UNIT ONE: OBSERVING THE ORDINARY

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UNIT ONE OBSERVING THE ORDINARY
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Observing the ordinary is both the simplest skill
to start exercising as a writer and a practical
means of training ourselves to think and to write
analytically.
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Response 1Television Moon by Alfred
LeslieJot down your impressions of the
photograph using observation and inference.
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Assignment Read William Carlos Williams The
Great Figure
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The Great Figure the rainand lightsI saw the
figure 5in goldon a redfire truckmovingtense
unheededto gong clangssiren howlsand wheels
rumblingthrough the dark city
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Response 1What senses, in addition to sight,
does Williams draw on to describe the fire truck?
Point to specific words and phrases to verify
your reading. To what extent do you agree with
the claim that this poem is Williams' attempt to
create with words a compelling image of a fire
truck?
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Response 2Lets look at Charles Demuths
painting. What is your first impression of the
painting?
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The Figure 5 in Goldby Charles Demuth
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Response 3Compare the description of the fire
truck presented in the poem and in the painting.
Which representation do you find to be more
compelling and engaging? Why?
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The Figure 5 in Goldby Charles Demuth
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Assignment Read Larry Woiwodes Ode to an
Orange
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Response 1Woiwode takes great pleasure in
lingering on the special qualities of what most
of us would view as an altogether ordinary piece
of fruit. What impression of an orange does he
create? When, how, and why does he draw on each
of the five senses to create this overall effect?

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Woiwode was a child in the 1940s and the
1950s, the same time that labels such as Have
One were used to promote the fruit. Note the
label on the next slide
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Response 2If you consider the essay and the
crate label together, does the way you see each
one change? Why or why not?
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Response 3Here are other orange crate labels.
Note how the graphic elements help to focus
attention. Do the images appeal to a certain
audience? Why? How?
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Journal 2Description of a FruitChoose any
fruit and describe it in detail. Make your
audience see what you are writing about.
Appeal to all five senses two paragraph minimum.
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AssignmentRead Shoelaces by Nicholson Baker,
a narrative in which the author reappraises
everyday objects and rituals.
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Response 1As Bakers thoughts about shoelaces
unfold, what other aspects of ordinary experience
do his eye and mind seem to be drawn to? What
ties these thoughts together?
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Response 2Following Bakers lead, make a list
of your own top ten moments of life that are
remembered as advances. Prioritize the list.
What do the items have in common?
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Journal 3Choose one item on your list, and write
a response paper in which you concentrate your
attention on the details of an everyday ritual to
explain what you learned as you personalized an
already adult procedure.
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Observing Closely Jonathan Schell
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Look at the following photographs. Jot down what
you see
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Journal
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Assignment Answer Response Questions for
Letter from Ground Zero by Jonathan Schell.
Refer to handout.
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Observing Memories Carl T. Rowan
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Assignment Read Miss Besssie by Carl T.
Rowan. Refer to handout.
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Journal WriteIn a minimum of three fully
developed paragraphs and using Bessie as a
model, describe any teacher or coach who has
influenced you. You need to use vivid action
verbs, adjectives, and adverbs also, incorporate
at least two descriptive similes.
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Observing the Ordinary HandsTake into
consideration the following photographs
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Writing Assignment HandsSee handout entitled
Hands.Using the photograph of the hands you
have been given as a writing prompt, write an
essay in which you describe an everyday activity
that these hands might perform. Give your piece
a creative title.
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HomeworkVisit my website and go the Diane
Arbus Gallery or Richard Avedon Gallery for
Unit One. Find and print a photograph which
appeals to you, and bring it to class with you
tomorrow.
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Take into consideration the following portraits
by renowned photographers Diane Arbus and Richard
Avedon. Galleries can be found on my website.
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Writing Assignment Portraits Avedon and
ArbusSee handout entitled Portraits. Using
the photograph of the person you have been given
or printed on your own as a writing prompt, write
an essay in which you describe this person.
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Essay Assignment MAJOR GRADE!!!Choose any
writing response you created in Unit One, and
write a fully developed essay in which you truly
observe the ordinary. See handout entitled Unit
One Essay Requirements and Rubric.