For Tuesday, October 8

Finish the novel The Great Divorce.  Your journal entries will be due on Tuesday, October 8.

College Essays are due October 2.  You may email me your papers or put them in my box in the office BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR CAMP.

Have a great time at camp.  I will miss you.

For Monday, September 30

You can begin working on your college essay revisions.  I know I need to return a few of your papers; I will try to get them to you before you leave campus tomorrow.  The essays are due on October 2; drop by or email me before you leave for camp.

Read TGD chapters 9-11 before Monday.  Annotate by using your brochure.  Pace yourself and take your time; read for understanding.  If you have some extra time, catch up on your journal entries.

I had a great time sharing in your barbaric YAWP today!

You are making great connections between works of literature; I see your knowledge and thinking skills
 growing day by day.

For Thursday, September 26

Final Draft of Kafka essay due Thursday, September 26.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU USE THIS CHECKLIST WHEN YOU REWRITE AND REFINE YOUR ESSAYS.  TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME. 

Checklist Kafka Analysis

Title:

Is my title a creative expression of the ideas discussed within my paper?

Introduction:

Does my introduction catch the attention of my reader without being too broad?  Is each statement a funnel leading to the discussion of my paper?

Thesis:   Does my thesis include the author's name, include the title of the work, express what the author does, and assert the author's purpose?

Body Paragraphs:

1.    Does each paragraph have a quality topic sentence?
2.    Does each paragraph have several (3 or more) specific pieces of evidence that are adequately interpreted?
3.    Does each paragraph have embedded quotations that provide context, evidence, and interpretation?
4.    Is there a summary sentence/transition sentence at the end of each paragraph?
5.    Do I have internal documentation to show my use of sources? (must cite paraphrases as well as word for word quotes)

Conclusion:

1.    A summary-Do not repeat your thesis.
2.    A thematic statement that calls your reader to action and/or calls your reader to change his/her mind about something.

Grammar:

Action verbs-use the verbs on my board (I have a resource page that will help you reduce your number of "to be" verbs.  Come see me to get your copy!)

PresentTense

Variety of syntax
Correct punctuation
 
Works Cited Page
The sources I used within my paper cited through internal documentation.

 

 
 

For Tuesday, September 24

Tantalus

Read TGD Chapters 7 and 8.  Annotate carefully.

You can work on journal entries OR on your final draft of Kafka essay.

If you need help on your essay, please contact me by email.

I am so pleased with your progress. Thank you for engaging in every class activity with enthusiasm.  You make teaching a joy!  Have an awesome weekend!

Ashamed

For Friday, September 20

Read The Great Divorce through Chapter 6. Study Guide questions are provided here for you. Make sure you can mentally answer the questions before you come to class on Friday. 

Chapter Four (The Big Ghost)

1.                  Describe the approach of the Solid People.  Why does the earth shake at their coming?
2.                  Why does the Big Man not think it’s fair that the Solid Man has been sent to Heaven and he has not?  Who is Jack?
3.                  What reasons does the Big Ghost give for deserving to be sent to Heaven?  What does the Big Man say are his rights?
4.                  The Solid Man answers that, no, he will not get his right, but what instead?
5.                  The Big Ghost says he is not asking for anybody’s “bleeding charity.”  What is the Solid Man’s answer?
6.                  The Solid Man tells the Big Ghost that he has been sent to him to ask his forgiveness.  For what?
7.                  What does the Solid Man reveal about all of the men who worked under the Big Ghost?
8.                  What is the Big Ghost’s final response?  Why is this significant?
Chapter 5 (The Episcopal Ghost)
1.   The E.G. says that happiness is found in what?
2.   Does the ghost believe in a literal Heaven or Hell?  Why are his views ironic in light of where he has been and where he is now?
3.  What are his views on the resurrection?  On the death of Christ?
4.  The ghost tells Dick that if he stays in Heaven, he wants a promise of a sphere of influence and a place that can use his talents as well as a free spirit of inquiry.  Dick tells him that he is bringing him not to the place of questions but of what?

5.  When Dick inquires, “Do you believe that He exists?” what is the ghost’s answer?

6.  The ghost finally tells Dick that he has to get to the grey town to do what?  What is so ironic about this statement?

