Today’s Assignment
*Choose an important quote from pages 1-95.
*Develop a collage of images that depicts the quote. Images can be literal, symbolic, or both.
*Write a thorough explanation of the significance of the quote. (4-6 sentences) If possible, discuss how the quote relates to a major theme, how it shows an internal/external conflict, how it shows a character change/ epiphany, etc...
Speaker & Spoken To…
*Use 2-4 slides
*Complete by the end of class & be ready to present on Friday.
Homework:
Read 96-110:
3-Intersting Details
2-Questions
1-Connection
Possible Quiz on Part II- tomorrow!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Ray Bradbury's Website
Interesting information about the author of Fahrenheit 451. Video clips of the author are available.
Censorship in Schools
An interesting editorial from USA Today regarding school censorship of student publications.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Dialectical Notes
I had trouble pasting the sample onto the blog. Basically, you are citing quotes that you found interesting or important on the left side of your paper, and then you put your thoughts, questions and ideas on the right hand side. For Wednesday, you are to read to page 32 and complete 1 1/2-2 pages of dialectical notes.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Fahrenheit 451 Scavenger Hunt
PRESENTATIONS ARE FRIDAY!!!
Research the following and present in Powerpoint format. Include website URL's to cite information. Keep it interesting! Include pictures and backgrounds.
Beware of novel spoilers!
1. Discover the meaning of the title.
2. Find out historical examples of book burning.
3. Find out current examples of book censorship.
4. Find out author background. (Ray Bradbury)
5. What does the author say about many people's interpretation that the novel is about censorship?
6. Find some reputable data about televsion viewing and Internet usage (hours) vs. book reading in the U.S.
7. If time allows, find any other interesting facts about the author, novel, themes, and/ or related issues.
Research the following and present in Powerpoint format. Include website URL's to cite information. Keep it interesting! Include pictures and backgrounds.
Beware of novel spoilers!
1. Discover the meaning of the title.
2. Find out historical examples of book burning.
3. Find out current examples of book censorship.
4. Find out author background. (Ray Bradbury)
5. What does the author say about many people's interpretation that the novel is about censorship?
6. Find some reputable data about televsion viewing and Internet usage (hours) vs. book reading in the U.S.
7. If time allows, find any other interesting facts about the author, novel, themes, and/ or related issues.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Mango Street Page 74-93
1. Compare yourself with something found in nature as Esperanza does with "Four Skinny Trees."
2. What emotions do you feel for Mamacita? Why do you feel the color pink is used throughout this vignette?
3. Reflect on Rafaela being "locked up" because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at.
4. Have you ever felt like Sally? Have you ever wished your "feet would one day keep walking" and take you away from your surroundings?
2. What emotions do you feel for Mamacita? Why do you feel the color pink is used throughout this vignette?
3. Reflect on Rafaela being "locked up" because her husband is afraid Rafaela will run away since she is too beautiful to look at.
4. Have you ever felt like Sally? Have you ever wished your "feet would one day keep walking" and take you away from your surroundings?
Monday, November 12, 2007
A Separate Peace Essay - Due Monday, November 19th (Have a printed copy ready upon arrival to class!)
Introduction
John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is the story of Gene Forrester who struggles to come to grips with the guilt over his role in a traumatic event from his childhood. The novel, told as a flashback from the perspective of an adult Gene, looks back at his friendship with a private school classmate and Gene’s destructive feelings of jealousy, fear, and anger.
Assignment:
Write a 3-5 page literary analysis that explores in depth a theme from the novel. (See honors option assignment below)
Structure:
You might want to think of a five-paragraph structure, but feel free to expand on that if you need to adequately explore your topic.
Intro:
Introduction
John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is the story of Gene Forrester who struggles to come to grips with the guilt over his role in a traumatic event from his childhood. The novel, told as a flashback from the perspective of an adult Gene, looks back at his friendship with a private school classmate and Gene’s destructive feelings of jealousy, fear, and anger.
Assignment:
Write a 3-5 page literary analysis that explores in depth a theme from the novel. (See honors option assignment below)
Structure:
You might want to think of a five-paragraph structure, but feel free to expand on that if you need to adequately explore your topic.
Intro:
Include a “hook”, background information, and a thesis statement. It should clearly lay out what you are going to argue.
Body:
Body:
Provide analysis and supporting evidence. Mention several key events or moments from the novel. Include at least three carefully chosen quotes (honors option students need to include at least six quotes.) to help capture larger ideas from the novel. Blend them in with your own writing. Be sure to relate each body paragraph to your overall point/thesis.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Wrap up your argument and provide final thoughts or ideas related to your main idea.
Reminders:
Reminders:
This is a literary essay so there should be no uses of “I” or “you.” Include a title that captures interest.
