"And then there were two . . ." (reference to Agatha Christie's great mystery "Ten Little Indians")

Work on Immigration Essay (50 points, due Monday at the end of the day).

Discuss the ending of the book:
What issues does LouAnn work through during the course of the novel?

Final Exam: 
1.The Bean Trees 
2. 50 Vocabulary--Norman Schur book

Here's an example: 50 Example Sentences for All 50 Words for Final
Here's a second example: 50 Example Sentences

Poetry. Monday, each of you will have two minutes to present a poem to the class.
10 points
The poem must be short enough that it can be read in less than 1 minute and you will have
1 additional minute to discuss the message of the poem. 

Be sure to do the following:

• Tell us the title, author, and date it was published.
• Do a short commentary mentioning at least one theme and one specific detail that leads you to your interpretation (word choice, imagery, other literary devices)
• Tell us what you like about the poem. 

Choose one of the following authors:
T.S. Eliot
William Carlos Williams
Carl Sandburg
*E.E. Cummings
*Robert Frost
Langston Hughes
Sylvia Plath 
*Denise Levertov
Gwendolyn Brooks
Nikki Giovanni
Marianne Moore
Elizabeth Bishop
Wallace Stevens
*Walt Whitman
Ralph Waldo Emerson
*Emily Dickinson
Wendell Berry
Allen Ginsberg
*Mary Oliver
Billy Collins
Other American poet

Wed, June 6 D-Day was 74 years ago today

D-Day, June 6, 1944.  163,000 US soldiers invaded Normandy. 9,000 of them died.

Work on Immigration Essay (50 points, due Monday at the end of the day).
60 more minutes to finish on Friday. If you're writing the essay at home, bring homework Friday.

Discuss the ending of the book:
Who functions as rhizobia and what is the impact?
What issues does LouAnn work through during the course of the novel?

Final Exam: 
1.The Bean Trees 
2. 50 Vocabulary--Norman Schur book 

50 Words for Final Exam taken from 1000 Most Important Words

Make a Quizlet deck with example sentences for the following words:

anathema, dichotomy, fulsome jejune, kowtow, panache, pedestrian, presage, quintessential, seamy, slake, sybarite, trenchant, vacuous

When you finish, share with my Quizlet Classroom to Study for Final

Here's an example: 50 Example Sentences for All 50 Words for Final
Here's a second example: 50 Example Sentences

Freya'sDay

Today:
1. Bean Trees quiz and discussion
2. Poetry
3.

Freya'sday

TODAY: Sign up for poet. Choose one poem to share with the class on Friday. You will do the following:
1. Give us a bit of background to the poet and his or her work. Research.
2. Read the poem
3. Tell us what the poem means (either the standard interpretation or yours). 

Choose from the following list of poets:

T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, Carl Sandburg, E.E. Cummings, Robert Frost, Harlem Renaissance poet; Sylvia Plath, Denise Levertov, Gwendolyn Brooks,, Billy Collins, or other contemporary poet

Final Exam: 
1.The Bean Trees; 
2. 50 Vocabulary--Norman Schur book 

50 Words for Final Exam taken from 1000 Most Important Words

Make a Quizlet deck with example sentences for the following words:

anathema, dichotomy, fulsome jejune, kowtow, panache, pedestrian, presage, quintessential, seamy, slake, sybarite, trenchant, vacuous

When you finish, share with my Quizlet Classroom
https://quizlet.com/class/7104063/

Here's an example: 50 Example Sentences for All 50 Words for Final
The Bean Trees

Reading Schedule. Be on the listed page for each of these dates:

May 14th  p. 46

May 16th  p. 71

May 18th  p. 102

May 21st  p. 146

May 23rd  p. 176

May 25th  p. 203

May 30th p. 254

June 1st p. 284

June 4th done

As  you read, find examples from the book that deal with the following three thematic topics:
(a total of three for each is fine if three different people are referred to)

The Quest--female version from 21st Century

1. When Missy leaves Pittman, she is on a journey to find who she really is. (page 16) "The second promise, the one that broke, had to do with where I would end up...And so what I promised myself is that I would drive west until my car stopped running, and there I would stay."
2.
3.

