Written Task about Auden's poems

Come up with an idea (to be discussed in class on Monday 24 September) for a Written Task about Auden's poems.

The purpose of the Written Task is to show that
1) you understand the themes, stylistic devices and context of the poem(s) you write about
2) you can write a specific type of text - that is: you get all the typical characteristics right.

An example:

an interview with Auden in which he discusses the inspiration for one of the poems.

Reading Photographs

You have read Susan Sontag's essay Photography: A Little Summa in preparation for this class. Select two of her statements.
Find a photograph for each of these statements that represents what Sontag says there.

Explain this in a short piece of ca. 300 words.(Yes, another portfolio thingy!)

These websites are a good point to start looking for photographs (links open in new window):

World Press Photo archives

The Guardian Picture archive (look at the subcategories listed!)

National Geographic photo archive

International Center of Photography, New York

Some of the best shots by Robert Capa, one of the most famous (war) photographers ever.

Photo analysis notes

To refresh your memories: text analysis

Summing up, you can say that a text or text type can be identified by looking at the following characteristics:

Audience and purpose	Who wrote the text? What is the aim of the text? Who was it written for?
Content and theme	What is the text about? What are the thematic elements in it?
Tone, register and mood	How does the text sound? Is it formal, informal, serious or ironic? What kind of words are used? How does the text make the reader feel?
Stylistic devices	Imagery, metaphors, repetition, use of colour, verbs, etc.
Structure	How is the text organised? Lay-out (font, placement of images, etc.) Contents organisation (point of view, division into paragraphs, frequency of dialogue, etc.)

Always be specific about these aspects and provide clear examples to support your analysis!

Musée des Beaux Arts

Can you spot Icarus?

Van 2CC IB Class of 2013

Funeral Blues

Practice essay (Part 4)

Writing an essay is not easy. Paper 2 (IB exam set for 3 May, 2013) is an essay, though: you'll get to choose from six essay questions and you have to write about the books we are still going to read for Part 3 of the course.

To practice your essay writing skills we are going to take examples from the works from Part 4 (Macbeth, Heart of Darkness and A Streetcar Named Desire).

Essay questions:

Explain how in at least two works you have studied ambition leads to the downfall of one of the protagonists.

Show how the contrast between light and dark is used to illustrate the themes of at least two of the works you have studied.

Work plan:

Step 1: collect examples

Step 2: structure your examples into an essay plan; the PIE schedule I have handed to you is a tool that might help you structure your essay - you are not obliged to use it this way. The most important aspect of the PIE schedule is that it makes clear that you not only have to give illustrations/examples of the point you are making, but that you have to explain the connection between example and point.

Step 3: write the essay

Assignment

Finish your essay plan/PIE schedule before Wednesday 5 September so it can be discussed in class.
Hand in your finished essay (400-500 words) before Tuesday 11 September.