9/22/15—9/25/15 AIM : How do we write an effective synthesis essay? DO NOW: Vocabulary Books!!! If you don’t have you money, get you book by next Friday. HW: Complete pages one and two of the “ Tone, Diction and Syntax” packet. Read the rest. “THE” ESSAY TASK (Tuesday): I will post this today. Choose at least two key passages from the novel which reveal Steinbeck’s contempt for the doctor and those of his class, a nd at least two passages which reveal his sympathy towards Kino and the plight of his people. Explain how Steinbeck’s choice of words conveys his attitude toward each group. Be specific as to the techniques used to create tone. *** You will be allowed to use your book for this task.*** *** Kindle people must see me.***
Transcript
9/22/15—9/25/15 AIM: How do we write an effective synthesis essay?
DO NOW: Vocabulary Books!!! If you don’t have you money, get you book by next Friday.
HW: Complete pages one and two of the “ Tone, Diction and Syntax” packet. Read the rest.“THE” ESSAY TASK (Tuesday): I will post this today.Choose at least two key passages from the novel which reveal Steinbeck’s contempt for the doctor and those of his class, and at least two passages which reveal his sympathy towards Kino and the plight of his people. Explain how Steinbeck’s choice of words conveys his attitude toward each group. Be specific as to the techniques used to create tone.*** You will be allowed to use your book for this task.*** *** Kindle people must see me.***
What must go into a body paragraph?
• Details from the text – the more specific, the better—get to the heart of the piece of text
• Connections between the details and the task (thesis, your main point(s), the central idea of your essay, your claim---it all means the same thing. This is the thinking, the ANALYSIS.
• The ratio of details to analysis should be about THREE analysis sentences for every ONE detail.
–Detail : Analysis is 1:3
How do you make a good sound body paragraph?
• When you hear someone speak, or when you read someone’s writing, what is it that makes it sound communication? What makes it easy to listen to or read?
• Fluency -how clear and yet eloquent the language is
• Voice - how unique and human sounding the language is
• How do we make this happen?
How do you make a sound body paragraph? • Every sentence has a purpose. Every sentence is
deliberate. You should feel like you are crafting something when you write.
• Structure: A sound body paragraph is building toward a purpose (main point or overall thesis).
• Every sentence is connected. Transitions are the glue that bind a paragraph together. They stitch together the fabric of your speaking and writing.
• Richness of language: diction is not just a tool for famous authors, and sentence structure should be as varied as the brush strokes on a fine piece of art.
Don’t forget to avoid these items:• “In this essay, I will…” or “My theme is…”• “Text speak” 4 UR SA 2 B dun <3 ):-( • “blah, blah, blah…in many ways”• Should• Rambling – – If you don’t know why a sentence is in there, you can
guarantee that I won’t know, either. Dump it.– Redundancy – don’t repeat yourself, or be repetitive or
say the same thing over and over, or be redundant, again• If it doesn’t sound good when you say, it won’t
sound good when you write it.• Too much text, not enough explanation
How should we apply this to The Pearl?
Tone Essays
Consider the task:
• Choose at least two key passages from the novel which reveal Steinbeck’s contempt for the doctor and those of his class, and
• Two passages which reveal his sympathy towards Kino and the plight of his people.
• Explain how Steinbeck’s choice of words conveys his attitude toward each group
• Be specific as to the techniques used to create tone.
Tone• The author’s attitude toward a subject or a
character. – It is often revealed by the author’s choice of words
and use of imagery and diction.
Diction - refers to a writer's word choice
Imagery - language that appeals to the senses. The forming of mental images, figures, or likenesses of things. It is also the use of language to represent actions, persons, objects, and ideas descriptively. This means encompassing the senses also, rather than just forming a mental picture. The word is from the Latin imago, meaning “to image,” and imitari, meaning “to imitate.”
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language. Any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and alliteration.
Contempt
• The feeling of a person toward someone or something he considers worthless or beneath notice; scorn.
Contemptuous Tone: Doctorvia Diction/Imagery, 1
• John Steinbeck’s contempt for the doctor is visible through his tone in the novel. He describes the doctor with words that contain a negative connotation. There were “puffy little hammocks” beneath his eyes and “his voice was growing hoarse with the fat that pressed on his throat.” – Through his description, the author’s contempt and dislike is
present. Then the doctor’s conversation with his servant clearly shows Steinbeck’s dislike of this character. The doctor states that he is too superior to care for “little Indians”.
– By such negative wording, it shows that John Steinbeck had a dislike for the doctor.
Contemptuous Tone: Doctorvia Diction, 4
• Steinbeck looks down on the doctor because of his greed. We can tell this because Steinbeck writes, “I am a doctor not a veterinary.” – This shows that the doctor thinks of the poor social class as
some kind of animal. • The doctor stated “I, I alone in the world am supposed to
work for nothing and I am tired of it. See if he has any money!” – This proves to us that all the doctor cared about was money and
not the life of a poor innocent child.– The tone here is selfishness. The doctor did not care if the baby
were to die. He cared if he got money. That is how Steinbeck showed contempt for the doctor.
