WWHD

First, I want to suggest a contest for our next paper and see what you think.

ESSAY QUESTION: Imagine that you are Hillary Rodham Clinton, the new U.S. Secretary of State and head of the U.S. Department of State, whose mission is to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. Describe one international issue you think is important today. Why do you think this issue is important to both the U.S. and the world? Considering the mission of the U.S. Department of State, what would you do about this issue?

Then, we’ll read There Will be Chicken Blood and answer a few questions.

1. Comment on the opening (the first 2 paragraphs). How does it establish the voice of the writer?  What words would you use to describe the writer’s personality?
2. Pay attention to the use of syntax–the structure of sentences–to acheive a purpose.  What do you notice about how the punctuation and sentence structure contributes to the style of the essay.
3. Leone gives specific examples of people squeamish about chicken killing.  Why?  What is the purpose of the examples and how do they lead to the author’s main point?
4. Look at the paragraph beginning “But I wonder…”  Paraphrase it and then explain how it contributes to the author’s purpose.
5. Comment on the last two paragraphs. With what emotion or idea does she leave you with?  How does she try to capture the mixed feelings that she has?

Next step, peer editing your first draft of your personal essay. Have two readers looking for these aspects of your essay.

Reader 1: Show don’t (just) tell: See if there are places where the writer uses anecdotes and specific details to show us what is going on instead of telling us (e.g. we see the canary yellow, Cheeto-stained, cut-off Panama jack t-shirt the author tends to wear instead of just reading “I am a slob”).

Reader 2: What do I care?: Does the author use these personal experience to relate a clear and non-obvious idea or lesson?  Do we take something valuable away from the reading experience? Does it all boil down to “be nice”or is it more complicated than that?

Then, we write. I’ll look in on people who are ready to show me an essay that is:

1. Reasonably error free
2. Uses interesting and dramatic details and anecdotes
3. Says something of value

I’m looking to see everyone by next Friday.