VCE English Unit 2 The Context Study Altruism

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VCE English Unit 2 The Context Study: Altruism

VCE English Unit 2 The Context Study: Altruism

About the Context The “Context” is Area of Study 2 of the new VCE

About the Context The “Context” is Area of Study 2 of the new VCE English course. It is known as “Creating and Presenting” The aim of the study is to create a collection of 3 -5 pieces of writing. The pieces should be related in some way to the defining “context” or focus AND to each other. In this Unit, the Context will be “Altruism” The process for developing pieces of writing will involve working from text (in this case, “To Kill a Mockingbird”) to our own writing Your writing could be in a variety of different styles, genres and for different purposes. You should aim to base your decisions and choices around what you learn about the context (Altruism) and the core text and other texts we examine. You should consider the choices made by the writers of the texts we study. One of the pieces you write will be an exposition under time-constraints (ie: an examstyle timed essay). Although we will work through a number of specific exercises in class, you are encouraged to undertake your own investigation of text/writing associated with this study. You need to develop an explanation which details the choices you made in writing your pieces, and explains how they aid an exploration of this context; how they relate to the core text; and the impact you intend on the reader.

“Writing” You may develop creative writing in a huge variety of formats: Narrative story

“Writing” You may develop creative writing in a huge variety of formats: Narrative story Newspaper article Research paper Powerpoint presentation Play or speech Collection of short pieces Short story Web page Blog Cartoon/ Comic strip/Anime/Manga-style story or response

Writing … cont’d … and styles … exposition/essay poem/s script (speech or play) letter/s

Writing … cont’d … and styles … exposition/essay poem/s script (speech or play) letter/s satire/burlesque/parody report diary (could be a blog) persuasive/argument social commentary children’s story

Writing – still cont’d … for different purposes. to inform to confront, or alarm

Writing – still cont’d … for different purposes. to inform to confront, or alarm to explore your feelings, or hopes, or fears to ridicule or mock to predict to admire to express or provoke regret or nostalgia to carp or criticise

Context: altruism • Definition versus “understanding” … – Does “context” matter? • Examples of

Context: altruism • Definition versus “understanding” … – Does “context” matter? • Examples of altruism: “pro bono” legal work; charities; “Days” (Clean up Oz etc); • Is it a taught trait? Or an innate instinct? Why are some people altruistic; others selfish? • Is social political organisation basically altruistic? Or an expression of a desire for power & control? • Is altruism an expression of rational thought and feeling – or does it occur in spite of it?

To Kill a Mockingbird We will begin with a study of one of the

To Kill a Mockingbird We will begin with a study of one of the 20 th century’s most famous novels: Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”. W O R D S altruism innoce nce love faith in human ignoran unders nature ce/pove rty tanding compa ssion Gregory Peck (Atticus Finch) and Harper Lee

About the novel … • First published in 1960. • Filmed – with Gregory

About the novel … • First published in 1960. • Filmed – with Gregory Peck (as Atticus Finch) and Mary Badham (as Scout), in 1962. • Synopsis: A widower with two young children is appointed to defend a black man accused of raping a white girl in the Alabama town of Maycomb. Many think he shouldn’t try too hard. The case divides the community, as the truth of the incident, and the “cynical” accusation of rape is exposed, forcing the jurors – and the townsfolk – to declare themselves: for justice, or “for” racism, ignorance and inequity.

Tequila and writing … Mood: nostalgic; regretful; Perspectives to explore: child’s view; social outcasts

Tequila and writing … Mood: nostalgic; regretful; Perspectives to explore: child’s view; social outcasts (or pariahs); reminiscence Social commentary: poverty/wealth; black v white; country v town; justice & equality. Structure: ½ & ½; courtroom drama; small town = microcosm Human nature: fear; greed; pride; prejudice; loneliness; love

Tequila – from character to writing … Atticus – strong, independent, principled, modest …

Tequila – from character to writing … Atticus – strong, independent, principled, modest … Scout – feisty, combative, innocent, curious Jem – clever, resourceful, observant, courageous Mayella – desperate; ignorant, afraid Appeal letter; diary entry; letter to the editor; speech to townsfolk. Diary; letter to Dill. Letter to the editor of the Maycomb Tribune; Diary; letter of apology(? ); love letter to Tom.

