December is spent doing our papers and grammar packets.
Study guide for the book, test over "The Crucible," and test over the book will all be the last day of this week.
WANT TO STUDY WITH THE JEOPARDY STYLE REVIEW FOR "THE CRUCIBLE" TEST?
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Download the document if you want it to work properly. If you just view it by hitting "presentation," the answer shows up with the question.
Crucible Writing Assignment:
Student has created a clear and subtle thesis that explores a literary element/ device (theme, style, motif, symbolism, characterization). Our focus for this assignment is characterization, although you could include some other ideas.
Paper has been organized with clear topic sentences and transitions
Argument is supported by introducing, incorporating, and analyzying appropriate quotations We use the Magic Four formula:
Claim, Evidence, Explain, Explore.
Evidence should include two pieces of evidence for each paragraph. It is important to vary the characterization method used. Here are the six methods: What the character says, what the character does, what the character things, other's reactions to the character, description, and direct characterization. In your paper, it would be best to use three different methods at least once. Two different methods would be minimum requirement.
Conclusion restates argument and connects the theme to the world at large. Connecting it to that character's crucible would be important to having a strong paper.
Language and sentence structure engages reader through student's individual writing style
Revision for proper use of conventions, including appropriate punctuation with quoted material will be very important for this assignment. I have doubled the points you can lose to conventions. Get multiple editors.
MLA is an all-or-nothing score. Get it right or lose all ten points.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
November 25 & November 30; Wednesday and Monday.
Students need to finish up their study guide since we have finished reading the play.
We watched the most unusual review of the play on Thugnotes.
It is a nice synopsis of the play. I suggest you watch it a few times.
We then made sure that everyone had chosen a character. As students watch the movie, they should take notes on their character. More information on the paper will be coming soon. Right now, we know this about the assignment: Students will choose a character from the play. They will gather information about that character: Use the six methods so it will be a well-rounded representation of what the character is like. Eventually, you will write a thesis sentence about your character. You will use the magic four to create paragraphs to prove your point.
Would you like another review of the plot? Sparknotes offers this:
Dates to remember:
December 9, 10: retake grammar test or vocab 2 test if you want to score up to 70%.
December 17, 18: study guide is due
December 17, 18 : " The Crucible " test
December 17, 18: Your second major writing assignment for the year is due on Turnitin.com.
We watched the most unusual review of the play on Thugnotes.
It is a nice synopsis of the play. I suggest you watch it a few times.
We then made sure that everyone had chosen a character. As students watch the movie, they should take notes on their character. More information on the paper will be coming soon. Right now, we know this about the assignment: Students will choose a character from the play. They will gather information about that character: Use the six methods so it will be a well-rounded representation of what the character is like. Eventually, you will write a thesis sentence about your character. You will use the magic four to create paragraphs to prove your point.
Would you like another review of the plot? Sparknotes offers this:
Dates to remember:
December 9, 10: retake grammar test or vocab 2 test if you want to score up to 70%.
December 17, 18: study guide is due
December 17, 18 : " The Crucible " test
December 17, 18: Your second major writing assignment for the year is due on Turnitin.com.
November 23 & 24; Monday & Tuesday
Today we finished the play. All of Act 4.
Three items will be due in the next month, all on the last day of class before the winter break:
1. There will be a 50 point test over the crucible. Quotes are a big part of this test. Review the quotes in your packet and other quotes covered in class.
2. The study guide for the play is due on test day. If you want to hand it in early, you may; you might prefer to keep the study guide until test day in order to study from it.
3. Your second major writing assignment of the year. This one is character study over "The Crucible."
Each student was asked to choose a character to write about on the major writing assignment #2. We discussed the six methods of characterization. As we read the final act of the play, students were able to write down evidence about the character chosen. Page number should be included in the chart so one may find the quote later and include the page number in the citation.
Three items will be due in the next month, all on the last day of class before the winter break:
1. There will be a 50 point test over the crucible. Quotes are a big part of this test. Review the quotes in your packet and other quotes covered in class.
2. The study guide for the play is due on test day. If you want to hand it in early, you may; you might prefer to keep the study guide until test day in order to study from it.
3. Your second major writing assignment of the year. This one is character study over "The Crucible."
Each student was asked to choose a character to write about on the major writing assignment #2. We discussed the six methods of characterization. As we read the final act of the play, students were able to write down evidence about the character chosen. Page number should be included in the chart so one may find the quote later and include the page number in the citation.
November 19 & 20; Thursday and Friday
We took the vocab test. It is a 10 point test. No notes can be used on this test.
We took the Grammar test. It is a 50 point test. The grammar test is an open-packet test.
On either test, if you have taken it fairly, you may retake and get up to 70%. This needs to be done by December 9th or 10th.
We finished Act 3.
We will be testing over the Crucible on December 17th or 18th.
We took the Grammar test. It is a 50 point test. The grammar test is an open-packet test.
On either test, if you have taken it fairly, you may retake and get up to 70%. This needs to be done by December 9th or 10th.
We finished Act 3.
We will be testing over the Crucible on December 17th or 18th.
November 17 & 18; Tuesday & Wednesday
We reviewed for the vocab test.
We read the first half of Act 3.
Get caught up on the study guide.
We will have the vocab 2 test over the Crucible and the grammar test next class.
We read the first half of Act 3.
Get caught up on the study guide.
We will have the vocab 2 test over the Crucible and the grammar test next class.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Tuesday & Monday; November 10 & November 16
We looked at and wrote down the last three vocab words:
8. slovenly: adjective
Messy and dirty; untidy
The sergeant criticized the private for his slovenly appearance.
9. unperturbed: adjective
untroubled; not worried
He was considered a great quarterback because whenever the team fell behind he remained unperturbed and often played
better than usual.
10. contention: noun
heated disagreement; conflict; a claim or allegation
There was a lot of contention at the last school board meeting when it was announced that the football program would be discontinued.
It was Mr. Kilson’s contention that students would get to class on time without bells.
Reminders:
Next class, on the 17th and 18th, we will review for the vocab. Then we will take a quiz on the 19th and 20th.
Grammar open book test on the 19th & 20th. Two tests that day.
We finished Act Two. We worked on the study guide. You should catch up with Act One, and include the work from this Act Two that we just finished.
It is a good weekend to review the play. Use sparknotes.com to review and study characters and actions.
8. slovenly: adjective
Messy and dirty; untidy
The sergeant criticized the private for his slovenly appearance.
9. unperturbed: adjective
untroubled; not worried
He was considered a great quarterback because whenever the team fell behind he remained unperturbed and often played
better than usual.