Requirements:
Your essay should have the following things:
*A clear argument of opinion and purpose expressed in a thesis statement and introduction
*Numerous accurate supporting details and events from the novel that directly backs up your opinions
Requirements:
Your essay should have the following things:
*A clear argument of opinion and purpose expressed in a thesis statement and introduction
*Numerous accurate supporting details and events from the novel that directly backs up your opinions
*The required number of properly cited quotes from the novel
*Accurate and insightful analysis of the novel
*Generally correct grammar and mechanics.
*Accurate and insightful analysis of the novel
*Generally correct grammar and mechanics.
A Separate Peace Essential Questions
*Use may wish to use these to help develop your thesis statement.
What causes jealousy between friends?
What factors seem to be a threat to friendship?
Is war a necessary evil?
Is sin inevitable?
Is redemption possible?
How should we deal with guilt?
Does competition bring out the best or worst in people?
Is the loss of innocence inevitable?
What does the author’s attitude toward war seem to be?
What does the author’s attitude toward human nature seem to be?
How do the effects of war on this generation compare to the effects on the boys in the novel?
Do we need to accept the reality of evil in the human heart & world to survive?
What causes jealousy between friends?
What factors seem to be a threat to friendship?
Is war a necessary evil?
Is sin inevitable?
Is redemption possible?
How should we deal with guilt?
Does competition bring out the best or worst in people?
Is the loss of innocence inevitable?
What does the author’s attitude toward war seem to be?
What does the author’s attitude toward human nature seem to be?
How do the effects of war on this generation compare to the effects on the boys in the novel?
Do we need to accept the reality of evil in the human heart & world to survive?
A Separate Peace Theme Paper-Honors
Theme in Literature
A theme is the main message a reader can learn about life or human nature from a literary piece. Compare and contrast a theme from A Separate Peace and The Kite Runner. In a well-organized essay, describe this theme. Use textual examples from the stories to support your ideas and explain how they support the theme.
As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:
develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
support your thesis with meaningful examples and references from the text, carefully citing any direct quotes.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
A theme is the main message a reader can learn about life or human nature from a literary piece. Compare and contrast a theme from A Separate Peace and The Kite Runner. In a well-organized essay, describe this theme. Use textual examples from the stories to support your ideas and explain how they support the theme.
As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:
develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
support your thesis with meaningful examples and references from the text, carefully citing any direct quotes.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
A Separate Peace Theme Paper- Non-Honors
Theme in Literature
A theme is the main message a reader can learn about life or human nature from a literary piece. From A Separate Peace, identify a theme that the reader may learn from the story. In a well-organized essay, describe this theme. Use textual examples from the story to support your ideas and explain how they support the theme.
As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:
develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
support your thesis with meaningful examples and references from the text, carefully citing any direct quotes.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer
A theme is the main message a reader can learn about life or human nature from a literary piece. From A Separate Peace, identify a theme that the reader may learn from the story. In a well-organized essay, describe this theme. Use textual examples from the story to support your ideas and explain how they support the theme.
As you write, remember your essay will be scored based on how well you:
develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your thesis to the audience.
support your thesis with meaningful examples and references from the text, carefully citing any direct quotes.
organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.
edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.
Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Jealousy: A Voice of Possessiveness Past
An interesting look at the "evolution" of jealousy. What are your thoughts?
A Separate Peace: The Fall
Chapters 1-5 Blog Assignment:
Was jouncing the limb a planned, conscious decision on Gene’s part or an impulsive act? Examine the dialogue and the events that occur just before and after the fall. Why might Gene have wanted to see Finny fall? How does Gene feel immediately afterward, and why might he feel this way? Why does Gene later wear Finny’s clothing? Evaluate Finny's reaction to Gene's "confession." Use details/ quotes from the novel to support your conclusions. Please feel free to include a comment about another student's post.
Was jouncing the limb a planned, conscious decision on Gene’s part or an impulsive act? Examine the dialogue and the events that occur just before and after the fall. Why might Gene have wanted to see Finny fall? How does Gene feel immediately afterward, and why might he feel this way? Why does Gene later wear Finny’s clothing? Evaluate Finny's reaction to Gene's "confession." Use details/ quotes from the novel to support your conclusions. Please feel free to include a comment about another student's post.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
"Flowers" by Alice Walker (Deepening Our Understanding)
Part of the difficulty that many students had comprehending this story has to do with the lack of background knowlege of the lynchings that have taken place in our country. Students also missed little details throughout the story that would have helped determine the racial background of the characters. Many students missed the descriptions of Myop's hands. Others, depite the definition being given to them, did not know what a noose was. Unfortunately, this part of our Nation's history has recently made headlines. Sadly, many of our BHS students have not heard of the "Jena 6." Here is an excerpt from the link below:
http://www.slate.com/id/2174600/
"The hard evidence of racism in Jena showed up months before the assault, in the form of a noose tied to an oak tree. This incident was straight out of a story from the Old South: A black student at Jena High School asked at a student assembly if he could sit under a large oak tree that was unofficially called the "white tree" because white students gathered under it in Jena High's informally segregated campus. The principal told the assembly that any student could sit wherever he or she liked. After the assembly, several black students sat under the "white tree." The next day, white students hung three nooses from the tree. The school principal recommended their expulsion, but the school board instead suspended them from school for three days" (slate.com)
Here is some background information on lynchings:
"It Happened Here" (REQUIRED READING)
Duluth residents face the painful lessons of a 1920 lynching.
