Class Nine --NonFiction Unit

1. CLASS NINE
Non-Fiction Elements: REVIEW
David Sedaris’ “Santa-land Diaries (Pt 4)”
And “Jesus Shaves”
AND Non-Fiction Assignment—MAJOR
Discussion Board
Read Chapter 4 & 5 + Journals

2. Elements of Non-Fiction
Elements of Non-fiction: REVIEW
1. Based on fact(s)
2. Written Objectively
3. Characters can be living or dead
4. Can Contain Subjective Writing / Material
5. Incredible range of Subjects
• Biography , auto-biography
• History: Wars, Commerce, People, Civilizations
• Politics: Events, Ideals, Pragmatism, Economics
• Travel
• Agriculture
• Economy
• Arts & Entertainment

3. Non-Fiction Assignment
Here is a sampling of some ideas (again,
based on essays from our text).
Generational: Parent-child / Grandparent-
child, Individuals within a family, Family
problems, Joys of family
Gender: Male / female roles, Dating, The
nature of love, Violence against women
Cultures: New world, old ways, Surviving in a
majority culture, stereotyping and
discrimination
Perceptions: Straddling two worlds,
stereotyping and discrimination, resisting
negative self-image, resisting status quo
Perspectives: Internet use and abuse,
Consumer society, matching / clashing views,
individualism v conformity

4. David Sedaris -- “Santaland Diaries”
(pt. 4)
This is an excerpt from NPR’s “This American Life” ; David was hired to be an Elf at
Macy’s, and he describes the working conditions, people, and general milieu of what
the job was like.
Answer the following questions:
As “Crumpet” the Elf, Sedaris encounters frustrated parents…. What do they tell
“Crumpet” they are going to do to him?
A woman tells “Crumpet” to “tell my son that Santa will put coal in his stocking if he
doesn’t behave.” “Crumpet” says that Santa doesn’t do coal anymore… instead.. ?
“Santa” Santa is a man who “…. “ according to Sedaris. What does he make the
Elves do for the children? What does “Crumpet” do?
The insight of the piece is:

5. David Sedaris -- “Santaland Diaries”
(pt. 4)
Answers: “I’ll have you fired!” to which D. replies “I’m wearing a green velvet
suit, it doesn’t get any worse, so go ahead…”
“Santa is going to steal all your stuff, and leave you in the dark, with nothing.”
Sing Christmas carols for the children; “Crumpet” sings “Away In A Manger”
like Billie Holiday might.
The insight of the piece: “It’s the parents idea of a world they cannot make
work for themselves.”

6. David Sedaris -- “Jesus Shaves”
This is a non-fiction essay from a humorist; using episodes out of his life, his family,
his relationships, and his general waywardness, “Jesus Shaves” is a story out of a
collection called “Me Talk Pretty One Day” (2000).
Take note of the context of the situation: the who/what/where/when
First, then the content: what is happening, being discussed? What is
the barrier to communication? What is the major insight?

7. David Sedaris -- “Jesus Shaves”
Bastille Day : July 14 / French class for adults / Lesson : personal pronoun
“one” / Narrator’s attitude towards the national holiday / Easter Holiday / ---
class – fellow students / List of fellow students in class :
Italian Moroccan
David S.
Nanny woman
Teacher Two Poles

8. David Sedaris -- “Jesus Shaves”
The “plot” is: teaching a Muslim woman about Easter in the Christian tradition.
What is the particular insight Sedaris gains from his classes’ failure to
communicate the concepts of Christianity?
The key word is “faith”;
faith that the adults in the
French class could speak
fluent french in the future,
and faith in the stories of
the Bible (but a bell? )…

9. Non-Fiction Assignment
NONFICTION Assignment—MAJOR
Details: 5 page Microsoft word-processed, 6
source Non-fiction paper.
Using some of the themes and
topics from Between Worlds, you are to
develop a paper based on a topic ranging
from gender, generational, to cultural
perspectives.
DUE DATES: 7795 : 4/1
7766: 4/13
2012

10. Discussion Board
7995--- Total Posts : 123 Total Participants: 23
7766--- Total Posts: 137 Total Participants: 24
7995: I will be grading the Discussion Board on
Monday, March 5.
7766: I will be grading the Discussion Board on
Saturday, March 17.

11. Non-Fiction Assignment
Using Wikipedia, type a year into the “search” function:
Type in either your year of birth, or at least 5 (no more than 10 years) after the year.
For example: I will type in 1976, when I was about 7 years old.
NEXT: Pick an event, and read the corresponding article, following any article links;
Copy, and paste into a Word Document. Save as “1976– Event Name”.
THEN: Do a Google search on the event: find any current, relevant articles that
Discuss a similar event, or some consequences from the event you choose.
FINALLY: Discuss the event in a 500 word document; were you aware of this event
Growing up? Were your parents? Did the event surprise/scare/ give you insights?
How did you find out about news items (newspaper, TV, word of mouth)? What
are your thoughts about the event now, v then?
DUE: Beginning of Class Ten

12. Read Chapter 4, 5 + Journals
Finish reading the remaining chapters in our book, and both Journals
(Chapter 4 Journal, Chapter 5 Journal, )
Will be DUE BY CLASS 14.
7955: April 21
(EOD 22)
7766: April 26
(EOD 27)
Next Class I will have a check list for you to print out to make sure you are
keeping on top of the assignments.

13. AT-AT Imperial Walkers circa 1900.

14. Have a good break, see you next
class!! -- John