10. contention: noun
heated disagreement; conflict; a claim or allegation
There was a lot of contention at the last school board meeting when it was announced that the football program would be discontinued.
It was Mr. Kilson’s contention that students would get to class on time without bells.
Reminders:
Next class, on the 17th and 18th, we will review for the vocab. Then we will take a quiz on the 19th and 20th.
Grammar open book test on the 19th & 20th. Two tests that day.
We finished Act Two. We worked on the study guide. You should catch up with Act One, and include the work from this Act Two that we just finished.
It is a good weekend to review the play. Use sparknotes.com to review and study characters and actions.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Friday & Monday; November 6 & November 9
Today we added four words to the crucible vocab list. Words one through three were listed in the previous post. The next four are listed at the bottom of this post. I suggest you go online and find other sentences that use the words. Google: define pretense; then you can also hit the news button at the top of the search and it will show you how the word has been used in the news lately. This is good preparation for the test.
We also started Act Two. We made it through to where John Proctor could not remember one of the commandments.
Your homework is to catch up and keep up on the study guide for the play. You should have everything done through the first act, and start on the second act. Remember, this will be a graded assignment due when we have finished the play. You must write using complete sentences. Make sure you include who speaks the line, paraphrase the line, and tell what the quote reveals about the character who spoke it. This is for all quotes that are in the packet.
vocab words:
4. pretense: noun
An act or appearance that looks real but is fake
With each of his mother’s demands for better effort at school, Chris nodded with agreement. Of course, this was only pretense—he planned to slack off just as much as he always had.
5.prodigious: adjective
very big; immense; very impressive
There was a prodigious stench in the school bus full of sweaty football players.
6. base: adjective
not honest or good; immoral; improper
The content of the music video was considered so base by parents that they demanded it not be shown at the assembly.
We also started Act Two. We made it through to where John Proctor could not remember one of the commandments.
Your homework is to catch up and keep up on the study guide for the play. You should have everything done through the first act, and start on the second act. Remember, this will be a graded assignment due when we have finished the play. You must write using complete sentences. Make sure you include who speaks the line, paraphrase the line, and tell what the quote reveals about the character who spoke it. This is for all quotes that are in the packet.
vocab words:
4. pretense: noun
An act or appearance that looks real but is fake
With each of his mother’s demands for better effort at school, Chris nodded with agreement. Of course, this was only pretense—he planned to slack off just as much as he always had.
5.prodigious: adjective
very big; immense; very impressive
There was a prodigious stench in the school bus full of sweaty football players.
6. base: adjective
not honest or good; immoral; improper
The content of the music video was considered so base by parents that they demanded it not be shown at the assembly.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday; November 4 & November 5
We took a quiz over the first ten words of "The Crucible" vocab list. Ten points. Retakes on the test can earn up to seven points.Take it within a week of the test.
We started a second list of words. I will post them at the bottom of this blog. Use your own sheet of paper to create the worksheet. Your choice of format.
Using student crazy acting skills, we acted out the remainder of Act One of "The Crucible." Make sure you update your Tea Party Character Chart. Also, keep up on the study guide. Answer using complete sentences. Make sure you paraphrase, tell who said the quote, to whom the quote was spoken, and what this quote reveals about the person who said it.
Remember, an open book quiz over the grammar packet, pages 1-2-3-4-5-9-10 will take place on November 17 or 18.
Every Act of the Crucible would be a good time to review the act using spark notes or something similar. Reread sections we do in class. Review the characters we discuss.
1. abomination noun something that causes disgust or hatred
Wearing a Tualatin jersey or t-shirt at Tigard High is considered an abomination.
2. deference noun
a way of behaving that shows respect for someone or something
Mr. Kilson demanded deference from all of his students, which meant that they were required to refer to him as “Oh Honorable Teacher”, laugh at all of his lame jokes, and never question any blatant errors he made while instructing
3 partisan adjective
prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.
The election official was replaced after it was determined she was too partisan to count the ballots fairly.
We started a second list of words. I will post them at the bottom of this blog. Use your own sheet of paper to create the worksheet. Your choice of format.
Using student crazy acting skills, we acted out the remainder of Act One of "The Crucible." Make sure you update your Tea Party Character Chart. Also, keep up on the study guide. Answer using complete sentences. Make sure you paraphrase, tell who said the quote, to whom the quote was spoken, and what this quote reveals about the person who said it.
Remember, an open book quiz over the grammar packet, pages 1-2-3-4-5-9-10 will take place on November 17 or 18.
Every Act of the Crucible would be a good time to review the act using spark notes or something similar. Reread sections we do in class. Review the characters we discuss.
1. abomination noun something that causes disgust or hatred
Wearing a Tualatin jersey or t-shirt at Tigard High is considered an abomination.
2. deference noun
a way of behaving that shows respect for someone or something
Mr. Kilson demanded deference from all of his students, which meant that they were required to refer to him as “Oh Honorable Teacher”, laugh at all of his lame jokes, and never question any blatant errors he made while instructing
3 partisan adjective
prejudiced in favor of a particular cause.
The election official was replaced after it was determined she was too partisan to count the ballots fairly.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Monday & Tuesday; November 2 & November 3
Grammar packet: Do page 10 on quotations. You should be completed with 1,2,3,4,5,9,and 10. There will be a test over the grammar packet on November 17 & 18.
We now have all ten vocab words written on our sheets. We did some review over the words. Next class (November 4 & 5) we will be quizzing over the vocab. The test will be fill in the blank.
"The Crucible" was exciting today. We made it through Act One to the point where Giles Corey arrives.
We now have all ten vocab words written on our sheets. We did some review over the words. Next class (November 4 & 5) we will be quizzing over the vocab. The test will be fill in the blank.
"The Crucible" was exciting today. We made it through Act One to the point where Giles Corey arrives.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Thursday & Friday; October 29 & 30
A. Grammar worksheet on sentence fragments. We have now done pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9.
B. We picked up the book "The Crucible" from the library. You do not necessarily need the book from our school. The entire play is in our literature textbook in the classroom. The entire play is online if you google "The Crucible online text." However, you will find that your individual copy of the book makes review and essay times easier.
We read the first part of Act One. We stopped before Mrs. Ann Putnam arrived, definitely before John Proctor showed up. A study guide was handed out. Make sure that you include the person who said the quote, and include what is reveals about this person's character. Answers MUST BE complete sentences.
For example, on the first quote, this would be a strong answer:
Reverend Parris said these words to Abigail because he worried about his reputation, since his orphaned niece now lives with him.
We only reached the first quote in the study guide.
As we read today, we added to our "Tea Party Character Chart" as we learned more about the characters.
