- soldier
- throughout
- receive
- Vietnam War
- compared
- opinion
- their/they're/there
- know/no
- upon
- thought
- government
- ashamed
- a lot
Friday, March 18, 2011
Spelling Demons
These are words that were commonly misspelled or used incorrectly by students:
SOME ESSAY POINTERS
POINTS TO TAKE ON BOARD WHEN WRITING ESSAYS FOR DEAR AMERICA
(1) In the text Dear America – Letters Home From Vietnam, the soldiers are the writers and authors of the letters. There is no one author/writer. Therefore, as you can’t use the name of an author/writer refer to the editor of the text, Bernard Edelman, particularly in the introduction of many essays. He is the man who collected, sorted and chose the letters to be used in the text.
For example –
The text Dear America edited by Bernard Edelman is a compilation of letters from serving American soldiers in Vietnam during their tour of duty.
In the text Dear America – Letters Home From Vietnam, edited by Bernard Edelman, he has compiled hundreds of letters written by soldiers serving in Vietnam to family and friends home in America.
In an essay, once you have used the full name of the author of a text, or in this case the editor, for a first time, (as in the introduction above); you can then just refer to their surname if you use their name again in the essay.
For example –
Through the compilation of letters written by soldiers in Vietnam home to their family and friends in America, Edelman aimed to bring an understanding of the war and its effects on those who served to life for the readers of the text.
In the introduction to essays on this text you need to weave in the title and editor of the text.
(2) Underline or place ‘……’ around the title of the text. Be consistent in your choice.
(3) Refer to individual letters in the text through both (A) direct quotes and (B) indirect examples.
For example –
(A) The letters home were important to the soldiers. ‘Mom, I appreciate all of your letters,’ Rod Chastant wrote. ‘…For a while as I read your letters I am a normal person. I’m not killing people, or worried about being killed.’
The conditions the soldiers experienced in the jungles of Vietnam were alien to them. As one soldier related home in his letter, ‘we are all scared’. Another soldier recorded of his first experience in combat, ‘This was my first experience of war and it was ugly’.
(B) In a letter home to his wife Linda, Fred Downs expressed his feelings about what he felt about the role he was playing in Vietnam. He….
(4) When appropriate and the topic allows:
Recognise the thematic nature of the chapters. (The letters in each chapter have been included because they all make some reference to or are concerned with different elements of the soldiers’ tour of duty…)
(5) Make reference to the photographs used at the start of the chapters and what they add to the impact of the text.
(6) There is a change of tone in the chapters throughout the text.
For example –
• At the start it was new, exciting to a point
• Shift to combat zone highlights the idea that war is hell
• Later there is disillusionment about the tasks that were asked to be done and some begin to question the reasons for being there
(7) Don’t forget the biographical details that are given at the end of most letters. This is part of the way the text has been structured. The inclusion of these details is aimed at adding to the emotional impact on the reader. This is particularly the case when it is discovered that the letter writer was killed in action.
(1) In the text Dear America – Letters Home From Vietnam, the soldiers are the writers and authors of the letters. There is no one author/writer. Therefore, as you can’t use the name of an author/writer refer to the editor of the text, Bernard Edelman, particularly in the introduction of many essays. He is the man who collected, sorted and chose the letters to be used in the text.
For example –
The text Dear America edited by Bernard Edelman is a compilation of letters from serving American soldiers in Vietnam during their tour of duty.
In the text Dear America – Letters Home From Vietnam, edited by Bernard Edelman, he has compiled hundreds of letters written by soldiers serving in Vietnam to family and friends home in America.
In an essay, once you have used the full name of the author of a text, or in this case the editor, for a first time, (as in the introduction above); you can then just refer to their surname if you use their name again in the essay.
For example –
Through the compilation of letters written by soldiers in Vietnam home to their family and friends in America, Edelman aimed to bring an understanding of the war and its effects on those who served to life for the readers of the text.
In the introduction to essays on this text you need to weave in the title and editor of the text.
(2) Underline or place ‘……’ around the title of the text. Be consistent in your choice.
(3) Refer to individual letters in the text through both (A) direct quotes and (B) indirect examples.
For example –
(A) The letters home were important to the soldiers. ‘Mom, I appreciate all of your letters,’ Rod Chastant wrote. ‘…For a while as I read your letters I am a normal person. I’m not killing people, or worried about being killed.’
The conditions the soldiers experienced in the jungles of Vietnam were alien to them. As one soldier related home in his letter, ‘we are all scared’. Another soldier recorded of his first experience in combat, ‘This was my first experience of war and it was ugly’.
(B) In a letter home to his wife Linda, Fred Downs expressed his feelings about what he felt about the role he was playing in Vietnam. He….
