KH

Lecture Notes on Key Terms and Summaries

Definitions of Key Terms

  • Kite (in context to "Battle of Athens"): Nickname for an airplane, suggesting lightness and agility.
  • Hurricane (in context to "Battle of Athens"): British WWII battle plane, impactful in combat.
  • Soggy (in context to "Battle of Athens"): Lacking perseverance, defeat, or weariness; a lack of firmness or resolve.
  • Throttle (in aviation): Aggressively adjusting engine power to maneuver and control aircraft speed.
  • Viperish: Like a poisonous snake, implying danger or aggression.
  • Reptilian: Suggests coldness or lack of emotion, evoking snake-like characteristics.
  • Vapid: Dull, or lacking in spirit or liveliness.
  • God Journey: Personal spiritual exploration and relationship with God.
  • Narrative: A self-written story, incorporating fiction/nonfiction, such as memoirs or autobiographies.

Summary of Key Events and Themes

Review Dahl's "Battle of Athens"
  • Context: Set during WWII, focusing on pilot Dahl's experiences in the RAF.
  • Events: Dahl's plane was ambushed and severely damaged by numerous German aircraft. He survived a dangerous landing, feeling shaken yet proud.
Review "Fish Cheeks"
  • A girl named May is embarrassed by her Chinese cultural food traditions due to a crush on a white boy.
  • She eventually embraces her cultural background and food's importance, a realization occurring during a Thanksgiving meal.
Review "My Mother's Garden"
  • A girl is shamed by her family's poverty during class debates, despite her college-educated mother working to improve their situation.
  • The garden symbolizes hope amidst struggles, while her hidden computer represents an escape. The once vibrant garden signifies loss.
  • Mother: Determined and hopeful, dedicated to her daughters' future.
  • Daughter: Experiences shame and seeks acceptance from wealthier peers, reflecting complex feelings about her family's socioeconomic status.

Writing Techniques and Concepts

Techniques to Speed Up a Moment
  1. Rapid Dialogue: Fast-paced conversations.
  2. Vivid Verbs: Strong action verbs conveying movement or emotion.
  3. Simultaneous Actions: Describing multiple concurrent actions to create urgency.
Definition of a Strong Verb
  • A verb that conveys clear meaning without adverbs or excessive detail.
Rules for Comma Usage
  1. Inside quotation marks.
  2. After introductory words or phrases.
  3. Before conjunctions joining two independent clauses.
  4. To separate items in a series or list.
  5. Separating city and state.
Capitalization Rules
  • First word in a sentence.
  • Proper Nouns (specific people, places, organizations, events, titles).
Understanding Sentence Fragments
  • An incomplete sentence lacking a subject or verb, failing to express a complete thought.
Characteristics of Vivid Verbs
  • Strong, descriptive action words that evoke imagery and dynamic representation.
Distinguishing Showing vs. Telling
  • Showing: Illustrates actions and emotions, creating vivid mental images and emotional impact.
  • Telling: States facts directly, often lacking engagement.
Techniques for Slowing Down Moments
  • Detailed Descriptions: Rich sensory details that make the reader linger, building tension and emotional stakes.
Definition of Figurative Language
  • Use of words/phrases to convey non-literal meanings for dramatic effect (e.g., "Hungry as a horse").