Response to Course Materials #5

    I have missed many days of school the past month from being in Florida, at 7th grade camp, and the multiple snow/cold days. We finished up Hamlet, created our final exam projects, and are about to finish up Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. We spent months working on Hamlet, so it was sort of a relief when we finally finished. The final exam project was actually a really fun project. My group and I made a video combining characters from The American Dream, Hamlet, and Death of a Salesman. I enjoyed doing an in depth analysis of the characters and examining them in different settings and situations. We are about to wrap up R and G in the next week. This play did not impress me much. I actually did not enjoy reading it at all, it was so boring to me! We read a few articles which including thoughtful ideas that assisted me in seeing the play in a different way. I unfortunately missed the movie due to camp, which tends to help me pull everything together. A main topic of discussion in class has been whether Rosencrantz and Guildenstern falls under the Theater of the Absurd category, or not. It has also been interesting to compare and contrast Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. In the next few months I know I need to be working on my open prompt essays!

Open Prompt #2

2008. In a literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil for the main character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the work.

  In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Horatio serves as a foil to the main character Hamlet. These two characters contrast in the way they behave and how they go about interacting with others.

Horatio is balanced and calm compared to Hamlet. Throughout the whole play Hamlet is going through different stages of madness. Horatio assists Hamlet is staying placid. The only time we really learn about what Hamlet is thinking, is when he is conversing with Horatio.

Horatio and Hamlet interact differently with others. Hamlet constantly jumps to conclusions with people, making many assumptions. Horatio watches from the outside and then thoughtfully approaches situations. This is a contributing factor to Hamlet dying and Horatio living.

Hamlet and Horatio, from Hamlet serve as foils to one another. They operate in opposite ways.

Open Prompt #1

2008, Question #3

Response #1
  Overall the first student did a fine job at writing a response essay on “Function of a Foil” using the example of Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan . This student wrote a fantastic opening paragraph that truly accomplishes the idea of “thesis answers prompt.” Her paragraphs included a large amount of details that assisted me in understanding what the story was about, without actually reading it. I do feel like there was summary at times with all the information provided. The vivid language makes up for this at times as it never gets boring to read. The student does a great job at bringing their piece full circle. I think this writing is worthy of an 8. 

Response #2

    It took reading the whole essay to realize who Celie’s foil is, when it really should be clear in the very first paragraph. It would be deserve a much better score if the writer could have just made this major detail more clear. It is a well written piece but becomes unfocused at times and includes unneeded details such as when the student writes that Celie met Shug while singing karaoke at a bar. This does not add anything to story. 

Response #3
First off, this student did not make this a long enough essay to fully develop the message they are trying to convey. This starts right from the first paragraph when the writer does not clearly list the “many ways” Baba is a foil to Hassan. I understand that Baba and Hassan are extremely similar, but the examples to support that are simply not good enough. This essay could have used quotes or something more to back the statements up. The word choice was not strong enough and the repetition of examples occurred often. This essay needs some major revision to get it even close to an 8 or 9.