College Info, College Apps / Themes and tones

College Prep 12

Materials for Class:

• Three subject notebook
• Reflection journal, preferrably hardcover comp book

Handouts:

• College Search packet
• College Application Essay Questions
• Sample application essays
• Bloom's taxonomy

• Reflection Journal: five entries per week are required. entries should be about one half side of a page and dated. Each page must be numbered. Content can be anything but should be meaningful. the goal is to develop an expressive, conversational writing tone or 'voice' which is critical for writing acceptable college application essays. Ideas can be taken from the list of college application essay questions from today's handout.

Good website for college search:

U.S.News & World Report

A+ Options for B Students

HW: read all sample essays; underline examples where the writer's 'voice' is apparent.

Grade 10:

Journal: If your life is a story, what is the title?

• Review theme and tone:
• Theme: a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in literary or artistic workEx: “Never give up.” “Accept what can’t be avoided.” “The need of the one outweighs the need of the many.”
• Tone: a literary technique, that is a part of composition, that encompasses the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience implied in a literary work. Tone may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, sad, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, or many other possible attitudes.
• Add irony to vocab list, discuss the different kinds: situational, verbal, dramatic
• Irony is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an clash or discordance between what a speaker / writer /actor says or does, and what he or she means or what is generally understood.
• talked about 'mindfulness' as paying attention; what is done mindfully can't be done any better in the moment it is done.
• HW: Theme/Tone assignment:
• *Introduction*Discuss the "biographical" theme and supporting details. What is the theme of your life right now? Why? Themes may center around a conflict (you against _________.), desire (I want _________, but __________ is in the way.), good fortune, friendship, family, etc. If you have difficulty finding a them, please see me for guidance. One way to think about it is to ask yourself, "If my life is a story, what is the title?" The answer will lead you to the theme.*Discuss your "biographical" tone. What is the primary feeling in your story? Why? Give examples.*Conclusions: Did you learn anything from this exercise?
• OR Write an actual narrative... the story of this stage of your life. Use language that will imply the tone. Again, think of a title that will point you in the direction of a theme... but don't state the theme directly. Write this from either the first or third person.
• First draft due Monday