Module 5 Assignment 1: Book Club: The Book of Yaak: PurposeOverviewThroughout the semester you have closely read and analyzed the separate chapters of The Book of Yaak. Each chapter in this book can stand alone as strong, compelling writing. However, Bass did not publish each chapter separately; he published these essays together as a book with a cohesive message and purpose.
It is time to analyze how the chapters of this book work together to support a unified message and purpose. Then you will explore how Bass’s arguments connect to broader environmental arguments. In other words, what strategies did Bass use to communicate effectively to his readers while also connecting to the ongoing discussion?
You should spend approximately 1 hour on this assignment.
Instructions
Read and annotate The Book of Yaak chapters titled “Hot Lead,” “The Totem Pole,” “Metamorphosis,” and “Conclusion.”
Read from the CCCOnline Library “In Praise of a Place,” by Rick Bass, published in 2014.
Explore the Yaak Valley Forest Council website.
Think: Think back over the entire book. What is Bass’s overall message or thesis? What is his purpose? What does he want you to do, think, and feel after reading these chapters? How do you know? What evidence does he use throughout the book to support that message and purpose? The book was published in 1996. How much of what he has written do you think still holds true? Do you think the arguments and concerns are still valid? Do his concerns still seem valid at the time of writing “In Praise of a Place” in 2014? What do you learn about his message and purpose through exploring the Yaak Valley Forest Council website?
Write: Write three paragraphs analyzing Bass’s message and purpose in both The Book of Yaak and “In Praise of a Place.”
Paragraph 1: Explain Bass’s thesis and the evidence he uses to support it. Explain Bass’s purpose and what he wants his readers to think, feel, and do after reading the book.
Paragraph 2: What elements of Bass’s arguments, evidence, or writing style are significant? Draw on the critical reading and thinking skills you have built throughout this semester; use your close reading, rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and persuasion skills to make your case.
Paragraph 3: What questions are you left with? What do you still need to find out more about? What topics would you research to answer those questions?
Each paragraph should be 4-6 sentences long, and each paragraph should be well developed. Each paragraph should have a focused topic sentence, and the additional sentences in the paragraph should support that topic sentence.
Be sure to use MLA Style to format this assignment. Apply MLA Style to all aspects of the paper, including the heading, title page, proper paragraph indentation and spacing, font, margins, size, etc. (You are not expected to include a Works Cited page for this assignment.) Need help with MLA? Please refer to the CCCOnline MLA Citation Toolkit
Proofread your work before submission.
Once your paragraphs are complete, you may submit the assignment to the Module 5 Assignment 1: Book Club: The Book of Yaak: Purpose