Sonata for Two Pianos

To start, let’s look at the winner of the 2007-2008 Kaplan contest

1) Look at the 1st paragraph. How does the author try to hook us? What works and what doesn’t?

.2) Look at the 2nd paragraph. Quote 3 segments where the author uses sensory detail to explain what is happening. What works/doesn’t?

3) What does the Mozart practice segment show us about the author? Why is it there?

4) Analyze the ending. How does the writer bring it all together? What does she tell us here?

5) Why do you think this won 5k? Did it deserve it? Explain.

Then, we’ll take some time to work on our own personal essays.

Finally, I want to take a look at Poetry Out Loud and choose our own poems.  Here’s the site and here are the qualifications. Choose a poem that is at least 14 lines long with extra credit for any choice over 25 lines. There is even a keyword search.  We’ll bust out the note cards in class to start the memorizing process.

HW: Finish the Personal Essay. Print it!