AP Language Archives
May 13, 2011f you were absent today, complete the following assignment at home.
For this assignment you will look at art, poetry, and music from the Harlem Renaissance. Your assignment is on your handout, but you can access all the links here.
MUSIC LINKS:
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_ellington_duke.htm
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/beat/ - look at Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong
1. Look at the following paintings and photograph:
Street Life, Harlem by William H. Johnson
Jeunesse by Palmer Hayden
Evening Attire by James VanDerZee
Respond to the paintings and photograph. In your response, include such things as the colors, mood, composition, and feelings the paintings express.
2. Listen to Langston Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Respond to the poem.
3. Go to the Harlem Renaissance Websites list and choose one of the following artists, musicians, or poets.
1. artist Jacob Lawrence
2. artist William H. Johnson
3. musician Duke Ellington
4. musician Bessie Smith
5. poet Langston Hughes
6. poet Countee Cullen
In addition to the resources for specific artists, look at the general websites included at the beginning of the list - many of these contain information about the artists as well.
HW: Work on final portfolio, due Tuesday at the beginning of class. Here is your final portfolio sheet: Download file here. I have your Gatsby responses for Chs. 2-3.
May 12, 20116th Period: EOCT
4th Period: Work in groups on final project.
May 11, 2011AP EXAM!
May 10, 20114th Period: EOCT
6th Period: Final review for AP Exam.
May 9, 2011Final review for AP Exam.
May 6, 2011Style Analysis Practice:
1. Read the four prompts provided and complete the following for EACH prompt:
a. write a thesis statement
b. list rhetorical devices w/ examples (lines numbers are fine, as many as you can find in the piece)
c. identify what you think are the THREE most important devices
d. write a body paragraph for one of the devices
We'll discuss in class on Monday.
May 5, 2011EOCT Review Sheet - Grammar and Writing
Review literary periods and grammar.
Finish going over course terms.For more grammar review, try these links from OWL at Purdue:
May 3, 2011Finish going over practice AP Exam.
HW: Course terms due tomorrow!
May 2, 2011We continued going over the practice exam.
HW: Course Terms for Wednesday
April 27, 2011Schedule for the final unit - Download the schedule here.
Forms for AP Exams - see Mrs. Rumfelt to get if you were absent.
Modernist Poetry Group Work - see Mrs. Rumfelt to make up if you were absent.
Course Terms Assignment - due next Wednesday. Download assignment here.
April 26, 2011Here is the schedule for the week of EOCTs if you would like a copy:
EOCT Testing Schedule - May 9 -13
Finish viewing Gatsby.
Start Modernist Poetry Unit.
April 25, 2011View Gatsby film
HW: Work on outside novel projects.
April 22, 2011Gatsby Test - see Mrs. Rumfelt to make up if you were absent.
April 20, 2011Work on literary techniques in Gatsby - imagery and juxtaposition.
HW: Test on Friday!
April 18, 2011Research Papers due TODAY!
Please submit your paper to turnitin.com by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, April 19.
Instructions were handed out in class. See Mrs. Rumfelt if you need help.
Gatsby seminar tomorrow.
March 30, 2011You worked on your research papers today.
HW: Rough draft due Friday. See the March 29 post for details regarding the rough draft due date change.
Gatsby: We've slowed down a bit with Gatsby so you can focus on your research paper. I'd like for you to finish through Chapter 7 for the Monday after spring break, and complete the following reader's journal: Download Chs. 6-7 Assignment
Outside Novel: See March 16 post for details regarding your first due date.
March 29, 2011Research Work Day: You worked on your research papers today.
*I will be out again tomorrow. I would like to discuss your rough drafts with you before you turn them in, so I am extending the deadline as follows:
-Rough drafts are due at 3:45 pm on Friday.
-I will accept them on the Monday after spring break without penalty. They will be due at the BEGINNING of your class period that day. I will not accept them after that.
We discussed another synthesis question to prep for Friday's essay.
HW: Chapters 1-5 in Gatsby for tomorrow - Quiz!