Equality

1. At the part of the book where she was looking for a job, she had expected the teacher to pick the girls who are rich enough to buy clothes or the other guy who were good at dissecting, however she was chosen only because she was the first one asked.
2.
3.  

Social Responsibility
1. She gets a job to not just support herself but also her mother
2.She takes in the Cherokee child
3. When she stops at the hotel she offers to work off whatever she can't pay off with money

Is Taylor Greer someone you might choose as a friend?

CHARACTERIZATION
TAYLOR

What kind of person is she? Find two sentences that reveal her character.

(Funny, kind, independent, interesting, smart, etc.) 

Funny

1."You ever heard of a Polaroid memory?" 

2.

Kind

1. "So I'm not going to beat around the bush. I've got a big problem, I cant really afford to pay for a room and i wouldn't even bother you except I've got a child..." pg 29 - She doesn't make up a random story, instead she just tells the truth for the sake of the lady at the counter not herself

2.

Independent

1.

2.

Interesting

1.

2.

Other

1. "I could never figure out why men thought they could impress a woman by making the world out to be such a big dangerous deal. I mean, we've got to live in the exact same world every damn day of the week, don't we?"

2.

LOU ANN
Insecure

Caring

Family centered

Monday

TODAY: VOTING FOR STUDENT BODY OFFICERS
TODAY:

Just read THE BEAN TREES    Q U I E T L Y   and study your vocabulary

Final Exam: The Bean Trees; 50 Vocabulary--Norman Schur book

The Bean Trees

Reading Schedule. Be on the listed page for each of these dates:

May 14th  p. 46

May 16th  p. 71

May 18th  p. 102

May 21st  p. 146

May 23rd  p. 176

May 25th  p. 203

May 30th p. 254

June 1st p. 284

June 4th done

As  you read, find examples from the book that deal with the following three thematic topics:

The Quest--female version from 21st Century

1. When Missy leaves Pittman, she is on a journey to find who she really is. (page 16) "The second promise, the one that broke, had to do with where I would end up...And so what I promised myself is that I would drive west until my car stopped running, and there I would stay."
2.
3.

Equality

1. At the part of the book where she was looking for a job, she had expected the teacher to pick the girls who are rich enough to buy clothes or the other guy who were good at dissecting, however she was chosen only because she was the first one asked.
2.
3.  

Social Responsibility
1. She gets a job to not just support herself but also her mother
2.She takes in the Cherokee child
3. When she stops at the hotel she offers to work off whatever she can't pay off with money

Friday, May 11

Final Exam: The Bean Trees; 50 Vocabulary--Norman Schur book

The Bean Trees

Reading Schedule. Be on the listed page for each of these dates:

May 14th  p. 46

May 16th  p. 71

May 18th  p. 102

May 21st  p. 146

May 23rd  p. 176

May 25th  p. 203

May 30th p. 254

June 1st p. 284

June 4th done

As  you read, find examples from the book that deal with the following three thematic topics:

The Quest--female version from 21st Century

1. When Missy leaves Pittman, she is on a journey to find who she really is. (page 16) "The second promise, the one that broke, had to do with where I would end up...And so what I promised myself is that I would drive west until my car stopped running, and there I would stay."
2.
3.

Equality

1. At the part of the book where she was looking for a job, she had expected the teacher to pick the girls who are rich enough to buy clothes or the other guy who were good at dissecting, however she was chosen only because she was the first one asked.
2.
3.  

