Brave New World and Today Argument Essay

Brave New World and Today Argument Essay

Click here to read the  by Stuart McMillan. (The comic by McMillan uses text from Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman.) Also, consult the ten item list you have made comparing Brave New World to America today.

Then, in a well-organized essay examine the extent to which aspects of the World State, the society depicted in Brave New World, exist in American society today. Use relevant and specific evidence from the novel and from your experiences, observations, and study of the present day to support your argument.

Note: You should choose at least three but not more than five aspects of Brave New World to examine in relation to American society today. If you have any questions about this ask me.

Writing a Multi-Paragraph Essay (adapted from Palo Verde High School)

Introduction Paragraph

Lead-in Big Idea 

Designed to hook your reader and introduce your subject in a general, philosophical manner that attempts to convince the reader that the ideas in the essay matter. The big idea presented here need to match up with the thesis.

 

Transition

Bring up author and title to connect the ideas presented in the lead-in to the ideas in the novel. Also helpful to introduce the reader to Brave New World in a general way.

Thesis

Contains the subject (literary work) and an idea of yours about the subject. The central focus of the entire paper must now be developed and supported.

Body Paragraphs (You'll have three to five paragraphs designed this way.)

(How many body paragraphs you have is dependent upon how many aspects of the Brave New World you are comparing to America today.)

Topic Sentence

Commentary that directly explores the extent to which a particular aspect of the Brave New World exists in America today. The entire body paragraph is now used to develop and support this statement.The opening sentence of the body paragraph should also offer a transition from the previous paragraph.

Concrete Detail from Brave New World

Introduce and then include a quotation, specific example, or paraphrase from Brave New World that establishes an aspect of the World State to compare with America today.

Commentary and Concrete Detail from America today

Explain how the CD supports your

topic sentence.

Concluding Sentence

The last sentence of a body paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to the paragraph and may provide transition to the

next paragraph.

Final Paragraph

Conclusion

Thesis

Restate the thesis and major ideas of paper using different wording from the introduction and body of the essay.

Transition

Shift from the specific thesis to the big idea at stake in your essay.

Lead-out

Final words

End by returning to the big idea. What's at stake? Why do the ideas in the essay matter?

Advertising Analysis Project Update

Update: Monday,, February 11
No School

I will not deducted a letter grade from advertising analysis responses turned in on Wednesday, February 13 instead of Tuesday, February 12.

However, be aware that you will have additional homework to complete Tuesday, February 12, so I recommend completing the advertising analysis work on time.

If you forgot your handouts at school over the weekend, click here.
You'll find the directions and the supplemental handouts at the link above.

Narrative Writing

Winter Holiday Narrative

Complete draft due Tuesday, December 18. 500-1000 words.

Final draft due Thursday, December 20.

• Tell a story (with characters, events, at least one significant object) in first person.
• Include vivid and suggestive details about character, setting, and events.
• Reflect on the meaning of the story. Explain along the way how the story reveals your understanding of “the true meaning” of the winter holiday season to you.
• Narrate with a lively, intimate voice.
• Create a title that suggests focus and/or meaning (literal or symbolic).

Special issues:

• Choose present or past tense. Stick with it! Don’t shift from one to the other.
• When you shift time, place, or focus, start a new paragraph.

Expository Essay on the Significance of Choices Made by the Director of the Film Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

You will write an essay on this prompt in-class on Tuesday (December 4).

Choose from the following choices made by Kenneth Branagh, the direct of the film Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and in a well-developed essay explain its thematic significance.

Thematic significance is the significance to the meaning of the film (or the ideas in the film or the purpose of the film), as opposed to dramatic significance which is the significance to the characters experiencing the film’s drama. So you’ll have to decide something about the meaning, ideas, and/or purpose of the film and then explain how the specific choice contributes that meaning, those ideas, and/or that purpose.