(4) When appropriate and the topic allows:
Recognise the thematic nature of the chapters. (The letters in each chapter have been included because they all make some reference to or are concerned with different elements of the soldiers’ tour of duty…)
(5) Make reference to the photographs used at the start of the chapters and what they add to the impact of the text.
(6) There is a change of tone in the chapters throughout the text.
For example –
• At the start it was new, exciting to a point
• Shift to combat zone highlights the idea that war is hell
• Later there is disillusionment about the tasks that were asked to be done and some begin to question the reasons for being there
(7) Don’t forget the biographical details that are given at the end of most letters. This is part of the way the text has been structured. The inclusion of these details is aimed at adding to the emotional impact on the reader. This is particularly the case when it is discovered that the letter writer was killed in action.
Some Practice SAC Feedback
- Plan: It can stop essays from becoming unwieldy. It can also help to build content.
2. What are four key supporting ideas that you can use in response to your topic question? These will support your contention, they will explain your position in regards to the question. What evidence will you provide to prove your points? Quotes/incidents. You can write your main points into short sentences that you can use as topic sentences for each of your main paragraphs.
- Ask 'yes, but' or 'no, but' to your initial response to the essay question to ensure you consider different interpretations of the text in your response. Remember, you must show that 'you have an understanding of ways in which the text is open to different interpretations'.
- Refer to the author/editor of the text throughout your essay. This will assist you in incorporating metalanguage into your response. It will force you to talk about the way the text works and how it effects the reader.
- This is a 'text response'. Base discussion around the text, don't be general. 'Explore the topic from the basis of the text'.
- Spell numbers up to one hundred.
- Use single quotation marks.
- Incorporate all quotes into sentences.
- Do not abbreviate in essays or use texting language. It is a formal piece of writing.
- Use upper and lower case letters accurately.
- Use apostrophes accurately, especially when when using them to indicate possession in nouns.
WRITING YOUR YEXT RESPONSE
When you set about to write your text response to Dear America it is important to consider your approach. Taking a step-by-step approach ensures you cover every aspect you need to think about to do your best. When you break the process of writing a text response down, there are four key steps:
1. Unpack the topic
2. Plan
3. Write
4. Review and edit
The initial steps are crucial to setting yourself up to write well on an essay topic. So, what do you need to consider at these stages?
1. Unpacking the topic: What are you being asked to write about? Make sure you fully understand what words of the topic mean. What are the key aspects of the topic? Highlight them. NB: You must answer all parts of the question. What will your contention be? Remember: you do not have to fully agree with the topic.
2. Plan/Brainstorm: Focuses on the text itself. What ideas do you have about the text that might be relevant to the topic. What characters and events should you discuss? Which themes and values will you consider in your discussion? How will you incorporate metalanguage into the essay?
Use the some of the essay questions at your disposal to practise these two steps. Being able to unpack and plan for an essay topic quickly is vital when you face the exam. Extend yourself by also practising writing the introduction and first paragraphs to an essay. Being able to do these things well puts you in a confident position to develop essays that follow through in directly responding to the topic/question.
1. Unpack the topic
2. Plan
3. Write
4. Review and edit
The initial steps are crucial to setting yourself up to write well on an essay topic. So, what do you need to consider at these stages?
1. Unpacking the topic: What are you being asked to write about? Make sure you fully understand what words of the topic mean. What are the key aspects of the topic? Highlight them. NB: You must answer all parts of the question. What will your contention be? Remember: you do not have to fully agree with the topic.
2. Plan/Brainstorm: Focuses on the text itself. What ideas do you have about the text that might be relevant to the topic. What characters and events should you discuss? Which themes and values will you consider in your discussion? How will you incorporate metalanguage into the essay?
Use the some of the essay questions at your disposal to practise these two steps. Being able to unpack and plan for an essay topic quickly is vital when you face the exam. Extend yourself by also practising writing the introduction and first paragraphs to an essay. Being able to do these things well puts you in a confident position to develop essays that follow through in directly responding to the topic/question.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
SIMPLE, COMPOUND AND COMPLEX SENTENCES
A common weakness in writing is the lack of varied sentences. Becoming aware of three general types of sentences--simple, compound, and complex--can help you vary the sentences in your writing.
To learn more about these sentence types VISIT THE SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION and click on any of the images presented in this post.
Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of the sentences into compound sentences.
Tip: If you rely heavily on compound sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of them into complex sentences
To learn more about these sentence types VISIT THE SOURCE FOR THIS INFORMATION and click on any of the images presented in this post.
Tip: If you use many simple sentences in an essay, you should consider revising some of the sentences into compound sentences.
NB: The most effective writing uses a variety of the sentence types.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Interactive Essay Planning Tool
Some of you might find using this interactive essay map tool helps you practise planning out essays quickly and effectively. It sets you up to create a visual in your mind of the things you need to think about for each part of your essay.
