After the class discussion takes place, you’ll reflect on how the discussion went from your point-of-view, whether you were in the circle or out.
Type a one-page reflection that answers the questions below. Please answer in a brief paragraph for each, labeling each response by the corresponding number. You may single-space your response (with a double-space between each question).

1. What did you find interesting? Include specific ideas that stood out from the discussion to you and why. Be specific, citing whose idea it was, and explain your reasoning. How did this discussion deepen your understanding of the story?
2. What questions do you have? Include specific questions, ideas, issues, concerns that you are still struggling with and why  this is still an issue for you.
3. How did the discussion go? 
   • Inner Circle: Evaluate your personal, overall participation: how prepared were you? What were your strengths during discussion? Areas of improvement? Be specific.
   • Outer Circle: How do you think the inner circle did? What were the strengths of their discussion? What points were developed well; conversely, what points were dropped? Be specific.

Participating in an active discussion—especially with the eyes and ears of your peers around you—can be an intimidating prospect. Remember that effective discussion requires both talking and listening. As a friendly reminder, some etiquette tips for discussion are provided to the right.
When you are in the inner circle, consider using the following stems, which can help move discussion in positive, productive directions.
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If you are in the outside circle, participate as if you were in the inner circle, just without talking. For example, if the inner circle is looking at a passage, open your book to the same passage and follow along. In addition, take notes on how the discussion is going: how is the discussion progressing, what points stand out to you, which points are developed/not developed, etc. Take active notes; you will need these to complete your reflection that night.
BYOD Tech Option! If you have a question for the inner circle about the content of their discussion, pose your question on the “backchannel” provided via Socrative.com to have your question addressed by the group.
1. Go to Socrative.com.
2. Click on Student Login.
3. Enter ------------- as the classroom ID.
4. Post your question.

As part of our discussion of O’Brien’s novel, we will zoom in on three short stories as well as the take a “whole view” analysis of the novel. Each student will sign up (or be assigned) a short story discussion group. On your discussion day, you’ll gather (for the first time) as a group to discuss the story while the rest of the class listens, observes, and takes notes.
To prepare for your discussion, review your short story in greater detail. Consider this your “second draft” reading. As you reread the story, think about what you see now that you didn’t see before (eye doctor analogy).
Specifically, come to class on your discussion day with notes on the following (they will be extremely helpful during discussion):

• What did you notice in the reading, both when you first read and upon rereading?
• What patterns or motifs have you observed?
• What can you say about the writing in this particular story? POV? Diction? Syntax? Details? Repetition?
• How does this story relate to others?
• Support all of the above with specific passages and quotations from the text (you should direct the group to specific passages and reread as needed during your discussion).
• Generate your own list of questions about this story.

You will not know when your discussion is taking place, so come to class ready to go each day. You may want to review Part 2 in this series (above) for what to do during discussion.
After each discussion day, you must turn in a reflection and notes on the discussion (see Part 2 above).

A novel! 
You’ll need a few things for your reading of Tim O’Brien’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Things They Carried. Be sure you have the following supplies each day in class:

• A copy of the novel
• A minimum of six post-it notes (large 4 x 6 size, available in class)
• Pen or pencil
• Your time & attention
• A sense of curiosity

As you read* The Things They Carried, note O’Brien’s thoughtful and precise use of language. I am always--always--amazed each time I read this novel. Many of his sentences are breathtaking. Revel in this reading experience. Immerse yourself in the prose. Pay attention to when a particular passage strikes you.
Take notes on a minimum of six passages that stand out to you for their descriptions of people, places, or things. Remember that “things” can be concrete (the soil or land) as well as abstract (shame or love). Make sure you choose passages that span the breadth of the novel (i.e. do not choose six passages from the same chapters). You may choose any combination of descriptions―3 places, 2 people, 1 thing or 4 things, 1 place, 1 person―as long as you have one of each. You may find yourself wanting to note more than six descriptions (that’s how good O’Brien’s writing is). Feel free; six is only a minimum.
Choose six meaningful passages. Think about that word―meaningful. The passage should be full of meaning.
Note the passage by marking it in the book with the post-it note. On the post-it, answer / reflect on  the following for each passage:

1. WHAT is being described—a person, place, or thing? Identify. For example, Jimmy’s love for Martha is an abstract thing. Or it could be about Jimmy, a person, depending on the passage.
2. WHY is this description here? What is its purpose? What is O’Brien trying to convey in this description? Why is this in the novel? 
3. HOW is the purpose achieved? What strategies—think diction, syntax, imagery, juxtaposition, imagery, repetition, etc.—does O’Brien use to achieve this purpose? What makes this description effective, both in the immediate context as well as in the novel as a whole?

Finish reading and come to class with your completed notes by Monday, December 14th.
Be prepared to discuss “fishbowl” style or in Socratic circles. Your notes will be extremely helpful.
In addition, you will be given a multiple choice quiz to verify you’ve read the novel. If you read diligently and carefully, you should be fine.
* You may find it helpful to mark the passages first and then write responses later. That way, you can just enjoy the novel and then go back to write on the post-its now that you have a “bigger picture” view of the novel upon finishing.