March 22, 2011Today you were in the computer lab working on your novel projects and your research papers.
HW: Read through Chapter 5 in Gatsby by Thursday. Your assignment for Chapter 5 is to take notes as you read, noticing in particular the characterizations of Gatsby and Daisy in this chapter. Take extensive notes and choose three passages to discuss on Thursday. You will also have a quiz on Chapters 1-5.
March 21, 2011Today we discussed the first part of Gatsby. Continue reading through Chapter 5 for Thursday. Your assignment will be posted tomorrow.
HW: Research Work Day tomorrow!
March 17, 2011Media Center for research.
HW: Annotated Bib due Friday with notes and sources. Read through Chapter 4 in Gatsby for Monday. Complete journal below:
Chapter 4 - Write a response to each question below.
1. With Jordan in his arms, Nick's thinks of a phrase: "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired." How do you think this phrase reflects on the events of the novel so far? Do you think Gatsby would agree with this phrase? Explain.
2. Analyze Daisy's behavior after Gatsby goes overseas. What is revealed about her character here?
3. What evidence is there that Gatsby might be lying about his background?
Then, choose one passage (at least two paragraphs) and discuss its importance to Chapter 4.
Media Center Research
Annotated Bib, Notes, and Sources due at the END of class on Friday.
*The deadline for your first five entries on your blog for your outside novel has been extended to after Spring Break. Your entries should be finished by MIDNIGHT on Saturday, April 9.
HW: Work on research paper. We will discuss through Ch. 4 in Gatsby on Monday.
March 14, 2011We will be in the media center all week for the research paper.
Research Paper Packet:
1. Research Packet and Explanation
2. Annotated Bibliography
3. Rubric for Grading
HW: Narrow down your topic, Gatsby for Wednesday.
March 11, 2011Today we continued discussing research topics and you discussed Chapter One. Complete journal on your own (I handed it out in class).
HW: Media Center on Monday; bring change to make copies of sources and have some topics in mind when you come to class.
Continue reading Gatsby - Chs. 2 and 3 for Wednesday. Please respond to the journal topics listed below:
CHAPTER TWO
While reading Chapter Two, take notes on the following:
a. development of Myrtle's character- what details does Fitzgerald use to make her different from the East Eggers we meet in Chapter One?
b. setting
c. comparison of this scene to the one in Chapter One
Then, respond to the following in one page of writing:
Fitzgerald tries to write as if the narrator is drunk. Identify and discuss the stylistic devices he uses to show this.
CHAPTER THREE
1. What do Nick's characterizations of the guests at Gatsby's party tell us about how Nick feels about them (give examples)?
2. What sense of life in the Jazz Age do we get from the description of this party? Find one or two good examples to discuss.
3. Describe the two incidents involving cars. What role do cars seem to play in the novel so far?
Today we discussed potential research topics in class.
Gatsby Chapter One Reader's Journal
HW: Chapter One in Gatsby due tomorrow - complete reader's journal, too.
March 7, 2011Today we went over your essays on The Onion prompt.
Your Unit Four portfolios were due. If you were absent, your portfolio is due on the day you return.
If you missed the vocabulary quiz on Friday, you have until this Friday to make it up.
Then we started reading Hills Like White Elephants - annotated story and questions due tomorrow for discussion.
Text of Hills Like White Elephants
Discussion Questions
Discuss "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
HW: Vocab Quiz #2 tomorrow!
March 2, 2011Go over vocab words for Unit 2.
Modernism: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
Read and annotate poem and answer study guide questions.
I handed out your journal list for Unit 4. Due MONDAY.
Handouts:
Unit Four Readers Journal List
Prufrock - Study Guide
Prufrock - Poem
Today we went over your American novel project. If you were absent, download the handouts here:
Outside Novel Assignment
Presentation Rubric
Blog Entries Rubric
Here is the novel list: Download list.
Vocab Unit 2 - words due Wednesday.
