Welcome to Seminar 6!
We will begin on time.
Meanwhile, enjoy chatting.
Magic is believing in
yourself;
if you can do that, you
can make anything
happen.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Never, never,
never, never
give up
- Winston Churchill
It’s SHOWTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to Seminar #6
How is everyone today? How was your
week?
Unit 6 Objectives
• Unit 6 Overview
• The Fire Gift
• In Unit 2, we read about “elixirs” and “amulets”
(powerful objects that protect the hero)—not as
literal objects, but as symbols of protection.
Campbell says that an essential part of the hero’s
journey is to understand the elixir—the elixir
becomes a prescription for mankind. The hero
must be able to identify what is needed to make
life better before he or she can share it.
Unit 6 Reading
In addition to the content in the scenario
linked below, please become familiar with
the concepts in chapters 21 and 26 of The
Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing.
Unit 6 Reading
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In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the creator of mankind. He possessed
great knowledge and passed this on to the humans he created. Zeus, king of
the gods, insisted that Prometheus withhold the knowledge of fire to
mankind. Prometheus, however, did not obey. Once the people had fire, they
were able to see at night, warm themselves, and cook their food. Their lives
were transformed. But, Zeus punished Prometheus by chaining him to a rock
where he would be tortured for all eternity. Prometheus was willing to
sacrifice himself to share the elixir of fire. This elixir empowered people to
take their own journeys because they now had a weapon against darkness.
Campbell points out how important this “fire-theft” and “fire-gift” are in his
interview with Bill Moyers. He speaks of this concept around the 10:19
minute mark in the video linked again here.
Fire-theft was the mythological cause that allowed the effect of fire—light. In
the myth, the fire was real. However, as we continue with this unit, we will
explore some of the things that fire and light can represent. In other words,
we will find other causes that lead to the effect of freedom and selfimprovement.
Unit 6 Discussion
• For this discussion, follow the directions below and keep in
mind that you must respond to the ideas as instructed in one
posting and then respond to at least three classmates’
postings. Do not take any shortcuts; give your ideas the
attention they deserve. Use the discussion rubric to be sure you
work meets or exceeds expectations.
• Prometheus is sometimes referred to as a “fire-giver.”A firegiver is anyone who gives people a new and valuable way to
look at a problem and solve it. For example, a teacher who
believes in you and helps you find the fire, the light, of
knowledge can be a fire-giver, giving you the opportunity to
fight the darkness of self-doubt and to move further through
your education.
• This is fire-giving.
Unit 6 Discussion
• Now you will have an opportunity to identify someone who is a firegiver. Explain what causes led him or her to give this fire and what
affects their gift has had on society. Think big! Many people have
brought light, health, knowledge, joy, and enlightenment to the
world through their ideas and actions.
• For this discussion:
• Consider a person you have admired for his or her gifts to the world.
Think of how that person has changed the world for the better. This
person is a cause—someone who affects others.
• Post the name of this person—just the name—in our discussion.
• Find a name among your classmates’ posting and reply by discussing
the effects the person caused. We will not debate the politics or the
worth of the person’s contributions. Instead, we will think of the
effects as the fire given to the world by this unique individual.
Unit 6 Discussion
• Action items to complete discussion this
week:
• Post a fire-giver’s name; the actions of this fire
giver are a cause
• Reply to a classmates’ posted name by
explaining how you see the effects of what
the fire-giver did for the world. Try to write
using cause and effect as the way you explain
your ideas.
Unit 6 Project
• Now for the best part: you will have a very creative format for
your assignment.
• You will create a script of a conversation between two
people—a dialogue. This will be like writing a scene for a movie
or television show. Have fun! Use characters from your favorite
movies, television shows, and books if you like. You may also
simply make up your characters.
• In your script, you’ll be describing through your two characters
a social problem. One of the characters is part of the
problem—the cause—and the other is part of a solution, the
“cure” that would help you and your world. Some examples of
social problems include world poverty and hunger, intolerance
of differences among people, and a list that could go on and
on.
Unit 6 Project
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You are encouraged to think carefully and creatively. Of course, not all social
problems are created equal, but you are free to choose among them. Do not
feel you must choose in order of importance. Possible problems could
include ignorance, bad driving, unfairness, not recycling, gossiping, abuse of
children and the elderly, or illiteracy.
Brainstorm ideas until you have an idea that feels right to you: one with
which you connect and that you have confidence exploring further.
Create a thesis that justifies why your “cure” is important. This is again a kind
of cause and effect writing called problem-solution writing. You identify the
problem and suggest the cure (solution).
