British Lit--Monday, September 30

Objective: Analyze Act II


1- Students turned in Act I reading guides
2- We reviewed Act I and summarized Act II
3- We watched Act II
4- We discussed Act II

Homework: Finish all of Act II reading guide--notes, quote analysis, and discussion questions.

American Lit--Friday, Sept 27

Objective: What is a literary time period? What is Romanticism?

1- skill of the day--read for 15 minutes
2- Students mapped out periods of time in their lives. They were able to then identify "Eras" in their lives--junior high, 10th, and 11th grade.

Just as students have eras in their lives, America has literature (writing) time periods.


3- We looked at the difference between the Age of Reason and the Romantic Time Period (Romanticism)

Students viewed the following power point and took more notes about Romanticism. Please view the power point.

4- Students looked at two pieces of art--one from the Age of Reason and one from the Romantic Era. Students analyzed how each painting represented/depicted/showed its time period.


5- Exit Card--If you were absent you'll need to do this-- After looking over the blog, class notes, and power point, answer the following questions on a note card 

• what were the characteristics of The Age of Reason?
• Why did the people feel they needed to change or depart from the Age of Reason towards the Romantic time period?
• What were the characteristics of Romanticism?

Homework: NONE

British Lit--Thursday, September 26

Objective: What's the deal with Act I of Macbeth?

Click on picture below to see details.

Homework: Complete Act I packet-- quote analysis and discussion questions.

American Lit--Wednesday, September 25

Objective--

Students completed an in-class essay on "The Crucible." They could use their outlines and an example paper I provided. This was due at the end of class.

Homework: None

British Lit--Tuesday, September 24

Objective: Who was Shakespeare? Why do we study him today?

1- Skill of the day--subject verb relationship

2- Students watched the Shakespeare A&E Biography and noted things they found interesting about Shakespeare's life.

3- Students spent the rest of class looking of Shakespeare vocabulary words.

Macbeth Vocabulary

Homework: complete vocab definitions and prepare for quiz on these words.

American Lit--Monday, September 23

Objective-- How do I write an essay?

We finished the character maps of John Proctor and Abigail Williams. Once students were finished, we went over their essay question and worked on outlines.

Each student needs to come to class on Wednesday, September 25 with his/her outline complete.

Essay Outline

Homework: complete the essay outline--that is the only thing you can use on the test on Wednesday.

British Lit--Friday, September 20

Objective: How well do we know are skills? AND Why should we study Shakespeare?

1- Take skills quiz
2- Go over Book Talks
3-  Go to the library to read/research Shakespeare.

Homework: Finish Shakespeare assignment

American Lit--Thursday, Sept 19

Objective: How do I characterize John Proctor and Abigail Williams?

1- Students worked together on a character map for John Proctor and Abigail Williams. If you were absent, come and see me. This took the entire period. Students will finish next time.

Homework: None

British Lit--Wednesday, September 18

Objective: How do I write a theme analysis? oh wait...how do I come up with a theme?

Activity--Students listened to a variety of movie theme songs.

If you were absent, click on the link Topic-Theme-Thesis and complete this for 10 points.

Students also wrote an in-class essay: What is one of the themes of Beowulf. Students had 25 minutes to respond. Essays should be thesis-driven and well-supported with evidence from Beowulf.

Homework: Prepare for skills quiz next time.

American Lit--Tuesday, September 17

Objective: Finish watching "The Crucible" and discuss who is responsible for John Proctor's death

1- Finish watching ACTS III and IV
2- Complete the Responsibility Pie Chart

Homework: Finish Pie Chart if you didn't in class

British Lit--Monday, September 16

Objective--How do the Anglo Saxons define Good and Evil-- Man vs. Monster

1- Skill of the day: dependent vs independent clauses

2- Monster/Hero Body Map  See link for assignment Character Body Map assignment

Homework: Study for "Skillzzz Quiz" which is Friday. Bring notes to class because you can use notes for this quiz.

American Lit--Friday, September 13

Objective: Watch ACT I and II of "The Crucible"

1- Students followed along with the character graphic organizer. 

Homework: None

British Lit--Thursday, September 12

Objective: How do we compare/contrast? How do we use the writing process to develop strong arguments?

1- Skill of the day--More colons
2- Students got back into their small groups and read "The Battle with Grendel" section of Beowulf. Students were to add two more claims to their definitions of good and two more claims to their definitions of evil. At this point, they should have twenty total claims.
3- We looked at the homework assignment and students asked questions. By 2nd period it became obvious that I needed to give a specific, written assignment. Click below for the actual homework explanation and example:

Homework Explanation

4- We compared the Battle of Grendel to a scene from "The Return of the King." Students made connections to the two texts by looking at ways in which they connected.

Homework:
Students are to take two claims and bridge them together with a thesis statement. Then develop both paragraphs using the claim, evidence, analysis. Click above on homework Explanation for much better details and examples.

American Lit--Wednesday, September 11

Objective: How have the confessions/accusations spiraled out of control? Who holds the power in Salem?

1- We reviewed characters/plot of ACT I
2- We read/analyzed ACT II and completed ACT II questions. Click on link for assignment
ACT II Questions

 If you were absent, you'll have to read ACT II on your own time and complete the ACT II questions.