by Tim Walker
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?p=0&is=33&ar=452
"Lynching"-Wikipedia- Scroll down to "Unit
ed States"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching#United_States
The Scottsboro Case was called a “legal lynching”. The Scottsboro Boys were nearly lynched, quickly tried, and sentenced to death for supposedly raping two white women in a railroad car near Scottsboro, Alabama.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/
Your assignment-Due Friday:
What have you learned about this topic of lynching that you did not already know? How can this information help you to better understand the story? What is your reaction to "Jena 6"?
http://www.slate.com/id/2174600/
"The hard evidence of racism in Jena showed up months before the assault, in the form of a noose tied to an oak tree. This incident was straight out of a story from the Old South: A black student at Jena High School asked at a student assembly if he could sit under a large oak tree that was unofficially called the "white tree" because white students gathered under it in Jena High's informally segregated campus. The principal told the assembly that any student could sit wherever he or she liked. After the assembly, several black students sat under the "white tree." The next day, white students hung three nooses from the tree. The school principal recommended their expulsion, but the school board instead suspended them from school for three days" (slate.com)
Here is some background information on lynchings:
"It Happened Here" (REQUIRED READING)
Duluth residents face the painful lessons of a 1920 lynching.
by Tim Walker
http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?p=0&is=33&ar=452
"Lynching"-Wikipedia- Scroll down to "Unit
ed States"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynching#United_States
The Scottsboro Case was called a “legal lynching”. The Scottsboro Boys were nearly lynched, quickly tried, and sentenced to death for supposedly raping two white women in a railroad car near Scottsboro, Alabama.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/
Your assignment-Due Friday:
What have you learned about this topic of lynching that you did not already know? How can this information help you to better understand the story? What is your reaction to "Jena 6"?
Monday, September 24, 2007
Bab O'Riley
Here are some interpreatations of the song we listened to in class today prior to reading "Teenage Wasteland." What do you think the song is about?
Baba O'Riley- Wikipedia
Here's what was found on wikipedia. Remeber that you can't always trust what is on here as anyone can post something as a fact.
Friday, September 21, 2007
"Initiation" by Sylvia Plath- Hazing Links
Please comment on the following article in relation to our reading of "Initiation." What do initiation rites reveal about human nature? What are your thoughts/ reactions to this article? Feel refer to refer to the short story as well.
The quest to stamp out hazing Initiation rites have deep roots in human history, psychology By STEVE URBON, Standard-Times senior correspondent
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/09-06/09-03-06/02topstories.htm
Hazing Defined:
“Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. In years past, hazing practices were typically considered harmless pranks or comical antics associated with young men in college fraternities.
Today we know that hazing extends far beyond college fraternities and is experienced by boys/men and girls/women in school groups, university organizations, athletic teams, the military, and other social and professional organizations. Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organization and within a particular cultural context.
Hazing activities are generally considered to be: physically abusive, hazardous, and/or sexually violating. The specific behaviors or activities within these categories vary widely among participants, groups and settings. While alcohol use is common in many types of hazing, other examples of typical hazing practices include: personal servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene; yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public; consumption of vile substances or smearing of such on one's skin; brandings; physical beatings; binge drinking and drinking games; sexual simulation and sexual assault. (StopHazing.org)
"The Quest to Stamp Out Hazing"
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/09-06/09-03-06/02topstories.htm
The quest to stamp out hazing Initiation rites have deep roots in human history, psychology By STEVE URBON, Standard-Times senior correspondent
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/09-06/09-03-06/02topstories.htm
Hazing Defined:
“Hazing” refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate. In years past, hazing practices were typically considered harmless pranks or comical antics associated with young men in college fraternities.
Today we know that hazing extends far beyond college fraternities and is experienced by boys/men and girls/women in school groups, university organizations, athletic teams, the military, and other social and professional organizations. Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organization and within a particular cultural context.
Hazing activities are generally considered to be: physically abusive, hazardous, and/or sexually violating. The specific behaviors or activities within these categories vary widely among participants, groups and settings. While alcohol use is common in many types of hazing, other examples of typical hazing practices include: personal servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene; yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public; consumption of vile substances or smearing of such on one's skin; brandings; physical beatings; binge drinking and drinking games; sexual simulation and sexual assault. (StopHazing.org)
"The Quest to Stamp Out Hazing"
http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/09-06/09-03-06/02topstories.htm
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