Social Responsibility
1. She gets a job to not just support herself but also her mother
2.She takes in the Cherokee child
3. When she stops at the hotel she offers to work off whatever she can't pay off with money

Vocab quiz on Wednesday, May 9th

Quiz: Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"

TEST: OF MICE AND MEN
Pass back DWA essays (and then you give them back)

Read:

80 Years on, Steinbeck's Classic Still Packs a Punch

Prezi Presentation on Of Mice and Men. This presentation seems to miss the point of the book. Do you agree? Remember, you don't have to agree with your teacher to earn an "A"!

The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss--text

The Sneetches, audio with pictures

The Bean Trees

As  you read, find examples from the book that deal with the following three thematic topics:

The Quest--female version from 21st Century

Equality

  

Social Responsibility
  

     

Vocab quiz on Wednesday, May 9th

Quiz: Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"

We will be starting our last in-class novel of the year on Monday.

Check out The Bean Trees
If you finish Of Mice and Men and would like to start The Bean Trees, go ahead. You'll like it.

Over the weekend: Finish Of Mice and Men.

To a Mouse, by Robert Burns

What themes do we see in Burns' poem and how are they related to the novel?

Today: Discuss examples from the book of Steinbeck's primary themes:

Steinbeck's 

Themes:                         To a Mouse                        Of Mice and Men

1. It is a harsh,            Mouse is small and                                          
often unfair world        vulnerable--homeless and,

    that makes people   could die. at the mercy of 
 vulnerable.                  human beings (fellow              

                                         mortals

2. Most people are      Farmers make more
selfish and try to          profits by killing mice.

    get ahead at the      It's a dog eat dog 
expense of others        world. Survival of the

                                    fittest

3. We have a moral     Because we are fellow
responsibility to           mortals, we should be

    compassionately     compassionate of mice
 help people in need   and help them find
                                    happiness

4. People find              
happiness through 
community and 
equality

Socialism vs. Capitalism

Monday, April 23

1. TYPE DWA
District Writing Assessment--Race in the Courtroom
2. HOMEWORK: Read Of Mice and Men to page 38; over the weekend read to page 66
3. Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite Due Wed, 25th
Creative writing portion (200-500 words)
Analysis (400-700)
Note: Pretty much what you do in the analysis is write a written commentary on your rewrite, analyzing your use of literary devices. To convince me that your writing is authentic, you will also need to show that your target author uses the same literary devices in the same way to develop his ideas (themes). You will also want to contrast this writing style with the writing of the author you are rewriting. If you would like, you could organize your paper this way:

• Intro to the way your target author writes
• Brief analysis of examples from the target author's writing
• In-depth analysis of your creative rewrite, showing that you have used literary devices the way that the target author does. You need to spend at least 2-3 sentences elaborating upon each example you give and discuss the effect of the author's (and your) use of literary devices
• Brief analysis of examples from the rewritten author's writing, contrasting the way he uses literary devices. Cite examples and elaborate a bit (not necessarily as much as you do with your own rewritten piece.
• Conclusion, more or less stating that you have successfully mimicked the target author's style

Vocab quiz on Monday, April 30

Quiz: Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"

Friday, April 20

District Writing Assessment--Race in the Courtroom
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ChAp05XZzqnI-ZVI9y2hKDilsCmBWnqs

Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite Due Monday, April 23 (25 OK)
Creative writing portion (200-500 words)
Analysis (400-700)
Note: Pretty much what you do in the analysis is write a written commentary on your rewrite, analyzing your use of literary devices. To convince me that your writing is authentic, you will also need to show that your target author uses the same literary devices in the same way to develop his ideas (themes). You will also want to contrast this writing style with the writing of the author you are rewriting. If you would like, you could organize your paper this way:

• Intro to the way your target author writes
• Brief analysis of examples from the target author's writing
• In-depth analysis of your creative rewrite, showing that you have used literary devices the way that the target author does. You need to spend at least 2-3 sentences elaborating upon each example you give and discuss the effect of the author's (and your) use of literary devices
• Brief analysis of examples from the rewritten author's writing, contrasting the way he uses literary devices. Cite examples and elaborate a bit (not necessarily as much as you do with your own rewritten piece.
• Conclusion, more or less stating that you have successfully mimicked the target author's style

We are too busy to have a vocab quiz on Monday. Let's do it Friday.

