English Composition
This week we read Tim O’Brien’s short story “The Things They Carried.” We learn about all the objects the characters carry, some out of necessity and others for sentimental reasons. We also learned that some things people carry are not tangible (like guilt or love).
In this exercise, discuss the most important object(s) you carry, and why. To begin, suggest brainstorming a list of at least ten objects you often have with you. Think about what is in your pockets, backpack, purse, briefcase, lunch box, car, etc. If you prefer you can also jot down some other things that are more mental, like thoughts or feelings. What you list is completely up to you! Push yourself to list some things that are not solely practical. You might have a list that looks like this:
- Keys
- Phone
- Wallet
- Ring
- Pictures
- Dog tags
- Note from a loved one
- Memory to inspire you, etc
Once you have your list, narrow it down to what you consider to be the three most important things you carry with you; one of them should be an item that is not purely practical. All three of your most important items can be more sentimental in nature, if you prefer. Once you have made your decision, make a few notes about why you carry each of these items. Is it for practical or sentimental reasons, for instance? Why are the objects so important to you?
Here is a suggested outline for this paper:
Paragraph 1: Introduce your readers to the topic. Make sure to get your readers’ attention! What objects do you always carry with you?
Paragraph 2: Discuss the first object/thought/feeling you selected and explain it using specific examples. Why do you carry this with you every day?
Paragraph 3: Discuss the second object/thought/feeling you selected and explain why you carry it with you. Remember to be as specific as possible.
Paragraph 4: Be specific when explaining the third thing you carry. Be sure to tell us why you have it with you daily.
Paragraph 5: In your opinion, why do people carry things with them every day? Focus on items that are not practical in this portion of your analysis. In other words, why do we carry these more sentimental items with us each day? Are they to remind us? Inspire us?
This paper should be organized, detailed (including specific examples) and relatively error free.