C. Vocab words for "The Crucible" are now complete through number nine, and number ten for one class:
1 abyss: noun
a hole so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured
After his father the king of Denmark died, the prince fell into a deep abyss of grief.
2 somber: adjective
Very sad and serious
After the death of his pet hamster, he was somber and withdrawn.
3 heathen: noun
an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible
an uncivilized or irreligious person
The Puritans considered the native tribes to be heathens.
4 conjure: verb
to make (something) appear or seem to appear by using magic
to make you think of (something)
to create or imagine (something)
The witches conjured up spirits from hell.
The novel conjured images of distant worlds and strange aliens in the minds of the readers.
5 defamation: noun
the act of saying false things in order to make people have a bad opinion of someone or something
The famous rock star sued the newspaper for defamation after the newspaper ran a story of his alleged drug addiction.
6 faction: noun
a group within a larger group that has different ideas and opinions than the rest of the group
There was a faction in the Democratic party that voted against the president’s new green energy bill.
7 formidable: adjective
very powerful or strong : deserving serious attention and respect
very difficult to deal with
causing fear, dread, or apprehension
The undefeated team that had won four state championships in a row was the most formidable opponent of the season.
8 licentious: adjective
sexually immoral or offensive
marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness
The tabloid made a business of reporting all the licentious habits of celebrities.
9 indignant: adjective
feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong
Josh was indignant when Mr. Kilson accused him of plagiarizing the paper he had worked so hard on.
10 notorious: adjective
well-known or famous especially for something bad
Batman’s most notorious opponent has always been The Joker.
B. We picked up the book "The Crucible" from the library. You do not necessarily need the book from our school. The entire play is in our literature textbook in the classroom. The entire play is online if you google "The Crucible online text." However, you will find that your individual copy of the book makes review and essay times easier.
We read the first part of Act One. We stopped before Mrs. Ann Putnam arrived, definitely before John Proctor showed up. A study guide was handed out. Make sure that you include the person who said the quote, and include what is reveals about this person's character. Answers MUST BE complete sentences.
For example, on the first quote, this would be a strong answer:
Reverend Parris said these words to Abigail because he worried about his reputation, since his orphaned niece now lives with him.
We only reached the first quote in the study guide.
As we read today, we added to our "Tea Party Character Chart" as we learned more about the characters.
C. Vocab words for "The Crucible" are now complete through number nine, and number ten for one class:
1 abyss: noun
a hole so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured
After his father the king of Denmark died, the prince fell into a deep abyss of grief.
2 somber: adjective
Very sad and serious
After the death of his pet hamster, he was somber and withdrawn.
3 heathen: noun
an unconverted member of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of the Bible
an uncivilized or irreligious person
The Puritans considered the native tribes to be heathens.
4 conjure: verb
to make (something) appear or seem to appear by using magic
to make you think of (something)
to create or imagine (something)
The witches conjured up spirits from hell.
The novel conjured images of distant worlds and strange aliens in the minds of the readers.
5 defamation: noun
the act of saying false things in order to make people have a bad opinion of someone or something
The famous rock star sued the newspaper for defamation after the newspaper ran a story of his alleged drug addiction.
6 faction: noun
a group within a larger group that has different ideas and opinions than the rest of the group
There was a faction in the Democratic party that voted against the president’s new green energy bill.
7 formidable: adjective
very powerful or strong : deserving serious attention and respect
very difficult to deal with
causing fear, dread, or apprehension
The undefeated team that had won four state championships in a row was the most formidable opponent of the season.
8 licentious: adjective
sexually immoral or offensive
marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness
The tabloid made a business of reporting all the licentious habits of celebrities.
9 indignant: adjective
feeling or showing anger because of something that is unfair or wrong
Josh was indignant when Mr. Kilson accused him of plagiarizing the paper he had worked so hard on.
10 notorious: adjective
well-known or famous especially for something bad
Batman’s most notorious opponent has always been The Joker.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Tuesday & Wednesday; October 27 &28
We did page three of the grammar packet in class.
We did three more words of the vocabulary sheet for "THE CRUCIBLE."
We had a character tea party. Two students became a character from the play. Then the individuals wandered the room meeting the other characters. The students took notes on their own sheets. I have attached the overall character sheet with descriptions filled out.
1. John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.
2. Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.
3. Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. He is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused.
4. Elizabeth Proctor - John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but often cold.
5. Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the community.
6. Rebecca Nurse - Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess.
7. Francis Nurse - A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
8. Judge Danforth - The deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupulous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.
9. Giles Corey - An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giles’s wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones.
10. Thomas Putnam – Salem’s wealthy, influential citizen, he holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth, accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
11. Ann Putnam - Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.
12. Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods.
13. Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. At the night of dancing in the woods,Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.
14. Mary Warren - The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her, who tried unsuccessfully to expose the hoax and ultimately recanted her confession.
15. Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba. Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.
16. Martha Corey -Giles Corey’s third wife. Martha’s reading habits lead to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft.
17. Ezekiel Cheever - A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice.
18, Arthur Miller, author of the play:
We did three more words of the vocabulary sheet for "THE CRUCIBLE."
We had a character tea party. Two students became a character from the play. Then the individuals wandered the room meeting the other characters. The students took notes on their own sheets. I have attached the overall character sheet with descriptions filled out.
1. John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.
2. Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.
3. Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. He is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor. His arrival sets the hysteria in motion, although he later regrets his actions and attempts to save the lives of those accused.
4. Elizabeth Proctor - John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but often cold.
5. Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the community.
6. Rebecca Nurse - Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess.
7. Francis Nurse - A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.
8. Judge Danforth - The deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupulous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.
9. Giles Corey - An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giles’s wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in contempt of court and pressed to death with large stones.
10. Thomas Putnam – Salem’s wealthy, influential citizen, he holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth, accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.
11. Ann Putnam - Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.
12. Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods.
13. Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. At the night of dancing in the woods,Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.
14. Mary Warren - The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her, who tried unsuccessfully to expose the hoax and ultimately recanted her confession.
15. Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba. Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.
16. Martha Corey -Giles Corey’s third wife. Martha’s reading habits lead to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft.
17. Ezekiel Cheever - A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice.
18, Arthur Miller, author of the play:
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Wednesday & Monday; October 21 & 26
As we enter the new unit of study, "The Crucible," we start with a Prezi on the topic. Click here to see the prezi
We gave out sheets with ten words on them. Teacher will give the word, the part of speech, the pronunciation, and a sample sentence. Teacher will choose about three words per day to add to the sheet. Eventually we will have a test over these words.