February 23, 2011MC Practice - China passage
HW: Read and annotate Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address. Your annotations should include:
-marking the passage for important words and phrases and rhetorical devices
-listing the rhetorical devices he uses
-noting the effects of those devices
Multiple Choice Work - China passage
February 18, 2011Vocab Quiz - see Mrs. Rumfelt to make up if you were absent.
Finish discussing tone analysis; finish rewrites.
Start discussing multiple choice stems. Write multiple choice questions for the passage provided in class. Use the links here:
February 17, 2011Turn in tone writings from Wednesday.
Work on more tone analysis. See Mrs. Rumfelt to make up if you were absent.
HW: Study for your vocab quiz!
February 14, 2011Multiple Choice Monday!
Vocab Unit 1 - Word List - words due Wednesday; quiz Friday. Define and write an original sentence.
morass
noisome
oblivious
poltroon
proselyte
quasi
raillery
ribald
supine
adjunct
bellwether
caterwaul
chimerical
effete
fait accompli
hidebound
hierarchy
liturgy
vignette
mirage
Read "Desiree's Baby" and complete analysis questions.
February 11, 2011We finished discussing the American Dream poems and you turned in your synthesis essays.
February 9, 2011"Story of an Hour" Analysis practice - respond with a thesis and outline to the following prompt:
Discuss the stylistic devices that Chopin uses to create irony in "Story of an Hour"
American Dream freewrite
HW: Synthesis Essay due Friday
February 7, 2011Today we started discussing the synthesis question portion of the AP exam. You received a sample question to work on.
We also started discussing Kate Chopin's "Story of an Hour".
February 4, 2011Huck Finn Test
HW: We will continue looking at examples of Realism. Complete "Story of an Hour" assignment. Be prepared to discuss on Monday.
February 3, 2011Huck Finn-review and discuss end of book
Test Tomorrow!!!
Discuss Gettysburg Address and the end of Huck Finn.
HW: Huck Finn test on Friday!
February 1, 2011Today I handed out your course terms sheet and we discussed.
We also started the Gettysburg Address.
If you were absent, you can get both handouts from Mrs. Rumfelt tomorrow.
HW: Huck Finn journals and book due tomorrow. We will also finish discussing the Gettysburg Address.
Today we read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and you completed a response. If you were absent, the response questions are below. The story is on page 508 in your literature book.
January 27, 2011Timed Writing - Style Analysis
If you were absent, you have one week from the day you return to make up this timed writing. After that it will be a zero. Please see me to make up the essay.
HW: Continue reading Huck Finn. Bring your red literature books tomorrow!
January 26, 2011Finish discussing Huck Finn with a multiple choice practice from Ch. 17. Work on style analysis in preparation for tomorrow's in-class writing.
Assignment: Finish the novel by next Wednesday. Complete journal assignments by that date.
Download Huck Finn assignment.
HW: Read!
January 25, 2011Seminar- Huck Finn -See me to make up if you were absent.
Chps. 13-23
Hw: Timed Writing Thursday!
Finish Presenting Outlines
Timed Writings
-set goals
-discuss exam essays
Hw: discussion on chap. 13-23 in Huck Finn tomorrow
Present Outlines and Discuss Style Analysis
Hw: Read Through Ch. 23 and Complete Journals for Monday
Finish Discussing Chp 1-12
Style Analysis- Huck
HW: Bring Timed Writing Friday
Unit 4 Presentations
Discuss Huck Finn, Chp. 1-12
HW: Continue Reading
Huck Finn- discuss journal assignment for Chp. 13-23
discuss Chp. 1-12
HW: Read Huck Finn
SNOW DAY!
January 10, 2011SNOW DAY!
January 6, 2011We continued with the multiple choice from your final exam.
HW: Huck Finn quiz tomorrow!
January 5, 2011Welcome back!
We started discussing the multiple choice section of your final exam today.
-You have a Huck Finn quiz on Friday.
HW: Review Huck Finn.
December 17, 2010One timed writing down, one to go.
