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Homework

Sophomores

This week we're reading gothic fiction from Hawthorne, Poe and Jackson. You have a QUIZ tomorrow on "Young Goodman Brown." The first gothic novel, by the way, was published in 1764: Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. That may show up on your quiz as a bonus, in fact.

Your book list came from All Hallow's Read, a project started by author Neil Gaiman, who also wrote the story we will hear in class tomorrow.

Seniors
Your next essay is on FEAR. 

You can write about your own fears, or the origin of a specific fear, or society's collective fear, or even how that fear manifests itself in popular culture (i.e. a zombie apocalypse). You can write about FDR's quote: "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself!" You can write about fear of extreme weather (like the "Frankenstorm") or of nuclear annihilation, or of the outcome of the presidential election. 

The essay will be judged on its attention to details and specifics, as well as diction and syntax. The tone is up to you, but your own voice must be apparent. Finally, pay attention to development and try to avoid the predictable five-paragraph, three-part structure that some of you have come to rely upon.

You will write this essay in class on Thursday, November 1st.

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