Tequila - from themes to writing … ☻Compassion ☻Empathy ☻Love ☻Philanthropy ☻Hatred/Prejudice ☻Suffering ☻Nobility

Tequila - from themes to writing … ☻Compassion ☻Empathy ☻Love ☻Philanthropy ☻Hatred/Prejudice ☻Suffering ☻Nobility ☻Innocence/lost ☻Growing up

Supplementary texts: Films: Amistad; Cry Freedom; Hotel Rwanda; Pale Rider; Casablanca, Schindler’s List, Three

Supplementary texts: Films: Amistad; Cry Freedom; Hotel Rwanda; Pale Rider; Casablanca, Schindler’s List, Three Kings, Philadelphia Novels: Tale of Two Cities - Dickens; The Plague – Camus; A burnt-out case – Graham Greene; The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck; or Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway; The Woodlanders – Thomas Hardy [Opp Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand!] Non-fiction: No easy Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela; M. K. Ghandi – An autobiography; “Faction”: Schindler’s Ark – Thomas Kenneally. Songs: What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding? – Elvis Costello; On the turning away – Pink Floyd; Rachel – Russel Morris; Peace of Earth – U 2. Short story: The Giving Plague – David Brin http: //www. davidbrin. com/givingplague 1. html

Metalanguage • • • form: the overall format of your piece of writing: short

Metalanguage • • • form: the overall format of your piece of writing: short story, poem, blog entry, film script etc. genre: the style within the form; 'detective fiction', 'love poetry'. Genres often have certain conventions or expectations which you can follow, or sometimes break with, to great effect imagery: how have you used imagery to give your writing power? What effect/s do you intend? Does this permeate the entire piece? All three? narrative perspective: Who is telling your story? Why this person? person: the authorial perspective, first person: 'I', second person: 'You', third person: 'She/He/They ‘ style: is there a pattern in your writing that emulates that of another writer, or some other distinctive form? tone: the sound of the voice. Of course this will change through a piece, but if you are striving for a particular or specific tone at a particular point it might be worth saying so. voice: accent, slang – articulate, or broken English? structure: how have you constructed your pieces? Are they directly linked? Sequenced in event? Or time? Or stages in the existence of a character?

The outcome is … or could be … • One timed exposition. This will

The outcome is … or could be … • One timed exposition. This will be set as an in-class exercise. You will be expected to discuss a question related to the notion/s of altruistic behaviour explored in Tequila. • And three linked pieces that you develop, from your own impetus, or from exercise begun in class. Perhaps … • A story of an altruistic act – parable? • A discussion of the origins of altruistic behaviour. • An exploration of the altruistic behaviour or principles in one or more films. • A news story on someone’s altruistic actions or an editorial recommending (or commending) altruistic attitudes. • “The myth of altruism – busted!”

Set writing tasks • Task 1: Find, over the mid-year holidays, a film or

Set writing tasks • Task 1: Find, over the mid-year holidays, a film or book that deals with altruism (fiction, biography, non-fiction, doco …). Prepare a presentation to give in class as well as a written response to the piece (see Task sheet on Blog). • Task 2: Scout stands up for Walter Cunningham in class, despite knowing that she is getting into trouble herself. Write an account of a time you remember as a child where you – or someone you know – stood up, selflessly for someone in trouble. (Or where they should have, but didn’t …) • Task 3: Discuss this statement: “Just because it makes you feel good doesn’t mean it’s not altruistic. ” • Task 4: Write an article on Tom Robinson’s trial for the Maycomb Tribune. This could be a report, or an editorial or comment piece.

ALTRUISM • . . . is the willing subordination of one's own interests or

ALTRUISM • . . . is the willing subordination of one's own interests or well-being for the sake of something or someone else. • … is the investment of time, money and self in the interests of some other person or project for no thought of personal gain. • The word "altruism" is derived from French autre "other", in turn from Latin alter "other”. It was coined by Auguste Comte, the French founder of positivism describing the ethical doctrine he supported – that individuals have a moral obligation to serve the "greater good" of humanity. • There is some debate about the nature of altruism: psychologically is it innate? Intuitive – or counter-intuitive?

Poetry Altruism BY MOLLY PEACOCK What if we got outside ourselves and there really

Poetry Altruism BY MOLLY PEACOCK What if we got outside ourselves and there really was an outside out there, not just our insides turned inside out? What if there really were a you beyond me, not just the waves off my own fire, like those waves off the backyard grill you can see the next yard through, though not well—just enough to know that off to the right belongs to someone else, not you. What if, when we said I love you, there were a you to love as there is a yard beyond to walk past the grill and get to? To endure the endless walk through the self, knowing through a bond that has no basis (for ourselves are all we know) is altruism: not giving, but coming to know someone is there through the wavy vision of the self’s heat, love become a decision. Molly Peacock, “Altruism” from Cornucopia: New and Selected Poems 1975 -2002. Copyright �© 2002 by Molly Peacock.

Final thoughts … You're too altruistic for your own good, mate - always standing

Final thoughts … You're too altruistic for your own good, mate - always standing up for other people's rights!