Just when you thought your evenings and weekends would be free of anything that might edify and enlighten you, along comes school to ruin it all.
Because good writing can only be produced by avid readers, you will be doing a little independent reading. I realize that "independent" might be a bit of a misnomer given that you are being "forced" to read a bunch of stuff from lists of materials you didn't choose (and probably wouldn't choose if the alternative was squirting lemon juice in your eyes), but expanding your horizons is good for you.
I know, you're thinking, "So are Brussels sprouts and they make me want to throw up!"
So maybe you think extra reading is torture, but good news again -- a lot of great art is inspired by suffering. You can thank us when you're famous.
In the meantime, you will be reading a few poems, stories, non-fiction pieces, novels, and other writings that use far too many words and contain far too few pictures . . . and then you will be writing responses/reviews of the texts you read so that others might be forewarned of the suffering, confusion, a soul-crushing tedium that lies in store for them.
Each quarter, depending on the grade/class you are in and the whims of your teacher you will be doing all or some part of the following:
Click here for a list of some classic (or soon-to-be classic) poets and the titles of a few of their most famous poems. Read the selected poems for one poet and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of some classic short stories by famous authors. Read one of the short stories and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of some brilliant non-fiction pieces written by people who are smart and worldly and just really keen observers of reality. Read the selected poems for one poet and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of books recommended by your favorite teachers (and other well-meaning people who work their darnedest just to make sure you graduate). Read one of the suggested books and write a letter to the person who recommended it.
Because good writing can only be produced by avid readers, you will be doing a little independent reading. I realize that "independent" might be a bit of a misnomer given that you are being "forced" to read a bunch of stuff from lists of materials you didn't choose (and probably wouldn't choose if the alternative was squirting lemon juice in your eyes), but expanding your horizons is good for you.
I know, you're thinking, "So are Brussels sprouts and they make me want to throw up!"
So maybe you think extra reading is torture, but good news again -- a lot of great art is inspired by suffering. You can thank us when you're famous.
In the meantime, you will be reading a few poems, stories, non-fiction pieces, novels, and other writings that use far too many words and contain far too few pictures . . . and then you will be writing responses/reviews of the texts you read so that others might be forewarned of the suffering, confusion, a soul-crushing tedium that lies in store for them.
Each quarter, depending on the grade/class you are in and the whims of your teacher you will be doing all or some part of the following:
Click here for a list of some classic (or soon-to-be classic) poets and the titles of a few of their most famous poems. Read the selected poems for one poet and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of some classic short stories by famous authors. Read one of the short stories and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of some brilliant non-fiction pieces written by people who are smart and worldly and just really keen observers of reality. Read the selected poems for one poet and write a response/review according to the directions provided.
Click here for a list of books recommended by your favorite teachers (and other well-meaning people who work their darnedest just to make sure you graduate). Read one of the suggested books and write a letter to the person who recommended it.