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In Cold Blood Truman Capote. AP Language & Composition. Learning Targets: Students will…. d evelop greater awareness of authors’ intentions and Analyze how writers use their language choices to influence readers Understand and engage in academic discourse
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In Cold BloodTruman Capote AP Language & Composition
Learning Targets: Students will… • develop greater awareness of authors’ intentions and • Analyze how writers use their language choices to influence readers • Understand and engage in academic discourse • Understand effects of literature on societal and global communities • Argumentation (whoa)
In Cold BloodA CONTEXT FOR READING AP Language & Composition
A New Genre • Creative nonfiction • (written like a novel but true) • Melding journalistic nonfiction with imaginative writing • Why is this highly controversial? • Capote takes readers exactly where he wants them to go
“I wanted to produce a journalistic novel, something on a large scale that would have the credibility of fact, the immediacy of film, the depth and freedom of prose, and the precision of poetry.”
Essential Question: The tone of the book reveals the author's attitude toward his subject matter. Capote intended In Cold Blood to be both objective (non-judgmental) and sympathetic. Is this possible?
About Truman Capote: Context for Writing • Born in 1925; died in 1984 • Felt abandoned by parents • Friends with Harper Lee (Dill) • Deep connection to the south • Elitist in Manhattan, NY
About Truman Capote: Context for Writing • Not a great student, but avid writer • Considered himself one, didn’t want to be one • While repeating senior year, got job as a copy boy for the magazine he idolized. • The New Yorker's working environment was quite the opposite of the high society image the magazine portrayed. • Truman, a flamboyant, eccentric, and very noticeable boy, stood out • Meeting Truman
Capote first learned of the murders through an article in the New York Times • First learned about the murders through an article in the New York Times • “Then one morning in November, 1959, while flicking through The New York Times, I encountered on a deep-inside page, this headline: ‘Wealthy Farmer, 3 of Family Slain’…It suddenly struck me that a crime, the study of one such, might provide the broad scope I needed to write the kind of book I wanted to write.” He spent 6 years on icb.
The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call “outthere.” Clutter Family Home (as it stands today)
Characterization The Victims and the Murderers
Herb Clutter • Head of the Clutter household • Well-liked, respected member of the Holcomb community • Fairly prosperous
Bonnie Clutter • Wife of Herb Clutter • Mother of four • A recluse
Nancy Clutter • Daughter of Herb and Bonnie Clutter • Well-liked and popular • Bright, energetic, responsible • Dating Bobby Rupp
Kenyon Clutter • Son of Herb and Bonnie Clutter • Quiet and reserved • Enjoys working with his hands • Fifteen years old
Perry Smith • Convicted thief • Sentenced to Kansas State Penitentiary • Met Dick Hickock in jail
Dick Hickock • Inmate in Kansas State Penitentiary • Friend of Perry Smith • Learned of Clutter family from fellow inmate Floyd Wells
Revisiting the Scene, meeting characters A Copy of the Case File Photos Photo gallery with captions
Truman Capote’s Account • In Cold Blood was originally published in The New Yorker as a four-part series, beginning on September 25, 1965. It sold out immediately. • It was published by Random House for the first time as a novel in 1966. • CAPOTE trailer
Stylistic & Rhetorical Trends AP Language & Composition
Stylistic and Rhetorical Trends • Alternating Point of View • Spatial organization not totally chronological
Stylistic & Rhetorical Trends AP Language & Composition
The American Dream • ICB presents a conflicted image of the notion of the American Dream. • portrays a prosperous, homogenous, middle-class community, Holcomb, Kansas, that is forced to question its values and its sense of safety and security when the Clutter family is murdered. • Many texts during this time period questioned validity of the American Dream.
America in the 1950’s • Marked by an expanding middle class, confident consumer spending, and the early development of American suburbia. • Having emerged from its involvement in World War II, America was eager to focus on the proliferation of an affluent middle class at home. • The popularization of the automobile and new product advertising through television and magazines revolutionized American households. • BUT – Cold War tensions widespread fear of communism
Additional Universal Subjects • Banality of Evil • Family • Socioeconomic Status • Self-Image and Ego • Nature versus Nurture • Sexuality • Humanism versus animalism • Mental illness
The Death Penalty (subject/message/purpose) • Interview with Truman about the dealth penalty Free Template from www.brainybetty.com
Instructional Design with ICB AP Language & Composition
An Online Literary Forum:What is It? • Groups of students read the same text to participate in a mutual reading experience. • Based on the objectives and skills taught during classroom instruction, students will take on a variety of roles throughout the reading experience. • Students are provided with opportunities to interact and respond to one another as they read to interpret a common text.
An Online Literary Forum:Objectives/Learning Targets/Purpose • Students read a text beyond the regular classroom curriculum. • Students read a common text to engage in critical reading and thinking exercises. • Students participate in a critical discussion of a common text to understand others’ perspectives of the text. • Students will analyze literary and rhetorical elements of a text and effectively communicate his/her analysis with peers. • Students will make connections to other spheres of culture and society to the text’s themes, motifs, symbols, characters, etc., thereby demonstrating a transferability of skills and maturity in thought. • Students participate in an online community of learners to develop their skills in social media software and social media etiquette. • Students write for a variety of audiences and purposes.
An Online Literary Forum:Logistics and Overview • Each student will become a member of a literature circle group composed of approximately 10 students. • Each student will respond to the essential question/prompt posted each week. To respond, you may refer to the possible “roles” provided. • After reading the assigned pages in the text, each student completes his or her role and posts this assignment as a thread on the online discussion forum under the appropriate thread. • Each student then reads his or her group members’ postings and thoroughly discusses their work and the text. • Students read the second half of the text and repeat steps 3-4.
An Online Literary Forum:Requirements • Students must complete a total of two postings of his/her literature circle role assignment between due dates. • Students must respond to the essential question with a thoughtful response, making connections to and beyond the text. • Further, you will be responsible for responding to at least one group member’s response with a thoughtful, respectful response.
An Online Literary Forum:Hints for Success (and sparkle) • Allow the discussion to become natural. • The discussion may seemed forced at first, but lead the discussion of the text in a way that you become invested and engaged in the text and your group’s discussion of the text. • All posts should demonstrate critical thinking and common courtesy. Disagreements and debates are a natural part of discussion; however, such discussions should focus on the topic and should not demean anyone. • All posts should demonstrate a proper use of language so that communication is clear and pleasant for all. This means standard English should be used—nonstandard abbreviations, slang, and foul language is not permissible. • Post assignments and comments long before the deadline so that everyone has time to examine and post to your work. • Evaluation will be focused on the individual. You are responsible only for your own work and your own postings.
Homework: • Create an account for the literary forum. Yes, I will check. • By Friday, you must respond to the essential question. • By Monday morning at 8:00, you must have responded to at least one classmate. • Note: this book will be discussed throughout the quarter, and you will have quizzes throughout (Fridays).