KPAPENGLISH

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Wit and Wisdom of Twain

Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is both an adventure novel and a satire. Remember satire "mocks or pokes fun at something to show how wrong, ridiculous, or evil something is." Much of the humor of Huckleberry Finn, as well as the serious satire, comes from Huck's being unaware of the comic implications of what he says. What Huck takes seriously, Twain often means to be comic. Explore one of these events in chapters 1-15 and explain the difference between what Huck says and what Twain means. (The deadline to post a response to this blog question is midnight, June 28, 2013. Remember post your first name and last initial after your response.)

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

EXTRA CREDIT TIME!

Whether you are in first or second semester AP English IV, you really should begin reading your novels now. Those of you thinking I have lots of time because I have the class second semester, please consider these things. What if your schedule is changed? And, rirst semester you will be very busy with other classes; therefore, having read the novels this summer will lighten your academic load. Please read the novels in this order: HUCK FINN, A LESSON BEFORE DYING, and independent novel. I will be posting the first extra credit on HUCK FINN on June 26th. Make sure you have read through chapter 15 by that time. When you answer the extra credit question(s), your answers should be error free, contain a piece of evidence/quote of support, and be original from those who have posted prior to you. Put your first name and last initial only under your response. Happy reading!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

READING! READING! READING!

Well, welcome back Class of 2014! I truly enjoyed teaching you as juniors and I can't wait for this year! I promise to do my part if you do your part. One thing you have to do is pre-course readings. Remember everyone, no matter which semester you are scheduled for the course, has to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain and A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines. Then each of you has to read a novel from the independent reading list. Here are the novels that have been selected by your peers. Remember only one person per semester can read a novel.

First Semester:
Black Boy
Brave New World
The Catcher in the Rye
The Color Purple
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
The House on Mango Street
The Kite Runner
The Life of Pi
A Member of the Wedding
The Natural
One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest
The Optimist's Daughter
Pride and Prejudice
We Were the Mulvaneys

Second Semester:
All the Pretty Horses
All Quiet on the Western Front
Brave New World
The Catcher in the Rye
The Color Purple
In Cold Blood
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
A Gathering of Old Men
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Jane Eyre
The Life of Pi
My Antonia
A Picture of Dorian Grey
Pride and Prejudice
The Road
A Separate Peace
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Good-bye, Class of 2013

I had hoped to be back at school before you leave, but since most of you will be exempt from exams, I want to say good-bye here. It is hard to believe that our two years together are coming to an end. I hope that along the way that you have learned some things about writing and literature and analysis that you will be able to use in college, but more importantly, I hope that you have learned a little about life and that anything worth having is worth working to obtain. I had planned to give each of you a copy of this before you left my class, but I will have to settle for our blog. As you read "Desiderata", allow yourself to truly understand its meaning. It is my last lesson to you. Congratulations as you graduate. Now go and make this world a better place. I am counting on you!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

(Found in Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore; Dated 1692)

Friday, May 3, 2013

I WILL SURVIVE!

Congratulations to the island survivors. They don't have to take the final test on Lord of the Flies. Way to go, Grant, Blake, Shannon, Anna, Brayley, Alyson, Breeley, Hannah, Corey, Jonathon, Marissa, Samantha, Aaron, Cassidy, Kasey and Katelyn.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

In the end...

Now that you have finished Lord of the Flies, give your honest opinion of the novel. Explain why you feel the way you do. Also, whether you found the novel amazing, ordinary, or boring, give a quote/passage that you found thought-provoking and tell why. (The deadline to post a response is midnight, May 1, 2013.)

Monday, April 29, 2013

Fall Through the Air

Chapter 11, entitled "Castle Rock, " brings us to a very tragic moment in the novel: Piggy's death. Why do you think Golding has Piggy murdered at Castle Rock? What is he saying about the archetype that Piggy represents in the novel? What is he saying about Roger? (The deadline to post a response to this blog is midnight, Tuesday, April 30, 2013. No credit will be given to plagiarized responses.)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

EXTRA CREDIT

Due Friday, November 21st. Will not be taken late.
Select one of the following Canterbury Pilgrims: the Knight, the Merchant, the Prioress, the Franklin, the Oxford Cleric, or the Manciple. Read his/her tale. Then write a 6 paragraph essay--introduction, paragraph on the character's physical and personality traits as given in the Prologue, 2 paragraphs that summarize the pilgrims tale, paragraph explain how the tale reflects the pilgrim/ or what it says about the pilgrim, and conclusion. Also, draw a poster (full size) that illustrates the main focus of the tale. Include the title, Geoffrey Chaucer, and one line that best summarizes the tale.

