American Lit--Tuesday, December 10

Objective: Are there multiple themes in "The Gift of the Magi?" AND How to I effectively write about literature?

1- Read 15 minutes
2- Students completed a group assignment in which they wrote an effective paragraph and put it on a thematic poster for "The Gift of the Magi" If absent click Theme Poster and complete on your own on a computer sized white sheet of paper.

Homework: None

British Lit--Monday, December 9

Objective- How do all the novels tie together?

If you were absent click on Group Project Instructions

Students got into small groups and began working on their projects.

Everyone who was absent got put into a group. When you come to class on Wednesday, I will tell you who you are with. PLEASE read through assignment before coming to class on Wednesday. You're group will be less annoyed if you come to the table with an idea of what you are doing. Also, if you know who's in your group, contact them and get caught up.

American Lit--Friday, December 6

Objective: What is the theme of "The Gift of the Magi?"

1- Read the first 15 minutes of class
2- Power write--click on Powerpoint to view prompt and background info
3- As a class we read "The Gift of the Magi"--come see me for a copy
4- Students then completed the following assignment--Gift of the Magi handout

Homework: Finish the Gift of the Magi handout--write effective paragraph

Hints--
Thesis- In O'Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" ..... (insert THEME here)
Then use example from text--make sure to analyze/explain your example
Use a second example from text--make sure to analyze/explain your example
Tie back to thesis/claim

Also--please bring a book to class

British Lit--Thursday, December 5

Objective:
1- What is the theme of Jekyll and Hyde?
2- How does Stevenson create the mood in the novella?
3-How does the mood support the theme (Duality of Man)

1- Reading quiz--take this if you were absent--
2- Book Talks--GET THIS DONE ;)
3- We watched a clip from Harry Potter in which Sirius states "the world isn't divided into good people and death eaters. We all have both light and dark in us. It's what we choose that makes us who we are." Students connected this clip to the novel and then identified the central theme of Jekyll and Hyde

The Duality of Man was evident in two aspects of the novel: mankind and The Victorian Era itself.

4. Next- we watched a short clip of Coraline--Students identified ways in which the director created the mood--weather, setting, character actions, superstitions, etc.

5- Students worked in small groups to identify ways that Stevenson created the mood in Jekyll and Hyde and then answered the question: How does the mood support the theme of the novel?

  The Fog in the opening scene. The fog functions as a mask- it makes things unclear- it makes it difficult to tell what is right in front of your face. This relates to the theme "duality of man" or "duality of society" because they mask their true intentions.  
  Things happen at night- setting- night time is when people typically act out their "evil" side. This adds to the theme in that most people want to hide in the dark and not let their "evil" side show.
Physical description of Hyde- He's hard to describe. He has an indescribable face. Evil is also hard to describe...Hyde is the representation of evil, so Hyde's character supports the theme of "duality of man."  
 Isolation- feeling of eeriness. A feeling of being alone. This ties back to the original reason Jekyll created Hyde. He felt alone in his duplicity of life- When in reality, if the Victorians would haven't talked about it, he would have known that all men have good and evil within them. 

Homework:
1. Read the story "Demon Lover." 
2. Write a 3/4 page single space MLA--times New Roman 12 font 1 inch margins-- analysis answering this question: How does Bowen create a mood of terror or suspense in her story "Demon Lover?" 
3. Drive your paper with a thesis statement--Drive your argument with claims (points you are arguing..not plot) Use examples to ANALYZE but avoid summary.
 

American Lit--Wednesday, Dec 4

Objective: What is a theme? How do I find it in literature?

1- Listen to Movie Theme songs and identify topics addressed in each movie. Students listened to each theme song for a few minutes and then wrote down as many topics as possible.
2- Practice taking topics and turning them into themes--a universal truth that reveals something about humanity. 
3-Practice turning themes into Thesis Statements/Claims. Remember a thesis or claim is just taking your theme and making it specific to your text-- see example on picture

If you were absent, click on Theme Activity and complete at home.

Homework!!! Bring a book to class to read. 10 points for this assignment.

British Lit--Tuesday, December 3

Objective:
How does Jekyll mirror the Victorian Era?

1- Book Talks--reminder--there are only two more chances for book talks. Better get them done.
2- Read A Victorian Gentleman as a class and discussed how each character represents these ideals. Or doesn't in the case of Hyde

3-Discuss the "Cover Up: Here are the class notes

The Victorians

·     Queen Victoria comes into reign at age 18

·     Time of interest in morality—prudence fashionable as a way to curb indecent behavior

·     In part as a reaction to the excesses of her royal predecessors, Queen Victoria placed great emphasis on moral behavior, and her standards set the tone for the rest of society.  Even today, for many people the term Victorian implies stuffy complacency and prudishness.  Many late Victorian writers began to challenge the hypocrisy of Victorian Standards.

·     The big cover-up/Emphasis on facades

·     Covering up the bad (in society)

·     Detective novels as a way to subconsciously uncover the truth of what society was covering up.

Homework:

Read the rest of the green packet-- A women's place in the home.

 

American Lit--Monday, December 2

Objective: Students prepare for college by participating in counseling presentation

Homework:
Write an essay answering the following quesiton:

What is the most difficult thing you've ever experienced? What made it hard? What did you learn from this experience? Minimum 300 words--Max 350