Block Day: Gawain Essays

Dear students,

     You will be working in class all period today.  You may use the first five to ten minutes of class to look over your notes and links and prepare your thoughts.  Once the essay times begin, you may not use any info. beside the prompts here on the blog (until you finish your essay(s)).  Periods 6 and 3 only have five minutes of review time in order to be released five minutes early (at 1:05).  Everyone must write a Sir Gawain essay during the first 40 minutes.  Some students may chose to work on college essays during the later 40 minutes.  Otherwise, write a second Gawain essay.  Choose your better essay.  You may not answer the same prompt twice. 

* You must turn in one Sir Gawain and the Green Knight essay by the end of the period.

* You will have two, forty minute time blocks.  Please use the timer on your iPad to help you keep track of time.  You will notice that the bell will ring when the second essay must be done.  Please staple and turn in your better essay on your way out.  If you only write one essay, turn it in after the first 40 minute period ends. 


Period 4:
  • Personal review time: 8:10--8:20
  • First Essay: 8:20--9:00
  • Second Essay: 9:00--9:40
Period 5:
  • Personal review time: 9:55--10:05
  • First Essay:10:05--10:45
  • Second Essay: 10:45--11:25
Period 6:
  • Personal review time: 11:40--11:45
  • First Essay: 11:45--12:25
  • Second Essay:12:25--1:05
Period 3: 
  • Personal review time: 11:40--11:45
  • First Essay: 11:45--12:25
  • Second Essay:12:25--1:05

Essay Directions
  • In each case, apply Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
  • Write in pen. 
  • Single space.
  • Write on only one side of each piece of paper. 
  • If you do not have paper, you may take what's needed from the trays in the middle of the room.  Please only take enough for your essay.
  • Use your iPad timer, please. 
  • Staple and place back in the lower tray at the end of the period. 
Prompts
  • Choose from any of the following.  Please write the prompt year and a one-sentence summary of the prompt on your paper before you write your essay.
  •  1970.      Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards.  In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.
  • 1980.      A recurring theme in literature is the classic war between a passion and responsibility.  For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty.  Choose a literary work in which a character confronts the demands of a private passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities.  In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
  • 1994.  In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence.  Choose a novel or play of literary merit and write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work.  You may wish to discuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters. Avoid plot summary.
  • 2009.      A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.
HW:
  • Vocabulary (due Monday): first list of 10 words defined with sentences in your composition book (please see the link on the left for the full assignment details)

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