Week 8, Semester 2: Work Due February 27th

Weekly Usuals

Bring your Gatsby book next week for a final wrap up.
Also bring your copy of Their Eyes Were Watching God as we will dip into the beginning of it if time permits.

A. SAT Grammar Concept--

We skipped grammar this week to allow more time for Fitzgerald/movie introduction, so NO work here.

B. Poetry Wall and Journal 

Create your Great Gatsby character poem per the directions in class.  If you were absent, here's the directions and example.  Post this poem on the wall .  Print/copy the poem into your journal as well.  This is your only poetry assignment this week.

Gatsby Character Poem 10:00
Gatsby Character Poem 12:15

I apologize for falling behind on wall evaluations.   I have been busy with thinking through the Gatsby movie plans, plus putting together plans for classes next year.  Thank you for being patient with me--I will have them updated this weekend. : )

Other Work

See you Saturday at 6 pm  for our movie viewing.   Bring a pad where you can jot down notes if you like.  The address is:

Kelsey Walker's
108 Pine Tree Drive
Swannanoa, NC 28778

Here's a link to map.

If you have trouble or need help, let me know.

Here are some options for those who are unable to attend:

• Consider renting it on YouTube ($2.99) 
• If you have Netflix instant streaming, Jack Clayton's version (1974) with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow is available for streaming.
• Of course, both versions are available on Netflix on disc.  
• Here is the 2013 Baz Lurhmann version on Youtube with distracting framing.  It will do in a pinch or to review a scene.
• Here is the 1974 version on Youtube It's broken up into segments.

Film Critique

If you were absent from class, here are the directions for your film critique essay, a film terms glossary of sorts, and an example critique.

A few of you expressed concern on having enough time to write the essay, since we won't see the movie until Saturday, meaning you will need to compose the essay either Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday.  If this is a concern for you, please email me privately, and I'll work with you.  Normally we won't have this dynamic, but it's a unique situation with the Saturday viewing.

Also, another thought is that you could get a jump start by writing your introduction (except your thesis/slant of thesis) before the viewing.   And of course, you can work on your character poem late this week. 

And.....

Coming Soon!

Our next novel is Their Eyes Were Watching God (look at the right side bar for upcoming events).  So you can begin reading that novel as soon as you like. We'll talk more about it next week, but anticipate some dialect.  I'll see if I can dig up an audio version for next week which may be a help to some of you.

3/7 Chapters 1-10 due

3/14 Chapters 11-20 due (to end)

3/21 Spring Break

F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda, and their daughter Frances "Scottie"

Week 7 Semester 2, Work Due February 21st

Reminder: If you are able to attend The Great Gatsby viewing party on Saturday, February 24th at 6:00 pm, please bring $4 next week to help cover pizza/refreshments. Dressing up is optional but fun. I saw some great 1920's style jewelry in the thrift store this week!  I will have directions/details for next class.

Weekly Usuals

A. Grammar Concept: Purpose and Audience

For grammar this week, we talked about keeping your purpose, audience, and medium in mind when communicating.  Please watch this brief video with email tips. 

B. Poetry wall theme of the week: ee cummings  (45 minutes)

EE Cummings 10:00

EE Cummings 12:15

C. Poetry Journal (30 minutes)

1.  Write a poem in the style of EE Cummings.  Then, visit this site and launch the visual poetry feature.  Paste your poem into the text box and play around with different ways you could make the poem a concrete/visual poem.  Do remember it needs to be readable.   Save the poem, print it and put it in your journal.

2. Take one of your previous poems that you'd like to experiment with/revise and use some of the other "Text Manipulation" options on the left side bar of this same website to give you new ideas of how you might rework, reorder, or reword the poem. You will need to poke through them--some are crazier than others, but you never know what might inspire you!  Revise your poem accordingly and include the revised version in your journal.

Other

Finish reading The Great Gatsby.

Everyone should think of one good Great Gatsby discussion question for next week's class.  Add it to this document.