On Monday or Wednesday, whichever day your class has its final, you'll see another timed writing topic and four new selections with 10 or 12 multiple choice questions apiece. All together, these three scores (today's timed writing + the new timed writing + your multiple choice score) will be adjusted to represent an AP score of 1-5. Then the AP score will be translated into a grade equivalent.
There really is no way to study for the final: you've been practicing for it, however, since about the third grade.
Your recent test grades (Scarlet Letter and Romanticism / Transcendentalism) should be visible to you through HAC. If you have a question about those scores, e-mail me or come by Monday to see your tests.
Mrs. McC (lindamccord@fultonschools.org)
NO SCHOOL ON THURSDAY means no portfolio check or grade review. On Friday you'll complete a timed writing and then during your final exam period next week, you'll complete a multiple choice section and another timed writing---yes, just one.
Questions? Email Mrs. McCord at mccordl1@fultonschools.org.
If you missed today's test on The Scarlet Letter, see Mrs. McCord to make it up. You also need to bring the annotated poems of Emily Dickinson to class on Monday. Didn't get them? Forgot to take them home? No worries: Download file
Terrific seminars today! Timed writing on The Scarlet Letter tomorrow and objective test on Friday.
December 7, 2010Big finish for The Scarlet Letter over the next three days: seminar tomorrow (Bring your completed prep sheet!), timed writing on Thursday, and multiple-choice test on Friday. The only book you'll need for the rest of the week is The Scarlet Letter.
December 6, 2010Remember that you need your red book tomorrow. We'll use a hard copy of the Thoreau essay so you can annotate as we read, but the text isn't easy to read, and it will help to have the book as well. Reminder: seminar - Wednesday, timed writing - Thursday, and test - Friday---all on The Scarlet Letter.
Real AP Lang students come to Avalon Coffee House on Tuesday evening.
If you missed class, read the excerpts from "Nature" and "Self-Reliance" (pp 388-392) and "Concord Hymn" (p 393). Expect to see some version of questions 1, 2, and 3 (p 397) on your unit test.
Before class tomorrow, read chapters 15-20 of The Scarlet Letter (not the on-line summary of such chapters, but the actual chapters themselves). You'll need to finish the book by Monday, so go ahead and read as much as you can, time permitting. You will need your copy of the novel in class tomorrow.
We discussed symbols, characters, style, setting, and theme in chapters 10-14 of The Scarlet Letter. Read through chapter 20 for Friday.
In the meantime, remember to bring your RED book to class tomorrow for our conversation about Emerson. (No hall passes for absent-minded scholars!)
Keep your unit schedule ever in mind: seminar on SL next Wednesday; timed writing on SL next Thursday; test on SL next Friday.
Today we confronted our own mortality in "Psalm of Life" and "Thanatopsis." Tomorrow, we return to The Scarlet Letter to discuss the interplay of religion and psychology in chapters 10 and 11 and the literary style, symbols, and figurative language of chapters 12, 13, and 14.
Bring your US Lit books (the red one) on THURSDAY. No more hall passes for forgetful scholars.
Mrs. McC
Bring your US Lit books (the red one) tomorrow. We'll go over the basic tenets of Romanticism and the work of the Fireside (AKA Three-Name) Poets. By Wednesday, you should have read through chapter 14 of The Scarlet Letter.
If you were not in class today, ask a classmate for a copy of the character / style / symbol / theme chart we created.
---Mrs. McC
Over the Thanksgiving break, celebrate the Puritans by reading through chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter (through page 132).
Enjoy yourselves and fuel up for the dash to finals.
---Mrs. McC
Finish your open-book quiz on chapters 1-4 of The Scarlet Letter for homework, if you need to.
We watched the first 15 minutes of The Crucible in class today; we'll finish it on Monday and Tuesday.
By the time you return from the Thanksgiving holiday, you should have read through chapter 9 of The Scarlet Letter (pp 81-132).
Today in class, we took a sample multiple choice test from a previous AP exam. If you were absent, you'll find the work in your folder when you return.