Contemptuous Tone: Doctorvia Imagery
– The doctor is drinking a cup of hot chocolate; crumbling a sweet biscuit in his fingers; putting the delicate china cup down and then letting his anger show. • Indicates his avarice and appetite for the “rich” things in
life• Contrasts sharply with the breakfast of Kino and Juana
Contemptuous Tone: Pearl Buyersvia Imagery, 1
• Steinbeck describes the dealer’s eyes as being cruel and like a hawk’s eyes… [We can conclude, from this comparison, that John Steinbeck sees the Pearl Buyer as a predator, which makes Kino his prey.]
• When Kino is trying to sell the pearl, Steinbeck compares the pearl buyers to certain animals. “He felt the creeping of fate, the circling wolves, the hover of vultures” (50). Through this comparison, Steinbeck compares the pearl buyers to wolves circling prey and vultures getting ready to pick at the remains. Clearly, Steinbeck does not view these characters in a good light.
Contemptuous Tone: Pearl Buyersvia Imagery, 2
• He writes about the pearl buyers, “in little offices sat the men who bought pearls from the fishers…” In this passage, he also uses words that have a negative connotation to describe them. He states that “their eyes squinted and their fingertips burned,” symbolizing the greed that each pearl buyer had to gain what Kino had found. Steinbeck also uses this passage to show the personalities of their class, and that they had attempted to cheat Kino of his pearl by having a strategy meeting so that Kino would sell his pearl for a ridiculously low price. This passage shows that men of this class will do whatever it takes for money.
Sympathy
• A sharing of, or the ability to share, another person’s mental state, emotions, etc., especially pity or compassion felt for another’s trouble, suffering, etc.
Sympathetic Tonevia Imagery, 1
• When it comes to the poor Indians of La Paz, Steinbeck shows a great amount of sympathy. They are very poor people and do not have many luxuries at all. Steinbeck describes that pathetic little breakfast that Kino eats every day. “Kino squatted by the fire pit and rolled a hot corn cake and dipped it in sauce and ate it” (4). – He describes in detail how a corn cake, sauce, and pulque was the only
breakfast Kino had ever known. – This is me, your teacher, working from the above information:
• Yet, the reader knows that Kino is satisfied with his life and his meager (by our standards) breakfast because in the background plays the song of the family, which symbolizes peace, happiness, and stability
• This breakfast directly contrasts with the next meal we see: that of the doctor. Even though he is surrounded by fine things, like china and silver trays and drinks chocolate for breakfast, he is dissatisfied with his life and dreams of returning to France where people are “civilized”.
Sympathetic Tonevia Imagery, 2
• Steinbeck consequently writes with residual sympathy for Kino and his kin. When Kino goes to the doctor to heal his son, he does so with little hope. Steinbeck describes that the doctor’s race had oppressed Kino’s race for “400 years”.
• When the doctor does not come to see them, Juana looked up at Kino having the “coldness of a lioness” in her eyes (7). He as well describes the music of the family as having a “steely tone”. This is a subtle instance of Steinbeck’s sympathy.
Sympathetic Tonevia Diction/Imagery, 3
• Steinbeck conveys sympathy for Kino most perceivably when he describes the “public shaming” of Kino. “A wave of shame went over the procession.” [The people disperse]. Likely Steinbeck mentions the dissipation of the crowd to emphasize the extent of the shame. Steinbeck then states that Kino, “struck the gate” of the doctor’s home with a “crushing blow” (17). Steinbeck artfully captures Kino’s disheartenment and the ensuing rage…emphasizing the sadness of the entire episode.
Sympathetic Tonevia Diction/Imagery, 4
• Some things to consider:
– Kino’s connection to nature/environment changes as his contact with the pearl and those willing to kill for it continues (loss of boat, house, son/ committing murder)
– The return of Juana and Kino after the death of their son, carrying their baby wrapped in his blanket, walking to the ocean, side by side. All hope is lost…
– This is me, your teacher, again: Notice the doctor and the pearl buyers have no names, whereas Kino, Juana, Juan Thomas, and Appolonia do. The oppressors are identified by what they do, not who they are. Therefore…
Imagery
• Juxtaposition of – living quarters of doctor and Kino– breakfast of doctor and Kino– of thoughts about what more money could do
• What feelings do these contrasts evoke in the reader? What tone is the author using to create these feelings? How does this tone indicate the author’s contempt or sympathy?
9/17/14AIM: How does Steinbeck employ
symbolism and aural imagery?
Do Now: What songs and symbols appear in The Pearl?
HW: 1.“THE” ESSAY TASK (Friday):Choose at least two key passages from the novel which reveal Steinbeck’s contempt for the doctor and those of his class, and at least Two passages which reveal his sympathy towards Kino and the plight of his people. Explain how Steinbeck’s choice of words conveys his attitude toward each group. Be specific as to the techniques used to create tone.*** You will be allowed to use your book for this task.*** *** Kindle people must see me.***
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
Friday September 19,2014
Aim: To write the essay on The Pearl.
Do Now: Copy Aim/HW Any questions?
HW: Bring $12.00 for a Vocabulary Book. We will go to the library on Monday to get them.Spelling test in two weeks.
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
(aural imagery) in this story?
In groups: Make a list of songs and symbols in The Pearl.
• Share your list of symbols. Be sure to:– Explain what each symbol represents.– Explain Steinbeck’s purpose for employing each of
these symbols. How do they illustrate some of the greater (central) ideas we have been discussing?
– How might these symbols connect to ideas and images outside of the novel?
• Share your list of songs.– What is the purpose of each song?– Why do you think Steinbeck decided to use music
