First Semester Exam

We have done a lot of soul-searching this semester. We have written two senior essays, delivered one to our peers, learned what it means to "write well," discussed topics ranging from happiness to forgiveness, read and written poems, met an author, and blogged blogged blogged. You all rock. I have really enjoyed this class so far; I hope you have too.

In thinking about what I felt was appropriate for our semester exam, I focused on three highlights from the course:

1. On Writing Well

2. Poetry

3. No Impact Man

I want this exam to be both a reflecting back and a looking forward, a culminating piece that also produces something new. Here are the details:

Pre-Exam

1. The first part of the exam should be completed before the exam period. You have already started on this challenge by practicing what Beavan preached on his blog (free write about what you care most about, what has made you happy and fulfilled in the past, and what circumstances you need to be your best self). Like he advocates, distill those free writes down into three respective bullet point lists. These lists should be presented on one sheet of paper but with appropriate titles so we understand which list is which.

2. I then want you to write a 500 word essay (this is a strict limit) that articulates your findings. You can go in any direction you want with this (you can analyze yourself, project your hope for the future, state what you want to pursue professionally or personally, write a "This I Believe" statement, etc.) but your essay MUST incorporate elements from your free writes/lists. And it must powerfully and effectively illustrate at least 10 On Writing Well principles. How will I know which 10? You will annotate them in your paper :-).

This part of the exam will be worth 70% of your exam grade.

During Exam

1. I will give you a list of poetic and writing terminology that we have covered this semester. You need to define and give an example of each.

2. I will give you two poems. You choose one and answer the "five essential questions" regarding the speaker, the tone, the message, etc. No longer essay required, but each of these responses needs to be developed and supported with evidence from the poem.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Passionate Shepherd Responses

The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd

Sir Walter Ralegh

IF all the world and love were young,           
     And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
     These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee and be thy love.

Time drives the flocks from field to fold,
When rivers rage and rocks grow cold;
And Philomel becometh dumb;
The rest complains of cares to come.

The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
To wayward winter reckoning yields:
A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.

The gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,
Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies
Soon break, soon wither, soon forgotten,—
In folly ripe, in reason rotten.

Thy belt of straw and ivy buds,
Thy coral clasps and amber studs,
All these in me no means can move
To come to thee and be thy love.

But could youth last and love still breed,
Had joys no date nor age no need,
Then these delights my mind might move
To live with thee and be thy love.
 

THE BAIT.
by John Donne

COME live with me, and be my love,
And we will some new pleasures prove
Of golden sands, and crystal brooks,
With silken lines and silver hooks.

There will the river whisp'ring run
Warm'd by thy eyes, more than the sun ;
And there th' enamour'd fish will stay,
Begging themselves they may betray.

When thou wilt swim in that live bath,
Each fish, which every channel hath,
Will amorously to thee swim,
Gladder to catch thee, than thou him.

If thou, to be so seen, be'st loth,
By sun or moon, thou dark'nest both,
And if myself have leave to see,
I need not their light, having thee.

Let others freeze with angling reeds,
And cut their legs with shells and weeds,
Or treacherously poor fish beset,
With strangling snare, or windowy net.

Let coarse bold hands from slimy nest
The bedded fish in banks out-wrest ;
Or curious traitors, sleeve-silk flies,
Bewitch poor fishes' wand'ring eyes.

For thee, thou need'st no such deceit,
For thou thyself art thine own bait :
That fish, that is not catch'd thereby,
Alas ! is wiser far than I.
   

Beavan's Blog

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

More SIx Word Stories

I thought you gals would enjoy reading these.

The Sunflower: Two Relevant Articles from Today's NYTimes

Click here for an obituary on a SS guard in Italy.

Click here for an article on fraudulent withdrawals from a Holocaust Fund for survivors.

"What would I have done?"

Wiesenthal asks this question at the close of The Sunflower (btw, isn't it interesting how similar this is to the final question of No Impact Man? Anyways...). Before we read The Symposium and discuss what other people said in response to this question, we must first respond ourselves. In a well-crafted, well-written, well-organized short essay (300-600 words), define and describe what you would have done if placed in Wiesenthal's position. I know it is tough (impossible?) to understand all of the emotions and circumstances surrounding Wiesenthal's experience with the Nazi soldier--just do the best you can. Be honest. Support your stance with reasoning. And recognize that no matter what you choose, a decision like this might haunt you forever.

Please write and post this no later than Monday night.

One final request: please read over your classmates' posts before class on Wednesday. We will discuss then.

I'll miss you on Monday.

Forgiveness: 6 Words (The Sunflower)

Challenge: State your beliefs on forgiveness in 6 words or fewer.