Monthly Archive September 26, 2018

Destiny motifs

Destiny Motifs

Dogood wrote an expository essay on destiny motifs.  He had a difficult time starting the essay as reminders of all the essays he had written over the years, most of them fictional and still in his imagination, distracted him. He saw the light when he recalled a definition he gave at a teachers’ workshop.  “An expository essay is a type of writing in which the writer exposes a topic or exposes themselves to the topic.”

Do you believe in destiny, a predetermined cause of events? If so then there must be little markers or patterns or motifs that direct you along your path of life. For instance, the motif of wood in the life of Jesus– He was born in a manger to a carpenter and died on the cross. I will use two stories from the Bible to illustrate destiny motifs: Moses the waterman and the dressing and undressing of Joseph.

Judge Dogood Interviews the Interviewers

Dogood was at another interview. It had gone well, or so he thought. He had answered all the questions effortlessly.
There were three panelists, two of them male.

“Mr. Dogood, Do you have any questions for us?’

“Thank you. I have a couple. I printed them out.”
Dogood took the questions from his document folder.

“You came prepared.” One of the panelists said.

“Thank you. You can answer the questions in any order.” Dogood said as he gave them the questions.

 Dogood had printed twelve questions.

Judge Dogood’s Vocabulary Lesson

Dogood was invited to Maranda County to talk to language teachers on creative ways of teaching vocabulary.

“With new words being coined every day how are we expected to master the core vocabulary?”  Dogood introduced his presentation.

“The English language has many words, with many unpredictable spellings and pronunciations. Just when you think you have mastered the pronunciations of words starting with ‘ch’, you come across words like chinook, chimera, chacma baboon. How are they pronounced and what do they mean?

“With all the 21st Century distractions, the job of the language teacher has just become impossible. To say that you are expected to be imaginative, creative and resourceful is not even stating the obvious. That is why we have to use short stories, flash fiction and anecdotes to teach specific vocabulary items.

Judge Dogood at a Job Interview

Judge Dogood sat in an active posture as he responded passively to the interview questions. The questions were mundane; maybe he had over-prepared for the interview.

“Tell us about yourself?”

“Where did you go to school?”

“Why did you study English and Literature?”

“Why did you apply for this job?”

“Why do you think you are the best candidate for this job?”

“How did you learn about the job opening?”

He had prepared well. He was in a grey suit, a royal blue starched shirt and a maroon silk tie. This was a rarity for him. He has always considered suits and especially ties a choke on creativity. He could tell he was smart by the expressions he got when he walked in. Dogood had even prepared on how to study the interviewers. As he was answering questions he would take time to study their body language and facial expressions. He had been rehearsing for a week.

Before answering each question he would pause as a way of adding thoughtfulness to his answers. There were six panelists in all; two females.

So far so good. They were nodding along to his answers, and not out of politeness, but in agreement and out of convictions. He had them and he had the job.