Wednesday, January 30th

Homework:

You have been given an answer key for your mid-term. Spend some time reviewing your multiple choic performance, categories, test-taking skills, etc. Post your reflection and comment on your performance and progress on Part 1 of the exam.  Posts should contain specifics, quotes, etc. Posts should be a minimum of 500 words. Students must comment on at least one classmate's observation for  full credit.  Posts are due on Thursday morning as we will be referring to them in class.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

 

                                            

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Do Now:

• Take out your copies of The Great Gatsby.
• Prepare for your note-taking during Test-Analysis on Gatsby quiz #3 (post-it notes, paper, etc.)
• Scan your quiz. Underline any word(s) that interfered with your ability to answer questions.

S.W.B.A.T.:

• Reflect on their original understanding of Gatsby quiz questions.
• Discern between general symbols and context specific symbols.
• Reflect on Nick's character as it is developed through the opening chapter.

Today’s Agenda:

• Reflection on our class progress with AP Multiple-Choice questions.
• Reminder of how to conduct test analysis and earn back full credit.
• Re-reading of the prompt. ("Of course I knew...")
• Test analysis on The Great Gatsby.
• Closing discussion, reflection.

Homework:

Test analysis is due, tomorrow, Wednesday.

Moving Forward...

Tomorrow we will begin discussing your Mid-Term Exams. 

Do Now:

Take out your questions for chapter 2 of Gatsby.

Consider & be prepared to discuss:

• How Fitzgerald convey's Nick's ambivalence toward those around him in chapter 2?  What contradictions are there in his behavior?
• How does Fitzgerald build an aura of mystery and excitement around Gatsby?

 SWBAT:

•  Understand the concept of the motif.
•  Speculate as to an author's intent.
•  Assess Fitzgerald's use of the geography as a motif.

Motifs:

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

Geography:

Throughout the novel, places and settings epitomize the various aspects of the 1920s American society that Fitzgerald depicts. East Egg represents the old aristocracy, West Egg the newly rich, the valley of ashes the moral and social decay of America, and New York City the uninhibited, amoral quest for money and pleasure. Additionally, the East is connected to the moral decay and social cynicism of New York, while the West (including Midwestern and northern areas such as Minnesota) is connected to more traditional social values and ideals.

The Valley of Ashes

First introduced in Chapter 2, the valley of ashes between West Egg and New York City consists of a long stretch of desolate land created by the dumping of industrial ashes. It represents the moral and social decay that results from the uninhibited pursuit of wealth, as the rich indulge themselves with regard for nothing but their own pleasure. The valley of ashes also symbolizes the plight of the poor, like George Wilson, who live among the dirty ashes and lose their vitality as a result.

Upcoming Events & Homework:
Read, annotate and answer questions for chapter 3 of Gatsby.
Special Guest presentation on Friday
Gatsby Quiz # 2 on Thursday
Gatsby Quiz # 1 test analysis due Friday

Friday, January, 18, 2013

Homework:

Read, annotate & answer questions for Gatsby chapter 2.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

   

 

The multiple-choice scores are encouraging.  As a class, you have gone from an average of 25/54 to 32/54.  We will continue working on our strategies, including test analysis as we move forward with Gatsby. 

Thursday:

•  Spend a few minutes discussing BenchPrep, logins, Digital Flashcards and Practice Tests.
• Discuss the remaining questions for Chapter 1 of Gatsby 
• Take a 6 questions AP Multiple Choice quiz on Chapter 1 of Gatsby
•  

                                                                          Homework:


No homework tonight. Get through mid-terms and try to stay health.






                                                                Good Luck on Mid-terms:

                                        
                                                                              

Thursday, January10th, 2012

Do Now:

Take out your Gatsby questions for chapter 1. 
Take out your laptops and go to our blog.
Turn to your AP section of your notebooks to review your scores on the first 2 multiple-choice sections.

SWBAT:

Understand the benefit of multiple-choice practice for the AP.
Log onto the BenchPrep site for practice questions

Today:

Usernames and Passwords will be distributed for the BenchPrep site.
Practice on BenchPrep will begin.
Chapter 1 Gatsby questions will be collected.
The mid-term will be discussed.

Homework:

Complete the first practice section on BenchPrep.

Reminder:

Our mid-term will be on Monday, 1/14/13 from 7:30 - 10:30.

Tuesday, January 8th

Homework:

Read,annotate and answer questions for chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby.

