Shooting an Elephant” (p. 2-8 in 75 Readings): By narrating his own experience, what larger point is Orwell trying to make? On one level, it’s about an experience he had in Burma. But on other levels, what is this essay really about? Consider where and why Orwell starts new paragraphs. Do they seem to represent key moments or turning points in the story? Are there any places where you are unsure why he started a new paragraph? What is Orwell’s apparent attitude towards the Burmese? Where and how does he indicate what his attitude seems to be? 250 WORDS “Coming to an Awareness of Language” (p. 21 in 75 Readings): What are your reactions to the first two sentences of the essay? What effect do they have on the overall essay? Why does Malcolm X decide that it would not be sufficient to write in slang? Have you ever made a deliberate attempt on your own initiative (not because of a school assignment) to improve your writing or your vocabulary? What did you do? How well do you think it worked out for you? What happens at the beginning of the tenth paragraph? Why did Malcolm X use that technique? In what ways is this a narrative essay?
