Reading Groups

In groups, choose three of the following essays to read. Essays can be found in your textbook.

1. Excerpt from Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (nature, environment)
2. “High School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies” by David Denby (popular culture)
3. “There is No Unmarked Woman” by Deborah Tannen (gender)
4. Excerpt from Serving Florida by Barbara Ehrenreich (social class, economics)
5. “Offensive Play” by Malcolm Gladwell (sports)
6. “The Empire Fights Back” by Chinua Achebe (politics)

Follow the schedule below.

Day 1        Meet in groups, decide on essays, begin reading essay 1, finish for HW
Day 2       Discuss essay 1 / Complete Graff or SOAPSTone for essay 1
Day 3       Finish discussing essay 1 / Begin reading essay 2, finish for HW
Day 4       Discuss essay 2 / Complete Graff or SOAPSTone for essay 2
Day 5       Finish discussing essay 2 / Begin reading essay 3, finish for HW
Day 6       Discuss essay 3 / Complete Graff or SOAPSTone for essay 3
Day 7       Finish discussing essay 3


IN GROUPS
Discuss the following questions (you may want to take notes so you can use them to type up your individual reflections)

• What is the main purpose of the essay?
• Comment on the essay’s overall arrangement. Describe and then evaluate.
• What points most stood out to you while you were reading? Why?
• Which parts of the essay were most effective? Why?  Consider both content AND form/style.
• What can you take away from this essay re: effective writing?

As a group, complete a Graff template for each article or SOAPSTone analysis (you’ll turn these in at the end).

ON YOUR OWNEach student will submit a typed, 1-page personal response/reflection on each article.  Your response may begin with a quick 1-2 sentence summary of the article (a modified, “livelier” Graff template), followed by your response to and analysis of specific points that the writer makes in the essay.

Your reflections will be due on TBA (my suggestion would be to type up your reflections each night you finish discussing the essay in class).

---