Literary Movement text is from
How text is reminiscent of movement
Compare/Contrast to other literary movements, texts, authors’ style
Personal connection/experience with Universal Truth
Explication of Universal Truth
Manifestation in today’s society?

25. BUILDING A CONCLUSION . . .
Keep the thesis in mind Converting the Mississippi River from a common river into a unique, “turbulent” entity, John M. Barry uses an admiring point of view, dynamic diction, and picturesque figurative language to communicate that the Mississippi River’s “complexity” and inability to “lie at rest” feed his fascination.

26. Topic Sentence
Barry’s essay affirms that the Mississippi River, with its tireless churning, “roiling,” coursing through America, is an intriguing, complex entity.
fascination = UI

27. Connecting Commentary
connection #1
Add the connecting commentary Through his characterization of the river, Barry offers an almost romantic perspective of the Mississippi River, reminiscent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideas in Nature, by suggesting that a common natural form, such as a river, can so inspire wonder in the human soul. How does one experience this wonder? By becoming that “transparent eyeball” that melts into nature. This fascination, is not focused on the individual, however; like Charles Darwin, Barry finds the complexities of nature themselves admirable: Humans are not the only complex entities on earth, so are the natural forms in which they live.
connection #2

28. Clincher Sentence
Add the clincher sentence As a result, Barry, like Emerson and Darwin, discovers complexity in the deceptively simple, and suddenly, the ordinary Mississippi River becomes extraordinary.
juxtaposition

30. Conclusion for Last Child in the Woods
With your partner, write a conclusion for the prompt you have been analyzing.
You should:
Rephrase your UT in the topic sentence
Elaborate on your UT by connecting it to an “outside” idea:
Connect to transcendental characteristics
Connect to another “world”
You should not summarize your points in the conclusion.