SUNSETS

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Read the following quotation from Transcendentalist author Henry David Thoreau's speech titled "Walking" that was later revised and published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1862. Then, answer this question in a 250-word response: Based on Thoreau's description of sunsets, would he rate them as higher or lower than John Green?

   1. 1. • "Every sunset which I witness inspires me with the desire to go to a West as distant and as fair as that into which the sun goes down. He appears to migrate westward daily, and tempt us to follow him. He is the Great Western Pioneer whom the nations follow. We dream all night of those mountain-ridges in the horizon, though they may be of vapor only, which were last gilded by his rays. The island of Atlantis, and the islands and gardens of the Hesperides, a sort of terrestrial paradise, appear to have been the Great West of the ancients, enveloped in mystery and poetry. Who has not seen in imagination, when looking into the sunset sky, the gardens of the Hesperides, and the foundation of all those fables?"

WINTRY MIX

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Two choices:

   1. 1. • Answer this question in a 250-word response: What is either the absolute best or absolute worst type of weather you've ever been in, and how does that compare to "wintry mix"?

         • Or answer this question: What is John Green doing in this essay? How it it structured? What elements are different about this piece compared to others? Why did he make these choices?

VIRAL MENINGITIS

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Answer this question in a 250-word response: Near the end of “Viral Meningitis,” Green considers human beings’ ability to listen and empathize. He writes, “The challenge and responsibility of personhood, it seems to me, is to recognize personhood in others – to listen to others’ pain and take it seriously, even when you yourself cannot feel it” (203). Why do you think Green uses the words “challenge” and “responsibility” in this passage? How well do you think you listen to and empathize with others? How well do you think we empathize with others as a country? What are the benefits of listening and empathizing?

HALLEY'S COMET

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Answer this question in a 250-word response: College is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, similar to experiencing Halley’s Comet. Think about the roadmap you would like to take as you navigate college and your future, in general. Write about five things that are on your bucket list to complete while you are a student there.

CANADA GEESE

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Answer this question in a 250-word response: In “Canada Geese” (55-59), Green writes about geese as part nuisance/part wonder. What natural phenomena do you feel ambivalence toward? Why? What would you rate it?

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS

1. Read this essay in the book. As you read, take notes on how John Green lays out his claim, reasons, evidence, and explanation. Look at his rhetorical choices.

2. Listen to the podcast associated with this essay.

3. Answer this question in a 250-word response: Green begins “Kentucky Bluegrass” with a scenario of aliens asking why humans worship verdant lawns. This opener is a variation of the “tour guide for an alien” critical thinking exercise. Read over Green’s scenario (165) and discuss its effectiveness as an opener for the essay. Then try out the exercise for yourself by following the directions below (adapted from ThoughtCo):

   1. 1. • Your group is conducting a tour for aliens visiting earth to observe human life. As you ride along in a blimp, viewing the landscape below, you float over the Grove and Vaught-Hemingway stadium on game day. One of the aliens looks down and is confused. You explain that an SEC football game is in progress. The alien asks several important questions: What’s a game? What’s a team? Why are the teams in divisions? Why are there no female players? Why do people get so excited watching other people play games? Why can’t the people in the seats go on the field and join in? Why are people sitting in the Grove in tents? Try to answer the questions as fully as possible. Discuss the assumptions and values that underlie the answers. Why do humans value sports? Why do we support a certain team? Why do we insist on winners and losers? Why are we fascinated with elite athletes? Why do we tailgate?