Week 85: College Reading and Writing: Daniel Orozco

Week 85: College Reading and Writing: Daniel Orozco

Orozco: Annotating, Summarizing, Analyzing, Imitating

to annotate: to make notes on something to help you understand it better

to summarize: to put something in your own words

to analyze: to consider a question on the text, providing supporting examples from the text

to imitate: to create an original piece of writing based on something you have read

We are doing a short story by Daniel Orozco.

Exercise: Read and annotate

1. Read the poem and response out loud and underline any words you need to look up.

2. Write any questions you have in the margins or in your notebook.

3. Put tricky parts into your own words in notes in the margins or in your notebook.

Exercise: Questions for Comprehension of the poems

1.     What repeats in the story?

2.     What’s the effect of the second person in the story?

3.     Who is the narrator?

Exercise: Summarize the poem

Write a paragraph summarizing the poem with quotations, in-text citation, and a Work Cited Page.

example too-short summary, incorporating quotation and in-text citation:

In Daniel Orozco’s “Orientation,” the narrator is taking the reader on an office tour. The narrator first shows the reader “their” cubicle, “This is your phone. Never answer your phone. Let the Voicemail System answer it” (Orozco). The narrator then warns the reader never to make personal phone calls or “you may be let go” (Orozco).

Work Cited Page (for today’s story)

Orozco, Daniel. Orientation: And Other Stories. New York : Faber And Faber, Inc., 2011. Print.

 Exercise: Write a response to the story. What are your first impressions? How do you connect or disconnect to the subject? Does the story remind you of anything from your own life and experience?

Exercise: Summarize the response

Write a paragraph summarizing the response with quotations, in-text citation, and a Work Cited Page.

Exercise: Analysis

Question for analysis: In Daniel Orozco’s “Orientation,” the reader is constantly reminded that they “may be let go.” What is the nature of this office, and what do you think Orozco may be implying about modern day work

Exercise: Imitation

Write a prose poem in which you give a tour of something significant in your life.

Homework:

1. Summary of Poem
2. Response of Poem
3. Analysis of Poem and Response
4. Imitation of Poem

About this class:

In this class, you are welcome to submit homework for a grade.  If it’s not strong enough to earn an A, I’ll give you some comments to help you revise it, and let you do it over again. You have as many chances as you want to complete and perfect the work in this class, and you are welcome to do more than one week’s worksheet for homework at a time; ask me for sheets you’ve missed.  Students who complete 15 weeks of graded assignments and a longer paper can qualify for college credit.  When you get close to completing 15 weeks, I’ll help you get started on your longer paper.