Friday, September 15th

ANNOTATED SCARLET LETTER
This site is AWESOME. There are links to difficult words.

1. summer Reading Essay: Turnitin.com, due Monday, Sept 18, 9:00AM

Class ID: 16281811

Enrollment key: southsaxons

You must bring a hard copy to class on Monday, too.

How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

2. Quiz 

Literary terms--Quizlet  

First three lines of Song of the Open Road
All names
Young Goodman Brown (PDF) Quiz
3. What point is Hawthorne making in the story Young Goodman Brown?

4. Scarlet Letter. Read pages 1-4 together

Homework: Read chapters 2, 3

Summer Reading Essay

To make sure that you all understand how to write a strong essay, today we will review a fairy tale and ask ourselves how an essay on that story might be written. As a group you will choose one Summer Reading Essay prompt and:

Write an opening sentence

Write a thesis

Write a topic sentence for one idea

Cite a specific example from the story (consider quoting it)

Write three sentences elaborating that idea

Write a concluding sentence for that paragraph

As you write, be sure to follow this basic rule of thumb for good writing:

"Good writing passionately addresses what it is to be a human being."
(As you are writing I will call you up to my desk to show me your annotations)

 1.  Write an essay that presents your interpretation of the novel’s main character (or characters) and discusses his or her motives. Include discussion about the choices and decisions the character makes which impact the pivotal events of the novel. Use specific textual evidence to support your analysis.

 2.  Write an essay that presents an argument about a major theme of the novel. How does the novel’s theme reflect meaningful values shared by human beings. Use specific textual evidence to support your argument.

 3.  Discuss the roles of men and women in the novel (and the interactions and relationships among them) and present an argument about what these roles reveal about the society reflected in the novel. Use specific textual evidence to support your argument.

 4. Write an essay that explains how the novel is concerned with one of the following motifs: the gaining or losing of paradise, initiation, scapegoating, social class and mobility, a utopia/dystopia, a quest, rebirth or redemption, cultural barriers, baptism/floods, transformation, sacrifice, betrayal and revenge, search for identify, the conflict between good and evil, or parental roles. Use specific textual evidence to support your analysis.

2. Summer Reading Essay Turnitin.com due Monday, Sept 18, 9:00AM

1.  SSHS College Visit Calendar

SAT prep, grades, extra-curricular activities, community service to get into the college of your choice

2. Summer Reading Essay Turnitin.com due Monday, Sept 18, 9:00AM

Class ID: 16281811

Enrollment key: southsaxons

You must bring a hard copy to class on Monday, too.

How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

"Just don't let your paper be ordinary."

C=Common work         It sounds like most papers 

B=Beyond common     Effectively makes it's point. Well supported

A=Above beyond         Very effectively makes it's point with thorough analysis, logical progression of ideas, and originality of thought. "I'm glad I read that!"

3. Show me your annotations for your novel. 20 minimum for "A" consideration
Book Talks
What point is the novel making? Summary. How to Read Like a Professor connections?
Don't give away the ending!!!!!!!!   Don't give away important parts ("Dumbledore dies")  The idea is to try to get the class to read this book!

4. Quiz Friday

Literary terms--Quizlet  Memorize for quiz Friday the 15th

First three lines of Song of the Open Road memorized by Friday.
All names for Friday
Young Goodman Brown quiz Friday (not easy unless you really pay attention)
Groups: What point is Hawthorne making in the story Young Goodman Brown?

5. Scarlet Letter. Read pages 1-4 together
Homework: Read chapter 1

Tuesday, September 12

SSHS College Visit Calendar

SAT prep, grades, extra-curricular activities, community service to get into the college of your choice

Summer reading essay due September 18th--bring a printed copy to class.

How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

Your Essay needs: 1. a creative title, 2. an opening sentence that compels us to continue reading, and 3. the first three sentences must have no punctuation errors. 

Your Summer Reading Essay needs to focus on your specific and original idea concerning the novel. Systematically develop your ideas throughout the essay, using textual support and analysis. By the end of the essay, readers should say to themselves, "Hmmm. Nice. I'm glad I read that."

"Just don't let your poem be ordinary" (Mr. Keating in Dead Poets Society)

And with regard to your summer reading essay (and everything you ever write throughout your life, including love letters ;^)

"Just don't let your paper be ordinary."