Teacher will discuss the three settings of the play.
We gave out sheets with ten words on them. Teacher will give the word, the part of speech, the pronunciation, and a sample sentence. Teacher will choose about three words per day to add to the sheet. Eventually we will have a test over these words.
Teacher will discuss the three settings of the play.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Monday and Tuesday; October 19 & 20
Grammar packets:
We corrected pages 5 and 9, but we did not take scores on this. The first two pages of common usage errors were assigned. We actually did them in class. There will be no grade for this, but we will be having a test over these pages within a month or so. It will be an open-packet test, so it is important to have this done and done correctly.
Turn in your one page assignment over the movie "American Made." It was assigned two classes ago.
We watched and discussed "Where are you from?"
We are now starting on a new unit "The Crucible." We did an anticipatory set on this. Students chose True of False, and a reason for their decision for each of the following eight statements. Groups had to come to a consensus. We shared with the class.
1. If you notice someone doing something morally wrong, it is your duty to tell them.
2. Honesty is always the best policy.
3. Authority is always right.
4. If you commit a sin, you are a bad person.
5. I would rather die than confess to a crime I did not commit.
6. Your actions always determine what type of person you are.
7. Love and passion are the same thing.
8. Going against the crowd is an easy thing to do.
We corrected pages 5 and 9, but we did not take scores on this. The first two pages of common usage errors were assigned. We actually did them in class. There will be no grade for this, but we will be having a test over these pages within a month or so. It will be an open-packet test, so it is important to have this done and done correctly.
Turn in your one page assignment over the movie "American Made." It was assigned two classes ago.
We watched and discussed "Where are you from?"
We are now starting on a new unit "The Crucible." We did an anticipatory set on this. Students chose True of False, and a reason for their decision for each of the following eight statements. Groups had to come to a consensus. We shared with the class.
1. If you notice someone doing something morally wrong, it is your duty to tell them.
2. Honesty is always the best policy.
3. Authority is always right.
4. If you commit a sin, you are a bad person.
5. I would rather die than confess to a crime I did not commit.
6. Your actions always determine what type of person you are.
7. Love and passion are the same thing.
8. Going against the crowd is an easy thing to do.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Thursday & Friday; October 15 & 16
We talked about American Ideals. We looked at certain American writings:
1. Give me liberty or give me death.
2. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
3. A new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
4. Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
5. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
6. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
7. In God we trust.
8. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
9. The Four Freedoms
Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom of religion
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear
10. Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.
11. Children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
We decided to try to speak the American Dream in one word. Then we voted on which word it should be.
Watch the following spoken word
"Amercia in 4 minutes"
or watch the young man perform it:
Major writing assignment needs to be edited. We worked on it in class. Here is the ppt we went through:
Click here
1. Give me liberty or give me death.
2. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
3. A new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
4. Government of the people, by the people, for the people.
5. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
6. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
7. In God we trust.
8. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
9. The Four Freedoms
Freedom of speech and expression
Freedom of religion
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear
10. Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.
11. Children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
We decided to try to speak the American Dream in one word. Then we voted on which word it should be.
Watch the following spoken word
"Amercia in 4 minutes"
or watch the young man perform it:
Major writing assignment needs to be edited. We worked on it in class. Here is the ppt we went through:
Click here
October 13 &14; Tuesday & Wednesday
We worked on our papers.
We watched "American Made." There was a one page journal assigned. If you weren't in class, see me about watching the film. The journal required a MLA heading and a full page. It will be due on October 19th & 20th.
Grammar packets have been handed out. Page 5 on run-ons and comma splices and page 9 on quotations in dialogue are both assigned for the 19th and 20th.
We watched "American Made." There was a one page journal assigned. If you weren't in class, see me about watching the film. The journal required a MLA heading and a full page. It will be due on October 19th & 20th.
Grammar packets have been handed out. Page 5 on run-ons and comma splices and page 9 on quotations in dialogue are both assigned for the 19th and 20th.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Thursday & Monday; October 8 & 12
Counselors came to A day classes today. The rest of the time was used for researching or writing your first major writing assignment.
New assignment handed out: "What is and American" by Crevecouer. On the blank back of the sheet, make a T-chart. On the left side of the T-chart, write "1782." On the right side, mark it "Today." On the left side, write down something that Crevecouer said was a characteristic of an American. Next to that, on the right side, write down if that statement is true today, and try to give evidence for your opinion.
Example: On the left side:
Crevecouer says that Americans are Europeans or children of Europeans.
ON the right side, Not true today. Europeans are becoming a diminishing majority.Out of the 317 million Americans, about 195 million Americans claim European ancestry
Anyone need help with grammar? Use Purdue's OWL webpages. You can google it, for example, "Purdue Owl quotations quiz."
Due date for a hard copy of your "Coming to America" Is October 15, 16 for A and B days respectively. If you don't have it in hard copy form that day, you will not be ready to do the final draft checking that we will be doing.
Due date for the turnitin.com is October 19, 20 for A and B days respectively. Turnitin will mark the time of your turn in, and as long as it is before midnight on the evening of the 20th, you will be okay.
Upcoming events:
October 13, 14: Crevecouer T-chart is due at the beginning of class.
October 13, 14: I will be checking your Stations Worksheets that each of you did with your groups. Each person needs their own.
October 15, 16: bring FINAL draft to class. We will do some last minute checking.
October 19, 20: "Coming to America" major writing assignment due on turnitin.com before midnight of the 20th.
New assignment handed out: "What is and American" by Crevecouer. On the blank back of the sheet, make a T-chart. On the left side of the T-chart, write "1782." On the right side, mark it "Today." On the left side, write down something that Crevecouer said was a characteristic of an American. Next to that, on the right side, write down if that statement is true today, and try to give evidence for your opinion.
Example: On the left side:
Crevecouer says that Americans are Europeans or children of Europeans.
ON the right side, Not true today. Europeans are becoming a diminishing majority.Out of the 317 million Americans, about 195 million Americans claim European ancestry
Anyone need help with grammar? Use Purdue's OWL webpages. You can google it, for example, "Purdue Owl quotations quiz."
Due date for a hard copy of your "Coming to America" Is October 15, 16 for A and B days respectively. If you don't have it in hard copy form that day, you will not be ready to do the final draft checking that we will be doing.
Due date for the turnitin.com is October 19, 20 for A and B days respectively. Turnitin will mark the time of your turn in, and as long as it is before midnight on the evening of the 20th, you will be okay.
Upcoming events:
October 13, 14: Crevecouer T-chart is due at the beginning of class.
October 13, 14: I will be checking your Stations Worksheets that each of you did with your groups. Each person needs their own.
