The Intro Paragraph

Follow these four easy steps in creating a concise and clear introductory paragraph:

      The Hook: Make sure you begin your introduction with a sentence that is not overly dramatic, but also not too boring (This is a difficult task).

Do not use overly broad or generic hooks:

—  “Throughout human history…”

—  “According to Webster’s dictionary definition of…”

—  “Every individual on this planet is unique…”

     Concepts: Make sure you introduce the concepts you will be talking about. Define any specific terms/ concepts in the essay prompt that may be difficult to understand. Elaborate on them briefly (a sentence or two) if it will help the clarity of your essay.

·         For example: Explain the term “allusion.” Explain why people feared authoritarian forces in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Explain how female characters are typically portrayed by men before the women’s rights movement. Discuss the use of first person narration.

     Context: Set up the context for the essay. Introduce the author and text you will be discussing. Name drop, title drop, and theme drop. Do not give a summary of the plot!

     Thesis: The end of your introductory paragraph should be your thesis statement which should be the general argument and purpose of your paper.

Basic Example Intro Paragraphs: Label each of the four steps on the margin of each body paragraph.

When John Steinbeck wrote many of his famous works, the Great Depression was dragging on as millions of Americans desperately searched for work. As the workforce became increasingly competitive and individualistic, the feeling of loneliness and isolation from others would naturally have become the norm in American working culture. One novella that captures this strong sense of loneliness is Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, which depicts different characters’ experiences with loneliness whether they are isolated from society, or surrounded by others. In the novella, Steinbeck displays the different reactions that Crooks and Curley’s Wife have to loneliness to demonstrate that companionship is absolutely necessary for happiness.

Quiz Reminder

Remember that you guys want to read to pages 288 (If you are reading the longer version of the novel- most likely period 1) or 241 (If you are reading the shorter version- most likely period 2). There will be a quiz tomorrow, 10/22.

During the weeks after homecoming, I am always surprised to see toilet paper still stuck in the trees of those few unlucky houses. I often think about how items can be stuck in tree branches for quite a while, despite the wind or rain. I think McMurphy would be surprised by this as well- only it wouldn't be TP that he would throw up in a tree.

 Expect questions referring to the actual fishing trip, when they are on the boat and away from land-all on their own. And study up on topics we have discussed in class the last week.

Allusion

An allusion is a reference, within a literary work, to another work of fiction, a film, a piece of art, or even a real event.

An allusion serves as a kind of shorthand, drawing on this outside work to provide greater context or meaning to the situation being written about.

Common literary allusions are Greek/Roman mythology and famous works of Shakespeare. But the most common literary allusion is the Bible.

As you read the second half of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, decide what famous text Kesey is alluding to. What figure from history is McMurphy compared to in the novel?

Check out the trailer for Warm Bodies. What famous literary text is the movie constantly alluding to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest Essay Topics

1.       One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest has often been criticized for its treatment of female characters.  Compare two female characters in Cuckoo’s Nest. Choose from Nurse Ratched, Vera Harding, The Night Nurse (Nurse Pilbow), Mrs. Bromden, Mrs. Bibbit, and Candy. How does Kesey depict women in this novel? How are these women similar and different? Can they be symbols of feminist ideals, patriarchal society, social reform, misogyny etc.?  Focus on one of these topics.

 

2.      Discuss Kesey’s use of Chief Bromden as the narrator. Why is the novel told from his point of view? How does this viewpoint reflect the novel’s purpose or meaning?

3.      Many critics and readers feel that there are many parallels between McMurphy’s story (behavior, etc.) and that of Jesus Christ. Explain this comparison.  What is Kesey’s purpose or message in drawing a comparison between McMurphy and Jesus Christ?

4.      The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority or the powerful is a recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays.    Write an essay in which you discuss the topic of individualism vs. group conformity in the novel. What is Kesey’s message about individuality and it’s connection with deviance and social exile? Which characters best demonstrate the conflict between individuals and group conformity? What lesson can be taken away from their journey towards individual self-discovery? Do not merely summarize the novel.

5.      Compare the mental institution in Kesey’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Big Brother and The Party in Orwell’s 1984. What message is each author sharing on authoritative figures and entities? How does each portray authoritative organizations differently and why are these differences important to their respective messages? You must use quotes from each novel.

Requirements:

·         Essay must be a minimum of 2 ½  pages, and it must follow all MLA style rules.

·         Essay must include direct quotes from the novel (minimum of three). 

·         Please write in the third person; in other words, no “I” or “you” pronouns.

·         Your essay must have an original title.

·         Your Thesis Statement must contain the three P’s (Prompt, Provable, Purpose).

·         Your Introductory Paragraph and First Body Paragraph will be due Friday 10/25. Therefore, I strongly suggest you finish the novel by Wednesday 10/23.

Quiz Reminder

Remember to finish "Part One" of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest for tomorrow 10/15. 

There will be a quiz.

I know lots of you are going to be catching up on the baseball playoffs. Sadly, the Oakland A's won't be making it to the World Series, so I probably won't have anything else to do tonight other than read ahead in Kesey's exciting novel. 

You may want to read the final section carefully.

I think that Bromden is an interesting narrator- I just always wish that I knew more of his backstory. I am sure that all of you are wondering the same thing: What caused Bromden to end up in the mental institution? We get little bits of information of his past here and there. But I definitely wish Kesey would tell us even more about his past life.

If you ask me, I am most curious about the origin of this mysterious "fog" that Bromden sees in his hallucinations. I mean, where did it come from? I might just need to ask you guys that tomorrow for clarification. Have fun reading tonight!

Quiz Reminder

Remember that tomorrow, Tuesday 10/8, there will be a quiz on pages 42-70 of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Make sure to read- and focus on the conversation that Harding has with McMurphy after the group therapy session.

Evaluating Voice in Writing

Read the excerpt of the narrator on the bottom of the page.

Analyze the passage for diction (word choice): What specific words does the author use to give him his own distinct voice? Circle at least three specific words.

Analyze the passage for syntax (sentence structures): How would you describe the structure of the sentences the narrator is using? Longer with many clauses? Shorter and more spare?

Analyze the passage for tone: How would you describe the tone of the narrator? Sarcastic? Agitated? Mature?

“Most of the big shore places were closed now and there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of a ferryboat across the Sound. And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes — a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder” (Fitzgerald, 189).

Write a glorified paragraph (at least 8 sentences) about your typical morning waking up and going to high school- only this time you should try and copy the voice of the excerpt you just read. What specific words should you use? How should your sentences be structured? What forms of descriptive or figurative language would you use? What would your tone be?