College Writing, October 13, 2010: Up with details! Down with vagueness!

NOTE: I very badly owe you a "housekeeping day." So as to better utilize the weekend, we will forge forward today, then on Monday, we will revisit the following concepts: 

       1. will continue Evaluating Quality in discussion of articles

       2. review and discuss parrallelism quiz (not taking by 6pm, yet)

       3. revisit themes of Reluctant Fundamentalist

WRITE:

Dominant impression prep: I want you to get used to getting an overall impression from a work and then expressing that impression in one general sweep...one broad brush-stroke. To do this, study the piece thoughtfully. Consider its purpose, tone and audience. Be honest with yourself and don't try to pretend to be an art critic. Be you. Capture the fullness of your own voice. Then, simply, write one sentence that sums up the way you feel about it -- your overall impression. You will leave your single sentence as a comment under each post containing the famous art pieces in the above posts. The point of this assignment will be to get you prepared to create a strong dominant impression. And then...

Essay #3: Description. You will write a descriptive essay. Your subject will be any one of the following:

1. a room or space in your home
2. a stranger you can observe out in the world
3. a famous painting or portrait
4. a body part or small aspect of someone you know

Some ideas: a pretty girl, your boyfriend’s smile, your best friend’s eating habits, your sofas, the cafeteria lady, your brother napping in front of the TV, a particular article of clothing on your mom, a garden, etc.

The only thing it MUST be is something observable. I want you to view your subject as you write, so be sure it is available for even just a short time.

Pre-write about the sensory details you experience around the subject before you write. Use any of the pre-writing activities used in class. Consider interesting ways to protray images.
Make sure your essay contains a discernible dominant impression, usually found in the same spot as a thesis, and both objective and subjective details (most be more than one page).