October 15, 16: bring FINAL draft to class. We will do some last minute checking.
October 19, 20: "Coming to America" major writing assignment due on turnitin.com before midnight of the 20th.
Tuesday & Wednesday; October 6 & 7
We spent half the period on finishing the stations packet. We spent the other half of the period researching our "Coming to America" story.
Due date for a hard copy of your "Coming to America" Is October 15, 16 for A and B days respectively. If you don't have it in hard copy form that day, you will not be ready to do the final draft checking that we will be doing.
Due date for the turnitin.com is October 19, 20 for A and B days respectively. Turnitin will mark the time of your turn in, and as long as it is before midnight on the evening of the 20th, you will be okay.
We also had counselors come by on B day, and on the next A day to prepare students for ideas on college choices.
2A Izzy, you caught me on this one!
Due date for a hard copy of your "Coming to America" Is October 15, 16 for A and B days respectively. If you don't have it in hard copy form that day, you will not be ready to do the final draft checking that we will be doing.
Due date for the turnitin.com is October 19, 20 for A and B days respectively. Turnitin will mark the time of your turn in, and as long as it is before midnight on the evening of the 20th, you will be okay.
We also had counselors come by on B day, and on the next A day to prepare students for ideas on college choices.
2A Izzy, you caught me on this one!
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Friday & Monday; October 2 & 5
We finished our station packets from two classes ago. They will be graded, but I did not want to pick them up yet.
Next we worked on proper conventions for use in dialogue.
Feel free to google OWL grammar for more lessons on this.
Next we worked on proper conventions for use in dialogue.
Feel free to google OWL grammar for more lessons on this.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday; September 30 & October 1, 2015
We checked anyone who was missing one of the first two assignments. Assignments are on Synergy at this time.
We all opened accounts with turnitin.com
Once you are on the website, join your class and by using the appropriate class ID and password as listed below.
1a Class ID 10821015 Password 1A_Rules
2a 10821021 2A_Rules
3a 10821027 3A_Rules
1b 10821032 1B_Rules
4b 10821036 4B_Rules
Click on 1st Assignment, called "Introduction."
There is a toggle line in blue that will say either "file upload" or "cut and paste."
The best procedure is always to create a document in google docs. Then come back to turnitin.com and upload file Your document should be in MLA style. Your submission title should be "Introduction", the same as the assignment. Make sure the program verifies that you have turned in the assignment. What is needed in the assignment? MLA heading and a couple of sentences about you. Make it something you think I should know about you in order to know you better.
Hand out sheets over Coming to America project.
We spent the rest of the period trying to Research for authenticity for our Coming to America project. This paper will be due in class in two weeks, then due on turnitin.com on the 19th. To get directions for this Coming to America major writing assignment, click on this link.
To get the scoring rubric for this assignment, click here.
We spent the rest of the period trying to Research for authenticity for our Coming to America project. This paper will be due in class in two weeks, then due on turnitin.com on the 19th. To get directions for this Coming to America major writing assignment, click on this link.
To get the scoring rubric for this assignment, click here.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Friday & Tuesday; September 25 & 26
Six stations. we used all of class but will take about 15 minutes to finish a couple classes later.
Student Name _________
Class and Section _______
Student Name _________
Class and Section _______
1. Lee Chew
What year did he immigrate to U.S.? To where?
Where did he learn laundry business?
When he learned English and about Jesus, of what did it remind him?
Find out about the Chinese Exclusion Act. Someone in your group use a phone for this:
What incident teaches him about prejudice? Explain.
Was he happy with America? Give evidence or inference.
2. Boat in Quest of Freedom.
What year did the emigration occur? From where?
How many people were on the boat?
What were their apprehensions (use phone or dictionary)?
What problems did they encounter?
How many survivors?
What was the reason for their leaving that country?
What American item served as a symbol of this freedom?
3. The Devil’s Highway
List five strong details and explain how they add to the mood. Think about which images are the strongest.
1
2
3
4
5
Who or what are the Yuma 14?
Why is the government using CSI techniques to find out who these people are?
Make a statement (claim) about the facts on the back of the sheet and cite the fact you are using as evidence.
Choose a picture of the Devil’s Highway. Based on the picture, what is at least one inference that you can draw?
4. US rejects Cubans who were 100 ft from freedom
What year did this take place?
What location in what state?
Look at the map and make some inference.
What is the wet-foot dry-foot policy?
Why were these particulare Cubans returned to Cuba?
Is this policy fair?
4. The Hard Path to Citizenship
What year did this take place?
In the decade after 9-11, how many men and women serving in the armed forces were naturalized?
What does naturalized mean (phone or dictionary)?
What did Sgt. Rafael Peralta do?
What does the word posthumously(phone or dictionary) mean?
What is the story of Sgt. Claudius Stewart?
5. “I hear America Sing”
Watch a video on youtube. https://youtu.be/ajKwri2QCBs
Read the poem on page 365 of your textbook.
After reading the definition in the text, in your own words state what the literary technique “cataloguing” means.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TuRQDrySOVQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TuRQDrySOVQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Answer questions 1- 5 on page 366
1_____________________________________________________
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2_____________________________________________________
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3_____________________________________________________
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4_____________________________________________________
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5_____________________________________________________
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5. “I, too, sing America” by Langston Hughes (1945)
see video at end of blog
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--
I, too, am America.
In Hughes’ poem, what is he saying about America?
Whether you think it is patriotic or not, give reason for your belief.
What year was this written?
Can the year give you any ideas about why he might have written it? Make some guesses.
6. “Letters of Arrival”
Read the letters, taking notes on something you learn from each primary source.
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Monday, September 21, 2015
Monday & Tuesday; September 21 & 22
First, we turned in our assignments from last class. It was to have a full page with MLA heading, writing about any coming to America story that you want. This might work into your larger assignment we will have down the road.
Then we watched a video on Cornell Notes. We took Cornell Notes on the video.
Next we used chromebooks in the classroom to go to the blog. Everyone practiced commenting on the blog.
Finally, we used a classroom set of packets on "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of. . . Equiano." We read the first two pages, using techniques from Cornell Notes. The story is also in our textbooks.
Then we watched a video on Cornell Notes. We took Cornell Notes on the video.
Next we used chromebooks in the classroom to go to the blog. Everyone practiced commenting on the blog.
Finally, we used a classroom set of packets on "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of. . . Equiano." We read the first two pages, using techniques from Cornell Notes. The story is also in our textbooks.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Thursday & Friday; September 17 &18
We collected our assignments from last class; that assignment was one paragraph about "The New Colossus."
