Prompt, Composition 3: Easy Rawlins

English 21

Tompkins

Composition 3

Critical Reading

E 21

We have spent a number of classes discussing the forces that shape the actions and imaginations of the characters in Devil In A Blue Dress. For this assignment you will choose one of the prompts below, and respond to it. You are not being asked to summarize what happened in the book. Instead you are being asked to dig below the surface to consider why these characters act as they do. You must back up your thoughts with specific examples from the text. Your grade will how clearly and persuasively you explain your ideas.

1. Easy Rawlins tried to treat others with respect and he expected respect in return. In spite of that, he had to go to work with DeWitt Albright in order to save his house. Once he took Albright’s money, he was committed to finishing the job. Unfortunately for Easy, some of his friends were pieces of the puzzle he had to solve. Examine the forces that put the squeeze on Easy and his friends, and see if they could have done things another way. Find several places in the book where Easy’s values - his principles - were tested. Then examine what he did, and how he justified what he did. .

2. Easy and Mouse had a relationship that long and complicated. When they were young men, Mouse made Easy an accomplice in a double-murder. Even though Easy ran from Mouse after that, In Devil In A Blue Dress he reached out his dangerous friend in order to survive. Examine and write about why Easy felt he had to call on Mouse for help, and what Mouse did when he showed up in Los Angeles. Explain whether or not Easy was justified in calling on Mouse, and whether or not Easy was more like Mouse that he wanted to admit.

Your paper will be at least 300 words long. It must be typed and double-spaced.

Due Dates
April 30: Discuss prompt, freewrite
May 5: Outline
May 7: Begin rough draft
May 12: Rough draft due
May 14: Final draft due

Reading Analysis Guide for Devil...

Guidelines for Reading Analysis Presentation

Sign-up on the presentation calendar on my desk. Make a note of the chapters and presentation date that you sign up for below.

Reading analysis chapter: __________________________  Presentation date: _______________

You will be presenting your analysis in class along with two to five of your classmates. The class will be counting on you to be on top of the article you are covering, so please be prepared!

This assignment is worth 40 points – to receive credit, you must participate in the presentation of your analysis. You will be graded primarily on your written analysis (breakdown of scoring below), but outstanding presentations will be rewarded.

Read the chapters that you will be analyzing carefully. If possible, read them twice. On your first reading, just try to identify the main idea(s) and get a feel for the writer’s approach and the flow of the chapter. On your second reading, go over the text more carefully; notice how the writer creates characters and tells the story.

To prepare your written analysis:

Identify the author’s name and the title of the chapter(s) you are covering. Answer the following questions, numbering each answer in the way the questions are numbered.

1.     What is the central theme of the selection? Your answer should be a complete sentence in your own words (not a quote!). Be as specific as possible, but remember that your claim should cover the whole chapter(s).

2.     What are the concerns of the characters in the chapter(s) you have read? This book is fiction. Do you think the events in the books could happen in real life? Do you think the way the characters act is believable. If the events in the book are exaggerated by the author, does it make the book less effective? If the behavior of the characters are exaggerated, does it make the book less believable or effective?

3.     Is the central theme expressed explicitly or implicitly? The claim is explicit if the writer spells out what it is. The claim is implicit if the writer only implies the claim but does not state it outright.