C=Common work

B=Beyond common

A=Above beyond

How to Read Literature like a Professor and your annotated novel (10 points)

Divide into groups according to novel read

Glance through How to Read Literature like a Professor, finding ideas from that book that shed light on your novel (help you understand it). Discuss your novel as a group and write down spots in the novel where you can see ideas from the book How to Read Literature like a Professor. I'm not saying this will be easy, but do your best! Each person needs to take notes.

Class syllabus
TODAY:

Literary terms--Quizlet  Memorize for quiz Friday the 15th

First three lines of Song of the Open Road memorized by Friday.

What can I say, I love teaching Honors American Lit where the discussions are lively, the insights keen, and the writing enjoyable to read (please keep it that way   :^]

Rather than create a website, I've set up this blog for our class and you will be required to view it from time to time.  I prefer blogs to websites because they can be updated so easily and they also give you the opportunity to comment on the things that are said here and to give me input concerning neat and useful links to add to the "Resources" tab and the "Cool Stuff "tab."

My goal is to make this class as stimulating as it is challenging. The works that I've chosen for us to study, as well as the assignments, should give you opportunities to think through challenging issues and to solidify your new ideas as you write your papers and produce creative projects.
_______________________________________

Class today (actually today and tomorrow):

1. The American Dream

• National Public Radio (NPR) video on the singer Bruce Springsteen and the American   Dream. Springsteen's American Dream--Beautiful and Bleak  
• Born to Run with lyrics (Bruce Springsteen)  Discuss meaning of the song. And a link to the lyrics: Born to Run
• Compare and contrast the poems Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman, and 
• I am Waiting, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Both deal with the American dream. Which is more similar to Springsteen's Born to Run? Why do you think these poets and singers see the American dream differently?
• As a group, decide what the song Born to Run is saying.  Take notes.
• Homework: Write three paragraphs telling me what you think Springsteen is saying. Remember, good writing makes a specific point, supports that point with specific examples, and discusses those examples.
• Another Whitman poem: I Hear America Singing
• Literary terms--Quizlet

My hope is that you'll find the class both challenging and fun.

Monday, September 11

https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=southsaxons.com_l3pavdtucr90qpt0lc6tlgv0p4@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Los_Angeles&gsessionid=OK

Summer reading essay due September 18th--bring a printed copy to class.

How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

Your Essay needs: 1. a creative title, 2. an opening sentence that compels us to continue reading, and 3. the first three sentences must have no punctuation errors. 

Your Summer Reading Essay needs to focus on your specific and original idea concerning the novel. Systematically develop your ideas throughout the essay, using textual support and analysis. By the end of the essay, readers should say to themselves, "Hmmm. Nice. I'm glad I read that."

"Just don't let your poem be ordinary" (Mr. Keating in Dead Poets Society)

And with regard to your summer reading essay (and everything you ever write throughout your life, including love letters ;^)

"Just don't let your paper be ordinary."

C=Common work

B=Beyond common

A=Above beyond

How to Read Literature like a Professor and your annotated novel (10 points)

Divide into groups according to novel read

Glance through How to Read Literature like a Professor, finding ideas from that book that shed light on your novel (help you understand it). Discuss your novel as a group and write down spots in the novel where you can see ideas from the book How to Read Literature like a Professor. I'm not saying this will be easy, but do your best! Each person needs to take notes.

Class syllabus
TODAY:

Literary terms--Quizlet  Memorize for quiz Friday the 15th

First three lines of Song of the Open Road memorized by Friday.

What can I say, I love teaching Honors American Lit where the discussions are lively, the insights keen, and the writing enjoyable to read (please keep it that way   :^]

Rather than create a website, I've set up this blog for our class and you will be required to view it from time to time.  I prefer blogs to websites because they can be updated so easily and they also give you the opportunity to comment on the things that are said here and to give me input concerning neat and useful links to add to the "Resources" tab and the "Cool Stuff "tab."

