AGENDA:
https://www.creativenonfiction.org/online-reading/essays
Evan Dawson Interview with Omar El Akkad:
https://www.wxxinews.org/programs/connections
Periods 3 and 4--Master class with Omar El Akkad
Read and discuss The War Prayer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRVod4PwQHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVYIRbmxHpc
https://www.antiwar.com/orig/twain1.html
I read the essay 'The Truth is I Never Left You' and let me just say this made me hate men even more. I was expecting a cute little story about someone comforting a little girl but no! This story caught me by surprise and I have to admit I saw it coming even though I tried to tell myself that I was just insane. This creative nonfiction story was honestly surprising and eye opening to me because stuff like this can happen so plainly and obviously without anyone knowing.
ReplyDeletedisclaimer i dont hate all men just the crazy ones
DeleteI read "Sensualiterature," an essay describing how writers don't really focus on describing little details. In the beginning, the author starts by describing little things then the format changes to a detailed story. I thought it was pleasant to read because I use a lot of description in my writing.
ReplyDeleteI read the essay entitled "The man on the tracks". The essay explains how a man is lost within himself and can't find his way. It was interesting to watch and it was really deep.
ReplyDeleteI read the essay "The Truth Is I Never Left You." It was a really powerful story that started off subtle but quickly turned sour. Its the story of a 7 year old girl fleeing her war-torn country on a plane trip to America with her family. However, on the plane, she is split up and ends up sitting alone with a man who becomes drunk and sexually assaults her. The author describes how the experience changed her-- it was the first time she felt apart from her mother and torn in half.
ReplyDeleteI read the essay "The Truth is I never Left You." The essay was at first , just describing a plane ride and I thought it was going to be something simple and pure. Get halfway through the story, it's the complete opposite. It was infuriating to me when the mother completely ignored Violetta crying and calling her. Another thing that bothered me was the fact that no one else heard what was going on. Like, how do you not hear a child screaming and crying? In the end of it all, the mother is a terrible person and the man needs to get the ultimate punishment which is, I can't stress this enough, electric chair.
ReplyDeleteI selected the essay, "I Survived the Blizzard of '79" by Beth Ann Fennelly. This piece was about a young woman and her family who survived a large and devastating blizzard. A blizzard that caused fatalities, separated, and held hostage various families. This story kept me so intrigued because Fennelly was incredible at providing in depth descriptions and details that made you feel like you were among the victims held captive by the storming snow. You could visualize and see everything. It was definitely a well written and amazing creative nonfiction story.
ReplyDelete"The Math of Marriage" by Elane Johnson is a humorous short essay analyzing the statistics behind marriage. The essay is written in second person,addressing the audience and pulling them into the action. The essay was entertaining because of the serious humor and the ridiculousness of the concept. The main character is constantly worrying about statistics and with each of her marriages she creates an excuse as to why its ending. The main reason her marriages are ending is not because of statistics but because of the couples actions, "your third affair".I found the ending of the essay to be very satisfying. The main character finally realizes, with her 5th marriage, that she doesn't need to worry about statistics and simply focus on her partner.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading "The Truth is I Never Left You" by V. Alexandra Lytton Regalado, though it was very well written and the themes were clear, I felt I was still unable to understand what really made something a creative essay, so I then read "The Same Story" by Suzanne Roberts. After reading these two essays I finally understood the quality that makes an essay creative nonfiction. Both the Humor essay and Nature allowed readers to completely understand what the writer felt, who they were, and what they wanted to say. These focus on the author and their point of view. While a creative non-fiction essay is on the topic, the moment. The theme is the important part, what the author want you to understand. While their opinion is there it does not define the theme or message. The essay is merely occurrences that is up to the interpretation of the reader.
ReplyDeleteI read "I've Taught Monsters" by Jessica Lahey. I wasn't sure where the piece was going at first, it seemed to be no different from a Sedaris or nature essay. However, Lahey wasted no time to establish what she was talking about. Lahey is recounting her experiences as a writing teacher in a rehab facility. She retells the struggle of helping kids who come from broken homes and pasts delve into writing.
ReplyDeleteWhile still feeling unsure about what to write and how to write creative non-fiction, this is a perfect example of telling a true story in a creative and engaging way.