Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?

Write a 100 word persuasive paragraph in which you argue whether America is more of a melting pot or a salad bowl.  Make sure to include examples to support your argument.

Persuasive Paragraph - The Scarlet Letter

Write a 150 word persuasive paragraph in which you argue which of the four main characters from The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale, Hester, Pearl, or Chillingworth, suffers the most.

Keep the following things in mind while you write:

• Do NOT use first-person narration (ie. "I think Dimmesdale suffers...).  It is understood that you are expressing YOUR opinion.  It doesn't need to be stated.
• Provide evidence to support your opinion.
• Consider the arguments of those who would disagree with you.

Consider your audience (the rest of the students in the class and me) organize your paragraph in one of the following manners:

• Neutral or agreeable audience: weakest to strongest reasons
• Unknown audience: strongest to weakest, then restate strongest
• Hostile audience: strongest reasons, then weakness of opposing views, followed by remaining arguments

Puritanism in Modern America

What elements of Puritanism do you see in American society today?  Explain

Huck Finn Essay Prompts

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicts a conflict between a parent (Pap) and a son (Huck).  Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work.  Avoid plot summary

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, some characters who appear briefly have a significant presence.  Write an essay in which you show how such a character functions in the work.  You may wish to duscuss how the character affects action, theme, or the development of other characters.  Avoid plot summary.

Select a line, moment, or scene from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that you find especially memorable.  Write an essay in which you identify the line or the passage, explain its relationship to the book, and analyze the reasons for its effectiveness.

Huck Finn - Conflict Paragraph

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn depicts a conflict between Pap and Huck.  Write a paragraph in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work.

Huck Finn - 1st Impressions

Describe your first impressions of the character of Huck Finn.  What do you like about him?  What do you dislike?

Poe Video

View the following video on the life of Edgar Allan Poe by Monday, November 18:  Poe Mini-Biography