My goal is to make this class as stimulating as it is challenging. The works that I've chosen for us to study, as well as the assignments, should give you opportunities to think through challenging issues and to solidify your new ideas as you write your papers and produce creative projects.
_______________________________________

Class today (actually today and tomorrow):

1. The American Dream

• National Public Radio (NPR) video on the singer Bruce Springsteen and the American   Dream. Springsteen's American Dream--Beautiful and Bleak  
• Born to Run with lyrics (Bruce Springsteen)  Discuss meaning of the song. And a link to the lyrics: Born to Run
• Compare and contrast the poems Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman, and 
• I am Waiting, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Both deal with the American dream. Which is more similar to Springsteen's Born to Run? Why do you think these poets and singers see the American dream differently?
• As a group, decide what the song Born to Run is saying.  Take notes.
• Homework: Write three paragraphs telling me what you think Springsteen is saying. Remember, good writing makes a specific point, supports that point with specific examples, and discusses those examples.
• Another Whitman poem: I Hear America Singing
• Literary terms--Quizlet

My hope is that you'll find the class both challenging and fun.

Friday, September 8

Welcome to Honors American Lit!

Summer reading essay due September 18th--bring a printed copy to class.

How to Write a Creative Title for an Essay

Your Essay needs: 1. a creative title, 2. an opening sentence that compels us to continue reading, and 3. the first three sentences must have no punctuation errors. 

Bring your annotated copy of How to Read Literature like a college professor Monday

Class syllabus
TODAY:

Literary terms--Quizlet  Memorize for quiz Friday the 15th

First three lines of Song of the Open Road memorized by Friday.

What can I say, I love teaching Honors American Lit where the discussions are lively, the insights keen, and the writing enjoyable to read (please keep it that way   :^]

Rather than create a website, I've set up this blog for our class and you will be required to view it from time to time.  I prefer blogs to websites because they can be updated so easily and they also give you the opportunity to comment on the things that are said here and to give me input concerning neat and useful links to add to the "Resources" tab and the "Cool Stuff "tab."

My goal is to make this class as stimulating as it is challenging. The works that I've chosen for us to study, as well as the assignments, should give you opportunities to think through challenging issues and to solidify your new ideas as you write your papers and produce creative projects.
_______________________________________

Class today (actually today and tomorrow):

1. The American Dream

• National Public Radio (NPR) video on the singer Bruce Springsteen and the American   Dream. Springsteen's American Dream--Beautiful and Bleak  
• Born to Run with lyrics (Bruce Springsteen)  Discuss meaning of the song. And a link to the lyrics: Born to Run
• Compare and contrast the poems Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman, and 
• I am Waiting, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Both deal with the American dream. Which is more similar to Springsteen's Born to Run? Why do you think these poets and singers see the American dream differently?
• As a group, decide what the song Born to Run is saying.  Take notes.
• Homework: Write three paragraphs telling me what you think Springsteen is saying. Remember, good writing makes a specific point, supports that point with specific examples, and discusses those examples.
• Another Whitman poem: I Hear America Singing
• Literary terms--Quizlet

My hope is that you'll find the class both challenging and fun.

Summer Reading

You're almost there, guys!!!
Summer Reading: 11th Grade Summer Reading Link
Look into all books and short story collections before making your selection.
There are some good reads here!
Othello is a must at some point
Flannery O'Connor's stories are great, as are Faulkner's and Joyce's.

Upload your movie to YouTube prior to the final exam period.

During the summer you should consider doing some sort of volunteer work. It's good for the soul (and looks good for college admissions)

Holden's Future?

What will happen to Holden in the "sequel" to this novel?
What evidence do we have that he will pull out of his depression?
Will he be able to lead a productive life? What do you think he will be doing in 10 years?

What evidence do you have to support your ideas? Be specific.
Discuss carousel; discuss Antolini

HOMEWORK: GO TO TURNITIN.COM AND SUBMIT BOTH PARTS OF HEMINGWAY/FITZGERALD REWRITE AS WELL AS
WRITTEN COMMENTARY FOR YOUR MOVIE PROJECT.

PASSWORD: saxons
4th Period Hemingway/Fitzgerald Creative Rewrite      Turnitin #15519448
4th Period Hemingway/Fitzgerald Analysis of Rewrite  Turnitin #15519460
4th Period Commentary                                                   Turnitin #15521841

5th Period Hemingway/Fitzgerald Creative Rewrite      Turnitin #15521803
5th Period Hemingway/Fitzgerald Analysis of Rewrite  Turnitin #15519533
5th Period Commentary                                                 Turnitin #15521845