Friday-Sunday, September 28th-30th, 2012

FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3rd - Two page response paper on FREAKS AND GEEKS.


FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4th - Walkabout Response Paper

Tuesday-Wednesday, September 25-26, 2012

FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

CURRENT EVENTS - Download the current events document and answer all the questions. (You may have to search for the answers to the questions you don't know.)

LIT - Write 2-page response to "How The Nurse Feels." As I said in class, think about how Tess changes over the course of the story -- who is she at the beginning of the story? And who is she at the end? -- and what happens that makes Tess change?

Friday-Monday, September 14-17, 2012

DUE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th:

Please choose the 5 precepts from the email Martha sent to you on Friday that you think should guide our class.  You can also use precepts from the book, WONDER.  Write a thoughtful response (at least one long paragraph) describing why you choose each one and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

DUE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20th:

Response to Julie Orringer's "The Isabel Fish."



We will be having the World Religions Quiz sometime during next week but we will have a review session before the quiz.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR TOMORROW:

1) Email your precept to Martha -- just the precept you featured in your speech.

2) Bring your WONDER books to school and report to the classroom you have been assigned for the WONDER assembly.

3) No World Religions Quiz tomorrow - rescheduled for Wednesday, September 19th.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

FRIDAY: World Religions Quiz. We'll talk tomorrow (Thursday) about what exactly will be on the quiz.

THURSDAY: Read Charles Baxter’s “Gryphon.”

Read it again:

1)     Making notes in the margins.

2)     Circling and defining your vocabulary words.

Write a one-page formal analysis that begins with the prompt:

In Charles Baxter’s short story “Gryphon,” the author explores the theme of ______.

The rest of your essay should use specific evidence from the story to prove your point.

Your response must be TYPED, DOUBLESPACED and at least a PAGE in length.

IN ADDITION AND ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER:

1) Identify ONE simile in the story.

2) Identify ONE metaphor in the story.

3) Identify ONE symbol in the story.

4) Identify ONE motif in the story.

REMINDER: As always, there will be a 6-question quiz at the start of the discussion period.

ONE FINAL THING:

On the story, please write THREE points you would like to bring up in class. These points should be written in complete sentences and be as thorough as possible so that you will earn points by contributing to the class discussion.

Monday, September 10th, 2012

Speeches

Be ready to give your speech on Wednesday.



World Religions

DUE Wednesday, September 12^th, 2012

View the GLEE episode entitled “Grilled Cheesus.”

Respond to the following questions about the episode.

1)     What is the basis for Kurt’s belief that God does not exist?

2)     Besides the existence of the Grilled Cheesus, what is the basis for Fin’s belief?

3)     Rachel sings “Papa, Can You Hear Me?” as a prayer for Kurt’s dad. What do the lyrics of this song say about why people turn to religion and prayer?

4)     What do the lyrics to “I Want to Hold Your Hand” say about what Kurt believes in?

5)     What do the lyrics to Mercedes’ song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” reveal about the role of religion in her life?

6)     At the end of the show, would you say that Kurt is religious? Or spiritual? Neither?

7)     What is the difference between being religious and being spiritual?

8)     Look up and read the lyrics to “What If God Was One of Us,” the song that closes the show. What do these lyrics mean to you?

Please type and double-space your response (12-point font). You must write at least two pages on these questions.

Please avoid one-sentence explanations. 

Literature

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DUE Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Read Charles Baxter’s “Gryphon.”

Read it again:

1)     Making notes in the margins.

2)     Circling and defining your vocabulary words.

Write a one-page formal analysis that begins with the prompt:

In Charles Baxter’s short story “Gryphon,” the author explores the theme of ______.

The rest of your essay should use specific evidence from the story to prove your point.

Your response must be TYPED, DOUBLESPACED and at least a PAGE in length.

IN ADDITION AND ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER:

1) Identify ONE simile in the story.

2) Identify ONE metaphor in the story.

