So, I looked at the calendar and had a mild heart attack. I cannot believe how little time we have left!
This week we will finish our study of 18thC and the Restoration period. We will also review MLA format and go over the instructions for your research papers.
Remember, for your paper, you may choose any author and determine how or if his or her life affected his or her work. Some of you have already given me your topic ideas, but I will need those in writing. Your topic selection will count as a daily grade.
Here is a link to the paper due dates. I will review the expectations and format in class.
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
APENGLISH 12: April 9-13, 2012
Greetings APEs!
Can you believe we finally finished Hamlet? I hope you understand how thematically versatile and what wonderful fodder for writing that play is. After our thesis writing activity, it has come to my attention that we need more practice writing thesis statements. Many of you are not breaking down the question into the parts necessary to answer it completely and garner that grade I am sure most of you desire. Remember there is always more than one part to an AP prompt, and the BIG part is figuring out THEME...the meaning of the work as a whole. Remember themes are derived from the plot, but have nothing to DO with the plot. Themes are universal truths or at least applicable outside the text in question. Do NOT forget to present a theme as part of your thesis statement, then prove that your ostensible theme is a legitimate interpretation with evidence and commentary in the subsequent paragraphs.
This week I would like you to continue to read Heart of Darkness at home. We will discuss and write about it next week. Some of you have indicated that you know the plot, but remember, plots are not what we are focusing on. Plots are just a means to get to theme. You need to understand what the novella is truly about, and not just what happens in it. Look for symbols. Look for allusions. What does Conrad do with the traditional views of light and dark? Consider the ivory? What color is it? What does it represent? What color is the Sepulchered City? And then, there is the conversation between the manager and his uncle? What does that conversation tell us about human nature? How is that conversation translated into Kurtz? Where did Kurtz come from? Who made him? Why is that significant? What about his painting? How is the lady depicted? What effect does the light have on her face? And speaking of ladies...what about Marlowe's aunt, the Intended, the African mistress? What do they signify? How do you know? There is so much more to consider, but start there.
As for class time, we will practice a thesis statement at the start of each class. After an overview of Existentialism, we will read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and we will discuss it in the context of existentialism and theatre of the absurd.
Myth of Sysiphus
Can you believe we finally finished Hamlet? I hope you understand how thematically versatile and what wonderful fodder for writing that play is. After our thesis writing activity, it has come to my attention that we need more practice writing thesis statements. Many of you are not breaking down the question into the parts necessary to answer it completely and garner that grade I am sure most of you desire. Remember there is always more than one part to an AP prompt, and the BIG part is figuring out THEME...the meaning of the work as a whole. Remember themes are derived from the plot, but have nothing to DO with the plot. Themes are universal truths or at least applicable outside the text in question. Do NOT forget to present a theme as part of your thesis statement, then prove that your ostensible theme is a legitimate interpretation with evidence and commentary in the subsequent paragraphs.
This week I would like you to continue to read Heart of Darkness at home. We will discuss and write about it next week. Some of you have indicated that you know the plot, but remember, plots are not what we are focusing on. Plots are just a means to get to theme. You need to understand what the novella is truly about, and not just what happens in it. Look for symbols. Look for allusions. What does Conrad do with the traditional views of light and dark? Consider the ivory? What color is it? What does it represent? What color is the Sepulchered City? And then, there is the conversation between the manager and his uncle? What does that conversation tell us about human nature? How is that conversation translated into Kurtz? Where did Kurtz come from? Who made him? Why is that significant? What about his painting? How is the lady depicted? What effect does the light have on her face? And speaking of ladies...what about Marlowe's aunt, the Intended, the African mistress? What do they signify? How do you know? There is so much more to consider, but start there.
As for class time, we will practice a thesis statement at the start of each class. After an overview of Existentialism, we will read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, and we will discuss it in the context of existentialism and theatre of the absurd.
Myth of Sysiphus
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
PreAPENGLISH 10 and Grade-Level English 10: April 9-13, 2012
Greetings Sophomores!
The year is passing so quickly, and we have so much left to do!
