Period 3: (10 minutes)
This morning, please choose any essay from Ellen Degeneres from the handout we did not read together in class (ex. "Family") and identify any of the 21 pieces of advice I gave you about non-fiction and explain how the essay follows this advice. Be specific and use the TEXT to support your answer for full credit. Place your analysis in the COMMENT section below.
WRITING TASK - The Proust Questionnaire Essay Draft: Write today by either A.) brainstorming and outlining ideas that answer the question you chose, or... B.) start right off with your essay and try to write until you get stuck. When you get stuck (and you will) either... 1.) brainstorm and outline ideas or details that answer the question you chose, or ... 2.) choose another topic from the questionnaire, create a transition between the two questions, and start again writing to answer your next selected question.
When writing comedy, it is okay to digress and move on to another topic--this is often a technique called INCONGRUITY (which means your digression does not logically follow or continue your idea) Once a pattern or expectation is recognized by a reader/listener, breaking this pattern makes us laugh. Usually, however, non-fiction essays focus on ONE topic at a time. Whichever path you choose, be aware when you are digressing and use it to entertain your reader. If you can keep your focus, that's great too!
In GRAMMAR we can indicate digressions by using the em-dash.
Try writing for 20 minutes without stopping or bothering others or getting distracted. If and when you get stuck, try the instructions above. Unstick yourself and keep writing your non-fiction "essay". After 20 minutes, check your goals and start again for another 20 minutes of writing.
At the end of the first period, TURN IN THE DRAFT. Challenge yourself: if you normally can only write a paragraph or two in 20 minutes, try writing at least 3 fully developed paragraphs. If you can normally write half a page or one full page, try to increase this number. Give yourself a goal as a writer and see if that helps you create.
Complete the "exit" ticket evaluating your writing time today. (See handout!) I'm collecting this for credit at the end of period 1.
During period 4, we'll take a look at a few more essays and possibly begin watching a performance by Ellen Degeneres' stand up comedy.
HOMEWORK: Complete the 2nd packet (or first) of Ellen Degeneres' essays. Make sure you have turned in your Proust Questionnaire draft to our Google Classroom.
This morning, please choose any essay from Ellen Degeneres from the handout we did not read together in class (ex. "Family") and identify any of the 21 pieces of advice I gave you about non-fiction and explain how the essay follows this advice. Be specific and use the TEXT to support your answer for full credit. Place your analysis in the COMMENT section below.
WRITING TASK - The Proust Questionnaire Essay Draft: Write today by either A.) brainstorming and outlining ideas that answer the question you chose, or... B.) start right off with your essay and try to write until you get stuck. When you get stuck (and you will) either... 1.) brainstorm and outline ideas or details that answer the question you chose, or ... 2.) choose another topic from the questionnaire, create a transition between the two questions, and start again writing to answer your next selected question.
When writing comedy, it is okay to digress and move on to another topic--this is often a technique called INCONGRUITY (which means your digression does not logically follow or continue your idea) Once a pattern or expectation is recognized by a reader/listener, breaking this pattern makes us laugh. Usually, however, non-fiction essays focus on ONE topic at a time. Whichever path you choose, be aware when you are digressing and use it to entertain your reader. If you can keep your focus, that's great too!
In GRAMMAR we can indicate digressions by using the em-dash.
Try writing for 20 minutes without stopping or bothering others or getting distracted. If and when you get stuck, try the instructions above. Unstick yourself and keep writing your non-fiction "essay". After 20 minutes, check your goals and start again for another 20 minutes of writing.
At the end of the first period, TURN IN THE DRAFT. Challenge yourself: if you normally can only write a paragraph or two in 20 minutes, try writing at least 3 fully developed paragraphs. If you can normally write half a page or one full page, try to increase this number. Give yourself a goal as a writer and see if that helps you create.
Complete the "exit" ticket evaluating your writing time today. (See handout!) I'm collecting this for credit at the end of period 1.
During period 4, we'll take a look at a few more essays and possibly begin watching a performance by Ellen Degeneres' stand up comedy.
HOMEWORK: Complete the 2nd packet (or first) of Ellen Degeneres' essays. Make sure you have turned in your Proust Questionnaire draft to our Google Classroom.
