Writing 2: Russel Baker the Saturday Evening Post


Today I'm reading one of my favorite essays, "The Saturday Evening Post." I really want to focus on characterization because I feel many of my students lack a voice in their essays. I mean if I was to draw a picture of who they were according to their essays, I would get a bland cutout of a lethargic kid listening to pop music, trying to be cool.

All these kids need to have some gumption!

Any of these qualities would be nice:

1. initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness: With his gumption he'll make a success of himself.
2. courage; spunk; guts: It takes gumption to quit a high-paying job.
3. common sense; shrewdness.

I should also explain what a chasuble is because there is metaphor to religion and being a priest in the essay. There is a sacredness in putting on the newspaper pouch.

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