October 2, 2014

Warm-up was different in each block:
First Block: Why is love such an integral part of life? Give three reasons.
Third Block: Select a minor character--Robert Walton, Alphonse Frankenstein, Elizabeth Lavenza, or Henry Clerval. Characterize him/her and explain what role this character portrays in the novel. Explain how this character affects the novel overall.
Took quiz on chapters 17-23.
Read and discussed most of chapter 24.
HOMEWORK: Finish reading chapter 24. Prepare for final Frankenstein test. It will have writing.

October 1, 2014

Warm-up was different in each block:
First Block: Select a minor character--Robert Walton, Alphonse Frankenstein, Elizabeth Lavenza, or Henry Clerval. Characterize him/her and explain what role this character portrays in the novel. Explain how this character affects the novel overall.
Third Block: Why is love such an integral part of life? Give three reasons.
Both blocks:
Presented tiles.
Read and discussed chapters 18 and 19, noting Romanticism, feminism, and verisimilitude.
HOMEWORK: Read through page 170--end of Chapter 23.

September 18, 2014

IN FIRST BLOCK:
Read and discussed "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner."
Took selection test on "The Rime...Mariner."

IN THIRD BLOCK:
Finished reading BEOWULF.
Completed and reviewed epic hero chart.
Warm-up: Which of the three battles did you find most intriguing and why?
Discussed resume due on Monday, September 22, 2014.

BOTH FIRST AND THIRD BLOCKS:
Got tracking elements for Frankenstein.
Got additional study questions on Frankenstein, chapters 6-10.
HOMEWORK: Study for BEOWULF test tomorrow.
Continue reading Frankenstein. The test will be Monday. It will cover the preface, letters 1-4 and chapters 1-10.

September 8, 2014

Talked about various ways to incorporated quotes/passages from literary works into essay/written responses.
Wrote CDW: The last episode of the novel--the chapters with Tom--is often considered the most comical and teaching of the novel. Write a response of at least 12 sentences in which you discuss Twain's use of comedy and how effectively he does this. Finally, conclude what theme is being revealed through this.
Discusses the final chapters.
HOMEWORK: Prepare for final test on HUCK FINN. It will have multiple choice and a written response.

January 8, 2014

Celebrated Elvis Presley's birthday by enjoying his music and some king cake while we discussed how to write strong AP prompt responses. Looked at passage on Colonel Sherburn in HUCK FINN to plan a response to the following prompt:
Read the end of Chapter 21 and the beginning of Chapter 22, covering the scene between Boggs and Sherburn and discuss the various methods used by Twain to characterize Sherburn and reflect a theme in the novel.
HOMEWORK: Prepare for test on A Lesson Before Dying and using your planning sheet and the notes we took today, write a response to the prompt on Sherburn.

Dec. 5, 2013

Took test on Shakespeare and Act One of Macbeth.
Talked about literary paper due on Monday, Dec. 16th , on Macbeth. It must be at least 800 words, typed in MLA style, have three outside sources, and at least 4 quotes from the play. It does not require a title page nor outline. It must have a works cited. Possible topics include but or not limited to the tragic hero, blood imagery, bird imagery, light and darkness, disturbing the natural order, use of the supernatural, character analysis of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, or Macduff, appearance versus reality, supernatural, female influence, ambition, how the play was written to please King James, equivocation, etc.

Warm-ups for Sept 17 and 18

I know that several of you will be absent on Sept. 17 and 18, so here are the warm-ups for those two days.
Warm-up 4: You have concluded your research. Why is the career field you research so important/essential in the world? Explain and give examples to support your reasons.

Warm-up 5: The knight is the major symbol or icon of the Medieval period. In the future, when historians look back at the current times (last 20 years), what do you think they will select as the symbol or icon of the times. Explain. (Icon can be a person or object.)

INTERVIEW INFO

On Tuesday, September 10th. You will need to turn in the following: one source card and ten note cards based on the interview.
You have to do a MLA source card for a personal interview. Look on page 8 of the MLA Style sheet I gave you last year for the format. Also, you have to write 10 note cards from the interview. Do not include his/her personal information. Only put career based information on the 10 note cards. All you will source at the bottom is the interviewee's last name in the parentheses at the bottom of the note cards.

