Mr. Baron’s E Block:

I have a son with a stomach ache that I need to go pick up.

For tonight:

    Read “Tried by Deadly Tornado, An Anchor of  Faith Holds” from Somebody Told Me
    Write one page (total) in your journal on these questions: What was Bragg’s purpose in the story? What choices did he make to achieve it?
    Write one paragraph that sums up your initial interview with your freshman. Write on a separate sheet of paper.

Here's a link to the winners in the feature writing category: 
http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Feature-Writing

I'm enjoying being able to read the print edition of the Post while here in DC. This weekend's paper have a couple of stories that you might find interesting: 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301940.html?hpid=topnews (a trend story about college admissions; you guys are sort of interested in college admissions, right?)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111304095.html?hpid=dynamiclead The Post's Style section has traditionally been a hotbed of outstanding feature writing. Here's a profile from this morning's paper. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/13/AR2009111301573.html

Anthony Kennedy, First Amendment defender, won't let student journalists write down what he says without prior review: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/us/11dalton.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1257941513-2HUb0QVKBTJFKjYlBdYHXA

1) Find a non-fiction story that you like. 
2) Read said story. 
3) As a comment on this message, post a) a link to the story; b) an explanation of why you liked it; c) a comparison to the narrative non-fiction we read last week -- Mrs. Kelly, Dying for Love, 50 Floors Up. Do you see any similar techniques? Different? Anything that reminds you of fiction? 

For Jenny, after the "Dying For Love" story. Just found this online and thought you might be interested: 
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971214&slug=257809

As a comment on this message, pick two of the annotations that Franklin added and respond to them. What's interesting about the annotation to you? Surprising? What do you learn from it? How could it apply to your own writing? (you don't need to respond to each of those questions, obviously)

Right around Thanksgiving we'll be starting with our next book, Somebody Told Me, by Rick Bragg. Then, Three weeks or so after that, The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup by Susan Orlean. Need you to go out and get copies of those books ASAP. Let me know if you're having any troubles.

1) Read “Mrs. Kelly’s Monster”; on your copy, mark any specific techniques you see him using -- where does he change rungs on the ladder of abstraction? Where does he tell the story in chronlogical order, and where does he flash back/forward? Does the tone change? How does he build suspense? 
 2) Read one other feature of your choice. Print it out and mark: any changes in tone, pacing, structure, or other storytelling technique. Bring your marked up copy to class Monday.