The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
Key Ideas to be Explored
Perspective: How does the author's perspective impact the reader? Truth: Does a story have to be realistic to be true? Role of Women: What do women tell us about war? Narrative Structure: Characterization, the function of a novel, linear progression Setting: Home front versus front lines of war Empathy and humanism: In what ways could this war story be anybody's story? Contexts:
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Vietnam War: Social/Historical/Cultural background
With your partner, research an aspect of the Vietnam War. This particular war had a significant impact on American culture, and without this knowledge, it will be difficult to fully understand the texts we will be reading. Use Padlet to create an informative and interactive wall that sheds light on your particular question or aspect of the Vietnam War. You will have 1.5 blocks to work on your Padlet. It is due during class on Monday, 26 August.
Requirements:
Requirements:
- Include at least one form of media (mp3, youtube etc)
- Read articles and historical documents. In your own words, summarize the information on your Padlet.
- Cite all of your sources with a URL
- Include at least two documents (newspaper articles, websites, government documents, letters) that your classmates can read for more information
- Include at least two pictures
Access your Padlets below:
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Glossary of Military Terms Used in the Story:
AO: Area of Operation PFC.: Private First Class RTO: Radio and Telephone Operator PRC-25: Pronounced "prick 25" M & Ms: I am told that M & Ms were just that: candy given as a placebo for serious wounds where there was no hope. Psy Ops: Psychological Warfare (Ops = operations) R&R: Rest and Relaxation SOP: Standard Operating Procedure US KIA: United States Killed in Action USO: United Service Organization (Volunteer Entertainment and Morale) VC: Vietcong |
Newspaper Articles - Vietnam War
Download the newspaper documents on the "Paper 1: Comparative Commentary" section of the website before looking at the articles below. Become familiar with the terminology. Your tasks include:
- Briefly analyzing a newspaper article from the Vietnam Era
- Write your own brief newspaper article about an event from "How To Tell a True War Story"
"Local Anti-War Leaders Expect 7,000 From City in Washington"
"Vietnam Vet Paints Piece of his Past"
"Searching for the Truth About Vietnam"
Newspaper/Broadsheet
"How to Tell a True War Story" Identical task outlined in right column -->
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Newspaper - "How To Tell a True War Story"
Task: Write a 200-400 word newspaper article about an event that occurred in the story, "How to Tell a True War Story." Due: Monday, 9 September - Print and bring to class Requirements:
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Practice Further Oral Activity
*You will have one weekend and two class days to prepare. Presentations begin Wed., 18 September
Choose a key chapter in The Things They Carried.
After choosing the chapter upon which you will focus, select a passage of roughly a page in length. The ‘passage’ can be a composite of extracts from within the chapter rather than a single extract. |
Download the document below for full details on the project.
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Practice Essay
outline_for_tttc_in-class_essay.docx | |
File Size: | 67 kb |
File Type: | docx |