11/17 Silas

Compare Silas's actions and thoughts with any you have had when something terrible or dreaded has happened.




To what does Silas turn for comfort?  When had he sought comfort before from this same source?

Tofurkey

The Power of Language
PETA Asks Turkey, Texas, to Change Its Name to 'Tofurky' for Thanksgiving

November 14, 2011
The Honorable Pat Carsona
Mayor of Turkey

Dear Mayor Carson,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 3 million members and supporters, including thousands in Texas, with an idea that will boost Turkey into the spotlight and promote compassion: Rename your town "Tofurky" for Thanksgiving. If you agree to adopt this moniker for just one day, we'd be happy to provide a delicious, healthy vegan holiday feast for all the town's residents.

Tofurky is a savory, flavorful, "meaty" vegan entrée with wild-rice and bread-crumb stuffing that is 100 percent cruelty-free. In contrast, virtually all turkey meat sold in the U.S. comes from factory farms, where birds are confined by the thousands to filthy, barren sheds. They are drugged and bred to grow such unnaturally large upper bodies that their legs often become crippled under the weight. These bright and social animals are denied everything that is natural and important to them, and at the slaughterhouse, turkeys are still conscious when their throats are slit. Changing the town's name to Tofurky will remind people around the country that we each can have a delicious, protein-packed, and satisfying Thanksgiving meal without supporting animal abuse.

PETA's feast would feature Tofurky with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes (made with vegan margarine), and vegan apple pie topped with vanilla dairy-free ice cream. Introducing vegan cuisine to your residents would help improve their health: A vegan diet is free of the saturated animal fats and cholesterol found in meat and dairy products, and according to the American Dietetic Association, a vegan diet reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to rename your town and give turkeys, as well as your town's citizens, something to gobble about! Please let me know of your decision.

Sincerely yours,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President

And (in an interview): "Thanksgiving is murder on turkeys," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "By changing its name to 'Tofurky,' Turkey would send a clear message that delicious, savory mock meat is an easy way to celebrate without causing suffering—and give a bird something to be thankful for."

Please write a response to this letter, as if you were the mayor of this town (I’m pretty sure he chose not to respond, but what would you say?).  Consider why would a name change be important?  What kind of statement are the members of PETA hoping to send?  Are the words we use important afterall?

SPARKNOTES?! I am on to you.

Read the Sparknotes—note at least three places in each chapter where you could add (or change) information.  These kinds of summaries can be used as a tool for increased comprehension, but should not replace the text itself.  **ALSO you need to continue your listing activity... which requires you to read the actual text!**

Summary: Chapter 3
Squire Cass is acknowledged as the greatest man in Raveloe, the closest thing the village has to a lord. His sons, however, have “turned out rather ill.” The Squire’s younger son, Dunstan, more commonly called by the nickname Dunsey, is a sneering and unpleasant young man with a taste for gambling and drinking. The elder son, Godfrey, is handsome and good-natured, and everyone in town wants to see him married to the lovely Nancy Lammeter. Lately, however, Godfrey has been acting strange and looking unwell.

One November afternoon, the two Cass brothers get into a heated argument over 100 pounds that Godfrey has lent Dunsey—money that was the rent from one of their father’s tenants. The Squire is growing impatient, Godfrey says, and will soon find out that Godfrey has been lying to him about the rent if Dunsey does not repay the money. Dunsey, however, tells Godfrey to come up with the money himself, lest Dunsey tell their father about Godfrey’s secret marriage to the drunken opium addict Molly Farren. Dunsey suggests that Godfrey borrow money or sell his prized horse, Wildfire, at the next day’s hunt. Godfrey balks at this, since there is a dance that evening at which he plans to see Nancy. When Dunsey mockingly suggests that Godfrey simply kill Molly off, Godfrey angrily threatens to tell their father about the money and his marriage himself, thus getting Dunsey thrown out of the house along with him.

Godfrey, however, is unwilling to take this step, preferring his uncertain but currently comfortable existence to the certain embarrassment that would result from revealing his secret marriage. Thinking that he has perhaps pushed Godfrey too far, Dunsey offers to sell Godfrey’s horse for him. Godfrey agrees to this, and Dunsey leaves. The narrator then gives us a glimpse of Godfrey’s future: the empty, monotonous prosperity of the aging country squire who spends his years drinking and wallowing in regret. The narrator adds that Godfrey already has experienced this regret to some degree: we learn that Godfrey was talked into his secret marriage by none other than Dunsey, who used the idea as a trap to gain leverage with which to blackmail Godfrey. Godfrey does genuinely love Nancy Lammeter—as the narrator suggests, Nancy represents everything missing from the household in which Godfrey grew up after his mother’s death. The fact that Godfrey cannot act upon his emotions toward Nancy only increases his misery.

Summary: Chapter 4
Dunsey sets off the next morning to sell his brother’s horse. Passing by Silas Marner’s cottage, Dunsey remembers the rumors about Silas’s hoard of gold and wonders why he has never thought to persuade Godfrey to ask Silas for a loan. Despite the promise of this idea, Dunsey decides to ride on anyway, since he wants his brother to be upset about having had to sell Wildfire and he looks forward to the bargaining and swagger that will be involved in the sale of the horse.