Vocab needed for today's reading:
furlough- Leave of absence granted to a member of the armed services.
apprentice- A person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.
immigrant- A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
quota- A limited or fixed number or amount of people or things.
Vocab needed for the rest of your life:
snapshot- writing about a short moment of time and expanding it with details
dialogue- conversation between two or more characters
inference- drawing a conclusion from a given set of details
We got in our groups:
Create a Coming to America story based on answering these questions. This is an anticipatory set related to today's reading In 1923, why did Stewart come to America?
How was he treated upon arrival?
In what ways was America a welcoming place to him, or not?
What is Stewart’s ultimate attitude about America?
Include one snapshot of something happening
Group come to a consensus/ share with the class.
Now we read the story. See the link below.
We discussed tomorrow's assignment:
MLA Heading (4 lines; top left-don’t mess this up)
What is your own coming to America story?
Fill up the page; if you double space, then do front to back. Write so it is legible…….
Use ‘dialogue’ and ‘snapshot’ (place and time)
This is a daily assignment. It will probably be five points. It will get you ready for our larger assignment that will be announced in two classes.
Want to read what we read in class? Sorry that pages 1 and 3 are on the first pdf. Page 2 is on the second pdf.
Pages 1 and 3 of Stewart Wickham, click here
Page 2 of Stewart Wickham, click here
Vocab needed for today's reading:
furlough- Leave of absence granted to a member of the armed services.
apprentice- A person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.
immigrant- A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
quota- A limited or fixed number or amount of people or things.
Vocab needed for the rest of your life:
snapshot- writing about a short moment of time and expanding it with details
dialogue- conversation between two or more characters
inference- drawing a conclusion from a given set of details
We got in our groups:
Create a Coming to America story based on answering these questions. This is an anticipatory set related to today's reading In 1923, why did Stewart come to America?
How was he treated upon arrival?
In what ways was America a welcoming place to him, or not?
What is Stewart’s ultimate attitude about America?
Include one snapshot of something happening
Group come to a consensus/ share with the class.
Now we read the story. See the link below.
We discussed tomorrow's assignment:
MLA Heading (4 lines; top left-don’t mess this up)
What is your own coming to America story?
Fill up the page; if you double space, then do front to back. Write so it is legible…….
Use ‘dialogue’ and ‘snapshot’ (place and time)
This is a daily assignment. It will probably be five points. It will get you ready for our larger assignment that will be announced in two classes.
Want to read what we read in class? Sorry that pages 1 and 3 are on the first pdf. Page 2 is on the second pdf.
Pages 1 and 3 of Stewart Wickham, click here
Page 2 of Stewart Wickham, click here
Monday, September 14, 2015
Tuesday & Wednesday; September 15 &16
Assignment for next class: Use the Magic Four to write one paragraph about "The New Colossus."
No two members from the same group should use the same claim.
Here are the directions as we discussed things in class:
Paragraphs typically run between four to seven sentences. Those who dislike writing often say that they are not good at creative writing. The attempt today is for you to see that the writing of a paragraph is more formula than creativity.
1. Write a claim. The word opinion is often substituted here when people are writing in persuasive papers. In a paragraph, the claim might be the topic sentence. Why are topic sentences so cool? They make it easy to tell what belongs in that paragraph. For a reader, they let him know what to expect in that paragraph. Where do topic sentences typically appear? In the first sentence of the paragraph. That is not mandatory, but it is a good idea for most people.
If you have heard the word thesis used, it is basically the topic sentence for an entire paper. It typically appears at the end of the first paragraph.
2. Use evidence that proves your point. Cite the text is a great way to do this. Facts, statistics, or anecdotes are other methods. We will concentrate on using at least one text citation. Many students like to quote the text as much as possible because it makes their paper longer. The best method is to whittle the quote down to the most important words that prove your point. We want more of your thinking and less of the quoted material. Get in the “habit of parenthetical citations” (32). That citation would tell you that the quoted words came from page 32 of your text. Notice that the period comes after the quotation mark.
3. Explain how your evidence proves your point. Evidence is best if it is followed by one or two sentences of explanation. Don’t assume the reader will interpret you evidence the same way you do.
4. Explore the effect of your claim. This can be the hardest for most people. If your claim is accurate, what is the consequence of that claim? In a novel, the consequence might be what you project will happen later in the story. If you have finished the story, the effect might be what actually happened at the end, due to your claim.
Practice: Let’s look at what that would look like. Start by choosing a claim. Ideas the class came up with:
In “The New Colossus,” the poet Emma Lazarus illuminates American ideals.
The poem “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus, should not be on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty because it isn’t true.
When Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus,” she meant that the statue should empower immigrants.
The Statue of Liberty, as described in Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” is a symbol of hope to immigrants.
In “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, the poet uses alliteration to make her writing stronger.
In “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, the poet uses a sonnet to strengthen her message of hope.
In Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” the poet starts with an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes in order to make clear her point of acceptance.
(It would be okay to start with a working thesis, or topic) Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” sucks/ rocks. By the time you are done with your evidence, you should be able to rewrite your thesis (topic) to make it more focused.
Even though this assignment is a minor assignment and does not have to be typed, your papers should always approximate MLA standards, even when you are handwriting your assignments. Here is a great video for you to see the overview:
So you want to write an MLA style paper: Click here.
No two members from the same group should use the same claim.
Here are the directions as we discussed things in class:
Paragraphs typically run between four to seven sentences. Those who dislike writing often say that they are not good at creative writing. The attempt today is for you to see that the writing of a paragraph is more formula than creativity.
1. Write a claim. The word opinion is often substituted here when people are writing in persuasive papers. In a paragraph, the claim might be the topic sentence. Why are topic sentences so cool? They make it easy to tell what belongs in that paragraph. For a reader, they let him know what to expect in that paragraph. Where do topic sentences typically appear? In the first sentence of the paragraph. That is not mandatory, but it is a good idea for most people.
If you have heard the word thesis used, it is basically the topic sentence for an entire paper. It typically appears at the end of the first paragraph.
2. Use evidence that proves your point. Cite the text is a great way to do this. Facts, statistics, or anecdotes are other methods. We will concentrate on using at least one text citation. Many students like to quote the text as much as possible because it makes their paper longer. The best method is to whittle the quote down to the most important words that prove your point. We want more of your thinking and less of the quoted material. Get in the “habit of parenthetical citations” (32). That citation would tell you that the quoted words came from page 32 of your text. Notice that the period comes after the quotation mark.
3. Explain how your evidence proves your point. Evidence is best if it is followed by one or two sentences of explanation. Don’t assume the reader will interpret you evidence the same way you do.
