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FINAL EXAM, January 22

• Huck Finn test
• 40 Vocab Words-- vocabulary words from the 2010 PSAT   Harmony Alvarez made this Quizlet deck for the words. Thank you Harmony!   Vocab from 2010 PSAT

Extra Credit option for the end of the semester
Creative Book Report--Raise your grade up to +5%
Read one of the novels from the following list and write a book report. This is quite a bit of work, but the book reports are a lot of fun and the novels are fantastic.
Reading List
Creative Book Reports
Due at the Final Exam

TODAY:
Journal: Take fifteen minutes to evaluate the following. I'm not so much concerned with paragraph structure and all--simply get out as many of your ideas as you can in 15 min.
Prompt: At the beginning of chapter 22, Colonel Sherburn talks to the crowd and delivers a message with some thought-provoking ideas. Is he speaking for Twain? In other words, is he the voice of the author, sharing an insightful idea concerning human nature? To what extent is this true? What is Twain's message to us? Quite likely he is saying more than one thing.








Huck Finn--The Death of Boggs
What point is Mark Twain making in this passage from the novel? In particular, what aspect of Colonel Sherburn's character does Twain find repugnant?
HOMEWORK:
Write one long paragraph explaining Twain's point. Refer to two or more specific examples of word choice, imagery, etc. to support your point.
This assignment is a short version of a commentary. The passage is approximately 30 lines long, and you are to explain the effect of the imagery in the passage (common IB prompt wording).
To do this you must:
     1. Identify a theme. Often it helps to find what you consider to the be key word of the passage
     2. Write a topic sentence for that theme stating the point the author is making
     3. Find textual support--one very specific example, quoted
     4. Explain what point is being made in the quoted word or image
     (it will likely take two sentences to fully explain)
     5. Find a second example of textual support--one very specific example, quoted
     6. Explain what point is being made in the quoted word or image
     7. Concluding sentence

Compare Boggs illustration to:

Goya's painting Execution, May 3, 1808

Manet's Execution Emperor Maximillian

Picasso's Guernica

Wikipedia article discussing Goya's painting

Extra Credit option for the end of the semester
Creative Book Report--Raise your grade up to +5%
Read one of the novels from the following list and write a book report. This is quite a bit of work, but the book reports are a lot of fun and the novels are fantastic.
Reading List
Creative Book Reports

Better Huck--Patrick Day or Elijah Wood?

HOMEWORK:
Over winter break finish chapter 22 at least! Try to read ahead and maybe even finish the novel so that you don't have so much homework for the rest of the semester.This novel is your final exam.


Argumentative Writing

Watch first five minutes of both the Patrick Day rendition and the Elijah Wood version of Mark Twain's novel .

Which actor's performance is truer to the text? Write only one paragraph, citing one or two very specific examples from each actor's performance. Remember, a strong paragraph is focused. If you were writing an entire paper on this, you would discuss three or four aspects of the portrayal of the character. Here you should focus on one. 

Take notes--

Patrick Day

Examples of Good Acting                                Weaknesses

1.                                                                   1.

2.                                                                   2.

3.                                                                   3.

Elijah Wood

Examples of Good Acting                                Weaknesses

1.                                                                   1.

2.                                                                   2.

3.                                                                   3.

HOMEWORK:

Write one strong paragraph convincing me that one or the other actor's performance is superior.

Remember, a strong paragraph:

• 
  

December 15

Sky Full of Stars

She is the symbol of hope in a world of darkness.
Focus on the positives
Contrast helps us understand what is beautiful
Bend "reality" to get to your dreams
He is dedicated
He is willing to devote his entire being to her
When he sees her he feels calm
She fills his emptiness
He would sacrifice himself for her--willing to sacrifice




To write an argumentative or expository paragraph, you will need the following:
1. A topic sentence (your idea stating why the point you're making is valid)
2. Evidence from the text (a quote or other example, that supports your argument)
3. Elaboration (explanation of how the evidence supports this argument)
4. Concluding sentence.






Ralph Waldo Emerson: vocabulary from his essay "Self-Reliance,"    Quizlet, Emerson
Using your cell phones, find example sentences and paste them into the following Google Doc:
Our vocab Sentences
You will be quizzed on the first 10 Tuesday.

Valeria from Costa Rica

Twain's Amazing Adventures

Monday
1. Sub for Santa
2. Vocab
3. His Amazing Adventures
Homework: Read to the end of ch. 15
4. PSAT
    Some of you actually want to learn a few things in your life and might be interested in taking a look at this list of vocabulary words from the 2010 PSAT




PSAT Scores are due. Bring them MONDAY, if you haven't already.
Watch Mark Twain, His Amazing Adventures. I think that it can be found on YouTube if you happen to be absent.
We will play Twain Jeopardy on Monday.
HOMEWORK: Finish chapter 14 (XIV) in Huckleberry Finn

Sub for Santa
Please consider contributing to our mid-year service project. It would be nice if you could show your parents the Sub for Santa letter and maybe even buy a gift between now and next Friday. I will be collecting money next week to buy a few extra gifts.

December 5

Dead Poets Society

The real life Mr. Keating    Real to Reel, by Gerald Pitts (the guy with the "unfortunate name")

Homework: Read Huckleberry Finn to the end of chapter VI. Uh, that's 6, for you guys who don't know your Roman numerals. Page 39.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: vocabulary from his essay "Self-Reliance,"    Quizlet, Emerson
Using your cell phones, find example sentences and paste them into the following Google Doc:
Our vocab Sentences
You will be quizzed on the first 10 Tuesday.

