r.+Culminating+Project

// This culminating project was inspired by a project created by Caitlin Joyner—a teacher who recognizes the importance of students’ stories and their ability to capture the humorous, the devastating, and the beautiful.// // For the culminating project, students will receive the following instructions in the form of a handout: // // **How To Tell a True __ Story: What's Your Story?** // // For your culminating projects, you will be writing your own “true” story. As we have learned from Tim O’Brien, sometimes the stories we create convey an emotional truth that cannot be captured by a mere recounting of actual events. For this project, you will reflect on an experience from your past through story. To aide you in your pursuit of emotional truth, you will turn to the style and voice of Tim O’Brien and the tools of his craft. Using some of the “language tricks” that we have examined in The Things They Carried////, you will capture the emotional truth of an event through the blending of the real/not real, historical/embellished, fictional/non-fictional of something that you still "carry." // // // * The first step in this project involves choosing an event/memory that has emotional significance to you. Remember, no one (including myself) ever has to know the “real” or historical version of this event/memory. The importance mainly lies in how the memory of this event makes you feel. What does the emotional truth of this event mean to you? // // *//// After deciding upon an emotional truth you wish to convey, you will recast your memory in a way that captures this truth using the style and voice of Tim O’Brien. Over the course of this unit, we have discussed the elements of O’Brien’s style, and you have had opportunities to practice using these techniques. You should refer back to the following writing assignments for ideas as you emulate O'Brien's style: // // - //Your lists from your personal backpack -The Life Audience assignment -The Life Audience essay -The class-developed criteria for how to tell a true war story -Your generalization poem -The Mary Anne project -The Sweetheart Synthesis (narrative structure analysis) -Dichotomy worksheet -// Your found poems from “The Man I Killed” //
 * Breaking it down:** //

Also consult the class Wiki and your notes from Socratic Seminar--anything to help you to channel the spirit of Tim O'Brien :)

// **Requirements:** // // Your story must: // // >convey an emotional truth or multiple truths // // >reflect elements of O’Brien’s style/organization/literary devices // // >be written in first person narrative form (this is your//// story, after all //// J //// ) // // >be 3-6 pages (double-spaced) in length //

**Feb 5th** - Sign up for a conference*
 * Feb 12th** - Bring in a draft of your work
 * Feb 15th** - Last day of conferences
 * Feb 16th** - Writing workshops
 * Feb 17th** - Writing workshops
 * Feb 18th** - Final paper due--1st day of story-telling (bring snacks!)*
 * Feb 19th** - Story-telling day 2 (bring snacks!)*
 * Each student is responsible sign-up by to Friday February 5th to meet with me about the direction of your project (topics, stylistic choices, questions you have). Sign-up sheets will be passed around in class.


 * Our last two days that conclude our unit will be dedicated to the art of story-telling. Each student will take a turn reading his or her story to the class. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to celebrate your hard work!

// Your grades will be assessed using the following rubric: //