Introduction to The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
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Writing Prompt 1: Introduction to The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
IMAGINE THE FOLLOWING, by Robert Bell
The year is 2023. There has been a great war between the forces of terror, led by the sinister Albanian, Ak'med-Raul, and the United States. At first the war was clearly being won by the evil Ak'med-Raul; but just when things seemed their worst; just when hope was all but lost; the forces of America were rallied, inspired, and led to victory by the intrepid, the brilliant General Bell. Not only were the forces of Ak'med-Raul defeated, but Ak'med-Raul himself was killed in hand-to-hand combat by the skillful, strong, courageous General Bell. You are delighted at the outcome of the war. Not only because America won, but because you have been both a supporter and best-friend to General Bell since you both graduated from XX High School in 2004.
But victory has been bought with a price. Because the war was fought on American soil, the entire infrastructure of the country is in chaos. The roads have been all but destroyed, the manufacturing has been brought to a standstill; the communications networks have been all but destroyed; and millions of families are without housing and the necessities of life. In its most desperate hour, the Congress of the United States turns to the man who saved the nation: The rugged, good-looking, intelligent General Bell. "He," declares the Congress, "is the only man who can bring our country together and solve all of our problems." In the negotiations that follow, General Bell agrees to take over the job of rebuilding the country on one condition: He be given complete, total powers and be made President for life. It seems to you, at this point, that the Congress is going to agree.
Yet, you have misgivings. If the wonderful General Bell is going to take over the country, that will be the end of the checks and balances system of government; if the terrific General Bell is going to take over the country, that will be the end of the traditional, two hundred year old American way of life. It will be the end of American republican democracy as we know it.
One night a group of conspirators comes to you to ask for your help. They are planning to murder the pretty General Bell because he will be destroying the American way of life as we know it. They ask you to join their group to help them kill the superb General Bell the next day.
You tell them you must think it over and you will give them an answer before midnight. You find yourself in a moral dilemma: On one hand you are the life-long friend of General Bell; but, on the other hand, you are a strong believer in the American government and the American way of life. What should you do? Join the conspirators and help them kill General Bell, or should you go a tell your friend that his life is in danger and name those who came to you with their plan?
In your journal, write a substantial paragraph explaining what you would do and why. Remember, you only have two choices: You can join the conspirators and save the American government, or you can tell General Bell and save your best-friend's life.
Writing Prompt 2: Introduction to The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Prewriting: Journal Enrty 2- The Tragedy of Julius Caesar
Respond the following questions in your writing journal:
1. How do you decide if someone is a good or "honorable" person? Explain-include the qualities of an honorable person and then give a real or imagined example of each quality.
2. Think of a situation in which you or someone you know talked yourself/himself into believing that what you wanted to do was really the right thing to do. Was it easy to make excuses for the decision? (we call this rationalizing) What were the consequences for the decision? Explain by giving details of the situation and explaining the outcome.
Checklist:
Do you have an introductory sentence?
Are your ideas explained in 4-5 sentences and supported with examples??? Are your examples interesting and easy to follow???
Do you have enough detail to make what you are saying interesting??? Did you conclude what you are saying with a solid concluding sentence?
Updated August 2010
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