Write a Discussion on Carson’s “Fable for Tomorrow” and Williams’s “The Clan of the One-Breasted Women”
“Fable for Tomorrow” is the first chapter in the book Silent Spring, a book written by Rachel Carson, published September 27, 1962. The book is recognized as a launching point for the environmental movement. The book was required reading by 1965 in many high schools around the country.
Silent Spring documented detrimental effects of pesticides (specifically DDT) on the environment, particularly on birds. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims without looking into them. Silent Spring facilitated the ban of the pesticide DDT in 1972 in the United States.
Introduction note for Williams’s essay on nuclear bomb testing in Utah:
To help you understand Williams’s “Clan of the One-Breasted Women” (1991): Read the short introduction before the essay. Read the three questions at the end of the article before you read it — the questions help guide your reading/understanding of her ideas on the consequences of the fallout from the nuclear testing near her home. This essay starts out with specific, real details from the experiences from actual nuclear bomb testing near her home. Note that near the end of the essay the tone changes; while she did march in protests, she writes about this one as if it was a dream.
Rachel Carson’s “Fable for Tomorrow”: to an external site.
Terry Tempest Williams’s “The Clan of the One-Breasted Women”: to an external site.
Citation for These Sources:
Rachel Carson’s chapter does not need pages numbers because none are given. Here’s how to cite a quote within a text:
“As Albert Schweitzer has said, ‘Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation'” (Carson).
Terry Tempest Williams’s text – how to cite with an introductory sentence using page numbers from the text:
Williams wrote about the years the government tested atomic bombs in Utah, causing cancer in the people across the region: “above ground atomic testing in Nevada took place from January 27, l95l through July 11, 1962” (608).
Franklin Brogan’s essay discusses growing up in Niagara Falls near the Love Canal. No page number for this because none is given:
Brogan’s classmates had birth defects from the pollution. He says, “I recall a memory of being embarrassed while helping a kid in my school open her milk because she was born with split hands (ectrodactyly) which is commonly caused by gene mutation. She was one of Love’s Kids” (Brogan).
Writing Tips:
Always begin with a strong topic sentence on your main idea (may be more than one sentence).
Do not write with first person “I” or second person “you” but use third person they, them, people language.
Remember to write using the “sandwich pattern” – see here below.
Sandwich Pattern for Writing Strong Paragraphs:
1. Topic sentence that clearly states your main idea in the paragraph
2. Another sentence that develops your idea in the topic sentence
3. Bring in your quote correctly cited (author) or (author page). You must have evidence to support your ideas.
4. Discussion/commentary on your quote in one or two sentences. Tell us how your quote supports your main idea in the topic sentence.
5. Bring in your second quote correctly cited (author page)
6. Discussion/commentary on your quote in one or two sentences.