By the time class begins tomorrow, you should have read the first FOUR chapters of The Scarlet Letter. Wise Puritans should observe that it's almost time for a quiz to be sure everyone is caught up.
For those of you whose travel plans will keep you from being with us on Monday and Tuesday of next week, be aware that we'll be watching The Crucible. You'll be accountable for the content, so plan to rent / borrow / download the video or---dare to think about it---READ the play.
---Mrs. McCord
In class we read "The Devil and Tom Walker." You should be able to cite evidence in the story of American capitalism and democracy, as well as indications that the power of the Puritan ethic is diminishing by this point in America's literary history.
Tonight's homework is to read through chapter 3 of The Scarlet Letter. A quiz tomorrow is not out of the range of possiblity. Such a quiz might focus on what methods of characterization Hawthorne employs in these first pages.
If you were absent Friday: Read "A Respectable Woman" on page 288 of The Scarlet Letter Related Readings and write a paragraph answering the question, "What did Mrs. Baroda mean when she said that she had 'overcome everything'?"
In class today we did a close reading of chapter one of The Scarlet Letter , looking for clues about setting, theme, symbols, and style in those first two pages. Continue reading tonight: pages: 51-61. (Tomorrow night's will be 62-72, for those who want to stay ahead.)
Bring your red US Lit book to class tomorrow!
Optional persuasion projects are due tomorrow!
Before class tomorrow, do a little research or skimming to determine the general content and purpose of the "Custom House" section of The Scarlet Letter.
You will not need a book for class tomorrow, but you do need to bring your red American Literature book to class on Wednesday for use during student presentations.
Today you took notes and we discussed the two letters in this unit, Abigail Adams's (p 204) and Crevecouer's (p 210). These notes will be included in your unit portfolios---due Monday.
Friday will be devoted to linguistics and grammar. No specific books required.
Persuasion projects are due Tuesday, as is the bulletin board for the new unit, Group 3.
And finally, as a reward to those who actually check the web site, write the sentence "I'm cybersmart" on your classwork tomorrow for a 10-point bonus. Do NOT tell your classmates about this opportunity. Such collaboration in this matter would be a breech of the AP Code of Ethics. Okay, there is no AP Code of Ethics, but if there were, this offense would violate it.
---Mrs. McCord
Poetry today, prose tomorrow. Bring your red American Literature book again tomorrow so we can read the prose selections from the unit.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any better---GRAMMAR on Friday!
Persuasion projects will be due next Tuesday. Busy yourselves.
How much fun was that timed writing!?
To keep our linguistic spirits up, tomorrow we'll read a little literature: BRING YOUR RED BOOKS TO CLASS.
Mrs. McCord
Timed writing in class tomorrow! You'll be asked to assess the effectiveness of several rhetorical strategies you find in a persuasive essay.
Both your books may rest on Tuesday; just bring pen and paper.
Group 3: Your bulletin boards need to be up next Tuesday, so you should be checking with me about your content and concepts. (Yes, that's also the day you begin presenting your persuasion projects. Plan ahead!)
---Mrs. McCord
Seminar tomorrow on "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Written prep counts 50%.
You need to bring with you a proposal for a project on persuasive rhetoric, if you are going to exercise that option.
The Bedford Reader needs to come to class again tomorrow. When we finish debating the moral and practical significance of cheating, we'll move on to the Civil Rights movement. MLK's"I Have a Dream" and "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" will round out our week.
October 22, 2010Bring the sample multiple choice questions to class on Monday so that we can finish discussing them.
HOMEWORK: In The Bedford Reader, read the essay on pages 532-535 (These are the RIGHT pages----the ones listed on the board are WRONG!) and jot down some discussion points in response to questions 3 and 4 under "Questions about Writing Strategy" on page 536.
Interesting conversation today. Plan your rebuttals and be prepared for Round #2 tomorrow.
Meanwhile, you will not need either book tomorrow. The angels need a break.
No homework!
