English 10HP

We checked out copies of Richard Wright's Black Boy. I gave a brief introduction, including what to look for as you read. I gave you a bookmark with the following information:

If you own your own copy, please underline and write in the margins. Otherwise, use post-it notes to take notes in the text.

Hunger
Consider both literal and figurative hunger.

Survival Strategies
Mark survival strategies as they are used and taught.

Education
Consider formal and informal aspects of education. Also consider how education differed by race.

Dreams

Terms of Oppression / Racism
Look for examples of racism and oppression.

Components of Naturalism
Look for how Wright is controlled by his environment, how he is detached / objective in portraying events, and how he is pessimistic.

Homework:

Read Black Boy.

Due Ch. Pages
2/5 1-5 3-144
2/6 6-8 145-178
2/9 9-10 179-207
2/10 11-12 208-243
2/12 13-14 244-257

English 9HP

We watched a film entitled Why Shakespeare? Again, I mentioned that Shakespeare's greatness lies in his understanding of human nature and his beautiful use of language, not originality of plot. We translated "The Prologue" of Romeo and Juliet, and afterward, we viewed "The Prologue" of the Baz Luhrmann production of the play.

Homework:
Read Like Water for Chocolate.

English 10HP

We attended a school-wide assembly by Focus the Nation in Barnum Hall. We viewed a short clip from Who Killed the Electric Car? Paul Scott of Plug in America spoke.

English 9HP

I gave a little background information on William Shakespeare. After defining tragedy, I presented you with several scenarios and you determined whether each was a tragedy or catastrophe.

Homework: For tomorrow, read the short article by Sydney Harris. And for Feb. 11, read Ch.1-6 pf Like Water for Chocolate.

English 10HP

We spent the period in the library where Ms. Bart-Bell did "book talks." You selected your first independent reading book of the semester, a memoir/an autobiography by a person of a different race/ethnicity/sexual orientation. It will fit nicely with our study of Black Boy, in which we will explore how Wright's environment shaped his identity.

English 9HP

We visited the textbook office today to get copies of Like Water for Chocolate. I defined Magical Realism and provided some background information, including the title's meaning. With your new knowledge, you made predictions about the book.

Homework:
Read Ch.1-6 (January-June) for Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Welcome to Second Semester

I presented an overview of spring semester Afterward, I guided you through an exercise designed to improve your writing style. You created three "classy" sentences.

English 10HP

You analyzed Emily Dickinson's poem "Much Madness Is Divinest Sense," and you connected it to Catcher.

Homework:
*Don't forget to bring all of your writing (your essays and at least one other piece) and your books on exam day.

English 9HP

You prepared for "The Final," a Stand-up Socratic Seminar on Night.

The question: Why is Elie Wiesel's book Night relevant today? Provide reasons (relevance) and supporting passages.

Please Note: If you missed Friday's "Bug Debate," prepare a short (1-2 page) essay on one side. The statement on the form will serve as your "thesis."

Homework:
*Finish your preparation form (due exam day).
*Don't forget to bring all of your writing (your essays and at least one other piece) and your books on exam day.

English 9HP

We finished our discussion of Ch. 3 of The Metamorphosis, focusing primarily on the religious symbolism. Then you began your homework, the "Bug Debate" preparation form. Be sure to include passages and explanation for both sides. Be ready for a graded debate/discussion tomorrow!

Homework:
*Finish your "Bug Debate" form.
*Don't forget to bring all of your writing (your three essays and independent reading projects/letters) on exam day.

English 10HP

Three groups presented today! The rest of you present tomorrow.

Homework:
*Don't forget to bring your Catcher books on Tuesday and exam day.
*Bring all of your writing (your three essays and independent reading projects/letters) on exam day.

English 10HP

You met in your groups and continued planning your symbol presentations. The first three groups present tomorrow! The rest of you present on Friday.

Homework:
Bring all your essays from the semester with you on the day of the final.

English 9HP

As promised, you took a reading quiz on chapter 3 of The Metamorphosis. Afterward, we began discussing the chapter, interpreting various symbols.

Homework:
Finish Night (due 1/20).
Bring a completed Socratic Seminar preparation form (I'll give it to you 1/20) and all essays from this semester on the day of the final.

English 10HP

I introduced The Catcher in the Rye symbolism presentation assignment. Then I modeled a presentation for a Catcher symbol, a seemingly ordinary vinyl record entitled "Little Shirley Beans." Afterward, using the presentation rubric I gave you, you evaluated me (you were a tough crowd!). Finally, you selected one of six symbols and began working with your group to prepare your presentation. The assignment is as follows:

Catcher Symbolism Presentations

You group’s task is to prepare a presentation on your assigned symbol from Catcher in the Rye.
Symbols
Holden’s red hunting hat
The Museum of Natural History and its mummies
The ducks in Central Park
The carousel
Kings in the Back Row
Allie’s baseball mitt

Your presentation must include the following:

