The Things They Carried

Tim O'Brien

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED is Tim O'Brien's beautiful, anguished collection of linked stories about Vietnam. In it, he blends diverse voices and events into an unforgettable portrayal of war and the people who fight it.

“…..[This book] is not a collection of short stories, but it is not one story with a beginning and an ending. It is perhaps closest to listening to a soldier storyteller over a long period of time.”

THE VIETNAM WAR is an integral part of America today. Indeed, its impact far transcended Southeast Asia and the men, women, and nations that participated there -- it also altered the political, economic, social, cultural, and ideological landscapes of the United States.

It was the longest war in American history and the most unpopular American war of the twentieth century. It resulted in nearly 60,000 American deaths and an estimated 2 million Vietnamese deaths. Even today, many Americans still ask whether the American effort in Vietnam was a sin, a blunder, a necessary war, or a noble cause, or an idealistic, if failed, effort to protect the South Vietnamese from totalitarian government.

Many prize-winning photographs are among the most searing and painful images of the Vietnam War era. These images helped define the meaning of the war. They also illustrate the immense power of photography to reveal war's brutality.

ASSIGNMENT: Click on O’Brien’s novel to navigate the Vietnam War in pictures. In a bog post, describe and reflect on one photograph, describing the emotions and insight evoked from it.

200 words.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Vocabulary Quiz / Begin in-class constructed response.

BLOG ASSIGNMENT: In the novel, The Color of Water, religion plays a large role in Ruth's life. Do you agree or disagree that religion allows an individual to gain self-identity? Why?
200 words.
DUE: Wednesday, 9/22

Vocabulary: Quiz Monday!!!!
Strident – loud, clamorous
Implicit – implied, hidden, unspoken
Bourgeois – middle class
Emulate – imitate, copy
Avail – reward, benefit
Baleful – vindictive, threatening
Nebulous – vague, hazy, imprecise
Vacillate – waver, fluctuate, to be indecisive
Modicum – a little bit, degree, small amount
Haute – arrogant, conceit

Life is a text, a story, and everything that exists within your own particular life, exists in the world of literature.

*Authors write to question and understand their life, their role in it. They write about what they know.

CHARACTERIZATION - Just as people define you and who you are influences your perception, the same goes for people in a book.

POINT OF VIEW – We evaluate reality according to our perception

EVENT/EPISODE – We talk about what happens to us, especially events that are out of the ordinary or episodes in life that define us in society. Both joy and suffering are possible.

TONE – Well, tone is a nuance that is the underbelly of everything said to us, seen by us.
It is how we detect whether or not to proceed with caution when asking mom/dad for money!

SETTING – Time, place and culture mean everything.


IRONY – Things that happen but shouldn’t - this is all life, and all life is pretty ironic.

SYMBOLISM – Human beings love symbols. Your first teddy bear isn’t just a teddy bear, or you wouldn’t still have it – we equate memories, emotions with concrete things.

STRUCTURE – This will make or break you, it even becomes part of your personality. Are you organized, do you lose everything, what’s your style? Same for books, they have an overarching style that defines them.

DIALOGUE – Language and words are important. What we say and what is said to us influences everything.

DO NOW: Contemplate the following in a brief paragraph.

Does ignorance excuse racism?
If you were told something that could be construed as a "racial" remark by a close friend what would you do? Whoa--not so fast, let’s say it was nothing "in your face", nothing "outright or blatant" rather an “off the cuff” remark. Would you feel impelled to pick up your sword, choose a side and wage war? Would you blindly walk away choosing the road of denial? Would you settle somewhere in between the two extremes and confront the individual knowing that your friendship hangs in the balance and that with one wrong word uttered the dynamics of this trusting relationship can change forever?


Vocabulary: Quiz Monday, 9/20

Strident – loud, clamorous
Implicit – implied, hidden, unspoken
Bourgeois – middle class
Emulate – imitate, copy
Avail – reward, benefit
Baleful – vindictive, threatening
Nebulous – vague, hazy, imprecise
Vacillate – waver, fluctuate, to be indecisive
Modicum – a little bit, degree, small amount
Haute – arrogant, conceit

The Color of Water, James McBride

A study of self-knowledge.

DO NOW: Locate a quote within the novel. POST YOUR QUOTE TO THE BLOG, then substantiate why you find it to be compelling, profound, enlightening.

100 words.

DUE: 9/14

English 10 Regents 2010-2011
J. Molloy: 914.669.5414 ext.2193

molloyj@northsalem.k12.ny.us

Course Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 9

Course Description:
This course is designed to aid students to read and analyze literature from a variety of genres and to respond to literature critically through writing, speaking, and reflecting. Students will also continue developing and honing language arts skills that focus on writing, reading comprehension and expression, critical analysis, vocabulary, and grammar. A strong emphasis will be placed on expository writing. Students will also extensively prepare for the Regents exam in June.

Curriculum Highlights:
· Research paper: compare and contrast topics of a literary work from the time it was written to the present
· SAT vocabulary preparation
· Memoirs portfolio final project
· Creative writing
· Expository writing focusing on literary response and expression and critical analysis and evaluation
· Socratic seminars that allow students to critically participate and delve into literature
· Test debate / test analysis
· Preparation for the NYS Regents exam, including practice exams

Works of Literature (in order)
Color of Water James McBride
The Lord of the Flies William Golding
The Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger
Night Elie Wiesel
Julius Caesar William Shakespeare
The Things They Carried Tim O’Brien
An Independent Read

Helpful Suggestions to Students:
Purchase a three-ring binder, dividers and a folder to be used solely for this course. Students are expected to maintain their binders in an organized fashion and to bring their binders to class daily. Concerning assignments, students should review their notes and class-work frequently and they also should plan ahead as much as possible.

Grading Policy:
Writing: 40%
Examinations: 30%
Journals/Blogs: 20%
Homework/Participation: 10%

Attendance and Tardiness:
Attendance and punctuality are crucial to participation and success in this course. Unexcused absences will be treated according to the North Salem High School cut policy. It is the student’s responsibility to make up any work he/she has missed due to an excused absence or lateness. Late passes are due upon the arrival of class. Three unexcused latenesses will result in detention.

Extra Help:
Extra help will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room W-24 from 2:15-2:55, or by appointment.

Make Up/Late Work:
Students will make up work within 5 days from the date of the legal absence. Lateness of projects and papers will result in a deduction per day until the work is submitted.