Personal Response to Text (Curiosity)
English 10-1
Diagnositic Writing
The main emphasis in a writing assignment is on two elements:
a)
b)
READING and
RESPONDING
The core essence of the reading is to digest the “story”, the “poem”, the
“article”...whatever it is IN ORDER TO reflect on it. So, it is not
enough to simply know what it says. You have to figure out what
the important elements are and how they relate to “real life”.
The core essence of the responding is to not merely answer a question, but
to engage in an imaginary conversation with a target audience.
Sometimes the audience is named. In that case you must take
the initiative to respect the audience’s needs and personality(ies).
Sometimes the audience is “general”. In that case you should
assume that the audience is a formal reading public. Take your
voice and your writing seriously so that others will.
What matters most:
1.
That you have something to say. Something
of SUBSTANCE. Something full bodied.
2.
That you say it well. Yes, your words matter.
Don’t merely offer “facts” - offer flavour.
3.
That your reader can follow your thoughts.
Yes, you will have to organize it.
4.
That you EDIT your work carefully.
Do not delude yourself: spelling, punctuation,
and capitalization matter - a lot!
Let’s practice...
You have to read the offered literature and complete the writing tasks
AS DESIGNED.
Do not mess with the assigned task; it will be graded according to your
response to what is asked. Do not TWIST the expectations.
THE ACTUAL QUESTION:
The poem “Curiosity” by Alastair Reid examines two approaches to life which
present strongly contrasting values: taking risks and exploring new situations
versus maintaining an existence which is comfortable and secure.
***From your point of view, explain why one of the two approaches
to life is more appealing. Make your reasons vivid and specific.
To do this well, you will need to use the ART OF PERSUASION. That relies on (a)
(using your writer’s voice/personality) your ability to convince your reader that your
ideas are valid and (b) (using MULTIPLE examples from multiple sources) your
ability to conjure persuasive examples.
1
Let’s read the poem - together...
2.
Read the poem again on your own: make notes, underline, circling ideas and
words that stick out to you. Paraphrase into your own words ideas from the poem to
help it make sense to you. Look words up in the dictionary.
3.
Choose ONE of the following two statements to prove.
JUDGE your choice on what you can prove, not what someone else could prove!!!
Option 1:
Taking risks and exploring new situations makes life
both more exciting and worthwhile.
Option 2:
Avoiding risks in favour of comfort and security makes
life more predictable and pleasing.
4
Writing:
Once you have chosen your point of view respond in a well developed
piece of writing (multiple paragraphs). You must use details (quotes) from the
literature and life to support your point of view. Explain how your view connects to
YOUR life and THE world. USE THE LITERATURE TO SUPPORT YOUR VIEW!
When quoting literature NEVER EVER WRITE, “The quote [place quote here]
means that....” “This quote means that...”
Your quotes should be seamless, a part of your writing. Just insert the quote as
part of your sentences. Make it your own, but reference the quote with quotation
marks. Use phrases, then explain how it supports your view.
Have a clear INTRODUCTION, BODY and CONCLUSION!
5
READ IT OVER...fix what you can...
CURIOSITY
Alistair Reid
may have killed the cat. More likely
the cat was just unlucky, or else curious
to see what death was like, having no cause
to go on licking paws, or fathering
litter on litter of kittens, predictably.
Nevertheless, to be curious
is dangerous enough. To distrust
what is always said, what seems,
to ask odd questions, interfere in dreams,
leave home,
smell rats, have hunches
does not endear cats to those doggy circles
where well-smelt baskets, suitable wives,
good lunches
are the order of things, and where prevails
much wagging of incurious heads and tails.
Face it...Curiosity
will not cause us to die --only lack of it will.
Never to want to see
the other side of the hill,
or that improbable country
where living is an idyll
(although a probable hell)
would kill us all.
Only the curious
have if they live a tale
worth telling at all.
Dogs say cats love too much, are irresponsible,
are changeable, marry too many wives
desert their children, chill all dinner tables
with tales of their nine lives.
Well, they are lucky. Let them be
nine-lived and contradictory,
curious enough to change, prepared to pay
the cat price, which is to die
and die again and again,
each time with no less pain.
A cat minority of one
is all that can be counted on
to tell the truth; and what they have to tell
on each return from hell
is this: that dying is what the living do
that dying is what the loving do,
and that dead dogs are those who never know
that dying is what, to live, each has to do.