Friday, October 20, 2017

Longer Range Forecast (NOT THE HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK)

Here is the information on the 19th Century Poem Recitation which will be due November 1st.

Each person should choose one slot for sign-ups.

NOTE: ONLY ONE PERSON PER SLOT/POEM.  First come, first choice. Click the document that corresponds to your class period and enter your name in the blank.  

Many of these poems are in your American Experience, but you will find the others in this document.

19th Century Poem Recitation 10:00 Sign Ups

19th Century Poem Recitation 12:15 Sign Ups


Here are some more upcoming assignments if you like to think/plan ahead:

November 8th--First half of Killer Angels due--should be read and annotated, pp.xii-150, (through Wed., July 1st)

November 15th--Finish reading and annotating  Killer Angels pp. 155-355 (Thur., July 2nd through Afterword)

November 22nd--Thanksgiving Break, No Class

November 29th--First half of Huck Finn due, Chapters 1-21 due, should be read and annotated

December 6th--Second half of Huck Finn due, Chapters 22-44, should be read and annotated

December 13th--Study for First Semester Final, Complete timeline segments

Week 9 Work--Due Wed., October 25th

Week 9 Vocabulary
curmudgeon
sojourn
gregarious
augment
insidious

Personal Narrative Essay corrections are due at the beginning of the next class.  Follow the format I reviewed in class.  Submit your corrections with your essay.

THIS WORK WILL TAKE TIME.  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO IT ALL IN ONE SITTING.  DO NOT PROCRASTINATE.😉

In American Experience, read, annotate and take notes on 249-253.  Underline names and key events.  This will give you a good review/forecast of this period and its key figures.

Watch and take notes on this video on the Romantic Period  (10:00)  Be sure to write down the names of the main authors and characteristics.

This week we will learn about two Transcendentalists.  Warning---these essays are highly philosophical.  They will require significant brain power--do NOT hydroplane while reading. The work will force you to read these heady passages carefully which is good practice for any future standardized tests you will take.  It will force you to read more actively.

Bring your American Experience to the next class and be sure to actively annotate because I will be checking your annotations.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882

Title your written work:  Ralph Waldo Emerson Notes

1. Read Emerson's biography, p. 388
Write down five interesting things about him.

2. Briefly list the cornerstones of Transcendentalism. (see p. 389)

3. Read and annotate the excerpt from Emerson's "Nature," pp. 390-392.   Here are some things to annotate.

A. As you read look up at least two words you don't know well and define them in the margins.

B. Watch this brief video review of similes and metaphors
in pop music (overlook the bad spelling).  Be sure you understand the difference and can define these terms.

In this passage, find, underline, and label least two metaphors (especially his most famous one) and one simile.

4. Write a paragraph describing Emerson's view of nature.   Use at two quotes from the essay to support your description.

5. Watch this video which summarizes some of the main points of his essay "Self Reliance"

List the ideas she comments upon.  Choose one quote from this video and explain what you like about it.

6. Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most quoted American literary figures.  He's often misquoted (as many figures  are---always verify quotes, check for sources).  Browse through these quotations and choose 5 of your favorite.  Write them down.  Then pick your favorite and describe why it resonates with you.


Henry David Thoreau
1817-1862

Title this part of your written work:  Henry David Thoreau Notes.

1. Watch and take notes on this Henry David Thoreau biography (6:00)

2. Read and annotate from Walden pp. 404-415

A.  Explain the process by which Thoreau chose a site for his house.

B.  Describe the location of his home in some detail

C. On page 409, find and underline a passage that shows Thoreau's love of freedom.

D. On p. 410 bracket the passage where he explains why he went to the woods.

E. Circle and know the definition of sublime.  This word was important to the Romantics.

F.  Thoreau was a minimalist.  Define minimalist in your notes. You could argue he was one of the first American conservationists and "tiny house" enthusiasts.   Find support for this assertion (that he was a minimalist) on p. 410 while you read.

G.  Find, underline, and label evidence that he was suspicious of technology on pp. 410-411

H. Find and underline the two metaphors he uses on p. 411

I.  Why does Thoreau say he left the woods?

J. What does he say tradition and conformity are like? p. 412

K. What does he say he learned in the woods? p. 412

L. List five bits of advice Thoreau gives on p. 413

M.  What does he mean on p. 415 when he says "The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us.  Only that day dawns to which we are awake."

N. Read and annotate from "Civil Disobedience," pp. 416-418  Describe Thoreau's view of government.

Romanticism and American Landscape Painting

Nature and American Vision: Hudson River School (3 minutes)
Watch this video of Thomas Cole's The Oxbow  (5 minutes)
Write a paragraph that summarizes some of what you learned about American landscape painting, Thomas Cole and The Oxbow.

Thought for the week: