Mulhern's English Site

You will read all of the speeches listed at the bottom of this post. Take notes on the main argument, important points, and examples of effective rhetoric. Suggestions to analyze each text follow. (You will need to use Google to research biography and historical context). Remember, we will not get to all texts this week. Just record every day what we have discussed/finished so that you know which text to read next. Also, listen for specific homework in class.

P rint out and annotate the following story by Toni Cade Bambara. Highlight important sentences. If there is not enough room for annotations on the printout, write or type notes. Focus on how different types of literary rhetoric (organization of plot, details, characterization, dialogue, imagery, mood/tone, shifts, setting, figurative language, connotations of diction, etc.) support a theme. Indicate page numbers, paragraph numbers, line numbers, as appropriate. You might refer to the "Shorter Analysis Activity" for ideas: https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2019/11/analysis-of-text-shorter-version.html

Zora Neale Hurston, an important voice of the Harlem Renaissance, was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and novelist best known for her work, Their Eyes Were Watching God.   Sadly, she died in 1960 after suffering financial and medical difficulties.  In 1973, Alice Walker, another famous American writer, "rediscovered" Hurston and promoted her body of work.  In the classic essay, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," Hurston explores the idea that all of us have multiple selves, depending upon the context and environments in which we find ourselves.  Hurston's writing has an ebullience, self-assertiveness, and pride that is particularly evident in this text.  She was a flamboyant and dramatic personality, at times clashing with fellow writers from the Harlem Renaissance, who believed that black Americans should use their art to speak out against racial oppression and the white majority. Hurston chose not to align herself with the political ideologies of ot...

                                                                     Short Story Presentations You will engage the class in a discussion/presentation of the short story assigned to you.  As you do the tasks below, also think of questions to ask your peers, including excerpts to read aloud.  Your peers should have a thorough understanding of the story by the time you complete your presentation.  Expect to answer questions.   You may also consider adding some creative activity (other than what is listed below) if you feel so inclined.

An adverb describes or modifies a verb, another adverb, or an adjective. Adverbs answer how? where? when? how often? to what extent? how much? An adjective describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjectives answer which one? what kind? how many? whose? what color?

  Exercise One: Use this link to create the most common question types on the SAT Reading section. Apply them to the text you are reading.  Also, create the answers.  Be very specific.

Reread/analyze the text from paragraph 15 onward. Pay attention to characterization, theme(s), imagery, symbolism, conflict, dialogue, character motivation, point of view, setting, mood, shifts, and cultural mores (the accepted traditions, customs, morals, manners, and ways of a particular group). Be able to explain how these features add to the text. Also, create questions and answers specific to those sections of the text. Be ready to cite your examples and explain them during class discussion tomorrow.

"A Rose for Emily" Activity For sections II, III, and IV, pay attention to characterization, theme(s), imagery, symbolism, conflict, dialogue, character motivation, point of view, setting, mood, Gothic and Grotesque features, and cultural mores (the accepted traditions, customs, morals, manners, and ways of a particular group). Be able to explain how these features add to the story and reinforce other literary elements of the text. Also, create questions and answers specific to those sections of the text. Be ready to cite your examples and explain them during class discussion tomorrow.

 

theme of acting colloquial expressions/vernacular hyperbole voice tone mores amplifying setting/context using conventions of fiction. For example, dialogue establishing her persona--a strong, self-confident child humor/sarcasm particular diction (always quote in an essay) that establishes a theme imagery specific diction used to establish theme(s)

Rhetorical Modes: patterns of organization; methods of development; types of writing. argumentative/persuasive compare/contrast definition narration exposition/explanatory/informational analogy--comparing situations process--explaining steps in a process example/illustration--giving a picture or specific instance (exemplification) classification/division--putting into categories descriptive

Choose two of the political texts we have read. Compare and contrast how the writers use rhetorical strategies--structure, devices, etc., to support a main argument/theme/purpose of their essays.

Creating Nine Important Reading Questions Use the following objectives to create specific questions and answers about a particular text. Do not write general questions. Direct your readers to important parts of the text as you brainstorm good questions. Tell your readers to always provide evidence--words and/or phrases.

 

Below are sample Reading texts for grades 11 and 12 by standards. You can find sample Reading texts by standards for grades 9 and 10 by googling the B.E.S.T. Standards PDF--these standards start on page 110.