For each of your categories (main character, minor character, symbol, theme, and background of era), write a well-developed paragraph summarizing your key findings from the novel.  Here are some brief questions to consider shaping each paragraph around:

1. In what ways does your character change during the course of the novel if any?  If he/she does not change, why do you think Fitzgerald chose that direction artistically?

2. Who is your minor character and how do they function in the novel?  Why is this person important enough to include?

3. How does your symbol function in the novel?  Give several examples.

4. How is your theme illustrated through the characters and events of the novel?  Give examples.

5. In what ways do you see your mini-research topic appear in the novel?

We will share some of these paragraphs next class.

Revise your mini-research paper according to the specifications we discussed in class.
Be sure to tally your grammar mistakes and analyze your sentence constructions, etc.

Here's the order for what you will turn in next week:

Staple the following together:
*Revised paragraphs
*Revised Works Cited
*Revised KWOS
*Editing Guide we went through in class

Then paperclip the rest of this behind the new:
*Original paragraphs
*Original Works Cited
*Original KWO

Feel free to email with questions that may arise, and I will do my best to help.   Note: on the right-hand sidebar under Helpful Resources, you will find a link to examples of the first page and works cites page of a MLA document.

Week 6, Semester 2, Work Due February 14th

Weekly Usuals

Mark your calendars---The Great Gatsby viewing  party will be Saturday, February 24th, 6:00 at the Walker's home.  More details coming soon!  Bling/dressing up is welcomed but not required.  

Reminder: bring your The Great Gatsby next week.

A. SAT Grammar Concept: Parallelism 

Play the following game to practice parallelism:

Parallelism Game

When ready, take this Parallelism Quiz---be sure to check and understand your answers.  Yes, I will receive your score. 

Parallelism Quiz

B. Poetry wall theme of the week: 

Dream Poems 10:00
Dream Poems 12:15

C. Poetry Journal 

Write two poems connected to the concept of dreams. Here's a site with some good ideas to get you started.

The poems can rhyme or be free verse.  They can be about someone or something that inspires you, dreams of others, your own dreams, or anything else related to dreams.

Also follow this link and read the guidelines for the Carl Sandburg Poetry Competition we'll participate in:

Carl Sandburg Student Poetry Contest

Other Work

Continue reading The Great Gatsby.  Read and track your items (major character, minor character, symbol, and theme/thread) for Chapters 2-6.

I want your pair to focus on generating information about your main character(s) this week.  You should be taking notes/marking  anything significant related to your character as you read.  This could be direct or indirect characterization.

Use the categories and directions on this sheet to guide your recordings.  You may record your findings on a separate document or chart where you have more room.

I also want you to thoughtfully fill out this "Fakebook" Profile for your main character.  Be imaginative but be sure the information you create reflects and credibly fits the details of the novel.

Note:  The sheet only has room for one status update, but I would like a total of FOUR.  You can write the other updates on separate paper.  Each status update should come from a different chapter, so list the chapter for each update as well.

You will create two posts on their "wall" from other characters and generate other details.   You can draw the person (more creative) or find an online picture of what you think the character might look like, but DO NOT take the easy route and post a photo of an actor from a Gatsby movie. ; )

I will check both of these pieces of work next class, will collect your FB profile, and you will share your work with your partner as well.

Week 5, Semester 2, Work Due February 7th

Weekly Usuals

Reminder: bring your copy of The Great Gatsby next week.

A. SAT Grammar Concept: Trimming Sentences (10 minutes)

Play this preposition game to help identify prepositional phrases.  Keep trying until you win $1,000,000.

B. Poetry wall theme of the week:  Imagist Poetry (30 minutes)

This week you'll read several short poems by early 20th Century Imagist poets. Enjoy their strong images and simplicity.   You'll also watch a video of a longer Imagist poem by T.S. Eliot.  Hang in with it--just try to feel the mood even though the imagery may seem fragmented. The video should help you.

Imagist Poetry 10:00

Imagist Poetry 12:15

C. Poetry Journal (30 minutes)

Week 4 Imagist Poems

Write two poems in the Imagist style.  Look on the wall under "Some Tenets of Imagism" for the basic principles of such poetry.   Basically, you should take a common object or scene (like wheelbarrow and a chicken or a plum in an icebox) and paint a vivid concrete picture of the scene with your words.  Use strong imagery and figurative language. Try to create a mood.  Push yourself to be a little abstract and mysterious, like the poem we read, "Washington Monument at Night." 