Dunsey meets some acquaintances who are hunting. After some negotiation he arranges Wildfire’s sale, with payment to be handed over upon safe delivery of the horse to the stable. Dunsey decides not to deliver the horse right away, and instead takes part in the hunt, enjoying the prospect of jumping fences to show off the horse. However, Dunsey jumps one fence too many, and Wildfire gets impaled on a stake and dies. No one witnesses the accident, and Dunsey is unhurt, so he makes his way to the road in order to walk home. All the while he thinks of Silas’s money. When Dunsey passes Silas’s cottage just after dusk and sees a light on through the window, he decides to introduce himself. To his surprise the door is unlocked and the cottage empty. Tempted by the blazing fire inside and the piece of pork roasting over it, Dunsey sits down at the hearth and wonders where Silas is. His thoughts quickly shift to Silas’s money and, looking around the cottage, Dunsey notices a spot in the floor carefully covered over with sand. He sweeps away the sand, pries up the loose bricks, and finds the bags of gold. He steals the bags and flees into the darkness.

QUESTIONS for Chapter Three  

What characteristics of Dunstan are brought out through the incidents in this chapter?  How is this shown?

 How does Dunstan justify stealing Silas’s gold to himself?

What observations can you make about the narrator?

Seniors: Peer Editing Personal Statement

Peer Editing Sheet: Personal Statement Essays

Writer:

Editor:

Title of Essay:

1.)    What qualities does the person show about themselves through their writing?  List them.

2.)    Is the writing clear and concise?  Is there anything that you think they could do without?  Be ruthless (you can write this in the draft… don’t actually cross it out—ultimately it is the writer’s decision-- but underline and label things you think should be deleted).

3.)    Is the writing SPECIFIC?  If they say something was great or sad or desirable, do they explain why/how?  If anything leaves you guessing, list it below.

4.)    Did the writer use interesting verbs (those are the action words)?  Circle the verbs in each sentence.  Think about it and possibly suggest synonyms.

5.)    Did the author divide their essay into paragraphs?  If they did, make sure their paragraphs hang together and not apart (it’s divided at appropriate junctures).  If not, where should they be?

6.)    Did the author use topic sentences to allow their essay to hang together?  At no point should you feel lost.  Point out places that are unclear and suggest improvements.

7.)    Did the author use effective transitions throughout so their essay is easy to read/follow?  Put a square around them (I am running out of symbols here, sorry).

8.)    Did the essay capture your interest?  Why/how?

9.)    If you ONLY knew this person from their essay, would you think they would be an interesting/dynamic person to go to college with?  Why or why not?  Consider the content AND the writing style.  (Be reasonably kind and constructive).

10.)  Any other suggestions or comments?

Juniors...

Silas Marner Chapter 3:
What is the social structure of the community?
What weakenss does Godrey display in the Cass family?
What means does Eliot use to tell us about various characters?

Continue with your lists please!  I gave you some time to catch up today... please stay that way!

Peer Editing for Fallacies Paper

Fallacies Paper Peer Editing Sheet

Writer:

Editor:

Paper Title:

Does the writer clearly introduce the song, band and why they chose it at the beginning of their paper?  If not, explain what they should change.

In the second paragraph, does the writer quote SPECIFIC LYRICS and explain what they think the song means?  How many times (at least four)?

In the second paragraph, does the writer consider the audience of the song and explain why?

In the second paragraph, does the writer consider multiple interpretations of the song?

In the third paragraph, does the writer relay the story told by the video using SPECIFIC IMAGES (at least four)?  List them.

In the third paragraph, did the writer note anything that seemed odd or out of place?  Consider the multiple interpretations in the second paragraph—was this the video something that fit in with what the writer feels the song is about?

CHECK FALLACIES IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH!  Take out your sheet—check that they are using them correctly (many of you made mistakes with Red Herrings and False Cause).  Make sure they used SPECIFIC, DIRECT EVIDENCE.

In the fifth paragraph, read and consider SOCIAL implications.  What is being said about who and why (consumerism)?  Who has power?  Who is a definer (most of you used hasty generalization)?  This paragraph should talk about LARGER groups, not simple the artist—consider men/women, old people/young people, rich/poor, race, etc.

In the conclusion, make sure the writer drives home their SO WHAT?!  This paragraph should relate back to the writer personally.  They should have considered: Does the music you listen to define YOU in any way, or is it simple an arbitrary choice?  What are you advertising by your music choices?  Is this SEEN in the video?  Underline any of these questions that are missing from the final analysis.

Look at TOPIC SENTENCES.  Does the writer clearly communicate what each paragraph will be about?

Look at TRANSITIONS.  Does the writer hold your hand (tell you where they’re going with their writing) in a way that logically makes sense and helps you understand their observations and interpretations?

Are there any places that you had QUESTIONS about what they were trying to say?  Point them out and suggest how they can make them more specific.

Any general comments (hopefully this paper blew your mind).

1: WKCE Testing
2: Silas Marner... keep lists of truths about life, social class or Molly and Godfrey.  Also answer: (1) How does Silas spend his time?  Why? (2) In what ways do people cope with severe setbacks? (3) What is revealed about Silas's nature by the brown pot incident?
3: Infectious disease presentations due FRIDAY the 18th (I can figure out the date, really)
5: Fallacies papers and presentations due THURSDAY at the beginning of class.  First draft, editing sheet, final draft.
7: Keep working on your literature circle packets and books.  I THINK things are going much better... but some of you need to use your classtime more wisely.
8: Personal statement finals due Friday... work time today and tomorrow, editing on Wednesday, revision on Thursday... sharing Friday for those who are comfortable.