Life of Pi blog task--due February 26

Actor Irrfan Khan as the adult Pi Patel in the movie.

Invent your own way of showing me and your classmates you are studying the novel with diligence and erudition. Type 300+ words (or, without typing a word, do its creative equivalent somehow; your work need not be typed here on this class blog).

Yann Martel In-Class Task February 24

1. Search for a link about Yann Martel. Look for a site

others might bypass. Read the content carefully.

2. Paste the link here and write a 150+ words summary of the main ideas the link offers.

3. Write a poignant, provocative, thorough question you would like Martel to answer when we are privileged to Skype with him next month on a date TBD during an eighth period--thanks to Erin Buse who assertively tracked him down and asked with great tact and tactic!

Life of Pi Blog Task--due March 6

Martel has become famous, wealthy, honored, admired, and respected, but has he composed a "classic" that must be "canonized" by the definition below? Write 300+ words while citing specific sections of the definition below.

“an author who has enriched the human mind, increased its treasure, and caused it to advance a step; who has discovered some moral and not equivocal truth, or revealed some eternal passion in that heart where all seemed known and discovered; who has expressed his thought, observation, or invention, in no matter what form, only provided it be broad and great, refined and sensible, sane and beautiful in itself; who has spoken to all in his own peculiar style, a style which is found to be also that of the whole world, a style new without neologism, new and old, easily contemporary with all time.”

Martel's Mastery--due February 13

How is this 93-page exposition particularly masterful?  Write 300+ words about the ways Martel develops Pi's character, both covertly and overtly, before the real action actually starts (the ship sinks).  In doing so, you must use two Tuesday terms and two literary criticism/theory terms (make these four terms bold by typing them in between these characters: < b >bold </ b >).

Thoughts Thursday--due February 28

Find a negative review of Life of Pi (the novel OR film; or, the critique could involve Moacyr Scliar or Beatrice & Virgil) to (dis)agree with in 300+ words.  Name the reviewer, summarize the review's main points (at least three), then assert yourself.

W.11-12.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

• W.11-12.1a Introduce precise, knowledgeable claim(s), establish the significance of the claim(s), distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and create an organization that logically sequences claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
• W.11-12.1b Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.
• W.11-12.1c Use words, phrases, and clauses as well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
• W.11-12.1d Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
• W.11-12.1e Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

W.11-12.2b Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.

W.11-12.2c Use appropriate and varied transitions and syntax to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts.

W.11-12.2d Use precise language, domain-specific vocabulary, and techniques such as metaphor, simile, and analogy to manage the complexity of the topic.

W.11-12.2e Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.

W.11-12.2f Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).

W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Thoughts Thursday--due February 21

Search YouTube for a video in which Yann Martel speaks.  Attempt to find a different video than your classmates (though not all 80 of you will be matched with your "own video").  Briefly summarize what he says, then react in 300+ words to Martel's ideas.  Who is interviewing him?  What is the context of this video?  What topics is he discussing?  What sort of man is he?  What seem to be his goals with/for his art?

Thoughts TUESDAY--due February 12

What three concepts we discussed, whether briefly or at length, struck you as particularly fascinating and relevant?  (Make a "top three" list.) Type 300+ words extending our discussion(s) to your life experiences and the world's vastness. 

W.11-12.10 Write routinely over shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

7th Period Blog Task--due Thursday, May 5

Pi survives much peril. So do you, each day. What is your survival story? What tries to defeat you? What do you survive? What endangers you? Type 227+ words to illustrate.

Who/What is your "Richard Parker"?--due Tuesday, April 12

Pi Patel stuck with Richard Parker is a fascinating analogy to the human condition.

Pi = humans and humanity

Richard Parker = death, fear, danger, mortality, knowledge, ignorance, obstacles, suffering, mistreatment, motivation, beauty, awesomeness, power-- which are all part of the HUMAN CONDITION. We are stuck with many obstacles, but we live on. We have enormous potential and power, too.

In your life, what specifically is your "Richard Parker"? Write 314+ of your own words answering this question.

Compliment the Novel--due Tuesday, April 5

Compliment a specific feature or element (symbols, word choice, pacing, exposition, characterization, conflict, chapter length, narrative structure...or choose your own from a literature website) of Yann Martel's great novel Life of Pi. Show at least three specific examples of Martel's use of your selected feature or element. Quote each of your three examples. Write 314+ of your own words.

Author/Artist Email Replies Spring 2010

The comments here are the email replies we received from Yann Martel, Tomislav Torjanac, Andrea Offermann, and Tomer Hanuka.

1-4: 1st Hour
5-8: 3rd Hour
9-12: 5th Hour
13-16: 6th Hour
17-20: 7th Hour

Sculpture Poetry

Type your poems here. I'd be thrilled to have you share them with the world. First you traced with your eyes--then with your hands. Then you moved and bellowed noises, some bizarre, others modest. The result was a collection of fantastic poetry.

