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monDAY, january 22 (3)

The Road discussion, pages 70-89

tuesDAY, january 23 (4)

The Road discussion, pages 90-113

wednesDAY, january 24 (5)

Reviewing components of thesis statements

thursday, january 25 (6)

The Road Essay One, Day One - Choosing a topic to explore

Today you are going to choose one of the topics below that will develop into your full-length essay on the novel. This is going to be your focus as you continue to read. Recall that when you returned to class after the holiday I gave you a quiz, asking you to write about what interested you. The same principle applies here. Your writing for me this semester is all going to derive from your interests about the readings. To get started, here is a list of very broad topics that you may or may not use to guide your ideas. I'd recommend using one of the topics this time around.

Choose one of the questions below. Take the period to look back at the text to see how the novel answers the question. This is your chance to seek out passages--not just passages, but the passages--from which you'll quote. Have these passages ready to go for tomorrow when you'll write a draft of a thesis and a 500-word body paragraph. This draft will be due to Turnitin.com and Peergrade by the end of class tomorrow. Over the weekend you'll receive feedback from a peer and will have the opportunity to revise before submitting the final draft on Tuesday.

Topics:

(1) Is the man flawed? Does the novel suggest those flaws matter?

(2) What does the novel teach us about being a Man for Others?

(3) What does the novel teach us about being loving?

(4) What does the novel teach us about being religious?

(5) What does the novel teach us about reason and/or emotion?

(6) What does the novel teach you about faith?

(7) What does the novel teach you about being moral?

(8) Devise your own question to answer pending my approval.

Come to class tomorrow with a document ready to go. I recommend using Google Docs so you can easily save as a PDF at the end of class. Have your heading formatted so you can hit the ground running. It might not be a bad idea to review notes from last semester on thesis statements and body paragraphs. Recall the basic principles of topic strings and debatable claims, the importance of properly blending evidence, and my advice on finding your own voice as a writer. This semester is your chance to master these skills.

friday, january 26 (1)

The Road Essay One, Day Two - Writing a draft

By the end of class today you'll submit a PDF version of your thesis statement and body paragraph to turnitin.com and Peergrade. It must be submitted by the end of class.

Over the weekend you're required to provide feedback to the peer you're randomly assigned. Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour on this. The Peergrade portal will close at 22:00 Sunday.

End of class Friday - Draft submitted to turnitin.com and Peergrade (30 quiz points)

22:00 Sunday - Feedback submitted on Peergrade (30 quiz points)

15:30 Tuesday - Final version of Thesis/body paragraph to turnitin.com and to me (100 essay points)

monDAY, january 29 (2)

The Road discussion, pages 114-130

Section 1

Do you believe the father has it in himself to kill his son (if a life or death situation occurred) when the time comes? If not, why do you think he doesn’t, is he afraid? Do you think the father means it when he tells his son “I will never leave you”? Do you think this will actually happen by the end of the novel? Why do you think the father is so direct and cold to the child when asked questions concerning their lives, examples (Pg, 115, 125, 127)? What do you think the boy means when he says “We’re carrying the fire.”, what is your
interpretation of the phrase? The boy constantly asks the father if they are still the good guys, do you believe that this is the case, do you think the boy is starting to have doubts of what is good and bad in the post-apocalyptic world. Do you think your viewpoint will change later in the novel based on certain actions or decisions made by the father? The father starts to have doubts of their fate on page 129, but it seems he has more positive images when he cries. What is the reason for it?

Section 4

What does the father care about more: proving the mother wrong or keeping the boy safe? How has the relationship changed between the father and the boy? If they had not set out on this perilous journey, do you think their relationship would be as strong?

Section 6

I will display on board during class.

tuesDAY, january 30 (3)

The Road discussion, pages 131-144

Section 1

Is fire mentioned right before he remembers his wife on purpose? Why? (131) The father says that the people in that house would have wanted them(the father and son) to have their food because they are dead, without knowing who they were and if they were still alive, why does he make this justification?(139) Should we be ok with white lies? (139) More specifically in dire situation like this is it ok to completely fabricate something like the father did? (139)

Section 3

Ignoring what they find is it right for the father to bring the boy into another underground bunker? Are all these lucky breaks giving them a false sense of hope is there really anything to hope for? Why does McCarthy put in all these scenes showing the boy seeing what would be regular things for us i.e. a toilet?

Section 4

On page 144: The passage where the man considers that he doesn’t have to die now. Throughout the novel it has seemed like the man has no hope, that death was an inevitability, and that the best one could do was “go through the motions” as discussed before. How does this change in this moment? Does it change at all? Is this still going through the motions, or does it signal the start of something different for them? Does he seem happy that he does now not have to die/does he think its a good thing? On page 137/138: The part about “good guys” and how they keep trying. Questions: How would you describe how the father uses the concept of the “good guy” to motivate the child? Is this motivation entirely for the boy, or does he also believe some or all of it? How true of a statement is it really in a world that nothing seems to matter it?

Section 6

I'll post on the board in class.