Questions to ask yourself before you turn in your "war story" paper.

(AKA the questions the old man will be asking himself as he reads your paper)

The basic three questions:

Did this student read the documents assigned for this synthesis project?
Did this student understand the documents assigned for this project?
Did this student understand the connections between the documents assigned for this project?

Can I find evidence in this paper to demonstrate an answer to the above three questions? (and maybe to some of the additional questions below?)


More questions:

Does this student writer understand David James Duncan's assertion about the importance of truth over 'facts' and reporting?  Does this writer understand the connection between Duncan, Orr and O'Brien's themes in "How to Tell a True War Story?"

Does this writer avoid relativism and solipsism? (look up these terms if you don't understand this question)

Does this writer honor Czleslaw Milosz's assertion that "the true enemy of man is generalization?"  Is the paper padded with generalization?  Does the generalization obscure the specific and genuine and human?

Does this writer understand the connection between Curt Lemon's sister and the woman who wasn't listening? (characters in O'Brien's story)

Can Miss Jadwiga be saved?  Or at least not forgotten?  Does this writer seem to understand that question?

Does this writer understand why Orr makes poems?  Why Duncan makes fiction?  Why humans tell stories?