The Road Less Traveled Project 2008

In his famous poem The Road Not Taken, American Poet-Laureate, Robert Frost muses:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

For your final independent reading project at SGS, I want you to “take a road less traveled by” as you complete the following challenges between now and mid-May. You will submit your completed packet to the Women Fly folders on Monday, May 19th. Your goal will be to continue the life-long process of exploring experiences using a literary / humanities lens, a method of exploration that you first employed with your African-American/Black History Month project in February and continued to perfect with your Women’s History Month exploration in March. My dream for you remains the same: that you’ll develop a passion for knowing in a real way and for finding meaning in a life-changing way through an ongoing exploration of stories and their impact on our shared yet varied experience.

This time around, you have two figurative roads in front of you…and yes, they are diverging! You may either go in a direction that calls to you because of some affinity you might feel for its perceived destination…OR… you may take the path that leads you to unfamiliar, uncharted terrain. It’s your choice!

(Translation s’il vous plait!! You may choose between an investigation of some experience or issue you know a bit about and want to further explore…OR…you may choose an experience or issue that you know nothing about but realize it might be interesting to investigate.

For example, for the first, more familiar path, I might choose something to do with some aspect of World War II that I feel I need to know more about. I’m busily writing a book about World War II, so I consider myself fairly well-versed in some aspects of that event…but there are definitely areas I could meaningfully explore, such as the Luftwaffe’s (German Air Force) strategies and protocol as they sought to defend the Fatherland against the devastation caused by the strategic bombing raids of the U.S. 8th Air Force. To this end I would probably choose to read something like Angels of Death: Göring’s Luftwaffe by Edwin Palmer Hoyt or Betrayed Ideals: Memoirs of a Luftwaffe Fighter Ace by Hans-Ekkardt Bob. (Coincidently, both books are in the rather impressive stack that is steadily growing by the bedstead!)

For the second diverging path, I might decide to explore a phenomenon that I was recently introduced to through an article I read in Bitch Magazine (byline: feminist response to pop culture) – that is, the concept of virtual reality worlds! In order to further explore this titillating new notion (at least it’s new to me!) I might choose to read Tim Guest’s Second Lives: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds or Wagner James Au’s The Making of Second Life: Notes from the New World. (Hint: Second Life is the name of a virtual reality world that is readily accessible online.) I might then move onto Second Life for Dummies…and from there…who knows??

Here are the details of this last challenge:

1. Choose your path – either the familiar one that will lead you deeper into a woods of meaning you’ve already entered before…or the unfamiliar one that will lead you to a place you may have yet to imagine.

2. Write a “pre-informed” reflection (1-3 pages, word-processed, double spaced), due Wednesday, April 23, at 9 am that addresses the following considerations:

- Why did you choose the topic/issue/event/era/culture/experience/person you chose?

- What is it you hope to further explore?

- If you chose to delve deeper into something you’re already familiar with, outline what you know about your subject and what aspect of your knowledge you hope to deepen.

- If you chose to investigate something you know little about, highlight what attracted you to this topic and briefly imagine what you might find as you head down this path.

3. Then do a bit of online research, peruse the 8th grade library shelves and/or talk with me about possible topics to explore. Again, your goal is to simply wander a bit until you find something that engages your curiosity. Some of you will know right away what you want to investigate, others will take a while…both ways are fine! The important thing is to light on a topic that truly captivates you and holds your attention in a meaningful (versus prurient) way! Be sure to note all internet sites that prove informative and include them at the end of your “post-informed” reflection, due on May 19th. (See #5 below)

4. Find and then read a book that directly relates to your chosen topic. Be sure that you write the requisite three Reading Journal entries (two to peers, one to me) as you process through your selection, and when you’ve finished, write an engaging GoodReads book review in our Reading Workshop 2008 Group site.

5. Once you’ve finished your book, write the “post-informed reflection” mentioned above. In it, be sure to address the following considerations:

- How has your knowledge/awareness grown or deepened through this investigation? (List at least three specifics that you now know that you weren’t aware of before.)


- How has your vision or insight changed or expanded as a result of this newfound knowledge/awareness?

- How might you use or apply the knowledge / awareness you’ve gained in your daily life?

- Do you think that you’ll investigate this topic further? Why or why not?

To make this project even more engaging and meaningful, choose at least one of the following extension activities to heighten your experience…or, if you dare, try to do all of them!!

1. Find and view a film that deals with your topic. Using the customary form, submit a film review.

2. Find a song that addresses aspects of the topic you’ve chosen. Submit an e-copy of the lyrics to my SGS email account. (You know the drill!!)

3. Find a poem or oral tradition piece that addresses aspects of the topic you’ve chosen. While you won’t be called upon to deliver this poem in a formal classroom setting, spend some time reading and re-reading the poem / oral piece so that you fully plumb its depths. Again, submit an e-copy to my SGS account.

4. Generate an original work of art that expresses some poignant aspect of your topic. This could take the form of a static art piece, a poem, a song, a video…whatever creative outlet you choose. (Due May 19th)

5. Find someone who has had direct experience with your chosen topic, conduct a 1-2 hour conversation/interview with her/him…and then write a 1-2 page reflection on that conversation, highlighting new awareness and shared appreciations. (See me first, if you choose this path!)


And there you have it! Strive to thoroughly enjoy this adventure in the spirit of Helen Keller’s observation:

Life is but a daring adventure or nothing!



(Warning: We will informally present our topics to our core-mates in the week of May 19th.)