Other Work

Read the first chapter of The Great Gatsby

Look carefully for those items assigned to you (major character, minor character, symbolism, theme/thread, and general research topic).  Annotate/mark any significant references.  You should be an expert on those areas in particular.

Answer the following question:

*Who is our narrator?  What can you discern about him from what he says about himself and others.   Describe your initial impression of him and back this up with specifics.

*Look at these maps to help you get your bearings geographically and with regard to character relationships.

Student created map 

Another map

Mini-Research Paper

Here's a recap:

Step One: Find 3 sources you will use to create 3 key-word outlines.  You may use more than 3 sources, but use at least 3. 

            

Remember the key-word outline rules from class (4 lines/ideas max, 3-4 key words per line; symbols and numbers don't count).

Step Two: From those key word outlines, choose two subtopics, one for each paragraph.  For example, if you were writing about the Golden Age of Sports, you might choose to write one paragraph on baseball and one paragraph on the rise of celebrity sports figures.

Step Three: For each subtopic, create a key-work outline that blends ideas from your sources.  Note, all three sources do not have to be used in both outlines, but each outline should pull from at least two sources.

Step Four: Write your two paragraphs.  

Remember that both paragraphs will start with a topic sentence that is general enough to apply to all ideas in that paragraph.  The topic sentence should not be too obvious.  For instance, "Sports changed a lot in the 1920's" is too general.  "In the 1920's baseball became a national American pastime" is better.  

Use MLA format for your paragraphs.  Include at least 3 in-text citations (between the two paragraphs).  Check spelling and grammar.  

NEW ADDITION: Here is a specific cite to guide you in creating your in-text citations:

Purdue OWL In-Text Citations for MLA

Step Six:  Create a "Works Cited" page for your work cited.   You may use a works cited generator for this.  Sometimes the website will even include the citation info at the bottom of the article.

NEW ADDITION: Here is a specific cite to guide you in creating your Works Cited:

Purdue OWL Works Cited Info for MLA

To summarize, you will turn in: (from front to back, stapled)

Paragraph 1 

Paragraph 2

Works Cited Page

Key Word Outlines

Have fun researching your topic--the 1920's is a fascinating time in our nation's history.

Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald and F. Scott Fitzgerald, published in Metropolitan Magazine, June 1922

Week 4 Semester 2, Work Due January 31th

Weekly Usuals

Reminder: bring your American Experience next week.

Take this quick survey on our The Great Gatsby movie get-together in February.

A. SAT Grammar Concept: Subject Verb Disagreement  (15 minutes)

Practice your agreement skills with this quiz.

Then play this All Star Subject-Verb Agreement Game.

Here is the sheet for our SAT grammar  (first four weeks) if you need a copy.

B. Poetry wall theme of the week:  Immigration and Industrialization (45 minutes)

Carl Sandburg
1878-1967--(age 89 at death)
Born in Illinois, lived there many years and also in Michigan
Lived in Flat Rock, NC for the last 22 years of his life

Note: I sprinkled in some graphs and questions this week.  One person can comment per graph please, but all should look at the graphs and seek to understand them.  With regard to the Jacob Riis link, EVERYONE should list a Riis photo they found interesting/powerful.

Immigration & Industrialization Wall 10:00
Immigration & Industrialization Wall 12:15

C. Poetry Journal (30 minutes)

Pick one of the options below and label this entry:

Week 3 Immigration & Industrialization

Choose from one of the following options.

1. Write a descriptive "list" type poem about an urban place--it could be the city of Asheville or another place. Imitate Sandburg's "Chicago" by starting with 5 descriptor words followed by longer descriptions. If you do choose Asheville, think about the history of our city, its industry, heritage, etc.

2. Write a descriptive poem about any one of Riis's photographs.  Take pains to incorporate strong imagery.  Be sure to include the title of the photo you wrote about in your entry.

