Classes reading Dracula or War of the Worlds should read through chapter 12 before Monday, December 10.

I have been extremely impressed with your MGRP presentations so far. After we finish the presentations on Monday, we will continue our discussion of Dracula or War of the Worlds. Our calendar for next week looks like this:

As you can see, we will be writing our first MGRP essay next weekend. This week will be devoted to discussing and taking notes over your sources (the book and “other” source you presented last week, and two “other” sources to be found before Wednesday and Thursday) in small groups. Each group member will write a different essay over his or her topic, but the group will work together to create the outlines and ideas for each essay. This is a good chance for each of you to get “outside” of your topic and find new ideas and ways to look at it.

You must submit a completed outline to me on Friday. You will have some time in class to work on it, but I will ask to see them before the end of the hour so I can make suggestions or just be impressed.

As always, post your questions for the good of the community.

Before presenting, you should read one book over your topic and at least one source from Internet, printed, audio, or visual material.

This presentation is like the opening paragraph of an essay. Just like in an essay, you will be describing your topic, your two sources, what you plan to study, why, and how. Your presentation should be at least five minutes long, and inform your peers about your topic. Remember, your audience is most likely unfamiliar with your subject material, so provide any necessary background information.

Below is a possible outline for your presentation. Visual materials are not required, but could be helpful.

 
 

1. Opening
   1. Introduce yourself
   2. Introduce your topic
      1. Why did you choose this topic?
      2. Do you have any past experience with it?
   3. Introduce your materials
      1. Where did you find your materials?
      2. Why did you choose these materials?
      3. What background information do you have on your material?
2. Body
   1. Explain your material
      1. What did you learn from your materials?
      2. Describe/explain your book
      3. Describe/explain your other source
      4. Explain why the book and other source are important in studying your topic
   2. Describe your future study plans
      1. What other aspects of your topic are you interested in?
      2. What other sources will you look at in order to learn more about your topic?
3. Conclusion
   1. Sum up your presentation
   2. Include any additional information or cool things you’ve discovered about your topic
4. Ask for questions.

For third and fourth hours, your essay will be similar to the Dracula one mentioned below. Use the link included in that post for a copy of the outline worksheet, and remember to always back your ideas with evidence from the text.

Prompt:
Using at least two outside sources to back your argument, explain how Wells (or Welles) creates realism in his work. Use examples of diction, detail, and imagery to support your argument.

If you need to go over the radio broadcasts we listened to in class, please refer to the previous post and the links therein.
For the good of the community, post any questions you may have.

Ahem. We will be having an essay in class on Friday 30^th over the first three chapters of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For your preparative pleasure, here is the prompt:

How does Stoker use diction, detail, and imagery to create a suspenseful narrative?

An outline will be due with your essay tomorrow. If you would like to get a head start, here is a copy of the outline sheet.

You should use quotations from Stoker’s book to support any argument you make (note the “Evidence” sections of the outline).

Also, six days until MGRP Presentations.

Also also, Disney shoes.