Making the Most of Moments

As with life, Ron Rash's One Foot in Eden can be defined by key moments. Identify the moment, the passage, the sentence, or the phrase of Rash's novel that you found the most fascinating and why it was key for you for some serious major insight into the book. Make sure you cite the moment and then offer at least 10 thoughtful and thorough sentences which show your clear opinion/voice on this matter.

Eden's Tragic Hero

During the past few weeks, we've encountered several characters who might qualify as a tragic hero in One Foot in Eden. Today, we divided those characters up by groups. Make the case that the character you were assigned is the tragic hero of this novel. Some of your answers might overlap, but the best way to avoid overlap is to write from your own perspective as much as possible. Please respond in AT LEAST TEN THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH SENTENCES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

"Disability" in Our Society and in Our Own Lives

In her essay "Disability," the author Nancy Mairs argues that depicting "disabled people in the ordinary activities of daily life" threatens advertisers and each of us by revealing to us that "disability" is normal. Express your own opinion as to whether you agree or disagree with Mairs' argument and why. Take into consideration your own experiences with someone who is "disabled" and share them as part of your answer.

Please make sure that your response is thoughtful and responsible given the difficult nature of the subject. Moreover, it should incude AT LEAST 10 sentences to explain your reasoning. There's not a right or wrong answer on this and we're not looking for a perfect essay. The key is for you to take some time to offer your own personal reflections in a more formal way.

Between the Snow and the Wind

During the past few days, we have read two descriptive essays, Julia Alvarez's "Snow" and Joan Didion's "The Santa Ana." Both happen to be essays that focus on the author's perceptions/reflections of nature.

Which essay do you find stronger and more effective as a descriptive piece? Please make sure you cite AT LEAST THREE REASONS FROM THE TEXT THAT YOU FIND SUPERIOR, reasons that you think support your arguments. In that case, you will also need to reference specific aspects of the other essay. Respond in a thoughtful passage of at least10 sentences to explain your reasoning. There's not a right or wrong answer on this and we're not looking for a perfect essay. The key is for you to take some time to offer your own personal reflections in a more formal way.

The Lines We Love and Give Us the Most Insight in Annie Dillard's "The Chase"

In class today, we discussed Annie Dillard's noted narrative essay "The Chase." We looked at it from many different angles trying to make some sense of what on the surface looks short and simple, but then also seems to offer something more. At one point, we stopped to think about our conversation and to identify the passages and points that we found most important for insight. Please actually write the quote or line that you find most important after considering this essay again. Then, in a thoughtful passage of about 10 sentences, explain your reasoning. There's not a right or wrong answer on this and we're not looking for a perfect essay. The key is for you to take some time to offer your own personal reflections in a more formal way.