Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer tells the story of a young man, Christopher Johnson McCandless, who gave up all his savings, hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness. His decomposed body was found four months later. Krakauer pieces together the last few months of McCandless’s life, as well as delving farther into his past, as he tries to determine the motivations of the young man and what compelled him to his ultimate fate. Can man conquer nature? What does it mean to live on the fringes of society? How do humans push themselves to the extreme, and why? In Jon Krakauer’s book, “Into the Wild,” these questions are explored, as well as the themes of wilderness, society and exploration, in a compelling nonfiction narrative.
A screenplay directed by Sean Penn and based on the Krakauer book opens in theaters on September 21. Click here to view the trailer.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Assignment Directions
This write-to-learn onlinc creative thinking assignment requires you to complete 5 postings. Each posting is due on the date assigned prior to the start of class. Late postings will not count and will be assessed a zero. You are to develop a well thought out, creative answer that applies our class discussions, theory from the textbook (Leisure Enhancement), personal evidence based opinion, and of course the book (Into The Wild) to support each of your postings. Each posting should be a minimum of 200 words in length and free of spelling and grammar errors. I will assess the postings based on the following criteria:
-Discussion of theory from the textbook
-Evidence of reading Into The Wild
-Creativity of your posting from Chris McCandless' point-of-view
-Time and effort: spelling, grammar, proofreading, etc.
-Discussion of theory from the textbook
-Evidence of reading Into The Wild
-Creativity of your posting from Chris McCandless' point-of-view
-Time and effort: spelling, grammar, proofreading, etc.
Post 1: Leisure Time vs Work Time (Due Tuesday 10/2)
You will write this post as Chris McCandless. Explain your attraction to nature. What is it about the outdoors that fascinates you? What is your motivation for quitting a well paying job so that you can journey across the country with minimal supples and money? What is important to you about your leisre time? About life?
Post 2: Friends & Family (Due Tuesday 10/30)
You will write this post as Chris McCandless. Explain how your family and close friends impacted your decision to discard your identity and past life without looking back? What is it about your parents' lifestyle that you rejected? Why? Address the following people and explain your personal views on leisure and how it compares to theirs:
-Your father
-American society
-Jon Krakauer
-Your father
-American society
-Jon Krakauer
Post 3: Thoreau Reflection (Due Tuesday 11/27)
You will write this post as Chris McCandless. Please explain the significance of the following passage to you:
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."
-Henry David Thoreau
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."
-Henry David Thoreau
Post 4: Compare/Contrast Leisure Views (Due Tuesday 12/11)
You will write this post as you. I want you to compare/contrast your personal views and ideas of leisure & recreation from those of Chris. How are they different? How are they similar? Why are they different/similar? What shapes your views of leisure? What shaped Chris' views of leisure?
Post 5: Book & Movie review (Due Tuesday 12/11)
You will write this post as you. In addition to reading the book you will also be required to view the movie which opens in theaters on September 21. For this post I want you to reflect on the book and movie. What did you like about the book? Why? What did you dislike about the book? Why? What did you like about the movie? Why? What did you dislike about the movie? Why? Which did you like better, book or movie? Why?
*If you did not see the film, then you only have to do a book review. What did you like/dislike about the book? Why? How do you feel the book applies to this class? If you were able to interview Chris, what questions would you ask him? Do you see yourself in Chris? Why/Why not?
*If you did not see the film, then you only have to do a book review. What did you like/dislike about the book? Why? How do you feel the book applies to this class? If you were able to interview Chris, what questions would you ask him? Do you see yourself in Chris? Why/Why not?
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