Wednesday evening, April 11

Hello,

I do apologize for mis-numbering the reading packets recently...it was just brought to my attention that I assigned TWO Packet 7's...one last week and one this week.

To be clear, the most recent Packet 7 that I posted for this week (the TED Talk video and the one reading) is the CORRECT packet for this week. Sections 1 and 6: please make note of this and come prepared to class on Friday having watched the video and read the article.

Another reminder for Sections 1 and 6 for Friday--remember to bring your Breaking Bad Character Journal.

Lastly, below you will find a copy of the Out of Class Essay 3 assignment. For those who missed class, I also distributed sample student essays.

English 20, Spring 2012—Section 15—Instructor: C. Fraga

Out of Class Essay Assignment #3 (200 points)
Assigned: Monday, April 9 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 11 (sections 1 & 6)
Optional Rough Draft Due: no later than Monday, April 23 (section 15) and Wednesday, April 25 (sections 1 & 6)
Due: Monday, April 30

Requirements:
• MLA format
• If you utilize any outside sources (not required) you must follow MLA format for in- text citations, Works Cited page, etc.
At the very least, you must have a Works Cited page that lists Season 1 of Breaking Bad.
• Attach Character Study Journal (all 7 entries) to back of essay when submitting.

Before we began viewing the first season of Breaking Bad, I assigned a Character Study Journal. You were to select a character to focus on more carefully than others and to record observations of him or her as the episodes unfolded. However, as we have discussed, your first few journal entries might just be observations recorded regarding plot and regarding several different characters.

This Character Study Journal will now be a valuable source as you write your last out of class essay for this course.

Assignment:
Write an in-depth character analysis of one of the characters in the first season of Breaking Bad.

Your essay must include the following:
• Assertion(s) about your character
• Evidence from the episodes that support your assertions (how did you come to the conclusion(s) you did regarding this character?)

Your supportive evidence might include but is not limited to:
• what others observe/say (or don’t observe/say) about the character—either directly or in private
• the actions of the character in particular situations
• the reactions/responses of the character in particular situations
• what drives this character
• what terrifies this character
• what pleases this character
• what does this character long for
• what does this character need

Your thesis must be assertive…it is YOUR opinion as a viewer of these episodes.

Whether or not you LIKE or DISLIKE this character is not an issue in this essay.

Whether you LIKE or DISLIKE the series is also not an issue in this essay.

Proving to the reader that this character has the attributes (good, bad, layered, shallow) that you assert he or she has is your goal.

Keep in mind that your reading audience HAS viewed each of the seven episodes so avoid writing extensive summaries of each episode.

Your thesis might read something like this:

Once Walter learns of his terminal cancer and begins cooking meth, he appears very unstable and irresponsible; however, his behavior truly represents a very determined, loving, highly intelligent and moral father and husband.

or…

Marie is a very insecure and lonely woman who is unhappy and uncomfortable living in the shadows of her power-driven DEA husband and her happily married and very bright sister, Skylar.