We completed Journal #5 for TTTC:

Read the following quotes. Pick ONE and respond to it—whatever comes to mind (free associate).

"If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie." Chapter 6, pg. 68

"Well, that's Nam. Garden of Evil. Over here, man, every sin's fresh and original." Chapter 7, pg. 80

"I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth." Chapter 18, pg. 179

After writing for 10 minutes, all journals were collected (1-5).

As a whole class, we reviewed the requirements for the thematic project (due NEXT class!!):
You will create a new book cover for The Things They Carried, which represents ONLY the theme you have chosen to discuss (bravery & courage, the effects of war, truth, or the savior motif--TAG option). If you use any images from digital/internet sources, you must CITE those sources on the backside of your cover design. Your name should also be on the back, not the front.

Stapled to the re-designed cover will be your paragraphs detailing a major theme in TTTC. Remember, I am asking you to focus ONLY on the body paragraphs. You are not creating an introduction or conclusion for this assignment.

Organizational strategies for each theme/motif were discussed in class.

The majority of class time was devoted to writing/revising the paragraphs students had already begun. Teacher feedback was provided as needed.

At the end of class, we watched two video clips from Learn360: one about the effect of photographic images on the sensibilities of the American public and a second clip on the pivotal year of 1968. Connections were made to the book.