1.) Describe the symbolic image, including its context. Quote a passage that shows typical use of the image and includes most of the essential elements of the image.
2.) Explain why we should look beyond the image’s literal meaning. How does the author encourage us to look beyond the literal meaning of the image? Discuss all the ways that apply to your image.
-How is it unrealistic, unlikely, or out of the ordinary in its context?
-How is it irrelevant to the plot of the novel?
-Does the image recur, as a whole or in part?
3.) How is the image “attached” to a character (Holden)? Does he own it? Does he have a strong feeling (affection, dislike, fascination, curiosity, attraction) toward it?
4.) What is the symbolic meaning of the image? How does it reinforce Holden’s character (his values, beliefs, personality, behavior)? How does it contribute to a theme of Catcher in the Rye? In logical sequence, one point at a time, explain how each aspect of the image suggests an aspect of what you claim it symbolizes. This should be the most developed part of your presentation. Be clear, logical, and detailed in your explanation. Pretend you are explaining the symbolism to a child.
5.) How does the timing of the image’s appearances help reinforce its symbolic meaning? For example, in a book where roses symbolize love, the author might include freshly blooming roses in the setting on the day that Bob and Gilda fall in love; and later on the author might show us dry withered roses on the day that Bob and Gilda, their love sour, say good-bye forever.

Homework:
*If necessary, work on symbol presentations. Groups will present Thursday and Friday.
*Bring all of your essays with you on exam day (you'll be reflecting on your growth as a writer and compiling your work in a portfolio). On that day, you will also complete a culminating assignment for The Catcher in the Rye.

English 9HP

Today was a much-needed reading day.

Homework:
***Read Ch. 3 of The Metamorphosis (quiz tomorrow).
**Finish Night (due next Tuesday).
*Bring all of your essays with you on exam day (you'll be reflecting on your growth as a writer and compiling your work in a portfolio) along with your Socratic Seminar preparation form for Night (I'll be giving the forms to you next Tuesday).

English 10HP

As promised, you took a reading quiz on The Catcher in the Rye. Afterward, we read and discussed a New York Times article written about the book.

English 9HP

The Metamorphosis is an allegory, so we began interpreting the various characters, objects, and events as symbols.

Homework:
Bring both books to class tomorrow (as promised, it will be a reading day).
Read Part Three of The Metamorphosis (due Wednesday).
Finish Night (due Tuesday, Jan. 20).

English 9HP

I noted a few revisions to our semester schedule. Then, individually, you selected a passage that you marked and prepared for a literature circle discussion. After meeting in small groups, you reflected on one of the following:
*During the discussion, I disagreed about...
*Until this discussion, I never thought about...
*I wish I had said...
*Something I learned that will enhance my understanding of Night is...

Homework:
*Letters About Literature are due Monday! In addition to providing me with a hard copy, you must upload it to www.turnitin.com.
*Read Part II of The Metamorphosis (due Monday).

English 10HP

You submitted your Letters About Literature. Some of you volunteered to read your letters aloud. After, in preparation for Monday's deadline, you read The Catcher in the Rye.

Homework:
Finish The Catcher in the Rye (due Monday).

English 9HP

I provided a definition of allegory, and we discussed Part One of Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

Homework:
*Read p.1-43 of Night (due tomorrow!). Don't forget to mark key passages, using Post-it notes.
*Write a Letter About Literature on your independent book (due Monday). Please submit a hard copy and upload it to turnitin.com.
*Read Part Two of The Metamorphosis (due Monday).

English 10HP

In agree/disagree format, we discussed several statements addressed in The Catcher in the Rye. Here are the statements:

1.) You have to let children make mistakes so they can learn from their decisions.

2.) Life would be better for everyone if everything stayed the same.

3.) A child’s innnocence should always be protected from the harsh things of the world.

4.) To conform to what the majority believes is to be fake and admit no individuality.

Homework:
*Your Letter About Literature on your independent book is due tomorrow! In addition to submitting a hard copy of your letter to me, please upload it to turnitin.com before tomorrow's class.
*Read The Catcher in the Rye (due Monday).

English 9HP

Because The Metamorphosis has such a strong autobiographical component, I presented some biographical information on Franz Kafka. We discussed Kafka's drawing of himself as a bug.

Homework:
Read Part One of The Metamorphosis (due tomorrow).
Read p.1-43 of Night (due Friday).
Write your Letter About Literature on your independent book (due Monday).

English 10HP

Today I gave you a little background on J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye. To frame your reading, we spent a chunk of time interpreting Robert Burns' poem entitled "Comin' Thro the Rye."

Homework:
Read The Catcher in the Rye (due Monday).
Write your Letter About Literature on your independent book (due Friday).

English 10HP

I introduced The Catcher in the Rye, and we began reading!

Homework:
Write your Letter About Literature on your independent book (due Friday).
Read Catcher (due Monday).

English 9HP

I introduced Franz Kafka's novella, Metamorphosis. We read two translations of the first line and discussed the subtle differences.

Homework:
Write your Letter About Literature on your independent book (due Monday).
Read Part One of Metamorphosis (due Thursday).
Read p.1-43 of Night (due Friday).

Welcome Back!

It was a low-key day; we updated grade sheets (I passed back your essays and posted your grades). After, I introduced your independent reading book assignment, writing a letter about literature. The goal is simply to tell the author how his or her work made a difference in your life. We read and discussed two sample letters.

Homework:
*We're going to the textbook room tomorrow, so bring your student id and your book!
*Do a little brainstorming for your letter. Consider the following questions:
1.) Why do you have strong feelings about the book? Why did you react the way you did?
2.) Did the characters, conflict, or setting mirror your life in some way?
3.) What strengths or flaws do you share with a character or characters in the book?
4.) What did the book show you about your world that you never noticed before?
5.) What surprised you about yourself while you were reading this book?