LEARNING TARGETS: By the end of class you should have learned one new thing about a classmate.

 

ACTIVITIES

•  Discussed a class leadership council.
•  Did a GTKY activity  (BINGO)
•  Began work on song lyric project
  • Select a song that has meaning to you (it must be school appropriate).  Answer these questions about the poem:  (You will share your work informally with small groups and the class).
    1. What do you think the song is about?
    2. Why did you choose it?  What gives it meaning to you?
    3. What are examples of specific word choices the writer used to give the song/poem more meaning.

    MAKE A POSTER FOR YOUR SONG–use the literary terms posters on the cupboards as an example/model.

    1. Include the title of the song and artist at the top.
    2. Include your answers to the questions above and a passage that best illustrates why you chose the song.
    3. Include any artwork you wish to include (these are going up on the walls!)

     

Hi There!  Welcome to sophomore English.  My name is C.E. Sikkenga and this  (drumroll please) is English 10.

Three things you will need every day

• a charged chrome book
• a writer’s notebook
• a writing utensil.

We’ll  use this site for  our home base.  Each day when you get into the room, log in here and you’ll find a warmup, usually to be done in your notebook.  We’ll base some informal writing assignments on those.  You’ll also find learning targets, links, digital copies of handouts etc–so if you’re ever absent, just go here before you ask “did we do anything while I was gone.”  (If we didn’t do anything, I’m not doing my job!).

LEARNING TARGET:  By the end of today, you should be able to define, in your own words “CLOSE READING” and explain why it’s an important skill.

 

 

 

 

Let’s return to a model presentation

Russo PP with paper in notes

REMEMBER:  You have to answer BOTH questions from the assignment (See May 4 Blog Post).

1. How has the author’s life impacted the writings the author produced?
2. How does the author’s work continue to impact modern American society in meaningful ways? (or why does their work remain influential)?

From what I could see on your research logs, most groups have MUCH, MUCH more info on #1 than #2.  If you’re struggling with #2, don’t forget the search terms I suggested to you in the May 8 blog post or just try “Why does _______________________’s work remain important?”.

Remember: practice vocab tomorrow.  Final Vocab Friday.

NEW MATERIAL:  On Monday we received Vocab Unit 12 (if you weren’t here, pick up from Front Table).

 

TASK FOR THE WEEK:  Work on researching your author.  The bulk of our in class time was spent on this task this week.

• REMEMBER:  Research check sheets are due on Friday.

 

GATSBY NOVELS WILL BE COLLECTED TUESDAY!

 

 

LEARNING TARGETS: by the end of class you should be able to

• Explain what the GALE databases help you do.
• Explain how to get to the GALE databases

IN CLASS: Mrs. Rider from the library came in and showed us the following sites (if links do not work, go to May 12, 2017 blog post)

NEW LIBRARY WEBSITE

GALE HOME PAGE

Chrome Extensions

GALE_google Drive Integration

 

UPCOMING DEADLINES:  

• Friday, May 11:
  • Vocab Quiz 11
  • C.E. is available to look at theses/topic sentences for Gatsby paper
• Monday, May 14
  • Gatsby Paper Due
  • Vocab 12 assigned
• Friday May 18: Research update due
• Friday May 25
  • Draft/outline of research project due
  • Research update 2 due
• Wednesday May 30-Friday June 1
  • Presentations in class
• Friday June 1:  Research papers due.

 

Just be sure to cite it if you use it.  Cite interviews with the name of the person talking and then use MLA format for video (see tab at top of site).

LEARNING TARGET: By the end of class you should

1. Have a team and a topic for your research project.
2. Be able to tell me what your paper should look like
3. Know where to start finding critical assessments of your author

Sample Research Paper for class discussion

Richard Russo: sample presentation

Three useful Google search strategies

• Author’s name + critical analysis
• Author’s name + interviews
• Author’s name + Magazine Profiles
• Author’s name + New York Times

WEEK AT A GLANCE:

VOCAB WEEK:

• Practice Wednesday
• Real Thing Friday

IN CLASS THIS WEEK:  Two tasks

1.  Work on Gatsby Essay (DUE MAY 14)
   1. Quote for Option 3:  “That was always my experience— a poor boy in a rich town; a poor boy in a rich boy’s school; a poor boy in a rich man’s club at Princeton…. However, I have never been able to forgive the rich for being rich, and it has colored my entire life and works.”
2.  Organize groups, begin work on research project
   1. Some authors to consider
   2. Great Google search for this:  ______________(author’s name) Critical Reaction

THURSDAY:  Mrs. Rider from Library will be here to explain some data bases

 

 

LEARNING TARGETS:  by the end of class you should be able to

1. Explain how the film version of Gatsby differs from the book.
2. Be able to explain, in your own words what you will be doing next week.

NEXT WEEK:  Two goals

1. Work on Gatsby papers (Due Monday, May 14)
2. Begin work on research projects

GATSBY PAPER OPTIONS:

 Option One: Fitzgerald once wrote, “Show me a hero, and I will write you a tragedy.” How is Jay Gatsby a hero? How is The Great Gatsby a tragedy? In a well written essay, explore the many ways this comment plays out through the development of Gatsby and throughout the course of the novel.  To do this, you’ll have to:

• Define “tragedy” – in a literary sense.
• Identify elements of the novel (plot & characters) that fulfill your chosen definition of tragedy
• Identify the novel’s theme AND analyze how this connects to theme (the overall purpose of the novel as a whole

Option Two: How does Fitzgerald’s use of literary devices help to develop the theme of the novel? In a well written essay, identify a theme and analyze how the author’s use of literary devices such as (irony, symbolism, setting, juxtaposition, point of view, characterization, etc…) are used to establish theme.

• Some potential devices include:

• Irony – what are some specific ironies of the novel AND how do these moments connect to theme?
• Symbolism – identify some of the symbols Fitzgerald employs in the novel (symbols are literally present but also have some greater figurative significance attached to them as well). How are these symbols used to help develop the theme?
• Setting – when and where does the story take place? How is the time period significant to theme? The various different locations?
• Juxtaposition – look for things that are referenced in close context to one another to show CONTRAST (differences). How does Fitzgerald use the juxtaposition of these things (characters, settings, relationships, etc.) to establish theme?
• Point of View – from what point of view is the story told? How does Fitzgerald’s choice of narration impact readers’ understanding of the text? How does this impact theme?
• Characterization – examine the different characters who are pertinent to the plot as a whole. How does the development of these characters help develop the theme of the novel as a whole?

Option Three: Although many are drawn in by the romantic plot, at its heart, The Great Gatsby is a novel of social criticism.  What is Fitzgerald criticizing?  How successful is he?  Hint: you may be inspired by the following quote.

Option Four: What do you think about the treatment of women in the novel?  Is the book anti-woman?

See class blog posts for hints, tips.  We’ll have lessons on Monday and Wednesday that build off mistakes that were common in you Of Mice and Men papers.  Between now and Monday, pick a topic.

 

RESEARCH PROJECT:  (more on this Monday and Tuesday)

AMERICAN AUTHORS RESEARCH PROJECT_2018