Quiz: Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"

Monday, April 16

Vocab quiz
Of Mice and Men quiz
Oral Commentaries
2.Quiz: Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"
For next Monday: "deferential-ostensibly"3. Oral Commentaries
Discuss The Old Man and the Sea
       The Iceberg Effect
4. SBAC practice test to prepare for next week's argumentative essay which will be submitted to the school district for grading and which I, too, will grade. Yes, you will receive points and it will count toward your grade.
Homework: Take practice SBAC  
Check out Of Mice and Men (yay! Steinbeck at last)

Wednesday

Commentary due!  -10% if I don't have it by tomorrow

Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite is due on Monday, April 16th
HOMEWORK:
1. GATSBY test
2.Memorize vocabulary for next Friday's quiz
Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 21-30: "vitiated-deferential"
3. Discuss The Old Man and the Sea
       The Iceberg Effect
4. SBAC practice test to prepare for next week's argumentative essay which will be submitted to the school district for grading and which I, too, will grade. Yes, you will receive points and it will count toward your grade. 

Vocabulary--Difficult Words

Quiz Thursday, April 6, over words 11-20: "circumlocution" to "avant-garde"

How to do Commentary/Explication of a passage (see handout)
Analyze the last two pages of the novel (handouts)
Choose any passage from the novel and type a 2-page+ commentary on the passage.
To do this you need to:

• Introduce the topic for 2-3 sentences
• State a theme(s)
• Summarize your interpretation as it relates to the theme (thesis)
• Cite details (quote words and phrases) from the passage that support your interpretation and explain how those details lead you to your interpretation
• Think in these terms:
• IF YOU CAN TALK FOR TEN SENTENCES DISCUSSING THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT WORD EXPLAINING HOW IT TIES IN WITH THE REST OF THE PASSAGE AND THE NOVEL AS A WHOLE, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I'm not saying that you have to do that, but this is the kind of detailed analysis you need to do. Quote an example (word connotation, maybe) and discuss its effect in detail 2-5 sentences, quote another detail (image, maybe) and discuss for 2-5 sentences, quote another detail (metaphor, maybe, or another word connotation) and discuss for 2-5 sentences, etc.
• Recommended:  think in terms of symbolism and deeper meaning; look for irony

Commentary due at the end of the period Friday
You may do this assignment at home and spend Friday working on your Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite, which is due on Monday, April 16th
HOMEWORK:
1. Memorize vocabulary for Friday's quiz
Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 11-20: "circumlocution" to "avant-garde"
2. Start studying for the Gatsby test, which is Monday, April 9
3. You may type your commentary at home, if you prefer
Friday we will work on commentaries and then finish the movie (students who would rather finish commentaries may do so in the hall)
------
Optional:
For you general edification, if you're interested:
The opening lines of The Great Gatsby: The Power of Money and Privilege
If we don't have time to get to this, read it on your own!
Is Gatsby Indeed Great? -- written by a high school senior!
The Greatness of The Great Gatsby
Hand back PSAT
SAT Practice Test 3

Vocabulary--Difficult Words

Quiz Thursday, April 6, over words 11-20: "circumlocution" to "avant-garde"

How to do Commentary/Explication of a passage (see handout)
Analyze the last two pages of the novel (handouts)
Choose any passage from the novel and type a 2-page+ commentary on the passage.
To do this you need to:

