WWI Email Follow up
Maya Angelou's "Momma's Encounter," published in 1970
Who is the audience?
What is the rhetorical situation? Historical context: 1930s rural Stamps Arkansas/ publication context- 1970
Rhetorical Situation (WOW page 32)
-an appreciation of the social circumstances that call rhetorical events into being and that orchestrate the course of those events
-each act of communication is anything but self-contained
-each communication is a response to other communications and other social practices
-communications, and social practices more generally, are considered to reflect the attitudes and values of the communities that sustain them
Describe the tone and style
How is it different than "Road Trip"? Why is it different?
Understanding the Structure of the Narrative
Review: Structure of "Road Trip"
All narratives have similar components; they may be arranged differently.
Identify the following areas of the narrative:
I. Introduction: 2 main threads/ideas
Paragraph 1
What are the two themes that are presented in the intro?
II. Background information (the back story to the coming event)
What paragraphs provide background information?
What purpose do these paragraphs serve?
Think about the 2 themes/threads that were developed in the intro. How are these background paragraphs organized to fit with these 2 themes?
Are these paragraphs necessary to the narrative? Why doesn't Angelou just start with the main event?
III. The main event of the narrative
In what paragraph does the main event begin?
In that paragraph, how does Angelou tie the main event with the background paragraphs?
How does she use foreshadowing here?
IV. Rising Action
Which paragraphs develop the rising action of the narrative?
How does this action connect with the 2 themes offered in the beginning?
What is Angelou thinking/what emotions is she experiencing? Why can't Angelou verbalize her thoughts to her grandmother?
In paragraph 22, Angelou writes, "...but I knew I was as clearly imprisoned behind the scene as the actors outside were confined to their roles." What does Angelou mean here? Critical analysis. (using reflection throughout the narrative vs. only including it at the end)
IV. Climax
V. Falling Action
Significance of washing face and raking the yard
VI. Conclusion
no reflection
just ends with final action
Essay I Instructions/Review of narrative conventions
Repetition/Thematic threads
Sensory Description
Language
Artistic Appeals
How might you use this sample to develop your own narrative topic?
Essay I: Narrative
Choosing a Topic (pg. 103)
- What do you want to look for in a topic that you choose?
- What must you keep in mind when choosing a topic?
- What topics may you want to avoid?
Understanding Constraint (pg. 108)
Choosing your topic to fit the scope of the assignment (2-4 pages)
What does this mean?
The Rhetorical Situation (pg. 105)
Your goal is to shape your writing so that your readers understand your message
In order to do so, you have to take the rhetorical situation into consideration
present your narrative in a way that positions you in a larger conversation--it's personal--it's your story, but it needs a purpose that your audience can grasp
Often, narratives reflect a general theme in a personal way
First, you must understand your audience (Questions on page 105)
Questions about your purpose (pg. 106)
Choose your genre (pg. 106)
Brainstorm Topics/Prompts
general ideas that will work well for narratives
Important
Objects---link to a specific event
Places--link to a specific event
Routine experiences that shed new light on the world around you
Freewrite:
I never realized ___________ until I experienced ________________.
I never realized that (a daily routine or task) revealed so much about _______________.
Assignment for Thursday:
Invention Exercise 1
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.