Tue/Wed

A Child's Christmas in Wales
   Online Text   Consider sharing this with your parents
   Dylan Thomas reading his poem (which is more of a personal narrative)
HOMEWORK: Over Winter Break, finish reading Huckleberry Finn. Yeah, sorry, that's a lot. Actually, in the past some of the honors classes have only read through the end of chapter 31 and then read the final two chapters of the novel. It's ok with me if you do that. I hate saying "don't read the entire novel since novels are something that should be appreciated in their entirety, but in all honesty, not all that much of import happens after chapter 31. I don't think that there is a single question on the reading test that deals with chapters 32--41 (although you should probably ready 39 and 40 to understand the ending).

HOMEWORK: Final draft of essay due Thur/Friday

Heads up on what we will be covering Thur/Friday:
Vocabulary for final exam
Discuss: Archetypes in the novel. Huck and the Hero Quest
Watch Dead Poets.
Huck Finn on Tape
Show Prezi: Inspiration for Huck Finn
Watch Dead Poets Society
Poems used in the film:
    Excerpts from all poems and literary references

HOMEWORK: Over the weekend, finish reading chapter 15 of Huckleberry Finn
HOMEWORK: Over the weekend finish your rough draft of the Garbage Man Essay. I recommend that you type it since the final draft (due next Thur/Fri) must be typed and it's very easy to revise a typed rough draft. In this draft of your paper, you may only argue for your candidate. In the final draft you will briefly discuss the other candidate, showing him to be an inferior choice, but this draft must be an argument focused solely on your candidate and what makes him a good choice for the position.

Discuss: Archetypes in the novel. Huck's death. The Hero Quest
Portrayal of Jim in the movie.

Prep debate
Write your Garbage Man Essay
Watch Dead Poets.

The importance of being a thinking person--the gullible judge

Huck Finn on Tape
Show Prezi: Inspiration for Huck Finn
Watch Dead Poets Society
Poems used in the film:
    Excerpts from all poems and literary references

Tue/Wed

HOMEWORK: Finsh reading chapter 8 of Huckleberry Finn
Discuss: The description of Pap and his whiteness
The importance of being a thinking person--the gullible judge

Huck Finn on Tape
Show Prezi: Inspiration for Huck Finn
Watch Dead Poets Society
Poems used in the film:
    Excerpts from all poems and literary references
         Click on the titles (links) to see the entire poem

French Cute Kid Tells Story  

WALDEN POSTER due Monday, December 8th
Poster requirements
A. Choose a quote from Walden. Then take a photo that illustrates the idea in the quote. superimpose/paste the quote on the photo (see examples). No need to print in color. You may draw or paint your picture.
B. Type 3/4-1 page single-spaced explaining what the quote means AND how your picture illustrates that idea. For example, you will likely talk about the subject of the photo and what it, he, she, they are doing and how this relates to the idea of the quote. Sometimes students discuss lighting and other aspects of the photo, which can be very effective. This sheet of paper will be displayed with your quote, so don't go over 1 page. 
Often photos are more powerful if the subject of the photo is emphasized by blurring the background. The following apps enable you to do this:
(Instagram)
(InstantSquare) 
( Aviary )
(Pixlr)

Check out Huckleberry Finn. We will read in class and discuss the beginning.

Huck Finn on Tape
Show Prezi: Inspiration for Huck Finn
Watch Dead Poets Society
Poems used in the film:
    Excerpts from all poems and literary references
         Click on the titles (links) to see the entire poem
    Ulysses, but Alfred Lord Tennyson
    She Walks in Beauty--Lord Byron