Supplies Needed

It is that time of year---time to get school supplies. For AP English IV, you will need the following:
a three-ring binder
6 dividers--English Lit, AP materials, research, composition, vocabulary, warm-ups
loose leaf paper
lots of 3x5 index cards. White only with lines
highlighters (at least 3 different colors)
blue or black ink pens
2 three-prong folders (paper only, not plastic) with or without pockets
lots of sticky notes (small post-its)
Get a bonus award/homework pass:
If your last name is A-K, bring a roll of paper towels
If your last name is L-Z, bring a box of Kleenex

Extra Credit on Lord of the Flies

Select one of the following and submit by May 3, 2013. NO PARTNERS EXCEPT FOR THEME SONG.

1. Draw a picture of a major event from each chapter of
Lord of the Flies. You must color it. Each picture must be on a
separate sheet of white paper.

2. Write a 800, typed double-spaced, report on William Golding. Include a bibliography. No credit for plagiarized work.

3. Make a trifold/display of information about Lord of the Flies and William Golding. Include pictures and bibliography.

4. Make a model of the island in Lord of the Flies. (Must be no larger than 3' x 3')

5. Make a board game about Lord of the Flies, include rules, object of the game, playing pieces.

6. Make a trifold/display of 8 major symbols in the novel. Explain what each symbol represents.Include pictures and bibliography.

7. Create the secret diary of one of the characters in the book. It must have 10 entries and cover the entire novel.

8. Write and perform the "theme" song to Lord of the Flies.

Career Research Paper

Don't forget that your Career Research Paper is due on Friday, March 15th. It must have a title page, outline with thesis statement, essay with citations, and works cited page. Paper clip the pages together and place it with the first three paragraphs and all note and source cards in a manilla envelope. Remember the paper is to be 1200-2500 words in length (this count is only for the actual essay and does not include the title page, outline, and works cited) and five sources must be included in the paper, one of which must be the interview. Use the checksheet to make sure you are meeting requirements.

Medieval Unit Test

Remember that the medieval unit test covers all the lecture notes, the worksheet on the introduction to the medieval period, folk ballads and notes on them, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and the excerpt from Le Morte d'Arthur. Everything is in the elements books except for Le Morte d'Arthur. Here is a link of the same excerpt if you would like to review:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CD0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmrshr.pbworks.com%2Ff%2FThe%2520Day%2520of%2520Destiny_Malory.doc&ei=EZs2UcC2PISC8ASXrICoCw&usg=AFQjCNHucy6QbMLYoMfC_5mOgFfwIrd_Vg&sig2=LC4s0GrEG-kU3N_on34X1g

EXTRA CREDIT PROJECTS for THE GREAT GATSBY

Select one of the following and complete by March 8th.
1. Research fashions of the 1920s and create a display board on these fashion trends. Attach a bibliography to the back of the display board.
2. Research the 1919 World Series and write a 500 word report or create a display board with bibliography on this event.
3. Select 5 scenes from the novel and recreate the fashions worn by the characters. You may make sketches or actually create the clothing (maybe dress up Barbie and Ken dolls).
4. Make a sound track for the novel. Include 7 songs. Design the cover, include an album narrative that explains what scene in the novel each piece of music conveys and why.
5. Create a series of at least 5 pieces of "found poetry" from the novel.
6. Write a series of letters between Gatsby and Daisy. Include the time they knew one another and continue to her marriage.
7. Write Gatsby's diary from the time he was James Gatz to the end of the novel. Include at least 8 entries.
8. Write the dialogue that might have been exchanged between Gatsby and Daisy when they were alone the day they meet at Nick's house for tea.
9. Write the dialogue that might have been exchanged between Tom and Daisy the night they sit alone in the kitchen.
10. Create a dioroma of one of Gatsby's parties.
11. Create a comic book of the novel.
12. Create a series of illustrations (one for each chapter) for the novel.
13. Write and deliver Nick's eulogy for Gatsby. (It must be at least 2.5 minutes in length.)

Literary Terms 1-30

Ab Ovo * Alliteration* Allusion
Analogy* Bildungsroman*Ballad* Comic Relief
Consonance* Dynamic character* Epic
Foils* In Medias Res* Irony
Journey motif* Juxtaposition* Kenning
Local color *Meter* Pantomime * Personification * Prose* Polysyndeton* Refrain* Regionalism
Soliloquy *Sonnet * Tone
Verbal irony* Verisimilitude* Verse

Grades! Grades! Grades!

February 1, 2013

January 25, 2013

January 24, 2013

January 7, 2013

Warm-up 2: Which career do you hope to pursue? Why? What training/education will you need to do this job effectively? Where do you hope to acquire this training/education? Why?
We took a test on A Lesson Before Dying.
We continued to discuss Huck Finn.
We talked about in-class essay tomorrow. Remember you need to write a series (no magic or set number of paragraphs) on the topic. You need to use present tense and introduce the work and author in the opening. USE CDW format--claim (thesis), data (examples, support to prove claim), and warrant (why? so what?). Also, you will double space.