4. Explore the effect of your claim. This can be the hardest for most people. If your claim is accurate, what is the consequence of that claim? In a novel, the consequence might be what you project will happen later in the story. If you have finished the story, the effect might be what actually happened at the end, due to your claim.
Practice: Let’s look at what that would look like. Start by choosing a claim. Ideas the class came up with:
In “The New Colossus,” the poet Emma Lazarus illuminates American ideals.
The poem “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus, should not be on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty because it isn’t true.
When Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus,” she meant that the statue should empower immigrants.
The Statue of Liberty, as described in Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” is a symbol of hope to immigrants.
In “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, the poet uses alliteration to make her writing stronger.
In “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, the poet uses a sonnet to strengthen her message of hope.
In Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus,” the poet starts with an allusion to the Colossus of Rhodes in order to make clear her point of acceptance.
(It would be okay to start with a working thesis, or topic) Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” sucks/ rocks. By the time you are done with your evidence, you should be able to rewrite your thesis (topic) to make it more focused.
Even though this assignment is a minor assignment and does not have to be typed, your papers should always approximate MLA standards, even when you are handwriting your assignments. Here is a great video for you to see the overview:
So you want to write an MLA style paper: Click here.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Friday & Monday; September 11 & September 14, 2015
We checked in with the teacher about parent signatures on the course overview.
All five classes had written what they thought the American Dream meant. We looked at all five and found what they shared in common. Some groups added to their descriptions.
We looked at five pictures of the Colossus of Rhodes. In their buddy groups, students discussed what characteristics they noticed about each picture, and then they discussed what that characteristic would symbolize. This was then shared in large group.
We pulled out our assignments for today. We discussed the words they looked up last night. Wrote four words on the side: allusion, alliteration, rhyme scheme, and sonnet.
Allusion: reference to a something well known.
alliteration: use of the same initial consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words relatively close together.
rhyme scheme: pattern of end rhyme in a poem or song. Example: abba abba cdcdcd; or abab cdcd efef gg.
If you want more review for rhyme scheme, watch the following video.
If you want to understand what a sonnet is, here is a quick review:
We went through the poem and discussed. Wrote definitions for the four terms listed above,and looked how those words were appropriate to this poem. To have fun with alliteration, we watched Johnny Carson:
To offer a counter to this patriotic view of America, we watched the opening scene from "Newsroom". Please excuse the three uses inappropriate language. See the video at the link below:
https://youtu.be/1zqOYBabXmA
All five classes had written what they thought the American Dream meant. We looked at all five and found what they shared in common. Some groups added to their descriptions.
We looked at five pictures of the Colossus of Rhodes. In their buddy groups, students discussed what characteristics they noticed about each picture, and then they discussed what that characteristic would symbolize. This was then shared in large group.
We pulled out our assignments for today. We discussed the words they looked up last night. Wrote four words on the side: allusion, alliteration, rhyme scheme, and sonnet.
Allusion: reference to a something well known.
alliteration: use of the same initial consonant sounds at the beginning of two or more words relatively close together.
rhyme scheme: pattern of end rhyme in a poem or song. Example: abba abba cdcdcd; or abab cdcd efef gg.
If you want more review for rhyme scheme, watch the following video.
If you want to understand what a sonnet is, here is a quick review:
We went through the poem and discussed. Wrote definitions for the four terms listed above,and looked how those words were appropriate to this poem. To have fun with alliteration, we watched Johnny Carson:
To offer a counter to this patriotic view of America, we watched the opening scene from "Newsroom". Please excuse the three uses inappropriate language. See the video at the link below:
https://youtu.be/1zqOYBabXmA
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday, September 9 & 11
Welcome to the first day of class for American Lit. I am happy to see all of your smiling faces. First, we went through the course outline:
American Literature and Composition
Mr. Joe Dessert
email: jdessert@ttsd.k12.or.us
voice mail: 503-431-5396
blog: http://dessertamericanlit.blogspot.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the myriad of cultural differences and perspectives portrayed by American writers. Students will develop their communication skills through reading and responding to American literature. The class will read and analyze novels, plays, short stories, and poetry for the influence cultural and historical events have had on American writers. Critical reading, writing in a variety of modes, and offering personal interpretations of learning will encourage students to reflect on their own American experience.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
What is the American Dream?
What does it mean to be an American?
What is the American Character?
What is the American Story?
What are the unique characteristics of American Literature?
READING
The Crucible, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, Raisin in the Sun, one book of the student’s choice, and a number essays and poems/ songs from Elements of Literature, Fifth Course and other sources.
WRITING
This is the THS Language Arts Department mission statement on writing: Fostering conscientious writers who effectively express original thought, demonstrate an awareness of audience, edit and revise, and ultimately publish with pride and confidence. Writing includes a fiction or non-fiction story, multi-genre works on Huckleberry Finn, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and A Raisin in the Sun.
MATERIALS
Bring a pen and paper to class. Have some method of organizing class materials. Keep graded papers until they show up on Synergy. Grades will not be rounded, nor will they be weighted.
GRADES
A (90-100%) = superior, special recognition
B (80-89.9%) = above average,
C (70-79.9%) = meets minimum requirements
D (60-69.9%) = below average, fulfills most minimum expectations
F (0-59%) = failing, minimum requirements not met and lack of competence demonstrated
Participation Grade-- Criteria: Participation in class discussions and activities as an active speaker, listener, reader and writer. This grade is based on my observation of your performance
MAKE UP WORK/ LATE WORK
Work due on a day of absence is due upon your return. For work assigned on a day of absence, you are allowed the number of days absent plus two days according to school policy. This policy also applies to tests and quizzes. Late work will lose at least 10% value, with the percent continuing to increase.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This is what the Tigard High School Staff Handbook says: “Academic integrity refers not only to dishonesty on exams but to any behavior, such as plagiarism and cheating, that violates academic standards. Actions that compromise academic standards in a class assignment (paper, project, exam, etc.) will result in a failing grade for that assignment. Avoid copying from sites like sparknotes.com, cliffsnotes.com, pinkmonkey.com, essaydepot.com, echeat.com, or the many others like them.
RESPONSIBILITY
Students are responsible for keeping track of deadlines and missed assignments, and for arranging times for making up missed tests and quizzes. Check the daily agenda in class each day. Check your grade on-line at least once bi-weekly. If you are at all confused, please ask me directly.
HELP
Ask for help during appropriate times in class. For additional help, please request appointments with me for times outside of normal class meetings. These are the times I am available for appointments:fourth block on A days, second block on B days, after school most days, and weekday mornings, with Tuesdays being sometimes taken for meetings.