4.   Did the events and actions in your chapter(s) surprise you or change your mind about the characters in the book?

4.     What is the tone – the feel – of the chapter(s) you read?

5.     What things in the story give the most insight into human nature?

6.     Does the writer leave the opinions and feelings to the readers? If so, why? Is this approach effective?

Agenda and Quiz for Tues. March 24

March 21

Quiz

Quiz

1. what does the first sentence of the book tell you

a. that easy is black

b. the easy drinks

c. that the bar is in an integrated neighborhood

d. that easy is not white

2. why  did ww2 make easy used to white men

a. the german army was mainly white

b. because the us army was intgrated

c. because easy had white girlfriends in paris

d. all of the above

3. What did Joppy’s reaction to albright tell you about joppy

a. he wasn’t as tough as he looked

b. he was afarid of albright

c. he believed that albright was dangerous

d. all of the above

4. aright said “call me dewitt” to easy. how did easy react

a. he thought the familiarity wasn’t to be trusted

b. he relaxed and was glad to meet albright

c. he figured he’s met a nice white guy for a change

d. he was hoping he’d catch a break and be albright make some $$

5. What was important to easy about champion aircraft

a. easy wanted to get a job there

b. Albright had connections there

c. easy had just been fired there

2 Announcements

3. Devil In a Blue Dress 

-video background

4. Reading Presentations

5. Critical Reading

-Questions about first couple of pages

Short Quiz for March 19

Quiz for March 19

Each of the following sentences have comma splices or are run-ons. Please fix each sentence. You don’t have to copy down the uncorrected versions. Just write down your corrected version.

1. Kendrick Lamar is my favorite artist that is why I paid for his new album.

2. My dog Frenzy is my best friend she sleeps with her head on my pillow.

3. Smoggy days make my asthma worse, Saturday and Sunday were so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed.

4. I like reading books, on the other hand, I love to see a great movie.

Fix the sentence below by adding conjunctions where necessary.

5. Frenzy likes to eat stuffed rabbits, she’d never harm a living thing.

Quiz 3/10

Eng 21, Section 0914

Mr. Amano-Tompkins

Class: Today’s quiz is a test of your ability to follow directions correctly. I have emphasized in class that each student must go to the class website to find instructions regarding upcoming classes. Those who have followed those directions won’t have trouble with this quiz.

In the space provided, write the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses. If the verb ends in “s”, circle the “s”.

1. Aliyah _____________(eat) like a bird.

2. We _______________(think) it’s time for a change.

3. The dog ____________(chase) me home from school everyday.

4. My mother ____________(work) two jobs and still makes time to help me with my homework.

5. My friends ______________ (be) always there when I need her.

Prompt: Composition #2

Assignment #2: Storytelling, Interviewing, & Writing Activity

1. Tell a story from your personal experience in response to one of the following prompts:

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something by helping someone.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something when someone helped you.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something by taking a risk.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something by being careless.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something when you did something difficult.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something when you succeeded at something.

·      Tell a story about a time you learned something when you failed at something.

2. Write an essay that tells your story. Be sure (a) to describe the sequence of events that occurred in the story and (b) to explain what the story means to you.

3. Your essay may be one paragraph or a few paragraphs, but it must be at least eight sentences long.

4. Possible structure for a one-paragraph story:

1.   Topic sentence/ Introductory sentence

2.   First event / step of the story

3.   Explanation

4.   Second event / step of the story

5.   Explanation

6.   Third event / step of the story

7.   Explanation

8.   Conclusion – meaning of the story

Due Dates:

Freewrite: 3/12

Outline: 3/17

Rough Draft: 3/19

Final Draft: 3/26

Outline Outline

Outline Outline

Complete this form to create your outline for your essay

Tentative title for your essay: ________________________________

I. Introduction

Thesis statement: ______________________________________________________________

Your thesis statement should be a complete sentence that provides direction for the essay. Note: The thesis statement need not be the first sentence of your essay, but it should be part of your introductory paragraph.

II. Supporting point 1: _____________________________________________________

Try to express your point in a complete sentence that can serve as a topic sentence for the paragraph.

List specifics and details that you plan to use to develop your point.

A.    _______________________________________________________

B.    _______________________________________________________

C.   _______________________________________________________

D.   _______________________________________________________

III. Supporting point 2: _____________________________________________________

A.    _______________________________________________________

B.    _______________________________________________________

C.   _______________________________________________________

D.   _______________________________________________________

IV. Supporting point 3: _____________________________________________________

A.    _______________________________________________________

B.    _______________________________________________________

C.   _______________________________________________________

D.   _______________________________________________________

(Add more supporting points if necessary.)