Thursday, October 24th

Happy 50th birthday to my big brother, Marty!

1. R&C

2. Start/continue reading the letters, "What is True Islam" and "'Islam is a Religion of Peace'"

Things you need to notice and to take notes on when you are reading:

1. What is the structure of OSG's writing. 

• How does he start his letters.
• What does he tell or describe first? (Intro)
• Where does he present his topic sentence/thesis for his letter?
• Approximately, how many examples does he give? 
• How does he explain his examples?
• How does he tie these examples back to his driving point?
• How does he conclude his letters? 
• What kind of headings does he use? How are they designed to inform what is to come in the letter?
• What functions as the introduction... the body... and the conclusion to his letter?

2. What is the tone of his writing? 

3. What key words does he use? Does he define them? 

4. What words are ALWAYS capitalized? 

5. What are OSG's goals for writing the letter? How does he achieve these goals?

6. How does OSG establish Ethos? 

7. What descriptive writing techniques does OSG use? At what times? What subjects is he particularly descriptive?  When is he succinct (to the point)? 

8. What transition words do you see OSG using? When does he use transitions? 

9. How does OSG explain his ideas? 

10. How much evidence does he use? 

2. When you have thoroughly read through/annotated/taken notes on the last two letters... It is strongly suggested that you re-read the first two letters with the same process. 

By the end of FRIDAY... Have the following completed:

• Read and thoroughly noted all OSG's letters. 
• Have selected a specific issue that OSG addresses in his letters (Family, education, technology, organized religion, Islam, father-son relationships, etc.) 
• Found a minimum of two quotes from OSG in his read-letters that addresses this issue. Keep track of the page number for citation. 
• Have a preliminary thesis or topic sentence that demonstrates the POV of Ghobash on this issue. What is going to be his angle? Stance on this topic? This POV needs to be faithful to the evidence that Ghobash has demonstrated in HIS writing. This is NOT your stance. 

NOTE:  If you select religion, or Islam as your issue... you will need to be very delicate in your writing. You are writing it as Ghobash. For example, when he references the Prophet Mohammed, he follows with the abbreviation PBUH ("peace be upon him") because it is customary to follow the name with this phrase.

Check out the cat's reaction. . .