If you were absent, you'll have to read ACT II on your own time and complete the ACT II questions.
Homework: NONE

Brittish Lit--Tuesday, September 10

Objective: Read and annotate Beowulf

For specific assignment, please click on Lesson Plan/Assignment

Homework--finish the chart mentioned in lesson Plan/Assignment

American Lit--Monday, September 9

Objective: How does fear influence the characters' decisions in The Crucible?

Students read ACT I of the crucible
Things to consider while reading:
1. The order in which Abigail Williams confession/the truth about the night in the forest came out.
2. The many feuds going on in Salem at the time of the trials.
3. The central conflict which drives the play--the affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams

Homework: NONE

British Lit--Friday, September 6

Objective: What is an Epic Poem?

1- Students spent the first ten minutes in groups, sharing their poetry analysis' with other students.
2- Watched a short clip from the film "BRAVE" to introduce the Anglo-Saxon time period. We talked about the oral traditions of narrative, storytelling, and what characteristics they valued: courage, strength, tradition, legend.
3- Students recieved their "Beowulf" packet and we looked at page three--the characteristics of an Epic. Students broke into small groups and analyzed one of three movies for characterisitcs of an epic: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter
4-We discussed that Epics are still popular today because we all enjoy seeing the hero's journey.
5- The last ten minutes of class was spent in the library, checking out books for the 30 Book Challenge.

Homework: Read the intro of the packet (pp 1-4) and then read "Grendel" page 5-7. As you read Grendel, answer the question as you annotate for images and word choice: "How do the Anglo-Saxons view or characterize Evil?"

American Lit--Thursday, September 5

Objective: What is mass hysteria? Why did Arthur Miller write "The Crucible?"

Skill of the day--Students read from their novels for 15 minutes

Activities/Schedule for the day
1- Students completed a free write and then we discussed these as a class--

• Write about a time when you were so afraid that you did or thought irrationally.

2- Watched a video clip from the TV series "Scare Tactics." Discussed why and how fear allows us to do things we wouldn't normally do.

3- Presentation on the Salem Witch Trials and how their fear drove them to act irrationally. To view
Salem Witch Hunts/Mass Hysteria

4- Students wrote a paragraph answering the following prompt--this was turned in for a grade:
Mass Hysteria Paragraph

5- Presentation on McCarthysm--Answering the question: "Why did Arthur Miller write the Crucible?"

Homework: NONE

British Lit--Tuesday, September 4

Objective--Finish Lady of Shalot--Using the small details, analyze the theme

1- Skill Review--Students listened to a song and wrote a create story for ten minutes. They were required to use a semi-colon (;) a colon (:) a comma FANBOYS (,and) a dash (--) and a comma to add more description to a complete sentence.

2- Students got back into their groups to finish their poem analysis of The Lady of Shalot.
3-They wrote a group essay and created a quick visual to present to the class.

4- We discussed the classes' strengths and weaknesses. Most students/groups are clearly identifying a theme, but are not supporting that theme (their claim) with specific details, words, or lines from the text. As a class, we will continue working on this skill.

Homework: Read below or for a print out of the assignment--click Poetry Analysis Homework

Pick a poem of your choice and analyze for a theme. A universal truth/lesson/idea that reveals something about humanity.

How?

1-    Start with annotating the poem.

2-    Look at details—

·      Images

·      Contrast/opposites

·      Color

·      Weather

·      Repetition

·      Mood

·      Symbols

·      Similes

·      Metaphors

3-    Then type a one page analysis –double space, MLA format,

HINT—In class, most of you came up with great themes. You wrote great claims in your Lady of Shalot essay. However, many of you are not backing up your claims with specific support—lines and words—from the poem. Make sure you do this.

American Lit--Tuesday, September 3

Objective: Who were the Puritans? What did they believe?

1-Photo Description-- Puritan Pics Background of the Puritans! Students looked at three photographs and reviewed what they already know about the Puritans. Here is a list they came up with:

• Conservative
• Religious--religious fanatics
• family/traditional values
• came to America "the New Land" for religious freedoms
• Salem Witch Trials/Witch Hunts--they were responsible
• Believe in pre-destination

2- Read and annotate "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. You'll have to get this copy from me since I don't have an electronic copy. While we read we looked for powerful images and phrases in the text and what those images do to the mood (feeling) of the poem.

3- Discuss the Puritan Value and beliefs-- Answer the following three questions:

• How is God potrayed in this sermon? How to the Puritans view God and their relationship with him?
• What tactics does Jonathan Edward--the preacher--use to motivate the Puritans? FEAR!!!
• What do the Puritans value? Their relationship with God and others' relationship with God. They tend to judge others for their choices because they all live under the fear of the wrath of God. It makes them feel better that God hates them if they know God hates their neighbor because he didn't go to Church last Sunday.

Homework: Click on the assignment below. This is due at the beginning of class on Thursday

Puritan Research Assignment

Use the following websites to look up your answers:

History.com/topics/Puritanism

Pbs.org/godinamerica/people/puritans

wikipedia