Here are some choices Branagh made in the film…

• the use of red, white, and dark colors
• the use of ice and fire
• the choice of how to depict Victor creating the monster (it’s symbolic, remember!)
• the choice to expand Waldman’s role
• the choice to change Henry Clerval’s character
• the choice to change the way Caroline dies
• the choice to change what happens after Victor promises to make the monster a companion
• the choice to include the sources of the bodies and brains for Victor’s creations
• the choice to alter the depiction of the De Lacey family
• [a choice you come up with on your own]

Here are some possible themes of the film…

• the power of extreme passionate emotion
• the dangers of pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration
• the perversion of nature by science and technology
• the struggle between competing passions (passion for a person versus scientific passion)
• the search for true companionship
• the struggle between living to be happy and living to be great
• the responsibilities of a nurturer (parent, creator, teacher)
• the sacrifices of a nurturer (parent, creator, teacher)
• the difficulty of overcoming prejudice
• [something else you come up with on your own]

Lord of the Flies Text

Lord of the Flies

Student Handbook (Compass) Argument

This Week: Argument Essay Writing
Monday 9/10 (in class)
Student Handbook Prewriting
Use the handout to plan your argument essay

Compass SAT-style Argument Essay Pre-writing

Type 2 Writing Assignment: Unit Work (Formative) Assessment

Complete this work by the beginning of class _________________________________

[] Choose a policy in the Student Handbook that you would like to respond to.

Quote the policy here:

[] Decide if you will argue in support of the policy, in opposition to the policy, or for a particular revision of the policy that you state clearly. In other words take a position; make a claim.

Write your position as a claim (or thesis) here:

[] Prepare supporting reasoning and examples for your position.

What reasoning and examples will you use to support your argument?

State four (4) reasons and examples.

1. State a reason that supports your claim.

State an example that supports that reasoning.

2. State a reason that supports your claim.

State an example that supports that reasoning.

3. State a reason that supports your claim.

State an example that supports that reasoning.

4. State a reason that supports your claim.

State an example that supports that reasoning.

[] Now consider the reasoning that someone arguing against your position and for a different position might use.

Give at least two examples of reasoning that someone arguing against your position and for a different position might use.

How could you respond to the reasoning stated above in a way that would help support your position?

[] What are your strongest two reasons and examples?

[] What order for those two reasons and examples would be most effective?

Monday (at home)
Finish pre-writing

Tuesday 9/11 (in class)
Bring your completed prewriting handout to class.
Take a look at the grading rubric and SAT-argument examples.
Write a draft of your essay (introduction presenting your position, at least two body paragraphs each with a supporting reason and well-developed example, conclusion driving home your position)

Tuesday (at home)
Finish your draft.

Wednesday 9/12 (in class)
Self-assessment and peer-assessment of student handbook policy argument essays

Persuasive argument essay

(using rhetoric)

What do you do after you’ve written a complete draft?

Self-Assess

• Go back through the directions to make sure you’ve done everything.
• Reread with the directions and rubric in mind.
• First paragraph
• Do you have a sentence at the beginning that grabs the reader's attention? Mark this with a "g".
•  Do you have a sentence in the first paragraph that clearly states and/or explains the policy that you are responding to? Mark this with a "p".
• Do you have a sentence in the first paragraph that clearly states your position on the policy (this is your claim and/or your thesis)? Mark this with a "t"
• Body paragraphs
• Does each body paragraph clearly state a reason that supports your position? Mark this with an "r" in each body paragraph.
• Does each body paragraph develop an example that supports the reason? Mark this with an "e" in each body paragraph.
• Conclusion
• In a final paragraph do you clearly state your position (your claim, your thesis)? Mark this with another "t".
• In the final paragraph do you remind the reader of key reasons and examples? Mark these reminders with other "r"s.
• Proofread…again. How?
• Reread aloud slowly using a one-foot voice.
• Reread in reverse (sentence-by-sentence, paragraph by paragraph)
• Reflect.
• What are you proud of? What have you done well?
• What would you do differently? What would you work on if you had more time?

Peer-Assess

• Ask someone else to read & make comments in the margin about  elements from the rubric that you'd like them to comment on. 
• At the end of the argument essay your peer assessor must also answer the question, is the essay convincing? Explain.
• The peer editor must sign your draft. 

Wednesday (at home)
Work on final draft of your student handbook policy argument essay.

Thursday 9/13 (in class)
Begin independent reading.

Thursday (at home)
Finish final draft of your student handbook policy argument essay.

Friday 9/14 (in class)
Turn in your final draft with first draft, self/peer assessment, and prewriting.

Resources for Week 1 Homework

 Compass Student Handbook
 Annotate with underlining/highlighting and comments (ideas, feelings, questions) in the margin
or, take double-entry notes: information (quotations, paraphrase on the left; ideas, feelings, questions on the right).
Be prepared to use your annotations or notes in a Socratic Seminar on Friday, September 7.

Summer Reading Assignment
Due on Tuesday, September 11 in your F-block class.