First Draft of Numbers 1,2 and 3 due in class Monday, Nov. 22!
All written components of this project (numbers: 1-6 ) must be typed, creatively and appropriately titled, double spaced, 12 pt. font, carefully edited and proofread. It is expected that you will write multiple drafts of all essays, and you should turn this prewriting in with the completed project.
1) Imagine you are Chris McCandless. Write an essay in the first person point of view (Chris’s) and explain how your family and close friends impacted your decision to discard your identity and past life without looking back. What is it about your parents’ lifestyle that you rejected? Why? In your essay, you (writing as Chris) must also address the following—your father, American society, and Jon Krakauer (Chris never knew Krakauer, but if he were able to come back to life and read his book, what might Chris say to him?). To each, explain your views on true joy and where it might be found, and contrast your views with theirs. Essay must be at least three (3) pages in length.
2) Using available resources, first research at least seven (7) facts about the following relevant writers: Jack London, Leo Tolstoy, and Henry David Thoreau. Next, in essay form, compare and contrast Chris McCandless to the three “literary heroes” you researched using such traits as philosophical beliefs and lifestyle choices. Answer the following questions in the body of the essay: Which of the literary heroes is most OPPOSITE of McCandless? Why? On page 122 of Into the Wild, Krakauer writes, “He (McCandless) was able to forgive, or overlook, the shortcomings of his literary heroes…” In spite of the fact that some of these men exhibit behavior that is seemingly contradictory to that which McCandless admires, why is it then that these men make his list of admirable people? Essay must be at least three (3) pages in length. Organization will be a challenge with this essay so you must include an outline, as well!
3) In reference to Chris’s mother, Billie, learning about Chris’s death, Krakauer wrote, “such bereavement, witnessed at close range, makes even the most eloquent apologia for high-risk activities ring fatuous and hollow” (132). However, Krakauer also wrote, that to him, climbing was one of the only things that really mattered when he was young. What draws people to high risk activities? Is it fair to the loved one of the individuals who participate in high-risk activities? Krakauer noted that risk-taking is a rite of passage. Do you agree? Write an essay in which you explore all of the above questions about risk-taking. Additionally, interview someone who participates in a (LEGAL) high risk activity such as: climbing, bungee jumping, sky diving, BMX, surfing, etc. Incorporate the most relevant parts of this interview into your essay to help prove your thesis. Essay must be at least three (3) pages in length. Additionally, you must include the transcript of the original interview with this essay.
4) Rent and watch the movie “Grizzly Man,” a 2005 American documentary film by German director Werner Herzog. It chronicles the life and death of bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell. (Be sure to have your parents/guardians sign the permission slip first). In a 1-2 page essay, compare and contrast Chris McCandless to Timothy Treadwell. What are their similarities? What are their differences? Would you recommend the movie “Grizzly Man” to a friend? Why or why not?
5) Go on a “media fast” for 24 whole hours! You choose the day. You are on your honor! No television, radio, I-Pod, cell phone, computer, or any other technological device that your hopelessly technophobic teacher has forgotten to mention. You may use electricity and the various modes of transportation, just none of the other technological luxuries we have come to call necessities. Write a 1-2 page reflection about the experience. What were the challenges of no technology in your life? What were the benefits? How did you spend your time? What lasting lessons have you learned?
6) Create a soundtrack to Chris McCandless’s life. Choose a minimum of eight songs (any genre, any artist). Include liner notes. For each song, tell us the title, artist, and year it was recorded. Write a minimum of 4 sentences per song explaining why you chose this particular song and how it connects to McCandless’s life. Be as specific as possible. For example: “I am a Rock,” by Simon and Garfunkel, 1969. I chose this song to represent Chris’s self-imposed isolation from the people closest to him. He truly believed that he was so independent that he had no need for others. Tragically, it took impending death to convince him otherwise. They lyric, “I am a rock! I am an island,” expresses this perfectly.
7) Memorize a poem of your choice that relates in some way to nature. Recite the poem to the class. Poems must be approved by your teachers first. Some suggestions include: “We are made one with what we touch and see,” by Oscar Wilde. “To the Lake,” by Edgar Allan Poe. “A Green Cornfield,” by Christina Rossetti. “Heavenly Grass,” by Tennessee Williams. Many others by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Whitman, Emerson having to do with nature…find a good one!
8) Create a photo essay of 6-9 original photographs. Your photo essay must relate to the theme of “wilderness.” This may play out in a variety of ways. Be creative! You must have a title for your photo essay. Plan and organize your essay, just as if it were written. It should have a clear beginning, middle and end. It should have a point, something you are trying to communicate about the idea of “wilderness”—this is your thesis. Let the pictures tell the story. Photos must be mounted on oaktag or similar heavy paper.
9) Spend some time going “Into the Wild”! Find a place where you can “get back to nature.” Yes, it’s possible, even in NYC! How about Queens County Farm Museum or Alley Pond Park? Or try Gateway National Recreation Center. Even Central Park would work. Be sure to go alone to experience something of the solitude Chris McCandless felt in the wilds of Alaska. As you explore, write a two-page journal entry (can be handwritten) about your experience. Include thoughts, feelings, etc., as well as descriptions of what you are seeing, feeling, hearing. Sketch any wildlife you might encounter. Be sure to pick up some memento (a brochure or map would work) to prove you were actually there!
“GRIZZLY MAN” PERMISSION SLIP
I hereby give my son/daughter permission to watch the movie, “Grizzly Man.” The movie is a docudrama that centers on amateur grizzly bear expert Timothy Treadwell, who periodically journeyed to Alaska to study and live with bears. He was killed, along with his girlfriend, by a rogue bear in 2003. The film explores their lives as they sought solace among these endangered animals.
“Grizzly Man” is rated R for language.
Parent/Guardian Signature:___________________________________________________________
