Saturday, October 27, 2007

Annotated Bibliography Reading Selection

Post your Annotated Bibliography paragraph here before 6pm on November 3, 2007. Review my sample below and check your paragraph for accuracy and that it is free of grammatical errors before you publish.

Ernest J. Gaines. A Gathering of Old Men. New York: Vintage Contemporaries, 1992. A Gathering of Old Men is a novel about racism. Set in the south in the 1970s, it is the story of a group of black men who band together to protect their friend who killed a white man in self-defense. Because each man says he committed the murder, the authorities, baffled, can do nothing. The power the men have, and the resulting tension that is created, slowly builds throughout the novel. Ernest Gaines uses characterization to move the plot towards its violent conclusion. Each character in the novel is detailed vividly, allowing the reader to sympathize with their dangerous situation. At times, the reader can even empathize with the characters. Gaines details the bond between each man to force the reader to experience the emotions each man feels. In doing so, Gaines forces the reader to examine their own prejudices and ponder what they would do in the face of injustice. On a scale of one to ten, A Gathering of Old Men is a solid ten, a novel that everyone should read.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Independent Reading Redo Comments for September 2007

Following the instructions below, and after you have previewed your comment carefully, post your comment for your independent reading selection.


1) Compose a clear topic sentence that includes the author and title of the novel you are reading and the point you wish to make in your paragraph. Remember the topic is the title and author of the novel; the point is the literary device you will detail.
2) In an extended paragraph, discuss one of the following literary devices: characterization, conflict, point of view, theme, or setting.
3) Include at least one quote with citation from the pages your are detailing to support and develop your comment.
4) Include Analysis, your thoughts/opinions about the plot and use of the literary device in your paragraph.
5) Complete your paragraph with a summation sentence that refers back to your topic sentence. Do not rewrite your topic sentence.