Topic of Grapes of Wrath Essay?

mariambaby3 · 08-07-2009, 04:03 AM

What is the nature of the essay that we have to write?

Do we choose from a list of topics or something? Do we have to have it written before we attend orientation on the 21st?

jtp17 · 08-07-2009, 04:26 AM

This website contains all information on the summer reading assignment. =)

Cornell University 2009 New Student Reading Project

mariambaby3 · 08-07-2009, 05:33 AM

ah thanks for the excellent link. So just to make sure, we choose one of those questions and write a standard essay on it?

playhacker · 08-07-2009, 07:26 AM

Yes 10char

irarchiedw · 08-07-2009, 10:32 AM

when's this essay due? first day of O week?

countryangel926 · 08-07-2009, 11:09 AM

I think we hand it in during the GoW group discussions...check your O booklet for the date.

hoonose · 08-07-2009, 01:51 PM

Just a tip, if you're not enthusiastic about doing this essay, there's really no point in doing it. Doing a good job might win you some money. The way it works is you hand in your essay during a small group discussion with a few other people from your dorm. You really just put it in a pile and they read them later, so as long as you give them something it doesn't matter.

If you're feeling especially creative, you could write a joke essay, it might give the readers a laugh. Might I suggest the topic, "The Wrath of Grapes"?

titan5577 · 08-07-2009, 02:13 PM

I refuse to read the book.

cernan · 08-07-2009, 02:49 PM

Just wondering if any current or former student could answer this:

What's the form of the discussion generally like? I'm guessing that it probably varies immensely among the different discussion leaders, but is there a set of questions that they run through or is it like a free for all?

RedDagger · 08-09-2009, 09:39 PM

Im not sure of the exact format of the group discussions, but from what I've heard, they don't care if you read the book or not. It sounds pretty slack.

meestasi · 08-09-2009, 11:19 PM

They sit you in a circle somewhere on campus, hopefully outside if it's nice and have some grad student/prof/high school english teacher lead a discussion. Don't worry about it, just go to it and hand in your essay.

irarchiedw · 08-09-2009, 11:42 PM

honestly I had been advised by friends at Cornell to just skip that discussion session...

dragonneedspank · 08-10-2009, 12:47 PM

can we skip the discussion session?

chendrix · 08-10-2009, 01:05 PM

yes, you can, easily.

dragonneedspank · 08-10-2009, 02:27 PM

has anyone done it and not get into trouble?