3) Identify ONE symbol in the story.

4) Identify ONE motif in the story.

REMINDER: As always, there will be a 6-question quiz at the start of the discussion period.

ONE FINAL THING:

On the story, please write THREE points you would like to bring up in class. These points should be written in complete sentences and be as thorough as possible so that you will earn points by contributing to the class discussion.

Friday - Sunday, September 7-9, 2012

 DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 2012

2nd draft of Julian POV stories due. Remember: Think short, think powerful. You can send me whatever you have over the weekend for my feedback.

SPEECHES - You all should be continuing to work on your speeches.

DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 2012

One-page response to Brady Udall's THE WIG. 
 

Read Brady Udall’s “The Wig.”

Read it again. Think about the author’s use of symbols in this short piece. Read a third time to search for symbols.

Remember: a symbol is a concrete object that represents an abstract element or idea.

CONCRETE OBJECT=ABSTRACT ELEMENT/IDEA

In this exercise, identify at least three (3) symbol equations and explain your equations.

For example (from Alice Walker’s THE FLOWERS):

Flowers=Innocence

EXPLANATION: The child Myop is gathering flowers before she discovers the dead man and the noose. After she sees death and violence, represented by the body and the rope, she lays down her flowers. She begins the story as an innocent girl but ends the story knowing the world around her contains terrible things. Laying down her flowers, she has lost her innocence.

Here is list of possible objects contained in “The Wig”:

the wig

the green paisley tie

the cereal

the garbage

the funnies

the window

the mist outside the window

Please write on at least three (3) of these. You can write on all seven (7) if you would like. Or you can come up with something not on the above list. Please type and doublespace your response. Please avoid one or two sentence explanations.

Remember: There is no wrong or right in this literature class. I welcome all ideas BUT you must thoroughly explain your answers.

If you have misplaced the story, you can find a copy of it here.

http://english1aspring2011.blogspot.com/2011/04/sunday-afternoon-april-17-2011.html

Wednesday, September 5th, 2012

 DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 2012

2nd draft of Julian POV stories due. BUT you should be working on these all week long.

SPEECHES - You all should be continuing to work on your speeches.

8TH GRADE GRAMMAR - Quiz on Parts of Speech FRIDAY 

 

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

DUE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5th, 2012

One-page response to Mary Oliver's "Spring in the Classroom."

 DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th, 2012

2nd draft of Julian POV stories due. BUT you should be working on these all week long.

Friday - Monday, August 31st -September 3rd, 2012

DUE TUESDAY: Interview your parent or parents (or an adult you know) about what he/she/they think about the differences between faith and belief. Type up the interview and bring to class on Tuesday (or email to me by Tuesday).

DUE WEDNESDAY: Write your response to Mary Oliver's  "Spring in the Classroom." Here are the directions for your response:

Read Mary Oliver’s “Spring in the Classroom.”

Read it again. Think about the author’s use of image in this poem. Read a third time and think about what the author is saying about these students and their teacher.

Remember: Two levels exist for every narrative (yes, poems can be stories): the literal level, or in other words, what is happening; and the subtext, which is the level underneath the story or plot The subtext refers to the thematic region of the story, or in other words, what the narrative or story means.

In this exercise:

1)     Identify at least three (3) symbols and explain what each represents.

2)     When does “the turn” occur in the poem? Identify the line or lines in the poem where the author changes direction. Explain why you think this is the turning point of the poem.

3)     Interpret the theme/message of the poem. What is the poet trying to say? Do not just summarize the poem here – go deeper, get beyond what is happening in the poem.

As always, type and doublespace. My expectation is for a one-(full)-page response to this exercise.

DUE IN THE FUTURE: If you have received your first draft of the Julian chapter with my comments, begin revising your work. The second draft will be due the week after next (most likely on Monday, September 10th). 

You should also be continuing work on your Precept Speeches. On Friday, September 7th, 8th graders will begin reading their speeches.