The Assignments

In Addition to Reading . . .

1) We’ll continue with something that has worked pretty well over the last few years – a community blog. As you start your summer reading (and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you take a few days off after the close of this year), you’ll no doubt find yourself either with some questions or some trenchant observations. What to do?

Go to our class blog – “Summer Reading” at www.thssummerreading2009.blogspot.com. Post your comments. Read and respond to what your classmates are saying.

I expect that EVERYONE will post AT LEAST ONCE for EACH ASSIGNED BOOK, but hopefully a lot more.

2) You’ll also have to write a 2-5 page essay – the traditional “Five-Paragraph” Essay.

Now, by “five-paragraph”, I mean the traditional academic essay that starts with an intriguing introductory paragraph that concludes with a focused and definitive thesis. Then, the body of the paper that endeavors to prove the thesis (a minimum of three paragraphs, but it can certainly be more), and finally, the concluding paragraph, which restates the thesis and reviews the gist of the (three) paragraphs.

Mrs. Morrison tells me that she thinks you can do this: Experience tells me I should have some doubts. This is your chance to prove yourself right off the bat.

I’m leaving the topic pretty wide open. There are only two requirements.

1) Your paper needs to consider two of the three books.

2) Your topic needs to be something that can be fully discussed and explained within two to five pages. That means fairly narrow. Now, there are some superficial similarities between Moon for the Misbegotten and Enchanted Night -- the moon, a Connecticut shoreline town. But what do you do with the mannequin that comes to life? In The Beauty of the Lilies we meet a lapsed Presbyterian minister, a mailman, and a Hollywood starlet, among others. Is there a connection with Haverstraw, the 39-year old unpublished author who lives in his mother’s attic in Enchanted Night? That will be for you to determine.

[Warning: be sure to cite any and all sources consulted. Avoid plagiarism like the plague!]

The Essay will be due no later than Friday, August 28^th. It may be turned in early at:

jmacarthur@tolland.k12.ct.us