Visit http://www.evidencechart.com/ and begin analysing our text using this tool. It forces you to dissect the topic and consider all elements of the essay question closely.
- Remember to always include quotes and examples to support your ideas in the supporting details section of your plan.
- Our aim in the exam and SAC is to write four body paragraphs.
- You can plan for a number of different topics using this tool and print them off to review in the lead up to the exam.
Visit http://www.evidencechart.com/ and begin analysing our text using this tool. It forces you to dissect the topic and consider all elements of the essay question closely.
- Remember to always include quotes and examples to support your ideas in the supporting details section of your plan.
- Our aim in the exam and SAC is to write four body paragraphs.
- You can plan for a number of different topics using this tool and print them off to review in the lead up to the exam.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Fred Downs - Quotes
‘A man can’t feel safe anywhere in this country.'
‘We live in mud and rain’
‘... One wonders how much the human body can stand’
‘Everyone in the field wants the million-dollar wound so they can be sent back to the states’
‘It was a pretty exciting day’
‘Right now I’m pretending that I’m talking to you’
By Jordan
‘We live in mud and rain’
‘... One wonders how much the human body can stand’
‘Everyone in the field wants the million-dollar wound so they can be sent back to the states’
‘It was a pretty exciting day’
‘Right now I’m pretending that I’m talking to you’
By Jordan
RODNEY CHASTANT Quotes
-‘My chances of coming away unhurt improve every month because I know so much more than I did as a beginner.’ Pg. 136
-‘The group of men that do this job must have a leader with a conscience.’ Pg 136
-‘We should never have committed ourselves to this goal, but now that we have, what should we do?’ Pg. 210
-‘Mom, I appreciate all your letters.’ Pg. 211
-‘I have a commitment to the men who have gone before me, American men that made the sacrifices...’ Pg. 211
By Laura
-‘The group of men that do this job must have a leader with a conscience.’ Pg 136
-‘We should never have committed ourselves to this goal, but now that we have, what should we do?’ Pg. 210
-‘Mom, I appreciate all your letters.’ Pg. 211
-‘I have a commitment to the men who have gone before me, American men that made the sacrifices...’ Pg. 211
By Laura
Rob Riggan very helpful quotes
‘The longer I am here, the more my hatred of war grows.’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 217
‘And I can go back feeling that I’ve both seen a war, and not been in one’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 166
‘The look on his face mirrored all the frustration and failures of foreign intervention’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 115
‘We seem still cursed by the generalized inability to view these whom we “came to save” as equals.’ –Rob Riggan, Pg 115
‘... Can only feel the human loss and terror which can never be measured in pretty medals or sweet, patriotic speeches.’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 217
By Michael
‘And I can go back feeling that I’ve both seen a war, and not been in one’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 166
‘The look on his face mirrored all the frustration and failures of foreign intervention’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 115
‘We seem still cursed by the generalized inability to view these whom we “came to save” as equals.’ –Rob Riggan, Pg 115
‘... Can only feel the human loss and terror which can never be measured in pretty medals or sweet, patriotic speeches.’ – Rob Riggan, Pg 217
By Michael
General Quotes
“We stalked those men as prey.” - James McLeory, page 65.
“Leaves you deaf for the rest of your life but just how long will that be?” - George T. Coleman, page 78.
“Vietnam has my feelings on a seesaw.” - George Williams, page 105.
“Well, I’ve had my baptism by fire, and it’s changed my I think.” - Robert C. “Mike” Ransom, Jr., page 180.
“It’s great to know your family’s safe, living in a secure country; a country made secure by thousands upon thousands of men who have died for that country.” - Rodney R. Chastant, page 211.
“We are the ones you sent to fight a war you didn’t know a thing about.” - William Ehrhart, page 233.
“Please pray for me, Debby.” - Alan Brundo, page 265.
“There are a lot of mixed emotions.” - John Hagmann, page 274.
“Leaves you deaf for the rest of your life but just how long will that be?” - George T. Coleman, page 78.
“Vietnam has my feelings on a seesaw.” - George Williams, page 105.
“Well, I’ve had my baptism by fire, and it’s changed my I think.” - Robert C. “Mike” Ransom, Jr., page 180.
“It’s great to know your family’s safe, living in a secure country; a country made secure by thousands upon thousands of men who have died for that country.” - Rodney R. Chastant, page 211.
“We are the ones you sent to fight a war you didn’t know a thing about.” - William Ehrhart, page 233.
“Please pray for me, Debby.” - Alan Brundo, page 265.
“There are a lot of mixed emotions.” - John Hagmann, page 274.
