W E S T E R N L I T E R A T U R EF E B R U A R Y 4 , 2 0 1 5

OEDIPUS THE KINGDRAFT DAY

WARM UP FOR 2/4/2015

•How do you eliminate 2nd person from your writing? • If you cannot explain why with a strategy, then write an example of how you revised “you” out of a claim.

R E V I E W I N G G R E E K T RAG E DY VO C A B U L A RY

HAPPY WORD WEDNESDAY!

HOW TO ELIMINATE THE 2ND PERSON

•What is 2nd person? •Why is 2nd person inappropriate for formal academic writing? •How can you revise 2nd person out of your writing? •How can 2nd person be revised out of formal academic writing? ;)

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T USE “YOU”

• When the writer uses 2nd person, s/he makes assumptions about the reader. How do these examples make you feel as a reader? • "You should always be careful when confronting

teachers about their favorite sports teams’ losses, since you're bound to get punished if you are too hostile towards them.”• “One week our class wrote a sonnet together. You were

graded on your use of Iambic Pentameter and your rhyming couplet at the end.” • Even though the writer means to say that s/he was the

one being graded, what s/he is actually saying is that the READER was being graded, when in fact the reader was not.

OR WHY “YOU” DOES NOT HAVE A PLACE IN FORMAL WRITING.

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T USE “YOU”

The use of the "you" voice can cause the writer to lose credibility with the reader precisely because of the

assumptions that are made through the writing. It can also offend the reader.

OR WHY “YOU” DOES NOT HAVE A PLACE IN FORMAL WRITING.

HOW TO FIX ITCHANGING THE VOICE

One way to instantly make an essay more acceptable is to change second person to third person with words like “reader,” “one,” or “they.”• Example: Your interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo

and Juliet is based on whether you feel the two lovers should have been so foolish as to try to run away together.• This becomes: The reader's interpretation of

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is based on whether he or she feels the two lovers should have been so foolish as to run away together.• When you use the singular form of reader, you must stick to the

singular form. You may not use “they” unless you say “readers’.”

THIS SOLUTION OFTEN BECOMES REPETITIVE. THOUGH IT WORKS, IT IS NOT THE BEST WRITING.

PASSIVE VS. ACTIVE VOICE

ACTIVE VOICE• The subject of the sentence is present before the verb. • The student read

the book.

PASSIVE VOICE• The subject of the

sentence is not usually present.• If it is present than it

appears as the object of the preposition after “by.”• The book was read

by the student.

HOW TO FIX ITUSING PASSIVE VOICE

Passive voice is an effective way to avoid 2nd person. Though passive voice is typically not advised, it can be effective in academic writing because it changes the focus of the subject.   • Example: Your interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo

and Juliet is based on whether you feel the two lovers should have been so foolish as to try to run away together. 

• This becomes: The interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is based on whether the two lovers should have been so foolish as to try and run away together.

• The sentence is already using passive voice, so here it was only necessary to take out all references to the reader.  

HOW TO FIX ITUSING PASSIVE VOICE

Passive voice can be effective in academic writing because it changes the focus of the subject.    • Example: When you read Hamlet, you should

notice clear foreshadowing of events to transpire.• This becomes: In reading Hamlet, events to

come are clearly foreshadowed.Instead of putting action on the reader, the action has instead become passive, as evidenced by the "are foreshadowed.” The focus is not on YOU as the reader but instead the events.

HOW TO FIX ITUSING THE INFINITIVE FORM

Infinitives are verbs that are preceded by the word "to." So, "to visit," "to play," and "to weep" are all infinitives. • Example: You have to realize that Ms. Brooks is not a

fair-weather fan.  • This becomes: It is important to realize that Ms.

Brooks is not a fair-weather fan. • Example: You should always be careful when

confronting teachers about their favorite sports teams’ losses, since you're bound to get punished if you are too hostile towards them.

• This becomes: To avoid punishment (i.e. detention) it is crucial to be careful when confronting teachers about their favorite sports teams’ losses.

HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

It is impossible to change your path because fate knows what

you will inevitably choose.

HOW CAN THE USE OF “YOU” BE ELIMINATED?

HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

You know that Oedipus has fulfilled the prophecy when he

blames it on Creon which is dramatic irony.

HOW CAN THE USE OF “YOU” BE ELIMINATED?

HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

The shepherd’s decision to save Oedipus reveals that free

will does not exist because you will always end up where

your fate leads you.

HOW CAN THE USE OF “YOU” BE ELIMINATED?

HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

You know what is going on in the play because of the

presence of the Greek chorus.

HOW CAN THE USE OF “YOU” BE ELIMINATED?

HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

Oedipus shows you how your pride can lead to your

downfall.

HOW CAN THE USE OF “YOU” BE ELIMINATED?

DRAFTING TIME

•During class today, you will write your rough draft of your essay. • Your rough draft is due on Friday so use your time

wisely. • You can only earn credit for rough drafts on the

original due date. There will be no late rough drafts accepted for credit.

•Remember: • You must use at least five direct quotes. • You may not use 2nd person. • You must include an introduction and conclusion

(but it okay to write these last!)

HOMEWORK• Write your completed rough draft and bring it to class on Friday. Late rough drafts will not earn any credit.