What should you cover in your “script”?
What are at least three causes of this problem?
How does this problem affect your daily life or the life of others? Mention at
least three effects.
The script should be 500 words or greater.
Unit 6 Project
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Submitting your Project
Put your project in a Word document. Save it in a location you'll remember
and with a name that follows the rules for naming projects for this course.
See the course syllabus (“naming conventions”) for the required format.
When you are ready to submit it, go to the dropbox and complete the steps
below:
Click the link that says “Submit an Assignment.”
In the “Submit to Basket” menu, select “Unit 6: Dropbox.”
In the “Comments” field, make sure to add at least the title of your paper.
Click the “Add Attachments” button.
Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document.
To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to the
Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.
Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted project.
Welcome to the CONVERSATION
How to construct the THESIS STATEMENT
Why do you have to learn how to write
a thesis?
• . In college, you are entering into a
conversation.
• No matter what you are majoring in, you will
join an academic conversation.
– Math is having a conversation. History is having a
conversation, even accounting is having a
conversation…I don’t personally know what those
accountants are talking about, but I do know they
are talking about something.
So what does this CONVERSATION
have to do with the THESIS?
 Most of these academic conversations are written in the
form of a ESSAY.
 This is why COLLEGE COMPOSITION is the only class that
EVERY student must take to complete a Bachelor’s Degree.
 This is the class that shows newcomers what the academic
conversation looks like and how to formulate writing to add
to this conversation.
 The essay is the primary way these conversations take
place. During this class, we will cover the various part of an
essay.
 The most important part of the essay is the THESIS
STATEMENT.
Why is the THESIS so important?
• Without a THESIS STATEMENT, there is no essay.
– In other words, without a THESIS, you, the writer will
not be heard in the academic conversation.
– In other words, without a THESIS, you, the writer will
not be heard in the academic conversation.
• The THESIS STATEMENT is the place where you,
the writer, states your opinion about the topic at
hand and explain why you have this opinion.
What does the THESIS STATEMENT
consists of?
• The THESIS STATEMENT consists of THREE
PARTS:
– TOPIC
• What topic are you talking about?
– OPINION
• What is your opinion about this topic?
– REASONS
• What are your reason(s) for having this opinion?
How can these THESIS parts be put
together?
 The THESIS PARTS (topic, opinion and reasons) can be
put together in THREE EASY STEPS:
The first step in writing a THESIS STATEMENT is to let the
reader know what TOPIC you are going to talk about….
The second step in writing a THESIS STATEMENT is to let
the reader know your OPINION about this TOPIC.
The third step in writing a THESIS STATEMENT is to let the
reader your REASONS (also called KEY POINTS) why you
think your OPINION is valid with regard to this TOPIC.
For some reason, in academia, the magic number is three…thus,
traditionally, a thesis contains THREE REASONS (Key Points).
Topic + Opinion + Reason #1 +Reason
#2 + Reason #3 = THESIS
Reason (key
point) #1
Topic +
Opinion
Reason (key
point) #2
Reason (key
point) #3
THESIS
Using this formula, let’s say the TOPIC was
The novel Tale of Two Cities, the OPINION
was you liked it and your reasons are the
characters, the theme and the setting
The characters
The novel Tale of Two
Cities + was enjoyable
The theme
The setting
The Tale of Two Cities
was enjoyable, because
the characters, the
theme, the setting
Some items to note about the THESIS
• A comma and a because join the topic +
opinion with the 3 reasons:
– The Tale of Two Cities was enjoyable, because the
characters, the theme, the setting.
• The THESIS is ONE SENTENCE
• The THESIS is NOT A QUESTION
Script Example
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Scene 1
Place: the Intergalactic Court of Appeal.
Time: the year 2038.
The Court Clerk and Smithy are on stage. The members of the Chorus file in and sit down to observe
the case.
Court Clerk: All rise.
Chorus members make sounds of shuffling feet and shifting chairs. The ‘full bench’ of seven
intergalactic judges (six from alien planets and one from Australia, Planet Earth) enter and take
their seats on ‘the bench’.
Court Clerk: On this twenty-fourth day of January twenty-thirty-eight, the Intergalactic Court of
Appeal is now in session. Please be seated.
Chorus makes sounds of shuffling feet and shifting chairs, perhaps some coughing and clearing of
throats.
Court Clerk: This is case number 20-38Alpha4-2-5-7Beta3 in the matter of ICCUP (The Intergalactic
Council Controlling Universal Population) versus Australia, Planet Earth.
Judge 6: Which planet is it?
Australian Judge: Planet Earth.