AP Language and Composition 2015-16

Ms. Leaphart

The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried Creative Piece

Prompt: The first story in Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things They Carried introduces readers to his main characters through long lists of the things they carry and related anecdotes. Write your own piece that mimics O’Brien’s chapter, particularly his use of lists and zeugma, to show readers something about who you are as a person based on the things you carry.

Requirements:

Write a 350-450 word response to the prompt

Include tangible things you carry, such as a backpack, gloves, or an i-phone. Think about the mundane items as well as the ones that stand out and make you unique.

Include intangibles (emotions, burdens, memories etc.) you carry, the way O’Brien says that “Kiowa also carried his grandmother’s distrust of the white man” (3) or “They carried their reputations” (21).

Try to categorize your items in a way that imitates O’Brien’s groupings: (necessity items, specialty items, mission-specific items, superstition-determined items etc.)

Remember the digressions into stories that O’Brien includes (Ted Lavender, Martha…). Try to break your “list” up by inserting anecdotes – memories/stories triggered by the things you list.

Employ repetition judiciously. Repeating some phrases is inevitable (and can be highly effective), but it’s also important to vary your sentences (refer to the story to see how O’Brien balances the two and achieves fluency).

Deadline:

Due Sunday, January 31 @ 11:59 pm.

Inadequate 1 / Developing 2 / Proficient 3 / Skilled 4 / Exceptional 5
Purpose: Does the writer clearly illustrate some aspect/facet of him/herself. Does the writer remain focused on illustratingthis particular quality throughout the piece?
Evidence: Does the writer offer enough examples, items, anecdotes and stories to support his/her purpose and illustrate his/her point about him/herself?
Rhetorical Strategies: Does the writerclearly and effectively mimic O’Brien’s use of rhetorical strategies (lists, zeugma, repetition , anecdotes etc. ) to support his/her purpose? Is the satirical nature of the essay clear in the writer’s use of rhetorical strategies?
Arrangement: Does the writer arrange the essay in an order that is both logical and strategic to supporting his/her main point? Does the writer successfully group or categories items that he/she carries as O’Brien does?
Language: Does the writer demonstrate control over the wide ranging elements of effective writing including sentence variety, vocabulary, punctuation, grammar, spelling etc?
Total (25 possible)

Thanks to Marianne Schadt, CHS