October 4

Comma Activity

Wallowing in Complexity--learning how to problematize a topic
1. Critical thinking skills on p. 30.
2. The Believing and Doubting game: most modern Americans should be vegetarians.
3. Freewriting: What is puzzling, controversial, or unknown about the Rutgers invasion of privacy case?
4. Idea Mapping: the "mosque at ground zero."
5. Close observation of an artifact (New Yorker magazine covers): generate questions, identify the puzzling features, generate several possible explanations.

College essay revisions--turn in

HOMEWORK--due Friday, October 8

Assignment: Write a review of The Glass Castle on www.teenreviewsoftheglasscastle.blogspot.com. Go to www.blogger.com. User name--pghsenglishblogs@gmail.com and password "sharingwriting" . Once you get into the blog, click on the red B in the upper left corner (on the blue bar). Click on New Post. When you're done writing, click "Publish Post."

Organization: In organizing, I think a four-paragraph (like a five-paragraph essay but with only two reasons rather than three) essay would be the easiest format to follow. In other words, start with an introduction that ends with a thesis statement, write two body paragraph developing your reaons, and end with a conclusion.

I'd like you to decide whether you recommend the book, recommend the book but with hesitations, don't recommend the book, or recommend the book with a caveat.

Write a thesis statement using one of these formulas:

1. I recommend The Glass Castle because (2 reasons).
2. Although ____________ (list a hesitation), I recommend TGC because _____________ (list a reason).
3. I don't recommend the book because (2 reasons).
4. Although _____________ (list a caveat), I don't recommend TGC because ______________ (list a reason).