@#%$! Blog

I am sure all of you have read books that have had at least a few choice cuss words in them. So, that brings up the question, "When is it acceptable to swear or use vulgar language in writing?" Would the crime novel you are reading be as effective if the criminal said, "No thank you, officer, I would not like to go to jail" instead of dropping a few f-bombs along with some other colorful insults? Does it depend on the targeted audience? Where do you draw the line? Is there a line? Explain under what circumstances you think swearing is necessary in writing.

Planning Makes All the Difference

What can you, personally, do to make sure you meet deadlines for reading/writing assignments?
When it is your responsibility to complete work on time, what measures can you take before the due date to make sure you are on track for timely completion?
Do you set steps that you want to have achieved by a certain date?
Do you try to complete the project a day or two ahead of time to give yourself last-minute recovery time if something goes wrong?
Or, if you do procrastinate and do not currently use good time management, what can you start doing to prepare yourself better for assignments in college and the workplace?

How do you keep it together?

You have recently been doing a lot of research for your US History papers. When reading for information like that, it is sometimes difficult to keep all of your information and sources straight. What tips or tricks do you use to help keep it all together? Note cards? Some sort of graphic organizer? KWL?

Do you judge a book by its cover?

What is your process when picking out a book to read? Do you choose strictly by recommendation? Do you stick with only books of a certain genre? Do you read the dust jacket blurb or the first or last few pages before selecting a book? Do you browse through the library and pick something out that "looks good"? Explain your criteria for picking out a book to read (for enjoyment--not talking about required reading here).

Setting You Up

How the author introduces the reader to the setting in a book is often overlooked, but it is one of the most important ways to draw the reader into a story. If the setting is not believable or integral to the story, the reader often loses interest or does not relate to the character as well. How does the author in the book you are currently reading introduce and describe the setting? Is it explained to you in detail from the character's perspective, gleaned from the character's observations or actions, presented to you by a narrator, or something completely different? Remember the setting includes not only the place, time, and surroundings, but also the emotional climate as well. Be specific and include your book title.

Making the Connection

Your reading is closely connected to your writing. The more you read, the better your understanding of how to write. When students write compositions in my classes, I often have them write a TPAPT or a RAFT for each piece prior to writing. The TPAPT is an acronym for a basic roadmap to writing consisting of: Topic, Purpose, Audience, Point of View, and Tone. RAFT is the same thing, just a different acronym (Role, Audience, Format, Topic). Connect this concept to your reading by doing a TPAPT or RAFT for the book you are currently reading (if you are far enough into it), or for the last book you have completed if you are not far enough into your current book. Be sure to include your book's title and author.

Good Catch . . . or . . . Catch and Release?

With the recent passing of author J.D. Salinger, I am reminded of the mixed reaction that his book The Catcher in the Rye has had with many of my students. It seems that anyone that has read that book either REALLY loved it or REALLY didn't. It is interesting to me how some books can bring such different reactions to their readers. I know we usually talk about books that you like, but let's switch things up a bit and talk about a book you really didn't like for some reason. Make sure you include why you think you didn't like it so much. Be truthful, but fair.