House on Mango Street Final
Project
Reading and Writing the Vignette
The
focus of your “final” will be the vignette. In
House on Mango Street, instead of dividing her novel into chapters, Sandra
Cisneros uses a series of vignettes about interrelated topics to tell her story
and convey meaning.
For
your final for this class, you will analyze at least 3 vignettes in House on Mango Street and write 3
vignettes in the style and form of those in House
on Mango Street and (possibly) take a short test (less than 50 questions)
on literary terms, your understanding and analysis of Cisneros’ vignettes, and
your understanding of writing conventions.
***YOU WILL BE
WRITING ON THIS SHEET TO HELP YOU PLAN AND WILL TURN IN p3 and p4 ALONG WITH
THE ASSIGNMENT. SO DO NOT LOSE OR THROW AWAY THIS HANDOUT***
Schedule
|
Thur,
May 24
|
Vignette
Project Assigned
|
|
|
Read:
Character
Vignette Discussed
HW:
work on Character Vignette Analysis and try writing a Character Vignette
Work
on Character Vignette writing
|
|
Fri,
May 25
|
Read:
Event/
Moment Vignette Discussed
HW:
work on Event/Moment Vignette Analysis
Work
on Event/Moment Vignette Writing
|
|
Mon,
May 28
|
No
school
|
|
Tues,
May 29
|
Read:
Work
on Vignette Analysis or Vignette Writing
|
|
Wed,
May 30
|
No
class, work on Vignette Analysis or Vignette Writing at home
|
|
Thurs,
May 31
|
Setting
Vignette Discussed
Object
Vignette Discussed
HW:
Work on Setting or Object Vignette Analysis
Work
on Setting or Object Vignette Writing
|
|
Fri,
June 1
|
Rough
Draft of Vignette Writing (2 copies)
Peer
Editing and Writing Conferences
|
|
Mon,
June 4
|
Vignette
Analyses Due
Continue
Writing Conferences
|
|
Tues,
June 5
Wed,
June 6
|
Final
Draft early EC turn-in
Make-Up
Work/ Extra Credit due
|
|
Thurs,
June 7
|
Last
Day of School
Final
Draft of Written Vignettes (include rough drafts) due in class and (if you
want them posted on the blog, submit via email as well)
[House
on Mango Street Final Test]
|
What is a Vignette?
A short piece of
writing meant to capture the essence of its subject
Ø
A
vignette need not tell the whole story but the piece it shows should be vivid
and rich. In a vignette it is crucial that one SHOWS not TELLS and relies
primarily on the implied not explicit.
Ø
A
vignette should be read on the surface level(explicit) and subtext (implicit)
Ø
Does
not need to include every detail, but a variety of details that capture what
makes the subject vivid, real, complex, and unique
Ø
Uses
concrete and specific detail not just adjectives
Ø
Utilizes
sensory imagery and figurative language (personification, hyperbole, metaphor,
symbolism, simile, etc)
The subject of a vignette may be:
I. A Moment -An event or part of an event
(usually lasting no more than half an hour, preferably much shorter)
·
Written
primarily “in scene” (real time in the moment- not summary)
·
Each
action described conveys the meaning of the vignette
·
Most
action is shown not summarized
·
Vivid
verbs and specific nouns are used, adjectives and adverbs are used sparingly
·
EXAMPLE:
II. A Character -A detailed description of someone
that captures the essence of who he/she is, like a portrait or snapshot
·
Includes
specific, concrete details
·
Is
not just a list of facts or a list of adjectives
·
Should
incorporate different aspects of the character (not just physical description
or backstory)
·
Does
not need to include everything about the character but rather those details
that make him/her “real,” complex, and unique
·
EXAMPLE:
Marin, Darius & the clouds, Alicia
III. A Setting – A detailed description of a place or time period that creates mood
and sets up a story. A setting vignette is like the beginning of a movie, that
long shot of a landscape or cityscape that orients you as to where (and when)
you are.
[Setting:
the location, time period, and context in which the story takes place. The
setting usually sets the mood of the story.]
·
Includes
element of story
·
Sets
up a distinct mood and tone
·
Makes
the place come to life
·
Need
not include every detail, but should include close-up details and “zoomed out”
details
·
Includes
not just visual details but incorporates other senses (sound, smell, taste,
touch, and emotional effect)
·
EXAMPLE:
IV. An Object (Objects) –A detailed description of a thing
or idea detailing the physical aspect of the object as well as its symbolic
meaning or that which makes the object significant (follows all the vignette
guidelines above)
·
Detailed
physical description of object utilizing sensory imagery and figurative
language
·
Symbolic
explanation of object implied through concrete details
·
Background
of object implied through use of concrete details
·
EXAMPLE:
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Reading Vignettes: House on
Mango Street Vignette Analysis
DUE Monday June 4 (50 pts each,
150 pts total)
In House on Mango Street, find an example for
3 of the 4 types of vignettes and answer the following questions in well
structured paragraphs:
I. Character
1.
Who is the focal character of the vignette?
2.
What do we learn about the character in this vignette (subjective)? How do we
learn this? (objective- use quotes)
3.
What does Cisneros want to communicate about this character? How does she do
that? ( use specific details)
I
WILL BE ANALYZING __________________
II. Moment
1.
What is the action or event described?
2.
What is the point or takeaway of this event or action?
3.
What specific details and sensory imagery is used and how does this bring the
moment to life and convey meaning?
IWILL
BE ANALYZING ___________________
III. Setting
1.
What is the setting of this vignette?
2.
What sensory details does this vignette include to bring it to life?
3.
What is the essence of this setting? What point or meaning is conveyed through
the use of this setting? (Include specific quotes to highlight your point)
4.
What concrete and specific details are included? What do they convey?
5.
What mood is conveyed by this setting (use quotes and examples)?
I
WILL BE ANALYZING ___________________
IV. Object
1.
What is the object being described?
2.
Why is it being described or what is the larger meaning conveyed? / Why is this
object significant?
3.
How does the author use sensory imagery and specific details? (use quotes)
4.
How does the author use figurative language?
I
WILL BE ANALYZING ____________________
2. Writing the Vignette: Vignette
Creation
Write 3
vignettes (you may do one more for extra credit) applying what you learned from your analysis
You will
be graded on:
àUse of specific concrete details,
sensory imagery, figurative language
àAbility to focus on subject
àAbility to Show not Tell
(emphasis on implying meaning using detail)
à Overall effect of vignette
àWriting quality (spelling,
grammar, style)
Rough Drafts due: Friday, June 1 (25 pts
each, total 75 pts)
Handwritten
neatly or typed (2 copies needed for writing conferences)
MY 3
VIGNETTES ARE:
1.
2
.
3.
GRADE:
Conference
date and signature:________________________
COMMENTS FOR FINAL DRAFT
(continued on back):
Final Draft due: Thursday, June 7 [NO LATE
WORK] (100 pts)
Typed in
Times New Roman or Courier 12pt font
You may
turn final drafts in early for EC hard copy to me on Monday or by email Tues or
Wed (10 EC points for each day early)
MY FINAL
DRAFT VIGNETTE IS:
GRADE:
3. Vignette Reading/Performance
(25 pts)
Read one
of your vignettes aloud in class on either Thursday, June 7 or Monday June 4
(Extra Credit)
I WILL
BE PERFORMING ON: ____________________
GRADE:
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