Warm-Up

• Copy the definition below & then make a list of feelings and/or difficulties with which you can empathize.

– Empathy = the ability to identify with and understand somebody else’s feelings or difficulties

Unit 2: Assessment #1

Read 3 pieces and then explain which one did the best job of creating empathy and why?

Before Reading

• Get out a sheet of paper and create 3 columns. Label the columns K, W, and L.

• With your elbow buddy, brainstorm a list of all the facts you know about the Civil Rights Movement and put them in the K column.

K W L

Who is Anne Moody?• Parents = poor, tenant farmers in Mississippi• News of Emmet Till’s lynching inspired her to

fight for justice• all-A student who won a basketball scholarship• dared to join the NAACP in her junior year• first-hand experience of demonstrations & sit-ins

that were mainstays of Civil Rights movement• also saw/experienced the arrests and jailings,

the shotguns, fire hoses, police dogs, billy clubs and deadly force that were used to destroy it.

“Coming of Age in Mississippi”

• Fill in W column• Read excerpt first time for information• Fill in L column• Complete Essay Prewriting• Reread & annotate for spin

Prewriting

• List at least 3 emotions and/or difficulties the author was experiencing:

• What did the author do to create empathy for these emotions? What did she do so that you were “feeling” those things as you were reading?

Read for information but also analyze “the spin”

• Spin = overall impression• Formed and/or Informed by:

– author’s relationship to the subject– author’s purpose in writing this– what events are highlighted– what events are hidden– diction– pictures/imagery

•Author uses third-person point of view.

•Author does extensive research about subject.

•Writing tends to be objective.

•Writing is based on research and informed speculation.

•Author uses first-person point of view.

•Author writes about own experiences.

•Writing tends to be subjective and personal.

•Writing is based on first-hand knowledge.

Biography Autobiography

Objective v. Subjective

• Subjective = with bias

American Idol:– If you auditioned for

American Idol, your parents or friends would be subjective because they know and like you. Therefore, they’re more likely to think you sing well.

• Objective = without bias

American Idol:– If you auditioned for

American Idol, the judges would be objective because they don’t know you personally. Therefore, they’re more likely to give you an honest and accurate opinion about your singing.

At the age of fifteen, Kelly began to attend Porter High School. During one of her drama classes, she met Anne Davis, and together they formed what would eventually become one of the most famous comedy duos, The Flappers.

When I first started Porter High School, I was nervous. I didn’t know anyone at the school because my family had just moved. Meeting Anne must have been fate. We had such fun in drama class and worked so well together, I told her we should try to form a comedy group.

Biography Autobiography

CORB

IS Im

ages

/HRW

•Chronological•Covers multiple phases of life (e.g. childhood, adolescence, 20’s, etc.)

•More fact-centered•Less emotions

•Specific set of events•Feelings and emotions associated w/ the memories

•How it made you feel then and how it makes you feel now – LOTS of reflection

Autobiography Memoir

I never really knew my father, or rather never took the time to ask him about the details of his life. His life had always been focused on mine. It was always about me. But isn't that the way it's supposed to be? I mean, I was his daughter. Spoiled? Yes. Deservedly so? Of course.

-from Last Conversation with Dad by Joyce Rankin

Autobiography Memoir

From an early age, I spent most of my free time in the veld playing and fighting with the other boys of the village. A boy who remained at home tied to his mother's apron strings was regarded as a sissy. At night, I shared my food and blanket with these same boys. I was no more than five when I became a herd-boy, looking after sheep and calves in the fields.

-from Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

• Purpose = why he/she wrote it– To inform– To entertain– To persuade– What else?

• Bias = how the author views the events– Does the author like or dislike the person?– Does the author know the person?

So…

• how do you know which one it is?• how does genre affect purpose?• which is the most objective?• which is the most subjective?• which is the most biased?• how does genre affect/create the spin?

• Diction = word choice• Style = how you structure the sentences• Voice/Tone = what’s the attitude behind it

– I am truly a product of Hollywood in-breeding. When two celebrities mate, someone like me is the result. (from Carrie Fisher’s autobiography)

– What is the effect of the underlined words?– What is the effect of the sentence structure?– What’s the attitude behind these words? How can you tell?

Connotation v. Denotation

Denotation = literal meaningConnotation = implied meaning; positive or

negative

1. George lived in a small cabin. George lived in a small shack.2. The flowers had an unusual fragrance The flowers had an unusual odor.

3. They gorged themselves on ice cream and candy. They filled up on ice cream and candy.

4. Fans gathered around the rock star. Fans swarmed around the rock star.5. She rifled through the sale items in the

store. She browsed through the sale items in the

store.

• These are details from Johnny Cash’s life.

• Based on these details, what is your impression of Johnny Cash?

•Worked alongside parents in field•Brother died in accident when young•Graduated from high school•Moved to MI to find work•Joined U.S. Air Force•Met Vivian Liberto during basic training and wrote to her everyday while on tour in Germany

•Worked variety of jobs in Memphis while trying to get record deal•Performed 200 -300 concerts each year•Fathered 4 daughters with Vivian•CMA Hall of Fame•Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame•Won 7 Grammy awards

• These are also details from Johnny Cash’s life.

• Based on these details, what is your impression of Johnny Cash?

•Arrested for smuggling drugs•Started a forest fire•Divorced Vivan in 1966 and married June Carter in 1968•In 1968 became devout Christian and kicked drug habit•1983 checked into the Betty Ford clinic

•After graduation, moved to Michigan to find work•Left that job after 1 month to join U.S. Air Force•Worked variety of jobs in Memphis•Became addicted to narcotics•Found in near-death state by police

• How does selection of details create spin?

• What conclusions is the author drawing here? Which statements are facts? Which are opinions?

– Taped at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the show featured an eclectic mix of guests ranging from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Louis Armstrong and Merle Haggard. Through his selection of guests, Cash helped bridge the generation gap and break down musical barriers. He also used the show as a forum to discuss and raise the country's collective consciousness about social issues of the day such as the plight of the Native Americans, prison reform and the conflict in Vietnam. (cmt.com)

• What conclusions is the author drawing here? Which statements are facts? Which are opinions?

– John soaked up a variety of musical influences ranging from his mother's folk songs and hymns to the work songs from the fields and nearby railroad yards. He absorbed these sounds like sponge absorbs water. (cmt.com)

• What conclusions is the author drawing here? Which statements are facts? Which are opinions?

Johnny Cash was one of the most imposing and influential figures in post-World War II country music. With his deep, resonant baritone and spare, percussive guitar, he had a basic, distinctive sound. Cash didn't sound like Nashville, nor did he sound like honky tonk or rock & roll. He created his own subgenre, falling halfway between the blunt emotional honesty of folk, the rebelliousness of rock & roll, and the world-weariness of country. (vh1.com)

Annotations

Reread and look for “spin.” Make at least 3 annotations about the following:

• Relationship to author• Purpose• Diction• Selection of details• Images

Closing

1. What is empathy?2. What’s the difference between an

autobiography and a biography?3. How does a biographer create “spin”?