Between our return to school, January 7, 2002 and the week preceding the end of the marking period January 25th, that is around January 18th, submit a paper of approximately 500 words in which you do the following in relationship to the Junior Project reading you have done up to that time (four books):
1. Speculate on how the authors' experience, education and up bringing during
each author's era might have influenced his/her writing in particular reference
to the theme you have selected to trace.
For instance James Fennimore Cooper's mature writing years were spent in England, a place neither Walt Whitman nor Emily Dickinson - certainly not Thoreau - would have ever thought to live. What was unique in Cooper's time that made him think England was the place? Speculate on each author's era (four in all).
Note: It will be helpful to know just a bit about the author's life and times to help with your speculation. Check with Mrs. Walfoort in the library for short American biographies.
2. Synthesize three ideas about how conditions had changed between the early
19th century (your first book) and the early 20th century (your fourth book).
What were the likely outcomes or results in your authors' works as a consequence
of the changes in conditions. Think, for example, along the lines of politics,
social mores and geographical centers as you gather ideas.
3. Finally, summarize the development of your particular theme from the early
19th through the early 20th century with particular and exact references to
the three threads you have discovered within the books. These ideas need not
be finish, since you have not finished your research and reading, but should
be starting to form some sort of definite direction through time of the theme
you are following. This section of the paper should be more of a preliminary
examination, some guessing and speculating included, rather than a polished
synopsis. Feel free to wonder out loud.
This paper should be submitted Monday, January 21st via hardcopy or email
as usual. If submitted on time, this paper may take the place of 4 JP 1 /
2. If late it must be accompanied by 4 JP 1 / 2.
