JenkinsEng 12CP

DUE: Friday October 30th

Cornell Notes Focus Questions“One Story” ChapterHow to Read Literature Like a Professor by

Thomas FosterInstructions: Your Cornell notes should ultimately address the following questions and concepts articulated below. That said, you are not just merely sticking to this information alone and your notes should NOT merely be a list of these questions with answers. You are to use your notes on the entire chapter to address the main idea points presented here.

1. What is the one story theory? Explain in depth.

2. Why do writers keep telling the same story over and over? Why do readers keep reading stories if it is merely the same story over and over?

3. Define, offer examples, and explain intertextuality in terms of the theory of one story.

4. Define archetypes and explain their roles & functions in the theory of one story.

KEY VOCABULARY: One Story Theory, intertextuality, parody archetypes

FOCUS CORRECTIONAL AREAS________/ 30 Total Points

MRS J YOU TOTAL PTS

10 All main idea questions prompted (above) are fully addressed/answered.

5 Each key vocabulary word appears highlighted/underlined and accurately defined.

5 Key Concepts include a record of at least 8-10 key ideas expressed directly in the text (should appear as a balance between direct quoting and key phrases/points).

5 Recorded Notes include thorough and accurate responses to the Key Concepts section by specifically referencing details from the text.

5 Summary fully and accurately sums up, in 6-8 sentences minimum, at least 5 main ideas expressed in the chapter.

JenkinsEng 12CP

Requirements:

❏ Notes appear in “short-hand” techniques are used in that bullet points, indentation, highlighting/bolding/underlining appear to organize the chapter in notation form

Brandon Hoose

Mrs. Jenkins

English 12CP

30 October 2015

How to Read Literature Like a Professor “One Story”

KEY CONCEPTS RECORDED NOTES

What is the one story theory?

Why do writers keep telling the same story over and over?

Why do readers keep reading stories if it is nothing more than the same story over and over?

What is a writer’s “amnesia”

● every story came from the ideas of a previous story○ being completely original is impossible

■ words and phrases are never unique● this “one story” is about anything and everything

● writers may not intend to keep telling the same repeatedly● the writer’s subconscious is filled with prior knowledge

that is bound to make its way into their writings.

● the stories resonate with us● similar elements→increased comfortability● the less familiar a text is, the more challenging it is to read

● a state of mind where you shut out all external influences, and write the things that you feel

● intertextuality means that everything is connected○ Jesse picking up a hammer in Breaking Bad was

copied from Butch’s scene in Pulp Fiction.

JenkinsEng 12CP

What is intertextuality? What are some examples.

How does it relate to the theory of one story.What are archetypes?

What is their role in the theory of one story.

“Don’t bother looking for the originals, though. You can’t find the archetype, just as you can’t find the pure myths.”

○ Family Guy made a parody (spoof) of Star Wars○ all work interacts with others, and so on

■ this creates a “world wide web” of writing

● this is further evidence of the one story theory○ every story is connected to a story preceding it.

● archetypes are patterns○ similar to a motif, it is a repeating idea or concept○ archetypes are common personality types that repeat

themselves in stories.■ ex.) the hero, the innocent, the rebel, etc.

○ “...[archetypes] take on power with repetition, and find strength in numbers.”

● Archetypes further support the one story theory. They create the idea that there are a few common character types that keep being told over and over again in stories.

● every archetype found in lit. is a version of an earlier one○ we can’t trace archetypes back to their roots○ [thought] perhaps the mystery of the archetype’s

origin is part of the myth

SUMMARY: “One Story” in How to Read Literature Like a Professor expresses the idea that every story ever told is contributed to one giant story, known as the one story theory. Thomas Foster continues in saying that pure originality does not exist. You cannot create a story of new words or phrases that have never been used before. “Amnesia” is the state of mind were a writer is uninfluenced by any other work they have seen before. Still, this state of mind can never be achieved due to subconscious thoughts. The concept of intertextuality, all texts are connected, is further evidence of this one story logic. Finally, archetypes, or common character traits, have been expressed in stories throughout generations farther back than we can trace. The idea of a hero, a villain, a creator, etc have been used since the beginning of storytelling. These common character qualities present yet another source of proof supporting this “one story” theory.

JenkinsEng 12CP