Bring your copy of Bedford Reader to class on Thursday!
If you haven't read Paine, Henry, Edwards, or Franklin, be sure to do so before class tomorrow.
Finally, be able to explain the illustrations on pages 129, 131, 153, 160, 186, and 189 in terms of their persuasive techniques and effectiveness.
Seminar tomorrow! (Henry, Paine, Franklin). If you need the text of Franklin's address, follow this link: http://www.usconstitution.net/franklin.html. You should have the text for Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine in the class handouts for thd past couple of days. If you need them, follow these links: Henry - http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm, and Paine - http://www.ushistory.org/Paine/crisis/singlehtml.htm.
October 18, 2010Patrick Henry today;
Thomas Paine tomorrow.
Comparison essay / seminar / assessment yet to be determined on Wednesday.
If you didn't have your textbooks in class today, be sure to bring them on Monday.
On Monday, we'll finish discussing "Sinners..." and move on to the political rhetoric of Paine and Henry, so the American Lit textbook will be needed.
If you're caught up, you have no homework over the weekend!
Book check! Bring both of YOUR books to class with you, and then prepare find out what it feel s like to be in the hands of an angry God.
October 13, 2010We'll finish up the Unit 2 presentations tomorrow and discuss the Five Canons of Rhetoric and the CDW format. You will need your Bedford Readers for a book check, so it's essential that you have YOUR Bedford Reader! On Friday, we'll have a similar check for your red US Lit books.
October 12, 2010We will have a short class tomorrow because of the PSAT in the morning. Groups will be presenting the introduction and overview of Unit 2, "Writing a Revolution." You will NOT need to bring either book to class.
October 8, 2010IF YOU WERE ABSENT ON FRIDAY, EMAIL YOUR PERSONAL NARRATIVE TO MRS. McCORD IMMEDIATELY: mccordl1@fultonschools.org.
You have lots to do over this lovely 3-day weekend:
--1. Gather together all the components of your portfolio [annotated copies of "The Chase," "Indian Education" (your timed writing) and "Me Talk Pretty One Day"; notes on the student presentation that began the unit, Equiano, Smith, Bradford, and Orwell; your multiple choice samples on the Kiowah grandmother and the desperate fate of the English language; and anything else that you generated in response to the material in Unit 1]. On Tuesday you will write a brief reflection on the components of the unit and their relationship to our overarching concept of the difference between appearance and reality.
--2. Use the materials from your portfolio to prepare for a seminar on Tuesday in which we discuss these questions:
*****How is our understanding of culture and society constructed through and by language?
*****How did the expectations of the "New World" conflict with reality?
*****How do our personal experiences shape our view of others, and how does the language we use influence that interaction?
(Yes, my perceptive scholars, those are the Essential Questions of the unit.)
PSAT Wednesday followed by student presentations on Unit 2!
Enjoy your holiday.
Your personal narratives are due TOMORROW (Thursday) at the beginning of class. If you are not at school, please email your essay to mccordl1@fultonschools.org or send it with a sibling or neighbor. Include all drafts and the peer editing sheet we completed in class on Tuesday.
The following items will be due next Tuesday when you turn in your portrfolios:
---Your scored timed writing (Sherman Alexie)
---Your notes on
**group presentation
**John Smith / Virginia
**William Bradford / Plymouth
**Olaudah Equiano / Slave trade
---Your annotated copies of Annie Dillard's "The Chase," David Sedaris's "Me Talk Pretty One Day," and any notes you took on Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant."
In addition, in class on Tuesday you will write a short reflection on specific pieces we studied that exemplify the contrast between appearance and reality.
Unit 2 presentations will be given on Wednesday, when class will be shortened after the PSAT.
You do NOT have a unit test on Thursday. Instead, expect a portfolio-based seminar assessment next Tuesday.
Tomorrow, you do not need to bring EITHER book to class. (!) We'll read and annotate another personal narrative and organize our portfolios for next week's check. Bring all your written work from this unit: notes on the student presentations, written responses to the narratives we've read, your timed writing, etc.