Walden
1. Quotes due tomorrow
25 quotes with page references. There is no need to write the entire quote. Elipses are fine

2. Explanations of 3 quotes due.
What I would like you to do is to choose three of your favorite quotes from Walden and explain what the quote is saying to you.
2@ 1/2 page each
1 @ 1 full page typed, double-spaced. For the 1 page explanation it might help to choose an example that illustrates the idea in the quote. And no, you can't count what you wrote for your Walden poster assignment here.


If your written part of the Walden poster assignment was a bit weak, feel free to rewrite it. At this point, most of them would receive B's and C's. Remember, every time you write something for this class, be sure to organize your thoughts and pick and choose words to create powerful sentences. Revise. We need to step it up.

Watch Dead Poets Society. Continue taking notes of examples of Transcendentalist thought in the film. 3/4 page due by end of the movie. Even if you've already written 3/4 page, please jot down a few more things that seem particularly important.





"Self-Reliance"

Take out a sheet of paper.
Number 1-5, double-spacing

Today, as we read "Self-Reliance," I would like you to write down a list of 5 quotes that resonate with you. Then you are to write 1 paragraph telling me what the quote is saying to you.

Be an Individualist and an Innovator, says Rodney Mullen: Pop an Ollie and Innovate


Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Changing Education Paradigms

November 20--Dead Poets Society

Walden poster
Dead Poets Society--Transcendentalist ideas in Robin Williams most well-know film

Walden Poster--50 points. 25 for the photo, 25 for the writing

Due Monday after Thanksgiving break. Tuesday we will judge all of the posters and the top three will receive extra credit. Do a good job!
Here's what I need you to do for the poster:
1. Find a meaningful quote, preferably one that isn't quite so common. Top scores usually (but not always) go to those.
2. Take a photo that illustrates the meaning of the quote. Spend quite a bit of time coming up with the concept for your photo before taking the picture. Although this isn't a photography class, do your best to take an artistic  photo. If you need help, go to the Internet for ideas. You may get help from someone, if you would like. Remember, you can learn how to do anything if you just Google it or YouTube it!
3. Type 1/2 - 1 page, single-spaced, explaining how your poster illustrates the idea in the quote. This page will be displayed with your poster. Please put two of the most important sentences in bold so that we can quickly get the gist of what you are saying.

As you watch Dead Poets Society, I would like you take 3/4 page of notes identifying ideas of Transcendentalism found in the film.

"We don't read and write poetry because it is cute; we read and write poetry because we are members of the human race and the human race is filled with passion"  Pain, love, beauty hope--emotion--are the things of life

We create our own opportunities for making life extraordinary.
Carpe diem--seize the day--live life to the fullest. Set high, private goals and make them happen
Savor words and language. There's a deeper meaning.
There is a Higher Way found by seekers
The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse to the great poem of life.
"Only in their dreams may men be truly free; 'twas always thus, and always thus will be"--Keating











"Rip it out.. . we're not laying pipe . . . think for yourselves (come up with your own interpretation of the poem]"
"We don't read and write poetry because it is cute; we read and write poetry because we are members of the human race and the human race is filled with passion"
"Carpe diem"
The class itself illustrates individualistic approaches to finding meaning
"Only in their dreams may men be truly free; twas always thus, and always thus will be"--Keating

SAT Vocabulary --50 Terms with example sentences
Learn "spawn" to "tantalize" for Friday

---------------------------------------------------------------
When you get your PSAT scores back, don't throw them away!
You will receive your scores December 10th and need to bring them to me on the 11th

IF YOU DON'T BRING YOUR PSAT SCORES YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER PSAT PRACTICE READING COMPREHENSION TEST

Thoreau's radical theory of education
Page 33
 ". . . you do not mean that the students should go to work with hands instead of their heads . . Roger's penknife from his father?"

Changing Education Paradigms--Sir Kenneth Robinson
Do Schoools Kill Creativity
Bring on the Learning Revolution
Life is Your Talents Discovered
How to Escape Educations Death Valley

Walden. You are not required to read the entire book.
1-52
53-64
206-216
10 other pages of your own choosing. For these pages, I would like a 1/2 page summary of key ideas that you will share with the class. Be sure to include at least 2 quotes.



Challenge words for honors students who are willing to go beyond the mark and study things that don't actually earn you points but which make you effective communicators and strong readers. No, you won't be tested on these. Are you willing to study them?
     SAT Vocabulary--10 Terms 


1. Focus on the individual--you are unique in this universe and "you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"
2. Nature is the Great  Teacher.
3. There is a Higher Way--a spiritual aspect to life that you can get in touch with (Walden)
4.Heart over mind; intuition over calculating power of logic
5.Live in the moment
6. There is beauty in disorder. Life is a mystery that you may understand to an extent on an individualistic level
7.

Monday

Walden Quotes
Today you are to select one quote from Walden and to tell me what that quote is saying to you. Start off with a sentence paraphrasing the quote and then discuss what the quote means to you personally.

You will repeat this assignment Wednesday and write a third analysis for next Monday.
1/2 page. One of the three needs to be a full page.

SAT Vocabulary --50 Terms with example sentences
Learn "spawn" to "tantalize" for Friday

Challenge words for honors students who are willing to go beyond the mark and study things that don't actually earn you points but which make you effective communicators and strong readers. No, you won't be tested on these. Are you willing to study them?
     SAT Vocabulary--10 Terms