9 comments:
In "Family" she talked about childhood memories, like how her mom moved a lot. She also included dialogue that actually happened between herself and her mother.
In the essay “Important word” by Ellen DeGeneres she immediately grabs the reader's attention with a great hook. “Now this is a very difficult chapter for me to write.” By saying this, the reader will want to read the essay and figure out why it’s is so difficult for her to write. What problems and issues is she going to explain in this essay this time? Did she do something illegal? Embarrassing? By not revealing why it’s so hard for her to write this at first, the reader is forced to continue to have their attention drawn to the words on the page. “ I feel an enormous amount of pressure to make it spectacular.”
The chapter 'Personally Speaking' from Ellen Degeneres's Seriously...I'm Kidding, most directly reflects to the writing tip, "Reflect and make a point about the human condition. You can start off with this theme in mind and then go away from it. At the end of the essay, you may come back to the first theme to close the circuit." The reason i thought of this was because she's literally reflecting on a couple of the times she went to the doctor and got checked for her health. She writes about something embarrassing, yet changes it to be more comical. Ellen begins the text off by talking on her physical condition and how's it changing, then ends it by talking about other parts of her body. And how she doesn't mind telling us about it. This most directly relates to starting off with a theme and then returning to it later.
In "What would Jesus do?" Ellen was proposing a question; how would life be like if Jesus was around? Specifically, if Jesus was alive and a celebrity of some sort. She said that he would most likely be a hot topic in polls and he would be compared to other people for their fashion choices. "'Who wore this flowy gown better? Jesus or J. Lo?" "Jesus' sandals-hot to trot or heavens no?" "Do you think Jesus should cut his hair?" Fifty-four percent of readers say yes, Jesus should cut his hair." People are comparing a figure of Christianity (who would is dead because that's how the story goes), to things that are common now (The media starting drama or worrying about fashion trends.)
If I had to choose one chapter of Ellen's book Seriously… I’m kidding that demonstrates a good non-fiction piece, I would choose ‘Babies, Animals, and Baby Animals’. Out of the 21 tips you should use to write better non-fiction, Ellen showed us instead of telling us what happened, she circled back around to her main point at the end, and she made it entertaining for me to read. For example, on page 124 she says, “ We have two cats on our farm, Tom and Little Sister, two horses, and two minies… And those are only the animals we let sleep in our bed.” This proves that Ellen used comedy to keep the reader's attention because it was something that was unexpected. Also, on page 123 she says, “‘Who needs to go potty? and ‘Can you please take your underwear off your head for Mommy?’”. This proves that Ellen gives us examples of what she probably heard Mom’s tell their kids in grocery stores, so she’s giving us imagery. Lastly, on page 125 she says, “You know what, we mostly know about animals. We’re not gonna change our minds.” This proves that she circled back to her overall point that she and Portia will not be having any children.
In "Stuff" she talked about childhood memories like how her and her mother moved a lot. On page 14 she says " Mama has moved thirty-two times since 1952 ". She also talks about real dialouge that happened between herself and her mother."'I moved try to find me'".
In "Personally Speaking", Ellen Degeneres admits her insecurities and how often she over examines herself, one of the examples are "Admit your flaws to make your persona more relatable."- Jay
In Ellen Degeneres’ book Seriously...Im kidding, Ellen uses many of the non-fiction writing prompts that we discussed. In the chapter What Would Jesus Do?, Ellen relates to the readers by putting her opinion onto the readers opinion. On page 54 she states, “It asked readers, ‘Hot pink dress-is it a do or don't?’ Now heres my question about this poll: Who cares? If you want to wear a pink dress, wear a pink dress.” Ellen relates to the readers when she covers a subject that the readers may have participated in. She allows the reader to understand that the polls are fun, but your opinion is the most important opinion to have when it comes to you. This shows that relates to the reader, because she also sees how all people are held up to society's standards(also stating that its stupid).
In Ellen Degeneres' chapter "Stuff", she starts off very directly by saying she doesn't like clutter. She doesn't waste time telling the backstory or any other crap. She gets right to the point and tells us exactly what the chapter is about.
Ellen talks about the time her mother would move without telling her and she'd have to find her. this shows her relating to a childhood moment.
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