And, most important, your personal narrative is due Friday.
See you at coffee house!
Bring the first draft of your personal narrative to class tomorrow (Tuesday). You'll also need your copy of The Bedford Reader.
You should be preparing for your test Thursday on Native American and Colonial Literature and the personal narrative (Equiano, Smith, and Bradford as well as Dillard, Alexie, Orwell, and White).
If you missed class today, you need to schedule an appointment to make up your timed writing.
Bring your copy of The Bedford Reader to class on Monday and Tuesday!
Additional upcoming excitement:
---Bring a rough draft of your personal narrative to class on Tuesday for peer editing.
---Test on Unit 1 - Colonial and Native American Lit - Thursday, Oct.7
---Final draft of your personal narrative - Friday, Oct. 8
---Bulletin boards and presentations for Unit 2 due on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and Wednesday, October 13, respectively.
Today in class we read Annie Dillard's essay "The Chase" (follow this link: http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/132320728102943450/lib/132320728102943450/Dillard%20-%20The%20Chase%20TEXT.doc and worked in groups to answer these questions:
1. What is Dillard's purpose (beyond "entertaining")?
2. What effect does Dillard create by beginning her essay with a reference to playing football with the neighborhood kids?
3. What is Dillard's point of view? Think beyond "third person limited" or "first person." Who is telling the story?
4. List examples of words that Dillard uses that you find to be particularly powerful or effective.
5. How is this example of personal narrative distinct from the ones we have read by Equiano, Smith, and Bradford?
HOMEWORK: Rest tonight and eat breakfast in the morning so you can do well on your GHSGT-W!
You have received a copy of this review sheet in class, but in case you need an extra copy, here it is:
Part One: Multiple Choice – 35 questions / 70 points – You will be given nine (9) short passages from various works of nonfiction that we have not studied. You will be asked to apply what you have learned about nonfiction to these new selections. The questions you will be asked will test your understanding about some of these concepts and skills:
1. What distinguishes the various types of nonfiction we have studied?
A. memoir / personal narrative
B. editorial
C. news story
D. biography
E. autobiography
2. What is the purpose of the various types of nonfiction?
A. narration
B. exposition
C. persuasion
D. description
3. How do authors of nonfiction use these strategies and devices?
A. Sensory details
B. Description
C. Appeal to emotion
D. Appeal to logic
E. Appeal to ethics
F. humor
G. Supporting evidence
H. Rhetorical question
I. Understatement
J. Repetition
K. The 5 W’s and 1 H
L. Specific data
M. Quotations
N. Lead
O. Byline
P. Dateline
4. How do the writers of nonfiction achieve tone?
5. How can you determine the main idea of a passage?
6. How do writers of non-fiction use the strategies of claim-data-warrant to make their points?
Part Two: Short essay – Minimum two paragraphs – 30 points
Your essay must cover the topic thoroughly, include evidence of prewriting (chart, map, outline, etc.), and demonstrate the elements of claim-data-warrant.
To prepare for this test, your best strategy is to review the diagnostic test and the examples of nonfiction literature in your textbook. If you have questions, come see me before or after school.
NOTE: The vocabulary list for Unit One will NOT be included on this test.
September 21, 2010Bring your textbooks to class on Wednesday. We'll continue reading pre-colonial literature and practice for next week's GHSGT-W.
September 20, 2010We have completed our work with the summer reading. Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept 21) we begin Unit One, so bring your textbook and an adventurous spirit. Details of the unit projects, grade sheets, and the schedule for this unit will be our focus.
September 15, 2010Seminar Questions – Death of a Salesman – Thursday, September 16
About the plot:
1. What is the significance of the “little rubber tube”? Why does Linda move it? What larger issue does it expose?
2. Why does Willy cheat on Linda? Why does Biff not reveal the affair to his mother?
3. Why did Happy abandon Willy at the restaurant? How does this decision affect Willy’s later actions?
4. What do we learn about Willy’s past through his “conversations” with Ben?
About the characters:
5. Why did Linda marry Willy? Did her marriage live up to her expectations?
6. Does Willy consider himself to be successful? Do you consider him to be successful? Does Linda? Does Charley?
7. With which character do you most identify?
8. Describe the fraternal relationship between Biff and Happy. Compare it to the fraternal relationship between Ben and Willy.