January 4, 2013

BACK TO SCHOOL!
We went over class policies and procedures.
We got the Senior Reflection/Biofolder project, which is due January 14th.
We wrote our first warm-up: What things do you want most in your life? Why are these important to you?
We took the reading test on HUCK FINN.
Began literary terms cards.
HOMEWORK: Go back through HUCK FINN and mark (sticky tab things that "English teacher/professors" would think are important--things that show theme, character, symbolism, human nature, wit and wisdom. Be reading for reading quiz on A LESSON BEFORE DYING.

Supplies for AP ENGLISH IV

Extra Credit for December

DUE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2011
Select any work of literature studied this semester and create a board game that a teacher could use in her class to review the students prior to a unit test. Include the rules, questions, game pieces(that should be representative of the literature in some way) and make sure the board is very representative of the work of literature. It should be colorful and neat.
OR
Select any work of literature studied this semester and write and record or perform the theme song to the piece of literature. Print out the lyrics.
OR
Select any work of literature studied this semester and create the diary of one of its characters. The cover of the diary should be reflect of the character. There should be at least 6 entries, covering the entire scope of the work, and each entry should be around 8-12 sentences. Also, include little trinkets, items, etc., that relate to the character or novel.

Extra Credit

Extra Credit on Macbeth due October 20, 2011
Select one:
1. Draw 5 major scenes from the play—one scene per act.
2. Research and write an 800 word paper on King James I. Include information on his belief in witchery and the writing he
did himself. You must have a bibliography in MLA style.
3. Make a puppet theatre and present two important scenes from the play. (Time limit 5 minutes)
4. Create the modernized soundtrack for Macbeth. Include at least 10 songs and their lyrics. Record the music on CD and
print out the lyrics. Include a paragraph explaining why each song was selected and which scene the song is best suited. Include a designed cover for the CD.
5. Create the diary of Banquo, Malcolm, Macduff,
Lady Macbeth, one of the Weird Sisters, or Ross. Include at least 6 entries. The diary cover must represent that character.
6. Memorize and perform either Macbeth’s soliloquy from Act II or Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy from Act V.
7. Build a replica (no larger than 3’x3’) of the Globe.
8. Create a diorama (shoe box scene) of a major
scene from the play. Must be very detailed.
9. Create a newspaper that chronicles the events of the play. Include 4 front page articles and 5 side articles.
10. Make a 5 minute Macbeth video. Record it.
11. Make a display board that teaches about Shakespeare. Include passage and pictures. Make sure font is easy to read—must be very well done and attractive.

Extra Credit on Beowulf

Select one of the following, complete by Monday, September 19, 2011, and receive an extra minor test grade.
1. Construct a detailed model of a Viking ship.
2. Construct a detailed model of Herot.
3. Draw the 3 battle scenes of the story. Use half of poster board for each scene.
4. Research foods that might have been served at celebration feasts during the Anglo-Saxon times. Write a short report of 300 words on the foods that were prepared. Select one of the items and prepare it for the class to share. There are 28 of us. No peanuts or shrimp (people in class have food allergies) Bring a copy of the recipe. (NO MEAD)
4. Write the diary of Beowulf. Include 5 entries that cover the major events of the epic.
5. Research the discovery at Sutton Hoo and make trifold display of pictures and details of the relics discovered. Include on your display what the items reveal about the Anglo-Saxons.

June 2, 2011

People disappear when they die. Their voice, their laughter, the warmth of their breath. Their flesh. Eventually their bones. All living memory of them ceases. This both dreadful and natural. Yet for some there is an exception to this annihilation. For in the books they write they continue to exist. We can rediscover them. Their humor, their tone of voice, their moods. Through the written word they can anger you or make you happy. They can comfort you. They can perplex you. They can alter you. All this, even though they are dead. Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in ice, that which according to the laws of nature should pass away is, by miracle of ink on paper, preserved. It is a kind of magic.

Diane Setterfield The Thirteenth Tale

September 24, 2010

Bell ringer--see binder in the back of class.
Warm-up 7: At the end of the novel, Ralph weeps for the loss of innocene, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true wise friend Piggy. Which of these revelations had the most affect on Ralph? CDW.
Finish reading and discussing the novel.
HOMEWORK: Study questions on chapter 12. Test on Monday on chapters 9-12. There will be two discussion questions on this test.
Don't forget about interview essay due on September 29th.