January 24th, 2014

1/24/14

In Class:
Journal--  Describe the photo in vivid detail. Imagine yourself in the scene!

10 minutes of independent, guided GMX work.
Lesson on Thesis Statements:

thesis statement: one to three sentences which expresses your main point, argument, or idea. 
             Topic + Stance = Thesis 
   * You can consider your thesis your "So What?" statement. For example, if your topic is snack food, ask yourself, "So what about snack food?" "Cheez-its are the best snack food because they are salty, crunchy, and cheesy."
   * If your essay is a human body, then the thesis is the spine: it supports the functionality of the entire piece, and ultimately, everything connects back to it.

While there are many different ways to construct a thesis statement, one strategy we will learn is the Occasion-Position Statement.
occasion (O): the circumstance, topic, problem, or event that prompts your writing.
position (P): the statement, solution, reaction, or message you are trying to convey.
  -> A position directly, explicitly identifies your point or message. Be clear!
Occasion-Position Statement = [Subordinating Conjunction (see handout)] + [O] + [,] + [P]







Timed Writing #2 - "Salvation" by Langston Hughes
In “Salvation,” Langston Hughes reflects on a specific encounter with religion from his childhood. Reflect on your own interactions with religion in response to one of the following:

     a) Hughes repeats the expression “bring the young lambs to the fold.” What does this imply about conformity, particularly in religious institutions?
     b) Describe an experience in which you’ve had to confront the idea of ‘faith’ (as opposed to ‘fact’ or ‘knowledge’).
     c) Hughes explains that his family and church tried to “save” him at age twelve. When should children be introduced to the ideas of religion, God, and salvation? How should complex and didactic topics like this be approached?
                OR
     d) Read "Sunday Morning Prophecy" by Langston Hughes (handout). How does the mentality of the minister compare to the overall tone of "Salvation"?

Your response does not need to reflect any particular stance on any particular religion, but write with conviction and consider your personal experiences.


Exit ticket: What is your current favorite song?

Homework:
Read Thesis Statement handout and complete the back side on a topic of your choice.
Finish TW #2 by Monday at 10:40.
Catch up on any missing work.