Category Archives: English 2016

Of Mice and Men wrap up

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Even though it’s a pretty short book, we’ve spent a LOT of time on Of Mice and Men! Too much! It’s time to wrap it all up, though, with a SUPER FUN essay!

OK, nothing about the book is particularly “fun,” but it’s important and you shouldn’t find it too difficult if you follow the directions that we’ve already gone over!

Remember the Flocabulary videos we watched about writing a thesis and writing a 5 paragraph essay? You should be able to find those in the Robson213Files folder if you want to review (recommended.)

You already wrote an essay about dress codes (you did finish that, right?) Check your Drive or DropBox folder for the “marked work” folder and look at your essay. I put a whole bunch of comments on most of them. Read those!

Remember that essays are NOT written in the FIRST PERSON! Do not use the word “I” in your essay! They are also based on FACTS, not opinions! Yes, you are carefully choosing those facts, but don’t be overly dramatic and don’t make it sound like a personal opinion!

Here’s a fun little review activity for the book. Skip the Starter Activity (unless you’re well versed in Australian slang!) and jump to the “Main Session.” Use the “Plenary” to help plan the essay that you could write!

Whichever topic you pick, make sure that you PLAN IT OUT FIRST! Show me a thesis and topic sentences! If we get those planned well, writing the essay is MUCH EASIER and your mark ends up being MUCH BETTER!

Here is an easy essay topic for you about whether George did the right or the wrong thing in the end. You can choose to use this topic if you wish. Even if you don’t, READ THE INFORMATION in the document! Essay Information

This is also another easy and fun essay topic. Consider this one if you want to do something a little more creative.

Other topics:

There are at least two big events/stories in the beginning of the book that directly parallel what happens to Curley’s wife and Lennie at the end. There are other examples of foreshadowing as well. Discuss how the author uses foreshadowing in the book.

This book contains a few key marginalized characters. Discuss how society at the time treated the groups and people represented by Crooks, Curley’s wife, and Lennie (perhaps Candy, too.) Think about what makes those people different and how they’re treated as a result.

Loneliness is a major theme in the novel. Choose 3 characters and show how loneliness affects them. Use direct references to the book to illustrate why they’re lonely and how it impacts their lives.

Dreams/ambitions are also a theme of the book. There are a few characters who had big dreams and ambitions but ended up stuck on the ranch anyway. Discuss their dreams, why they ended up stuck on the ranch anyway, and how it’s impacted them. (hint: try George/Lennie, Curley’s wife, and Curley.)

Dress Code reactions

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Your job is to come up with a position on the topic of dress codes. There are many ways to discuss/debate the issue, but you need to narrow it down to one particular opinion/viewpoint that you can defend. We won’t be doing a proper debate of the issue (although the class discussion can get lively sometimes!), instead, we’ll be writing… an essay!

Exciting, huh?

First, look over the ideas that have been discussed:

Girls (2016)

Boys (2016)

And just for fun, check out what last year’s groups thought:

SchoolDressCodes_Girls (2015)

SchoolDressCodes_Boys (2015)

Your job is to figure out what you want to argue and start to think about how you’re going to prove/defend your position! You can work together and come to some agreement on a point/position or if you really want to, you can formulate your own, but everyone needs to have some sort of position and some way to defend/prove it.