Remember--some poems rhyme but others don't.   Either way is ok.  Focus on quality of imagery and sound.

Other Work

Naturalism Selections

D. Watch the following videos (the first will cut off before end and that's okay).

Muckraker Video (3 minutes)

Video about Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (6 minutes)

Then, write a paragraph that defines "muckrakers," explaining who coined the term and where it came from.   Also include some highlights from the Sinclair video.
(20 minutes)

E.  Print and read this excerpt from Upton Sinclair's 1906 novel, The Jungle which is set in Chicago.  Follow the underlining directions and answer the questions.  (30-45 minutes)








F.  Jack London's "To Build a Fire" (60--75 minutes)

Read Jack London's "To Build A Fire," pp. 618-635

Answer the following questions thoughtfully: The American Experience, p. 635: 2-7

Jack London, 1876-1916

Week 3 Semester 2, Work Due January 24th

SNOW WEEK WORK

We will keep marching despite the snow.  Below is the work for the week which will keep you moving along.  My estimate is that this week's work will take about 4 hours, so budget accordingly.

Next week, we'll finish our discussion of Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery and discuss both weeks of poetry.  Bring Up from Slavery to class along with all your work. I will be checking your annotations for the entire book.

We will finish last week's chapter presentations, discuss the second half of the book, and share some of his and our virtues.

Weekly Usuals

A. Week 2 SAT Grammar Concept: Postponed until next week.

B. Poetry wall of the week:  Narrative Poetry (Estimated time: 30-45 minutes)

The theme of this week's wall is "Narrative American Poetry." On the wall, you will find two very different narrative poems to read and create posts about.  Please view the videos recitations.  Consult the 20th Century Poetry Project Handout for more details.

Note: If you create an account with Padlet, it will automatically post your identity at the top of your posts, thus eliminating the need for adding your initials each time.  An account is free and only requires an email address, so if you don't mind doing this, it will help us all identify each other more easily.

I am in the process of evaluating last week's wall, and when I finish, I will update you on which class "won" the weekly wall competition.  I was pleased with last week's walls-nice work!  Please take time to read/view the excellent contributions from your classmates.

Also, notice that I added 20th Century Poetry Links category to the right side bar, so you can readily access current and past weeks' walls.

Here are the links to the Narrative Poetry walls:

Narrative Poetry Wall 10:00
Narrative Poetry Wall 12:15

C. Poetry Journal Entry (30-45 minutes)

Pick one of the options below and label this entry:

Week 2--American Narrative Poetry

Option 1: Choose one of the narrative poems and answer the following thoughtfully:

1. This poem is about…
2. Briefly outline the plot structure of the poem (remember the plot diagram).
3. One thing that puzzles me…
4. This poem reminds me of...
5. What are some of the themes of this poem?

Option 2: Write your own narrative poem about a dramatic incident.  It can be about any event but should follow the plot structure.

Here's an article that will give you some tips to start out.

D. Review Booker T. Washington's work by creating a list of the top TEN virtues he valued.  (60 minutes)

Support each virtue with a quote from Up from Slavery.  Each item should include a short descriptor with a brief explanation of that quality, followed by a supporting quote from the text, and page # citation in MLA format. 

Below is an example.  Note that with MLA in-text citations there is no punctuation between the author's last name and the page number.  Also notice that the end punctuation goes outside the quotation marks and parentheses.  This is one of the rare exceptions to the punctuation inside the quotation marks rule.

**************************

Example:

1. Be Industrious:  Franklin believed that people should use even their free time in constructive ways:

"This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, for which I set apart an hour or two each day, and thus repaired in some degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended for me. Reading was the only amusement I allowed myself. I spent no time in taverns, games, or frolics of any kind; and my industry in my business continued as indefatigable as it was necessary" (Franklin 37).

**************************

This is somewhat akin to Benjamin Franklin's list of thirteen virtues from last semester (see below). Washington's list of virtues will vary, but you can use this to give you an idea of some possible virtues.

