Phase I: Vignette
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Learning Targets: Phase 1
Learning Target: I understand and can demonstrate the elements of a vignette.
- I can follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent narrative essay in which the development, organization, style, and voice are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
- I can choose precise language and make syntactical choices to reflect an understanding of how language functions in different contexts and enhance the reader's understanding of the text
- I can use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback
- I can speak audibly, and to the point, using conventions of language as appropriate to task, purpose and audience when presenting including fluent and clear articulation, strategically varying volume, pitch, and pace to consistently engage listeners.
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Phase 1: Vignette Assignment
Vignette: A brief evocative description, account, or episode. A small graceful literary sketch.
In an interview, Tim O’Brien said this about TTTC:
“I had written the book for adults. I had imagined an audience of literate people on subways and going to work and in their homes reading the book. But I certainly hadn’t imagined 14-year-old kids and 18-year-olds and those even in their early-20s reading the book and bringing such fervor to it, which comes from their own lives, really.”
Step 1: Your personal vignette
Assignment: Based on the title of the vignette, “The Things They Carried,” you are going to create your own vignette with either the exact same title or a version of it. ALL vignettes must be SCHOOL APPROPRIATE.
What are the things you carry? Start with something physical like your backpack or sports bag or whatever...then think about the mental or emotional connections that might connect with that item. Then, in a similar narrative style to O’Brien, you will write a narrative essay about what you carry. Think about how he uses words, sentences, paragraphs, and narration.
Step 2: Peer Review
Assignment: We are going to do an anonymous Writer’s Workshop. (<--Page 2-3)
Step 3: Recording
Finally, you will record your narrative. Your reading should be in a professional manner using varying volume, pitch, and pace to engage your listeners. We want to hear your PASSION for your own words!
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Logistics
Complete the Notes Sheet for your vignette on page 1 of this document
- 2-4 pages (less than 2 pages or more than 4 pages will not be accepted)
- Employ a title or a version of the title of the original vignette
- School appropriate topic
- Highly descriptive and focused; focus on theme and tone
- Employ 3+ style devices (besides imagery) that O'Brien uses in the original story
Schroll Sample
Zehner's Style Notes
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Rubric
You must print a copy of the rubric to turn into your teacher with your narrative essay.
(Recordings will be turned in via Google Classroom for Johnson/Cocos Classes!)
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