• Introduce the topic for 2-3 sentences
• State a theme(s)
• Summarize your interpretation as it relates to the theme (thesis)
• Cite details (quote words and phrases) from the passage that support your interpretation and explain how those details lead you to your interpretation
• Think in these terms:
• IF YOU CAN TALK FOR TEN SENTENCES DISCUSSING THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT WORD EXPLAINING HOW IT TIES IN WITH THE REST OF THE PASSAGE AND THE NOVEL AS A WHOLE, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. I'm not saying that you have to do that, but this is the kind of detailed analysis you need to do. Quote an example (word connotation, maybe) and discuss its effect in detail 2-5 sentences, quote another detail (image, maybe) and discuss for 2-5 sentences, quote another detail (metaphor, maybe, or another word connotation) and discuss for 2-5 sentences, etc.
• Recommended:  think in terms of symbolism and deeper meaning; look for irony

Commentary due at the end of the period Friday
You may do this assignment at home and spend Friday working on your Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite, which is due on Monday, April 16th
HOMEWORK:
1. Memorize vocabulary for Friday's quiz
Vocabulary--Difficult Words:  words 11-20: "circumlocution" to "avant-garde"
2. Start studying for the Gatsby test, which is Monday, April 9
3. You may type your commentary at home, if you prefer
Friday we will work on commentaries and then finish the movie (students who would rather finish commentaries may do so in the hall)
------
Optional:
For you general edification, if you're interested:
The opening lines of The Great Gatsby: The Power of Money and Privilege
If we don't have time to get to this, read it on your own!
Is Gatsby Indeed Great? -- written by a high school senior!
The Greatness of The Great Gatsby
Hand back PSAT
SAT Practice Test 3

Monday, March 5
Vocabulary--Difficult Words
Learn the first 10 words for a quiz Monday

Gatsby reading time--Finish the novel
Gatsby movie--Is the film true to the text?

The opening lines of The Great Gatsby: The Power of Money and Privilege
If we don't have time to get to this, read it on your own!

Hand back PSAT
SAT Practice Test 3

FRIDAY

30 minutes Reading Time
GATSBY AUDIOBOOK AND TEXT for students who like to listen and read along
HOMEWORK: Read chapter 7
Finish novel for discussion March 7

TODAY:
Plato, Gatsby's Platonic conception of himself, Ernest Renen's Life of Jesus comparison
Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Prezi Presentation
Color Symbolism in Gatsby (more in-depth)

Gatsby Vocabulary, chapter 8
Gatsby Vocabulary, chapter 9

Fitzgerald--Great American Dreamer--A&E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Friday we will discuss the novel, do vocabulary, and watch the movie :}

Take notes of Fitz' style--
Passages:
68-"Over the great bridge . . .The Queensboro bridge . . ." Imagery mentally processed for reader
90-"I love it, but I don't see how you live there all alone . . ." G is hollow trying to be something he is not, yet his dream is admirable
109--"He wanted nothing less . . ."  G's hope makes him great, but it is also his tragic flaw

Wednesday

30 minutes Reading Time
GATSBY AUDIOBOOK AND TEXT for students who like to listen and read along
HOMEWORK: Read chapter 7
Finish novel for discussion March 7

TODAY:
Plato, Gatsby's Platonic conception of himself, Ernest Renen's Life of Jesus comparison
Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Prezi Presentation
Color Symbolism in Gatsby (more in-depth)

Gatsby Vocabulary, chapter 8
Gatsby Vocabulary, chapter 9

Fitzgerald--Great American Dreamer--A&E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Friday we will discuss the novel, do vocabulary, and watch the movie :}

Moon Day

The very way that an author writes reveals his philosophy of life, his worldview.
"You are all a lost generation"


Friday:
Read  A Clean Well-lighted Place, by Ernest Hemingway
Enter at least one observation concerning Hemingway's Writing Style in this Google Doc:
Hemingway's Writing Style 
And if you haven't already done this for Fitzgerald's Writing Style:
Fitzgerald's Writing Style Google Doc 

Fitzgerald--Great American Dreamer--A&E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Watch The Great Gatsby
Notes: 3 examples showing that the movie is true to the text and 
            3 showing that it is not completely true to the text
HOMEWORK:  Review Gatsby, chapters 1-7 for 10 point reading comprehension quiz Monday
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hemingway's writing style
Find examples of Hemingway's writing style in his short stories and novels.
1. In Another Country, by Ernest Hemingway
2. The Old Man and the Sea
HOMEWORK: Find three examples of the way that Hemingway uses words and images to develop his ideas in his novella The Old Man and the Sea. Bring to class.