7.  On what topic did the Episcopal ghost “preach his famous sermon?”

Chapter 6 (Golden Apples)-Apples…again?

1.  What is the via dolorosa of the man gathering apples?  Is this something he has put upon himself?
2.  Why does the man have such a hard time picking up apples?
3.  Of what does the voice remind the narrator?
4.  What does the voice mean when it suggest that the man “stay here and learn to eat such apples?”  How would it be possible for the “very leaves” of that land to “teach” him how to eat such apples?

For Wednesday, September 18

Read The Great Divorce through Chapter 3.

Continue to notice the juxtaposition in the settings of heaven and hell.

Write your first journal entry:  letter to Lewis regarding your thoughts on Chapter 1.  Use your brochure to find the prompts for writing a dialectical journal.  You do not have to do something for each point, but let it flow.  The points are a guide.

 

For Monday, September 16

Complete your rough draft for the Kafka essay.  Remember this is a rough draft.  I am not looking for absolute perfection as to "craft" and "style."  At this point, you may still have some "to be" verbs.  Your transitions might be a little shakey, but I want a complete paper to peruse so we can be assured that you have plenty of time for polishing and finding your voice.  The last stage in the writing process is the most exciting as we find the perfect words, images, and syntax to communicate our ideas. It's like placing the final piece in a 5000 piece puzzle, or putting our signature at the bottom of an artistic masterpiece, or ...

Use MLA innter-textual documentation
Include a Works Cited
Make sure to present your arguments in a logical manner
Remember:  quotation sandwiches are your friends:)

For Thursday, September 12

Write a rough outline or create a graphic organizer for your literary analysis over The Metamorphosis.

I will need to see a working thesis (working because I may help you polish it).

I will need to see a graphic organizer or outline which details each of the points/arguments you will be making.

I will need to see that you have gathered evidence for each point (quotes with page numbers).

I will need to see how you are including any secondary sources (short stories, biography, historical facts).

This all needs to be in writing.  Do the research for evidence now, so you can work on CRAFTING your paper over the weekend.

If only it were this easy:)

Biographical information may come in the introduction, or it could work throughout your paper.
The same is true of historical parallels.
If you are utilizing a short story, that should be worked into the various sections of your paper.

If you find yourself stumped with no place to go, send me a quick text or email.

It might be best to do this prep work on your computer, that way you can copy/paste quotes, etc. into your paper when the time comes.  This saves a step.

HOWEVER, if writing by hand helps you think, that is great too.

For Tuesday, September 10

College Essay.

REMEMBER:

BE ORIGINAL
TELL A STORY
MAKE IT ACTIVE AND ALIVE
I WANT TO SEE, TOUCH, TASTE, HEAR, AND SMELL YOU!

For Friday, September 6

Create your personal metamorphosis sonnet.  DUE DATE:  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Requirements:
14 lines
Rhyme Scheme:  abab, cdcd, efef, gg
A metamorphosis
First 8 lines=problem/1st phase; Last 6 lines=resolution/2nd phase
A shift/turn (we will always use the term "shift")


A SHIFT:
A change from one rhyme group to another signifiesa change in subject matter. This change occurs at the beginning of L9 in the Italian sonnet and is called the volta,or "turn"; the turn is an essential element of the sonnet form, perhaps the essential element.

Shakespeare does not always follow the rules...surprise right?  Sometimes, his "volta" or "shift" comes with the rhyming couplet.  We will look at some examples of this on Friday.

COLLEGE ESSAY; DUE DATE:  TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Start your "story" in the middle; only action verbs; be creative; be original!  Use Hayden's essay as a guide.

Second Notice for Wednesday, September 4

MAKE SURE TO REVIEW CHAPTERS 1-12 IN HtRLLaP.

Read over the Table of Contents.  Make sure you remember the key details of each chapter.

If you feel you are a little shaky on any one of the chapters, go back and review.  Read your annotations; read the bold print, read paragraph 1 and 2 and probably the last 2 paragraphs.  If you STILL feel a little shaky, reread the whole chapter.

Bring in a college essay prompt...prompt only.  Prompts on previous post.

Take your bug quiz.  Write a paragraph...does the bug description fit you?