Embedded Files
Choose 1 of the following activities/prompts—
Write 250 words for each
WATCH A COMMENCEMENT SPEECH OR COLLEGE LECTURE
Watch one of the following speeches from John Green. Conduct a rhetorical analysis—minimally, this should be a CATS BURP analysis.
NOTES
In “The Notes” (279-93), Green shares his inspirations for the reviews and thanks the individuals who helped him, including a middle school teacher who complimented his writing (281). Read over the notes. Which notes surprised you? Which did you find interesting? Where do writers get their ideas?
HIDDEN REVIEWS
The Anthropocene Reviewed features 44 titled reviews as part of the regular text. The book also features three hidden reviews. Find and read the hidden reviews. Why do you think Green includes them? Is it for comedic effect or something more serious? What do the hidden reviews add or take away from the book as a whole? Why?
BATHROOM READER OR BOOK OF ESSAYS
Reviewer Samantha Penn says The Anthropocene Reviewed is not a “pick up and read project” but rather a “bathroom reader or coffee table book” where a reader should “jump around … and pick a topic that sound[s] interesting.” How is reading a book of essays different from reading a full-length book, like a novel or a biography? How did you approach reading this book?
HUMAN-CENTERED
The subtitle of the book is “Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.” Would you describe our planet as “human-centered”? Why, or why not?
NPR Article
Read this NPR article on The Anthropocene Reviewed. In it, the author says that this book is really about "how much there is to love in the world and why that love is worth the effort." Agree or disagree.
INTERVIEW
Read this TED interview with John Green. Discuss how his voice is the same or different from what you read in his book. Reference rhetorical strategies as well.
FAN PAGE
Check out this fan page for the book. Analyze what the concentration of dots says about the interest in this type of book. (Note: If there is a block on this page, you might have to do your research on this one at home.)
ARTICLE ANALYSIS
Read this article from New York Times: “John Green Is Not Writing in Code.” If it's behind a paywall, just ask me for a PDF. Then, review this review. Does this reviewer get it right?
THUMBS VS STARS
Many sites, such as YouTube, Google, and Facebook, have switched to a thumbs up or thumbs down feature rather than a five-star scale for users to rate content. What are the benefits and drawbacks of the five-star scale that Green uses for his reviews in The Anthropocene Reviewed and that are so common online and in publications? Discuss the different formats for reviews. Then, select a site that features reviewable content and analyze its rating feature. Does the site use stars, thumbs up/down, or something else? What is effective and ineffective about the format the site uses? Does the format limit or enhance the opportunity to leave written feedback, and why does this matter? Make an argument about the format your chosen site uses and why it works well or could be more effective.
A WAY BACK TOWARD HOPE
The Anthropocene era is often characterized as a doomsday scenario with little hope for recovery or adaptation. In a CNN interview, John Green explains he wrote The Anthropocene Reviewed as a “way to write myself back toward hope.” Similarly, some scientists and climate activists are trying to reframe the era as hopeful. Watch natural resource scientist Elena Bennett’s address to the World Economic Forum, “Identifying Successful Socio-Ecological Initiatives,” and visit the website she has helped to develop, Seeds of Good Anthropocenes. Use the site’s interactive map to choose one of the organizations identified as a seed. Do a little research on the organization and then answer the following questions.
What issue is this organization working on, and why is it a problem?
Who is affected by this problem?
What is the organization doing to resolve the problem?
What data does the organization provide to suggest the resolution efforts are working?
What’s your evaluation of their efforts? Will this organization make a difference?
Can we build a “good” Anthropocene? Are you hopeful? Why?
PODCAST VS BOOK
The Anthropocene Reviewed began as a podcast before Green turned it into a full-length book. Listen to one of the episodes, and then read the same section of the book. What are the differences? Why do you suppose some parts have been changed, even slightly? What are the complications in turning a podcast into a book?
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR THE WORLD
In a June 10, 2021 review of The Anthropocene Reviewed for The Michigan Daily, Meera S. Kumar claims that Green “writes with such unconditional love for the world.” What does she mean by this? Do you agree or disagree? Why? Point to an example of a review from the book to explore Kumar’s assessment.
BOOK OF REVIEWS VS MEMOIR
Why would John Green choose to create a book of reviews when he could have, instead, created a memoir that included the same topics? What is inherently different about a book like this compared to a memoir?
BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME
Check out this interactive article from the New York Times about how people rated the "best movie of all time." Then, discuss your findings and how ratings change over time.
REVIEW AND RATE YOUR LIFE
How would you rate your entire life? Or the sections of it you've lived so far? Read this New York Times article titled "Rate Your Life—If You Dare—While You've Got Time to Change It" by Vincent Burke. Then, write a copycat essay in which you evaluate chapters of your life the way the author does.
Page updated
Report abuse