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

-Ben Franklin's The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
************************************************

E.  Create a list of YOUR top ten virtues.   (30 minutes)  

Be thoughtful and sincere--don't just slap down virtues that you don't truly believe or try to follow. Do follow Franklin's format: descriptor followed by an explanation.

Willa Cather, 1873-1947

F. Read Willa Cather's short story "A Wagner Matinee," pp. 671-678.   Answer questions 1-11 on page 679. (60 minutes)


Here is a clip of the "Prize Song" the tenor sings in this story.  You can listen while you read.  ; )

Remember, I am just an email away if you have questions or need help with anything.  -Mrs. Price











Snow thought for the week:

Week 2 Semester 2, Work Due January 17th

Weekly Usuals

A. Week 1 SAT Grammar Concept: Fragments and Run-Ons

Review and master this  concept by completing these online exercises:

Sentence or Fragment? Game #1
Rags to Riches--Differentiating Sentences, Run-ons, Fragments  (Play until you win $1,000, 000)

Paul Laurence Dunbar 1872-1906

B. Our poet of the week: 

Paul Lawrence Dunbar
1872-1906 

Here are the links to the walls.  Be sure to add one or two things to your class wall this week.  Label your contributions with your initials! Example: (mp) for Mrs. Price.  This week, I put some ideas on there to get you started.  Read the poem. Watch anything by me that says "Watch Me."  To contribute, click the pink plus circle in the bottom right corner.  If you have any trouble, let me know, and I'll try to help.

Consult 20th Century Poetry Project handout from class for much more detailed instructions.  10:00 class, be sure to read this carefully, as we didn't have time to review it in class. Also I noticed many in 10:00 didn't pick up the handout, so you may wish to print this out.  If not, I'll have copies next week.

The password is dunbar. 

10:00 Dunbar Wall 
12:15 Dunbar Wall

C. Poetry Journal Response

Start your poetry journal responses mid-way into your current journal to keep them separate and all together chronologically.  Or you may use a new composition book.  If you don't have a composition book, please get one.  I will not accept loose-leaf responses this semester.

Label each entry this way:

Week 1--Paul Laurence Dunbar

This week's poetry journal entry asks you to further reflect in writing upon Dunbar's poem "We Wear the Mask."

Here are some questions to prompt your reflection.  Answer whichever ones you like---they are ideas to spur your personal reflection, not requirements.  If you have a different way you'd rather reflect on the poem, that's okay too.

• Why do you think that people/cultures are fascinated with the idea of masks?  Describe any books, plays, or movies that play upon the ideas of masks and explain how the mask is used to further the theme.
• What types of "masks" did African Americans have to wear while enduring slavery?  After they were freed?  What types of "masks" do you think Paul Laurence Dunbar had to wear as an African American Poet?
• What are some of the"masks"each of us wear and why?  What's the difference between a mask and a "role"  or duty a person must fulfill?  Are "masks" necessary?  Why or why not?

How long should your reflection be?  Focus on quality over quantity.   However, take pains to develop your ideas fully as well.

Remember to always bring your journal to class.  We will begin class by sharing some of our thoughts/entries. You will not be required to share any particular entry or poem, as I respect your privacy, but you should make an effort to share some of your entries/poems as you feel comfortable.

Other Work for the Week

Finish reading Up from Slavery and continue with your annotations.  I will check annotations this coming week as I didn't last week.

When you get to Washington's Atlanta Exposition Address (chapter 14), listen to the first part of it with this audio accompaniment. (4 minutes). Although the audio is somewhat fuzzy, it's interesting to hear a bit of Booker T. Washington's actual voice and get a sense of his speaking style. 

Watch this three-minute clip about Washington's visit to the White House.

Watch this four-minute reflection by Larry Washington, Booker Washington's great-grandson, on Booker's Atlanta Exposition Address and life.

Read this short Britannica entry on the speech.

Answer the following questions.

Finally....

Take time to straighten out your class notebook for the new semester.  Refresh paper, etc. You may remove any first semester work that's been returned but hold onto handouts that may be relevant for 2nd semester.  Going forward, be sure to keep all work returned to you in your notebook along with class notes, handouts, etc.