The debates is on. Here's your chance to argue your opinion by writing a formal literary paragraph. You are required to form a topic sentence arguing an opinion and prove that topic in a paragraph containing THREE developed points. Your paragraph will follow the point/proof/comment format discussed in class.
Requirements
- Complete a brainstorm (Concept map or T-chart)
- Select three points and organize them according to major strength.
- Complete the paragraph outline distributed in class
- Write a rough copy of your paragraph
- Have your paragraph edited by a person in this class
- Type and submit your good copy along with all of the above.
Topic
Children grow up with fairy tales. Is the story "Once Upon a Time" a fairy tale?
Format
- typed, double spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman.
- Appropriate title reflecting topic of paragraph
- Length - Approximately 3/4 of page given format above.
Alright, so I'll definitely have to do the outline, peer editing, the problem is I've already done the good copy...
I recommend, if you have anything less then, I don't know, Word Pad, that you download
http://www.openoffice.org/OpenOffice. It's what I use, and it's free. And good.
Here's my good copy.
The short story, "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer, is not, in fact, a short story. First off, there is a specific boundary that defines a fairy tale, and it is difficult to find a generally pleasing definition. For instance, if a non-fiction story contained the phrases and objects that we decided upon as a class, would it be considered a fairy tale? No, because it is non-fiction, and therefore is about real life. “...they were warned, by that wise old witch, the husband's mother...” (Gordimer 1) 'Witch' is used here, not as a spell-caster, but (I'm assuming) a wise old hag. Secondly, the plot is backwards, starting with happiness and going into misery. “In a house, in a suburb, in a city, there were a man and his wife who loved each other very much and were living happily ever after ... Then the man and his wife burst wildly into the garden and for some reason (the cat, probably) the alarm set up wailing against the screams while the bleeding mass of the little boy was hacked out of the security coil with saws, wire-cutters, choppers, and they carried it—the man, the wife, the hysterical trusted housemaid and the weeping gardener—into the house.” (Gordimer 1) The typical fairy tale ends with “happily ever after”, and simply having the words there (as explained in point one) does not suffice. Also, ever after is ever after. The end. There is no after stage of ever after, it is done. Third and last, there is no real ending. Even a mere “happily ever after” closes a fairy tale, but this one ties up no loose end whatsoever. We are forced to assume the boy dies, or, if you're an optimist, he miraculously survives; Despite the fact that he is referred to as 'it' near the denouement. In conclusion, “Once Upon a Time”, is not a fairy tale, but it does provide a scarily true message: You are trapped by your own web of fears.
You don't have to do much. If points 1, 2 and 4 were done, I'd be ecstatic. I have to email my teacher all this work by tonight, or tomorrow morning.
You're not obligated to do this or anything. I feel bad enough already. So, if you do something, I totally owe you, and will do something to pay you back. Like, I could do your homework, or get you a GA (even if I already owe you one, and you have to be patient with that) or some CS. Anything. ... Well, be reasonable, I can not clean your room for you. XD;
I love you guys. ;_;
Subject: SO UHM I DO NOT LIKE HOMEWORK? 
Tue Mar 10, 2009 6:59 am
