Culminating Activity: Synthesizing Universal Ideas and Connecting to Argument

Learning Targets:1.Recognize elements of transcendental

writing.2.Synthesize multiple texts in order to

establish universal truth statements 3.Apply universal truth statements to real-

world situations.4.Craft an argument stance.

“Self-Reliance”Ralph Waldo Emerson (237)

• How does Emerson define self-reliance?

• How does your definition of self-reliance mirror or challenge Emerson’s claim?

• Are most people self-reliant? Why or why not?

Pair-Share – 5 minutes

Essential QuestionsShould be able to answer at the end of class

How does an author convey a universal truth in a text?

What universal ideas found in transcendental writing are still prevalent today? How is transcendentalism relevant in modern times?

Texts Universal Ideas

“Nature” – Emerson◦ pp. 229-230

“Walden” – Thoreau◦ pp. 241-243

“Self-Reliance” – Emerson◦ pp. 237-238

NatureIndividualityTraditionOptimismSpiritualitySimplicityConformity

Notice how all threeexamples relate to UT

Think about how youcan turn your UT into a question that can have multiple answers/ perspectives.

Make reference to all three texts. If not possible, use at least two.

Choose examples that best reflect the UI.

Choose examples that relate to each other.

The message that can be applied outside the text(s).

What do these examples have incommon?

Do all your textual references contribute to the UT?

Think of this as a “discussion”question.

The question should be arguable;there could be multiple sides that one could take.

What position does your group take?

Provide concise reasons and examples for your answer.

I need to check your UT before you move

on to Question

20 minutes total

Think about “delegating”

Universal Truth Poster

Create a poster to share your ideas with your classmates.

Include:◦Your universal truth◦Your real-world question

◦A visual that represents your UT

Gallery WalkWednesday

Each group needs sticky notes

For each poster, use a sticky note to identify:

◦suggestions for improvement or clarification

◦what you liked or found interesting

◦an “answer” to their question

Essential QuestionsAnswer on an index card and turn in

How does an author convey a universal truth in a text?

What universal ideas found in transcendental writing are still prevalent today? How is transcendentalism relevant in modern times?

Last Child in the WoodsRichard Louv

Goals for Today:Unpack the prompt for “hints”.Read and annotate the rhetorical analysis prompt, Last Child

in the Woods.◦ Annotate for what?

Craft a rhetorical analysis thesis statement.◦ Topic◦ Claim◦ Directions◦ Qualifier◦ UT

Craft three topic sentences.Complete a rhetorical analysis graphic organizer for devices.

Unpack the prompt

The passage below is from Last Child in the Woods (2008) by Richard Louv. Read the passage carefully. Then, in a well-developed essay, analyze the rhetorical strategies Louv uses to develop his argument about the separation between people and nature. Support your analysis with specific references to the text.

AnnotationsRhetorical reading entails comprehending both the meaning andpurpose of an author’s argument and its intended audience(s)

Rhetorical Devices = PURPOSE and EFFECT

How do the devices impact the audience?◦ Who is the intended audience?

How do you know?

How do the devices contribute to the meaning or purpose of the passage?◦ His argument: what is he saying

about the separation between people and nature?

◦ Diction◦ Syntax

Rhetorical Questions Anaphora Coordination

◦ Anecdote◦ Point of view – shifts?◦ Examples◦ Details◦ Imagery

◦ Shift/contrast

Rhetorical TriangleAfter reading, be able to answer the following questions:◦Who is the intended audience?◦What is Louv’s message?◦How would you describe him as a speaker?

What is his tone toward your generation? What is his tone toward his generation? What is his tone toward the separation of people with the

natural world?

◦What two ideas are being contrasted?◦Where is the shift?

Who is the intended audience?

What is Louv’s message?

How would you describe him as a speaker?

What is his tone toward your generation?

What is his tone toward his generation?

What is his tone toward the separation of people with the natural world?

What two ideas are being contrasted?

Where is the shift?

Thesis StatementWrite on a clean piece of paperTopicClaim (shift/contrast + purpose)DirectionsQualifierUniversal Truth

Rearrange parts

Topic SentencesWrite below your thesis TopicClaimDirectionUT

Write one for each direction

Rhetorical Analysis Graphic Organizer

Will turn in along with:Thesis

Topic sentencesConclusion

One per partnership

Identify elements of rhetorical triangle first.Why? It will help you with discussion of effect!

WRITING CONCLUSIONS

THE PURPOSE OF A CONCLUSION

ISto bring closureto highlight the

universal idea in a “mini essay”

to offer a “human connection” to the essay

IS NOTto repeat,

paraphrase, or summarize the thesis

to present a new essay or new direction

THE PARTS OF A CONCLUSIONTopic sentence

◦Links the topic (think message – R.T.) to the universal idea

Connecting commentary◦Discusses the significance of the universal

idea in relation to literature, life, and/or the human condition

Clincher sentence◦Recapitulates the overall significance of

the universal idea in a thought-provoking statement, perhaps a witticism or aphorism

Ideas/Guiding Subjects for Commentary

Literary Movement text is from◦How text is reminiscent of movement

Compare/Contrast to other literary movements, texts, authors’ style

Personal connection/experience with Universal Truth

Explication of Universal Truth◦Manifestation in today’s society?

BUILDING A CONCLUSION . . .

Keep the thesis in mind . . .Converting the Mississippi River from a common river into a unique, “turbulent” entity, John M. Barry uses an admiring point of view, dynamic diction, and picturesque figurative language to communicate that the Mississippi River’s “complexity” and inability to “lie at rest” feed his fascination.

Topic Sentence

Barry’s essay affirms that the Mississippi River, with its tireless churning, “roiling,” coursing through America, is an intriguing, complex entity.

fascination = UI

Connecting CommentaryAdd the connecting commentary . . .Through his characterization of the river, Barry offers an almost romantic perspective of the Mississippi River, reminiscent of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ideas in Nature, by suggesting that a common natural form, such as a river, can so inspire wonder in the human soul. How does one experience this wonder? By becoming that “transparent eyeball” that melts into nature. This fascination, is not focused on the individual, however; like Charles Darwin, Barry finds the complexities of nature themselves admirable: Humans are not the only complex entities on earth, so are the natural forms in which they live.

connection #1

connection #2

Clincher Sentence

Add the clincher sentence . . .As a result, Barry, like Emerson and Darwin, discovers complexity in the deceptively simple, and suddenly, the ordinary Mississippi River becomes extraordinary.

juxtaposition

Author

Conclusion for Last Child in the Woods

With your partner, write a conclusion for the prompt you have been analyzing.

You should:◦Rephrase your UT in the topic sentence◦Elaborate on your UT by connecting it to an

“outside” idea: Connect to transcendental characteristics Connect to another “world”

You should not summarize your points in the conclusion.