Writing Assignments # 6 through 9

You will be responsible for writing at least FOUR of your own posts in the Slaughterhouse-Five blog assignment. Here are some ideas to help you develop your own content:

- If you could change something about the novel, what would it be?

- How would the novel be received in different areas of the world? Would the novel have the same impact in another country or culture?

- What would Vonnegut think about our project?

- What scene in the novel would lend itself well to film and why?

- Do you think the novel could work as a play?

- What other Vonnegut texts have you read? What common themes or similarities can you find between the texts?

                  

Writing Assignment # 5

If you were to start writing a novel, what would be the basis for your work? Vonnegut obviously chose his war experiences but seems to have tied them into a somewhat laissez faire view of life. What do you feel the public should learn through your story-telling? Explain the genre, character types and / or general plot of a book that you would write.

Writing Assignment # 4

STEP 1: Complete the handout from Tuesday's class titled 'Warped Narrative'.
STEP 2: Choose three moments in your life (you can embellish or create fictional events if you want) and imitate the style and structure of Vonnegut’s narrative. Warp through your life and make connections between significant moments. Write a minimum of three paragraphs that follow the same unconventional story-telling style. Consider using figurate language and repetitive phrases (e.g. So it goes) in your writing.

Carl Sagan explains 4D

Writing Assignment # 3

If you do some surface research (google / wikipedia) about the banning of SH5, you will soon discover that it is mainly the profanity and sexual references that landed Vonnegut in hot water. However, the book also includes a considerable amount of what could be construed as anti-American sentiment. The passages that we read in class regarding the American poverty epidemic and the general lack of integrity among American soldiers amounts to a very controversial stance on what most Americans feel very strongly about. Regardless, the book was banned in some places and remains a contentious piece of writing to this day.

Do you feel literature that could provoke strong reactions should be withheld or censored? What are your thoughts about SH5's potential to offend readers? You might also consider making connections to the other novels that we've read this year (also banned books at some point).