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Lesson 1 (from Chapter 1, A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste)

Objective

Chapter 1, A Head is a Terrible Thing to Waste

The first chapter introduces us to Mary Roach and also to her writing style. This lesson discusses Roach's writing, and how it reveals her writing style.

Lesson

1. Close Reading: Read the first few paragraphs, and analyze the writing style. How does Roach write? What kinds of words does she use? How are her sentences structured?

2. Small Group Discussion: Ask students to work together in small groups to characterize Mary Roach's style. When or how does she vary from that cadence ? What does she lay emphasis on when she varies from her typical sentences? Ask each group to report back to the class after some time for discussion.

3. Class Discussion: How would you characterize Roach's values as a writer? What is language supposed to be used for, in Roach's book? Does it entertain, mystify, demystify?

Homework: Write a...

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