Rodney Chastant Quotes
- ‘I choose Vietnam’ (Page 137)
- ‘Here there is a job to be done’ (Page 136)
- ‘One of the staggering facts is that most men here believe we will not win the war’ (Page 209)
- ‘We should have never committed ourselves to this goal, but now that we have, what should we do?’ (Page 210)
- ‘I was proud to be an American, proud to be a Marine, proud to be fighting in Asia’ (Page 211)
Rob Riggan Quotes
- ‘The longer I am here, the more my hatred of war grows.’
- ‘And I can go back feeling that I’ve both seen a war, and not been in one’
- ‘The look on his face mirrored all the frustration and failures of foreign intervention’
- ‘We seem still cursed by the generalized inability to view these whom we “came to save” as equals.’
- ‘... Can only feel the human loss and terror which can never be measured in pretty medals or sweet, patriotic speeches.’
'Sandy' Kempner
'We are here because we think this is where we must fight to stop communist threat. But not having gained momentum in conquering this country could bowl us out of Asia altogether and perhaps out of existence.' (Page 207)
'But we were given no choice and we must fight where the confrontation is, despite its cost, infeasibility, and possibility illegality, and physical and mental toll upon the participants’. (Page 207)
'By day we treat their ills and fix up their children and deliver their babies; by night, if we receive fire from the general direction of their hamlet, fire generally will reach them, albeit not intentionally.' (Page 114)
'We have two hands, both of which know what the other is doing but does the opposite anyway.' (Page 114)
'They finally left me sicker than before and with a medal I never wanted anyway.' (Page 183)
By Zoe and Kim
'But we were given no choice and we must fight where the confrontation is, despite its cost, infeasibility, and possibility illegality, and physical and mental toll upon the participants’. (Page 207)
'By day we treat their ills and fix up their children and deliver their babies; by night, if we receive fire from the general direction of their hamlet, fire generally will reach them, albeit not intentionally.' (Page 114)
'We have two hands, both of which know what the other is doing but does the opposite anyway.' (Page 114)
'They finally left me sicker than before and with a medal I never wanted anyway.' (Page 183)
By Zoe and Kim
Mation Lee "Sandy" Kempner
- It is a country of thorns and cuts, of guns and marauding, of little hope failure. Page 138
- ....flimsy that legality is, such is the peg upon which we hang our hat, and it is a lot stronger than many we have hung it on before. Page 207
- Yet in the midst of it al, a beautiful thought, gesture, and even person can arise among it waving bravely at the death that pours down upon it. Page 138
- What was the use of it living and being a beauty among the beasts, if it must, in the end, die because of them, and with them? Page 138
Fred Downs Quotes
- “A man can’t feel safe anywhere in this whole country” (Pg.70)
- “We live in mud and rain” (Pg.60)
- “..One wonders how much the human body can stand” (Pg.61)
- “Everyone in field wants the million-dollar wound so they can be sent back to the states” (Pg.69)
- “At night the mosquito’s plaque me while I’m lying on the ground with my poncho wrapped around me. The rain drips on me until I go to sleep from exhaustion” (Pg. 60)
- “Right now I’m pretending that I’m talking to you” (pg.60)
- “My RTO ... was crying ... letters ... from ... his wife ... said she didn't whether he came back or not. It is bad enough over here. But when your wife writes shit like that it completely destroys a man”. (p.171)
- “We found ... where the [VC] had been ... and - get this - at one of the tables, six hands of cards”. (p.69)
- “I told my men ... the first ... to kill a dink ... I would buy them a bottle of whiskey. They can't wait to kill one of them now”. (p.70)
- “They pulled a few stiches out of my hind end yesterday, so only have about a thousand to go” (Pg.187)
GENERAL QUOTES
- “Myself, God’s help, I’ll be able to walk in 8 to 12 months.” - Rodney Baldra Page 209
- “I have never felt more human in my life, nor more part of a sea fumbling mutants born of god’s.” - Rob Riggan Page 166
- “It is not nice to find out that you cant always be a hero.” - Rob Riggan Page 166
- “It is something that I will always remember...” - Peter Elliot Page 254
- “I carry all your letters in the top of my helmet, and I was able to scrounge up an envelope.” - John R. Price Page 281
- “I would rather to have you for 21 years, and all the pain that goes with losing you, than never having you at all.” - Mrs. Eleanor Wimbish (Mom) Page 300
- “I don’t think it will be too terribly long before we are together again.” - Richard Van De Geer Page 294
- “One minute you’re picknicking, the next minute preparing for a possible attack.” - Robert Salerni Page 156
Monday, January 31, 2011
youtube flix on viet war
Phot_compilation and song http://www.battlesofwar.com/media/the_hell_of_the_vietnam_war.php B52 http://www.battlesofwar.com/media/b-52_bombing_footage_vietnam.php the things they carried http://www.battlesofwar.com/media/the_things_they_carried.php
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)