Wednesday 11/28

Complete Reading "Rubiaux Rising"

1.  Consider blend of "disaster and tragedy"...  internal/external conflicts

2.  Explore related themes:  "orphan brothers"

3.  Analyze character of Rubiaux

4.  Discuss:  Realm of fiction; Narrative Credibility

5.  Assignment:  Craft short fiction (2pgs) depicting a protagonist amidst a disaster
**See previous blog post for notes.    Begin Rough Draft.

Tuesday 11/27

Read the following excerpt from "Rubiaux Rising".

Rubiaux awakes out of time. In pitch darkness. He scratches his leg where it isn't with his hand that is not there. The water level is now up over the stacked supports, soaking him a good inch. But it has stopped. Prayer has worked, if only partly. But there is something new in the darkness now — breathing, movement. Others. He keeps his own breath steady, feigning slumber, waiting for light to grow in the east.

When he slowly opens his eyes again an hour later he sees them — the unholy menagerie. All down the ledge, crowded near him in awkward proximity, are: a large king snake; two smaller water snakes; four fat nutria; a half-drowned feral cat and two shivering kittens; three pitiful brown rabbits; a soggy raccoon; a dozen Norwegian rats; a clot of huddled mice; along with a teeming mess of spiders, beetles, centipedes, and such. His eyes dart. Theirs do too. All seem to breathe in some strange unison. Waiting a move. Nobody is eating anybody this morning. They share the same fear and confusion — orphan brothers in the storm. 

5 min Write:  Consider how Rubiaux is "orphan brothers in the storm" with all of the insects and animals.  Examine what themes De Jarnatt might be exploring here.  **Whole Class Discussion.

1.  Complete reading short story.

2.  Write a character portrait of Rubiaux.

3.  With a partner, discuss how two  tragedies (War and Hurricane) dominate the narrative.  5 min:  Share

4.  Activity:  Select any passage.  Read to class.  Explain why you chose it and the respective significance.

5.  Discuss:  What can we learn about characterization and setting from this story?

Short Term:  Craft a narrative that focuses on one protagonist amidst a disaster.  Be sure to incorporate internal and external conflict.  

**Begin Draft.  

Monday 11/26

Freewrite:  Respond to the quote below:  **(Consider  a time you may have fought "in a very personal, down-dirty way" to find redemption)

“Redemption is something you have to fight for in a very personal, down-dirty way. Some of our characters lose that, some stray from that, and some regain it.”
― Joss Whedon

1.  Discuss Write.

2.  Introduce:  Steve De Jarnatt's "Rubiaux Rising".

**Activity:  Read beginning.  With a partner, list details of setting.  Evaluate how description of character

unfolds.  10 mins:  Discuss.

3.  Complete reading Short Story.  

**Small group discussion:  Analysis of theme; Relation of character and setting.  

Wednesday 11/21

Freewrite:  Respond to the following Thanksgiving quote:

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, 
of which all men have some."  
[Charles Dickens]

1.  Discuss Journal

2.  Short Story Workshop:  Brainstorm, Mapping, Narrative Outline for 2nd Quarter 

Drafts due:  11/30

               Freewrite:  Respond to the quote below

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
― Albert Einstein

 

 

1.  Discuss freewrite

 

2.  Read/ Discuss Political Pieces.

 

3.  Workshop:  Short Story Process.   

Monday 11/19

Freewrite:  Respond to the quote below:

“Seven Deadly Sins

Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Science without humanity
Knowledge without character
Politics without principle
Commerce without morality
Worship without sacrifice.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

1.  Discuss Freewrite.

2.  Review "Yurt"

Compare/Contrast Ms. Duffy and Ms. Hemple

Consider "lives" of teachers.... fulfilling?

Themes generated?

Read end.  5 minute write:  Analyze what themes are generated.

3.  Workshop:  Political pieces.

Wednesday 11/14

Best American Short Stories  2009.  Read introduction by Alice Sebold.  10 minute freewrite in response.    Share.


1.  "Yurt" by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum   The New Yorker

Class reads pgs. 15-19.  Activity:  Compare and contrast Ms. Duffy and Ms. Hempel.

2.  Read pgs. 20-21.  Examine the dialogue exchange:

What do we learn in terms of plot?
What is revealed about the characters?

3.  Consider the nature of "affairs" and "flings" on pg 23 and how this may contribute to the generation
of theme.

Activity:  Finish reading "Yurt".  1 page reflection due.  Be sure to focus on:

--the character portraits of Ms. Duffy and Ms. Hemple

--the depiction of teachers' lives and life in general

--desire and regrets

--analyis of last scene as it relates to overall theme.   Due:  Friday:  11/16.

Tuesday 11/13

Freewrite:  Respond to the quote below:

Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.                     ~Anton Chekho

1.  Discuss Quote:  

Can you think of an instance in which you failed to employ this advice in one of your narratives?  Discuss.

2.  Read/Share Political pieces of fiction.  

3.  Short Story Preview:  Select an excerpt from your narrative.  Prepare to read to class.
Relate the respective significance.  

4.  Activity:  Make a class "inventory" of plot lines.  Consider what storylines reflect about class.  

Wednesday 11/7

10 minute write:  Respond to the quote below:

“I love short stories because I believe they are the way we live. They are what our friends tell us, in their pain and joy, their passion and rage, their yearning and their cry against injustice.” 
― Andre Dubus

1.  Discuss freewrite.

2.  Activity:  Write a "promo" blog that captures the essence of your short story.  Relate plot, theme, and character.  ***Share.

3.  Short fiction:  Political vignette.  Discuss w/ partner ideas:  Articulate to class.

4.  Short Story Drafts:  Volunteers to read:  Constructive Criticism Workshop.

Final Copy:  5-10 pgs due Tuesday, 11/13.

Monday 11/5

Freewrite:  Respond to the quote below:

“Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.”

Don Delillo

1.  Read 1 pg. Trevor fiction

2.  Activity:  Write a "promotional summary" of your short story.  Relate to readers what they can expect in your narrative.

3.  Short Story Focus:  Volunteers to read from drafts

4.  Compose a 1 page "political" piece of fiction.  Consider the 
presidential election, the respective candidates, the issues, etc.

15 mins w/ partner:  Share with class

H.W.  Work on short story  5-10 pgs  Due:  11/13.