Monday, January 7th

Do Now:

1.  Take out your poetry packets. Reflect on the annotations from Friday's class.

2.  Take out your laptops and log on to our blog.  Open up the responses to Thursday's poetry assignment so that you are prepared to follow along with each presentation.

SWBAT:

•  Improve our ability to extract critical poetic/literary devices "at a glance."   
•  Increase our ability to assess the poet's/writer's craft.
•  Go beyond locating literary techniques and begin explaining how they convey or extend meaning.

Today:

 We will finish poetry explications and transition to The Great Gatsby.
 


Homework:

Review the power point presentation below.  Review the map of East & West Egg, NY & Determine how you will manage your electronic version of Gatsby.  Reading begins on Tuesday.

1. Power point presentation on The Roaring 20's, Fitzgerald & The Great Gatsby
  
Cut/paste the address to see a powerpoint presentation for background details.
 http://www.slideshare.net/mrsdenglish/the-great-gatsby-2822980

2.  A Map of NY (East & West Egg) in Gatsby... 

Cut/paste the address to see a map made of the Hamptons, as described by Fitzgerald, in The Great Gatsby.

http://www.swisseduc.ch/english/readinglist/fitzgerald_fscott/gatsby/map.html

3.  Below is the link for your version of The Great Gatsby:

Cut/paste the link and determine how you would like to access your copy of Gatsby.

http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/f/fitzgerald/f_scott/gatsby/complete.html

                                        
                                                                          

Poetry Packet Assignment

                                                    
                                                        

Do Now:

Pick up your copy of the poetry packet.  Turn to the back of the packet and locate the 12 Question Poetry Analysis Worksheet and the Poetry Explication Page.  Review the 12 questions and refer back to your poem. In anticipation of the 12 questions that you need to answer, spend a few minutes reviewing your poem and annotating significant poetic devices.

Today We Will: 

Familiarize ourselves with Poetry Analysis, Poetry Explication and the upcoming Poetry assignment.

SWBAT:

Assess poetry
Ask critical questions
Understand how to write a brief poetry explication

Homework:

Assess your selected poem.  Based on your answers to the 12 questions on the poetry analysis worksheet, apply the principles of poetry explication.  Due Friday, January 4th.

Parameters:

Your explication should be between 400-500 words.  The conventions of standard written English apply.  Blogs must be posted before class on Friday, January 4th.

Refer to the definitions in on the power point below:

http://www.slideshare.net/mmcminn/poetry-and-figurative-language

Poetry packet

http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/sfarris/Files/links.htm

Wednesday, January 2, 2013: Proverbs & Poetry

Do Now:

We are going to look at more interesting ways to begin our opening paragraphs for the AP essays.  Spend 4-5 minutes reviewing the proverbs below.  Place an * next to the proverbs that best match major themes in literature.  Place a ? next to any statements that you don't understand. 

Today's Plans:

• Today we will review proverbs and consider how we can connect them to major themes in Hamlet and  Streetcar.  
• Begin analyzing poetry.
• Familiarize ourselves with the poetry packet.

SWBAT:

• Understand the importance of the opening sentence of an introductory paragraph.
• Connect proverbs to universal themes of literature.
• Assess poetry

Homework:

Review the poetry packet. Be prepared to select your poetry for analysis.  Poetry analysis will be posted to the blog at the end of the week.

                                     pro·verb  

                                                           /ˈprävˌərb/

                                                               Noun

                A short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.
                    ______________________________________________________

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

A man's home is his castle.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Actions speak louder than words.

After a storm comes a calm.

All good things must come to an end.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

Keep your mouth shut and your ears open.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. 

Like father, like son.

Love is blind.

Love sees no faults.

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

One good turn deserves another.

Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.

Opportunity seldom knocks twice.

Practice makes perfect.

Prevention is better than cure.

The early bird catches the worm.

The first step is the hardest.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The last straw breaks the camel's back.

The older the fiddler, the sweeter the tune.

The pot calls the kettle black. 

There's a black sheep in every flock.

There's no fool like an old fool.

There's no place like home.

Things are not always what they seem.

A hero is a man who is afraid to run away.

As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.

A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.

A stumble may prevent a fall.

Use soft words and hard arguments.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop.

He that seeks trouble never misses.

A burnt child dreads the fire.

Many a true word is spoken in jest.

Sometimes you must be cruel to be kind.

The ship that will not obey the helm will have to obey the rocks.

Two wrongs do not make a right.