9. Between which characters do you observe honest conversations? Under what circumstances? Do the characters lie more to themselves or to each other?
10. Why did Miller include the Charley as a character? Bernard?
About the staging:
11. How does Miller use music to reinforce the dramatic elements of various scenes?
12. If you were given the task of lighting the stage for a production of Death of a Salesman, how would you deal with the flashback / hallucination scenes to distinguish them from Willy’s present reality?
About symbols- What is the larger significance of
13. The stockings?
14. The garden?
15. The farm (and the farm animals) where Biff worked?
About themes – Consider what the play communicates about
16. The American Dream
17. Do Americans seek the American Dream more for themselves or for their children?
18. Honesty
And finally
In the classic plays of Greece and Elizabethan England, tragic heroes were written as powerful political figures with tremendous importance to their communities. Miller creates a tragic hero who is common. How does that decision strengthen the play? What contrast between ancient Greek society, Elizabethan society, and American society post-WWII does this difference demonstrate?
Super presentations! Congratulations on doing a terrific job.
All work on Death of a Salesman (even from those of you who joined the class late) must be in tomorrow. We'll finish up the presentations and begin discussing the play then. School pictures will take much of our class time on Wednesday. You'll have a seminar on the play on Thursday, so review it as necessary.
Presentations Monday!
September 9, 2010Fiesta Friday will offer about half an hour to finalize your presentations, then we'll finish discussuing Their Eyes Were Watching God.
September 7, 2010Good news! The projects on Their Eyes Were Watching God will be due on Monday. A delayed deadline means increased expectations of excellence. Homework due tomorrow: the second half of your seminar prep sheet---chapters 8-13.
September 3, 2010Groups met and began to plan the group presentations on images in Their Eyes Were Watching God scheduled for next week. Next Tuesday and Wednesday students will have at least half of each period to prepare. Presentations will begin on Thursday and end on Friday.
September 1, 2010Today we had a seminar on Chs. 1-6 in Their Eyes.
Imagery Project: Friday you will find out about an imagery project for the novel. Here is the handout for the assignment if you want to look at it in advance: Download assignment.
Groups for Bulletin Board Project
Period 4
Timed Writing - Style Analysis for "Calculating Rhythm"
I handed out discussion questions for Their Eyes Were Watching God. Chs. 1-6 for tomorrow.
Their Eyes Discussion Questions - Chs. 1-6
Their Eyes Discussion Questions - Chs. 8-13
We went over style analysis and also looked at a long term project for the year.
HW: Style Analysis tomorrow
August 27, 2010Zinsser discussion - turn in small group notes
HW: Timed Writing on Tuesday over "Calculating Rhythm" essay.
August 26, 2010Today you got your books.
Small group discussion of Zinsser:
1. Narrow your list of 20 Things down to FIVE as a group. Justify your choices.
2. Find 2-3 ideas in Zinsser that you find "controversial" and plan to discuss tomorrow.
HW: Prepare for class discussion.
August 25, 2010Finish discussing video from the first day.
HW: Prepare to discuss Zinsser tomorrow.
August 24, 2010Their Eyes Were Watching God - Test
HW: Review Zinsser for discussion
Today we went started going over class expectations and I collected your summer reading assignments.
We watched a video and started discussing the idea of visual rhetoric.
Bring Zinsser for the rest of the week.
Their Eyes Were Watching God test - Tuesday
Download your entire course syllabus here, or on chshub.com.
July 21, 2010I hope you are all having a great summer. You can access your summer reading assignments here: http://chshub.com/aplang/.
Looking forward to seeing you in the fall!
-Mrs. Rumfelt