Ideas and Themes in The Rugmaker

The following is a list of themes and ideas that arise in The Rugmaker:

• Conflict has far reaching consequences (psychological, fear, powerlessness, behavioural changes, economic, social, etc)
• Conflict is futile
• Conflict opposes humanity
• Conflict is unfair
• People can survive conflict
• Individual experiences of conflict are not unique

TASK 1: In pairs, find three examples of your assigned theme/idea being represented in the text. Quote the example, record the page it appears on and explain the connection you see it has to the theme/idea. TYPE AND PIGEONHOLE THIS ACTIVITY.

TASK 2: Respond to your assigned theme/idea as a prompt. Perform a 'sound off' in response to theme/idea that you have. Think of as many discussion points as you can that the prompt might lead you to. Draw from the set text but also aim to go beyond the set text. Ideas from beyond the set text work to present a broad perspective of thinking on the topic, something examiners like to see (especially in essays written for this Area of Study), though there needs to be an obvious connection in theme/idea to the set text. Present your sound off in tagxedo form.

• In a word document type your theme/idea as a prompt heading (save)
• Type up your sound off responses in a list (save as you go)
• Copy your sound off responses
• Link/go to the tagxedo website
• Click into the create section
• Click load and enter text, hit submit
• Play with settinggs till you like what you see
• Save your tagxedo
• Put your tagxedo image, html code and web address into your original word document
• Pigeonhole your word document to me

Some initial ideas for writing in response to The Rugmaker

You could write:

• an opinion piece that is persuasive - further informing Australian readers of the constant turmoil Afghanistan people experience in terms of everyday life, the corrupt political system they live under, giving an opinion on their voting system in comparison to Australia's.
• an imaginative poem - it could describe the harsh conditions of the society in Afghanistan, as well as being burdened with the fear of explosions, murder, attack at any time.
• a persuasive speech about how the taxpayer's money is going towards what seems to be a never ending cause in terms of Australian military.
• diary entries from an Australian soldier based in a camp in Afghanistan - discussing the conditions, experiences, feelings.
• an opinion piece on the conditions for Australian soldiers based in Afghanistan and how suitable they are or aren't.
• a personal letter from a soldier written to a loved one back home describing the conditions Afghanistan.
• a research piece on suicide bombers. What leads them to become suicide bombers and the affects it has on people.
• An opinion piece sharing a person's thoughts on suicide bombers and the Taliban.
• a persuasive piece about ways to control people smugglers - measures that could be put in place.
• an imaginative piece that tells the story of a refugee family coming to Australia.
• a diary entry of an Australian border security guard who patrols the coast of Australia.
• an opinion piece about whether people believe NATO air strikes should take place in Afghanistan.
• a persuasive piece about why NATO should stop air strikes on Afghanistan - because it impacts on civilians - is this as bad as the Taliban?
• A diary piece of an Afghan civilian who has experienced an air strike where they live - they have survived - they detail their feelings, physical suffering they encounter, etc.
• an expository essay about the how the richer refugees are able to leave their country while the poorer ones are left behind.
• a persuasive essay on whether governments are doing enough to discourage people smugglers.
• an imaginative piece - a short story about two Afghans who are trying to get to Australia - only one of them gets a visa, the other is knocked back - show how their lives differ after they have been through the visa process.

Diigo Instructions: (Version 1)

Diigo Instructions 2

GET WRITING

Two prompts that you can write to:

http://englishbook.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/encountering-conflict-practice-prompts/

PROMPT RESPONSE
CLASS OF 2010
LET'S BEGIN

One conflict always contains the seeds of another

General Opinions/Ideas

- One conflict can contain other types of conflict within it.

-A conflict may contain one seed of other conflict but others may contain many of them.

For the prompt

- A war is a massive conflict in itself, however inside the war is the conflict of the different ranks and the individual men and woman in the war. A war may have started due to two world leaders fighting amongst themselves. This fight may have then escalated to a major war between the countries.

Against the Prompt

- Not all conflicts contain the seeds of another. Some conflicts may occur spontaneously due to an event that happened at that moment in time. For example, two best friends may have a fight due to something stupid one of them said to the other.

Three possible writing responses to the prompt

-A news article on the conflict about using nuclear power. This topic is a major issue in today's society. This conflict contains many seeds of other conflicts, such as the conflict that surrounds the accidents that happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Another seed of conflict that is within this issue is the cost and time that is needed to build a successful nuclear power plant. The target audience for this piece is young adults, adults and elderly people within society.

-An imaginative story that features conflicts that surround war and the effects it has on the individuals involved. The story could be a diary entry from a soldier in the war. By speaking through the voice of a war beaten soldier, the audience will be able understand and get that point that is trying to be conveyed. The target audience for this writing piece could be anyone from a Year 10 range to elderly.

-An expository piece on how conflict is a major part of everyday life and how many conflicts throughout our lives stem from previous conflicts in our lifetime. The target audience for this piece could be teenages through to elderly cizitens.

By Amanda Johnson and Sarah Cox =)

One conflict always contains the seeds of another

General Opinions/Ideas

- One conflict can contain other types of conflict within it.

-A conflict may contain one seed of other conflict but others may contain many of them.

For the prompt

- A war is a massive conflict in itself, however inside the war is the conflict of the different ranks and the individual men and woman in the war. A war may have started due to two world leaders fighting amongst themselves. This fight may have then escalated to a major war between the countries.

Against the Prompt

- Not all conflicts contain the seeds of another. Some conflicts may occur spontaneously due to an event that happened at that moment in time. For example, two best friends may have a fight due to something stupid one of them said to the other.

Three possible writing responses to the prompt

-A news article on the conflict about using nuclear power. This topic is a major issue in today's society. This conflict contains many seeds of other conflicts, such as the conflict that surrounds the accidents that happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Another seed of conflict that is within this issue is the cost and time that is needed to build a successful nuclear power plant. The target audience for this piece is young adults, adults and elderly people within society.

-An imaginative story that features conflicts that surround war and the effects it has on the individuals involved. The story could be a diary entry from a soldier in the war. By speaking through the voice of a war beaten soldier, the audience will be able understand and get that point that is trying to be conveyed. The target audience for this writing piece could be anyone from a Year 10 range to elderly.

-An expository piece on how conflict is a major part of everyday life and how many conflicts throughout our lives stem from previous conflicts in our lifetime. The target audience for this piece could be teenages through to elderly cizitens.

By Amanda Johnson and Sarah Cox =)