Let me begin with the plans that apply to all classes. This week we will complete the unit on The Age of Reason. We will be reading selections from Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and discussing how parody and satire can be used together. We understand from these texts the meaning and use of parallelism in literature. We will also read the short story "Harrison Bergeron" and discuss it in the context of the rights listed in the "Declaration of Independence." In addition to these texts, we will read an excerpt from Letters from an American Farmer and learn about African-American poet Phylis Wheatly. All this will culminate in a test on this period.
Grade level students will have a quiz on vocabulary lesson16.
Pre-AP students must upload their essays to Moodle by Tuesday evening.
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
The year is passing so quickly, and we have so much left to do!
Let me begin with the plans that apply to all classes. This week we will complete the unit on The Age of Reason. We will be reading selections from Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Cady Stanton and discussing how parody and satire can be used together. We understand from these texts the meaning and use of parallelism in literature. We will also read the short story "Harrison Bergeron" and discuss it in the context of the rights listed in the "Declaration of Independence." In addition to these texts, we will read an excerpt from Letters from an American Farmer and learn about African-American poet Phylis Wheatly. All this will culminate in a test on this period.
Grade level students will have a quiz on vocabulary lesson16.
Pre-AP students must upload their essays to Moodle by Tuesday evening.
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
English 12: April 9-13
Greetings Seniors!
This is an A week, so I will meet with you three times. We have so much to do in the little time remaining this year.
On Monday, I will discuss with you the required research paper. You must select an author that we have studies, or one approved by me, and research his or her life. In your paper, you will discuss how the events of your chosen author's life affected his or her writing.
For a review of the format for bibliography and note cards, see the research paper guidelines beginning on page 240 of your literature textbook. I will explain these guidelines in class.
Remember that you have a tool that will help with creating properly formatted MLA citations at citationmachine.net. I encourage you to use this tool. I also encourage you to visit the Alabama Virtual Library for resources on your chosen author. The best database for literary sources is reached by clicking on the "Literature Resources from Gale" link.
This week we will also begin a study of the Restoration (of the monarchy) and 18th Century Literature. Be sure to read the introduction to this unit at home. Much of the literature from this period is satire. The first piece we will read and discuss is Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." We will also read selections by Alexander Pope, the inventor of the Heroic Couplet and author of the Mock Epic The Rape of the Lock, Daniel Defoe, and Voltaire.
Like I said...so much to do!
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
This is an A week, so I will meet with you three times. We have so much to do in the little time remaining this year.
On Monday, I will discuss with you the required research paper. You must select an author that we have studies, or one approved by me, and research his or her life. In your paper, you will discuss how the events of your chosen author's life affected his or her writing.
For a review of the format for bibliography and note cards, see the research paper guidelines beginning on page 240 of your literature textbook. I will explain these guidelines in class.
Remember that you have a tool that will help with creating properly formatted MLA citations at citationmachine.net. I encourage you to use this tool. I also encourage you to visit the Alabama Virtual Library for resources on your chosen author. The best database for literary sources is reached by clicking on the "Literature Resources from Gale" link.
This week we will also begin a study of the Restoration (of the monarchy) and 18th Century Literature. Be sure to read the introduction to this unit at home. Much of the literature from this period is satire. The first piece we will read and discuss is Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." We will also read selections by Alexander Pope, the inventor of the Heroic Couplet and author of the Mock Epic The Rape of the Lock, Daniel Defoe, and Voltaire.
Like I said...so much to do!
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
Monday, April 2, 2012
English 12: April 2-6
Greetings Seniors!
Last week was Spring break, but don't let that lull you into thinking our work is done. This week we will review Book I of Paradise Lost and excerpts from Pilgrim's Progress. You will have a test review on these works Monday and a test on Thursday.
You will also be given instructions for your research papers on Thursday. If you have done research for a project in your math class, as some of you have, you may use that information in the paper you write for me. We will be reviewing MLA formatting for papers and citations. I have a link to an MLA handbook on the sidebar of my blog.
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
Last week was Spring break, but don't let that lull you into thinking our work is done. This week we will review Book I of Paradise Lost and excerpts from Pilgrim's Progress. You will have a test review on these works Monday and a test on Thursday.
You will also be given instructions for your research papers on Thursday. If you have done research for a project in your math class, as some of you have, you may use that information in the paper you write for me. We will be reviewing MLA formatting for papers and citations. I have a link to an MLA handbook on the sidebar of my blog.
See you in class!
Mrs. SO
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