This is a picture of one of my favorite poets, T.S. Eliot. My son's middle name is a tribute to Eliot, whose "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is utterly brilliant.

Tomer Hanuka Artist Interaction

These are excellent questions my students posed to Tomer Hanuka, accomplished Israeli artist. Hanuka responded with insights and thoughtfulness that will inform our writings.

My Favorite; How About Yours?

Life of Pi is my favorite book because it has math, philosophy, religion, spirituality (different from religion), science, nature, ethics, adventure, and everything else anyone could look for in a novel. I found and read this book when I was hungry. I was hungry for the steaks I sold and for knowledge I sought. I remember the summer when I was working as a butcher (at Hy-Vee) and a book-seller (at Barnes and Noble). I'd combine the two jobs to work 15 hours most days, including weekends, trying to get a good start paying my students loans. It was a maddening pace, during which I actually spent a lot of my wages on the two products I peddled: steaks and books. One book that caught my eye had a tiger and a boy on a boat together. It was eye-level on the shelf in the bookstore's new release and staff recommendations section. Once I owned it, I couldn't sleep because my mind was so activated. This is my favorite. What's yours?

(And by the way, Martel is the ultimate "thought criminal"--he sends various books to political leaders to remind them they have the power to influence and create change.)

Life of Pi Test 4/16/09

Last year, the seniors created the test you will take this year. Here it is, almost exactly as it will appear in class.

Each of you will be assigned one chapter of Life of Pi. There are exactly 100 chapters. For your assigned chapter, you must create one content-based question/prompt (may be multiple-choice or true/false). For your assigned chapter, you must also create one essay question/prompt. In mid-May, you will take the Life of Pi test, which will have precisely 100 content-based questions and an essay question that you will select. Post your two questions/prompts here so you and your classmates can study. See my examples below.

Example of a content-base question/prompt: Chapter 95--Which of the following options was not part of the ordeal Mr. Tomohiro Okamoto and Mr. Atsuro Chiba went through on their way to Benito Juarez Infirmary in Tomatlan? (a) rented a car (b) suffered a flat tire (c) had monkeys steal their food (d) had their motor "cannibalized" of parts by a mechanic (e) were overcharged by a second mechanic

Example of an essay question/prompt: Chapter 95--How do these two men add authenticity to Martel's narrative--and how do they help us interpret Pi's story?

Student-Author Interaction: Yann Martel's Responses

I will post Yann Martel's direct responses to our questions here. These are his exact words, copied from emails I receive.

2009 Yann Martel Questions & Responses

Each of our class periods asked author Yann Martel a question. Here are the questions and his responses he typed from Portugal.

"Have it Your Way" Short Writing: 50 Points, Due Saturday, April 25, by Midnight.

Copy/paste 62.8 words--the insights/thoughts/word you find most compelling--said by artist(s) on this blog (you have four choices; use one or two artists--click on the comments on the posts below). Write 314+ words agreeing, disagreeing, extending, and/or reacting to their insightful words. Really think hard and critically. Do not type fluff to fill the 314 minimum. Invest some time and thought. Be as original as you possibly can.

Andrea Offermann of Germany, Tomer Hanuka of Israel, Tomislav Torjanac of Croatia, and Joanna Barnum of the United States will undoubtedly offer you stimulating thoughts to work with. Like these four, you are becoming better and better thought criminals all the time.

Joanna Barnum Artist Interaction

Stimulating, thoughtful imagery and insights:

Fiction's (Un)Intended Effects

"Fiction is true because it speaks about what it means to be human. It's reality, often times, being so superficially analyzed, that is false." --Yann Martel

Respond to the quote above and/or to these "Functions of Fiction" and "Functions of the Artist"--do you agree that Life of Pi or other books we've read this year accomplish these functions?

Functions of Fiction

• Show beauty and possibilities of language.
• Create meaning; make events matter.
• Make symbols mean something.
• Make nothing mean something.
• Order, structure, and understand the world.
• Order and attempt to understand what it means to be "human."
• Open the world up to us.
• Understand life.
• Understand self.
• Lift our spirits.
• Reveal, examine, explore, show, explode something.
• Teach us something (stories can accomplish this better than lectures, right?).
• Relate past to present to future.
• Give us perspective.
• Make us wonder.

Functions of the Artist/Author

• Be a cultural analyst/evaluator.
• Challenge or upset the status quo, which glazes over and oppresses (be a renegade or watchdog).
• Explore/expose the "taboo."
• Discuss the "undiscussable."
• Examine the question--does "honesty" = "truth."
• Instruct and delight us.
• Make us explore beliefs, views, ethics.