Frey's Day, 23rd day

The very way that an author writes reveals his philosophy of life, his worldview.
"You are all a lost generation"


Friday:
Read  A Clean Well-lighted Place, by Ernest Hemingway
Enter at least one observation concerning Hemingway's Writing Style in this Google Doc:
Hemingway's Writing Style 
And if you haven't already done this for Fitzgerald's Writing Style:
Fitzgerald's Writing Style Google Doc 

Fitzgerald--Great American Dreamer--A&E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Watch The Great Gatsby
Notes: 3 examples showing that the movie is true to the text and 
            3 showing that it is not completely true to the text
HOMEWORK:  Review Gatsby, chapters 1-7 for 10 point reading comprehension quiz Monday
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hemingway's writing style
Find examples of Hemingway's writing style in his short stories and novels.
1. In Another Country, by Ernest Hemingway
2. The Old Man and the Sea
HOMEWORK: Find three examples of the way that Hemingway uses words and images to develop his ideas in his novella The Old Man and the Sea. Bring to class.

Wednesday/Friday

The very way that an author writes reveals his philosophy of life, his worldview.
"You are all a lost generation"

Hemingway's writing style
Find examples of Hemingway's writing style in his short stories and novels.
1. In Another Country, by Ernest Hemingway
2. The Old Man and the Sea
HOMEWORK: Find three examples of the way that Hemingway uses words and images to develop his ideas in his novella The Old Man and the Sea. Bring to class.

Friday:
A Clean Well-lighted Place, by Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway's Writing Style Google Doc
Fitzgerald's Writing Style Google Doc

Fitzgerald--Great American Dreamer--A&E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Watch The Great Gatsby
Notes: 3 examples showing that the movie is true to the text and 
            3 showing that it is not completely true to the text
HOMEWORK:  Review Gatsby, chapters 1-7 for 10 point reading comprehension quiz Monday

Friday,

Valentine's Day--you either love it, or you hate it!
Literary Valentine's Day wishes (quotes from literature)
Romantic poems
e.e. cummings
    somewhere i have never traveled
   as is the sea marvelous 

Pablo Neruda
 Sonnet 1:  I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz 

Fitzgerald

Midnight in Paris--Opening Scene
Midnight in Paris--Hemingway Speech
Midnight in Paris--Fitzgerald
Midnight in Paris--Salvador Dali


Gatsby Vocabulary 1
Quiz Tuesday over all 20 (same words)
Hemingway/Fitzgerald Rewrite--start thinking about it--due March 23
Fairy Tale Rewrite due today
The Three Little Pigs, written in Fitzgerald's style
The Three Little Pigs, by "F. Scott Fitzgerald"

1. Read to the end of chapter 5 for Fri, end of 6 for Monday, etc.
2. Memorize vocabulary, 11-20 for Monday's quiz
3. Fitzgerald's Writing Style Google Doc
Take notes on Fitzgerald's writing style. Enter one observation on the Google Doc, quoting your example, citing the page number, and writing at least two sentences discussing the effect of what you have found.
Example: Daisy's house is described as "a bright rosy-colored space fragilely bound into the house by French windows at either end" (12). You could then discuss any of the following:
Why is it "fragile"? (word choice)    Why is it "bright rosy-colored"?   (imagery)
Why does Fitzgerald choose "French windows" (rather than sturdy American windows, for example)
4. Movie
Midnight in Paris--Opening Scene
Midnight in Paris--Hemingway Speech
Midnight in Paris--Fitzgerald
Midnight in Paris--Salvador Dali