TARDIES
We follow school policy. Students are allowed four tardies without consequence for each semester. On the fifth tardy, students will be assigned a 30 minute detention for each tardy.
RESTROOM BREAKS
Students should attempt to take all restroom breaks during passing periods. Student should limit emergency restroom breaks to ten over the course of the semester, with the exception of those who can provide a doctor’s note indicating medical necessity for unlimited access to the restroom. Going to one’s locker to get needed materials or homework would count as a pass. Two bonus points will be awarded at the semester for each unused pass.
BEHAVIOR
To ensure an environment conducive to learning, please follow the rules outlined in the student handbook. Be safe, respectful and responsible.
FOOD AND DRINK
The THS Staff Handbook says: “Food and drink are not permitted in classrooms, unless refreshments are part of a staff supervised activity. Bottled water is allowed.” We will follow this policy with an exception for Period 3A and 3B classes.
ELECTRONICS
Except in cases in which they contribute to the academic experience, electronic devices are not to be used in class. Students are to refrain from social media at all times during the class period. No texting, tweeting. If you need to use your phone for an approved reason, ask permission each time.
FILMS
In this course we may be watching in whole or in part the following films:
Huckleberry Finn (portions from different sources)
The Crucible (starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, 1996, rated PG-13)
The Great Gatsby (starring Leonardo DiCaprio, 2013, rated PG-13)
A Raisin in the Sun (starring Danny Glover, unrated, made for Public Television)
Parent signature _____________________________
We then copied down the poem "The New Colossus" onto notebook page. Start with MLA heading on the top left of your paper. It will look like this:
Inigo Montoya
Mr. Dessert
American Lit Period 3A
29 January 2015
Double-spaced the lines as we write the words to the "Colossus."
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Circle the following words:
brazen
Grek
astride
imprisoned lightning
Mother of Exiles
beacon-hand
air-bridged harbor
storied pomp
yearning
refuse
teeming
tempest-tost
Your job for next class is to explain in writing what these terms mean as used in the poem. This is a written assignment. We will delve into the poem next class.
Your only other job is to get the parent signature on the class outline.
We watched a few videos and did some responses orally.
What was the mood of this song?
Students may receive up to 28 points for memorizing "The New Colossus" and reciting to the teacher. This does not have to be done in front of class, thought that might add some points if done enthusiastically. We did watch the teacher perform the poem on video.
American Literature and Composition
Mr. Joe Dessert
email: jdessert@ttsd.k12.or.us
voice mail: 503-431-5396
blog: http://dessertamericanlit.blogspot.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores the myriad of cultural differences and perspectives portrayed by American writers. Students will develop their communication skills through reading and responding to American literature. The class will read and analyze novels, plays, short stories, and poetry for the influence cultural and historical events have had on American writers. Critical reading, writing in a variety of modes, and offering personal interpretations of learning will encourage students to reflect on their own American experience.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
What is the American Dream?
What does it mean to be an American?
What is the American Character?
What is the American Story?
What are the unique characteristics of American Literature?
READING
The Crucible, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, Raisin in the Sun, one book of the student’s choice, and a number essays and poems/ songs from Elements of Literature, Fifth Course and other sources.
WRITING
This is the THS Language Arts Department mission statement on writing: Fostering conscientious writers who effectively express original thought, demonstrate an awareness of audience, edit and revise, and ultimately publish with pride and confidence. Writing includes a fiction or non-fiction story, multi-genre works on Huckleberry Finn, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and A Raisin in the Sun.
MATERIALS
Bring a pen and paper to class. Have some method of organizing class materials. Keep graded papers until they show up on Synergy. Grades will not be rounded, nor will they be weighted.
GRADES
A (90-100%) = superior, special recognition
B (80-89.9%) = above average,
C (70-79.9%) = meets minimum requirements
D (60-69.9%) = below average, fulfills most minimum expectations
F (0-59%) = failing, minimum requirements not met and lack of competence demonstrated
Participation Grade-- Criteria: Participation in class discussions and activities as an active speaker, listener, reader and writer. This grade is based on my observation of your performance
MAKE UP WORK/ LATE WORK
Work due on a day of absence is due upon your return. For work assigned on a day of absence, you are allowed the number of days absent plus two days according to school policy. This policy also applies to tests and quizzes. Late work will lose at least 10% value, with the percent continuing to increase.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
This is what the Tigard High School Staff Handbook says: “Academic integrity refers not only to dishonesty on exams but to any behavior, such as plagiarism and cheating, that violates academic standards. Actions that compromise academic standards in a class assignment (paper, project, exam, etc.) will result in a failing grade for that assignment. Avoid copying from sites like sparknotes.com, cliffsnotes.com, pinkmonkey.com, essaydepot.com, echeat.com, or the many others like them.
RESPONSIBILITY
Students are responsible for keeping track of deadlines and missed assignments, and for arranging times for making up missed tests and quizzes. Check the daily agenda in class each day. Check your grade on-line at least once bi-weekly. If you are at all confused, please ask me directly.
HELP
Ask for help during appropriate times in class. For additional help, please request appointments with me for times outside of normal class meetings. These are the times I am available for appointments:fourth block on A days, second block on B days, after school most days, and weekday mornings, with Tuesdays being sometimes taken for meetings.
TARDIES
We follow school policy. Students are allowed four tardies without consequence for each semester. On the fifth tardy, students will be assigned a 30 minute detention for each tardy.
RESTROOM BREAKS
Students should attempt to take all restroom breaks during passing periods. Student should limit emergency restroom breaks to ten over the course of the semester, with the exception of those who can provide a doctor’s note indicating medical necessity for unlimited access to the restroom. Going to one’s locker to get needed materials or homework would count as a pass. Two bonus points will be awarded at the semester for each unused pass.
BEHAVIOR
To ensure an environment conducive to learning, please follow the rules outlined in the student handbook. Be safe, respectful and responsible.
FOOD AND DRINK
The THS Staff Handbook says: “Food and drink are not permitted in classrooms, unless refreshments are part of a staff supervised activity. Bottled water is allowed.” We will follow this policy with an exception for Period 3A and 3B classes.
ELECTRONICS
Except in cases in which they contribute to the academic experience, electronic devices are not to be used in class. Students are to refrain from social media at all times during the class period. No texting, tweeting. If you need to use your phone for an approved reason, ask permission each time.
FILMS
In this course we may be watching in whole or in part the following films:
Huckleberry Finn (portions from different sources)
The Crucible (starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, 1996, rated PG-13)
The Great Gatsby (starring Leonardo DiCaprio, 2013, rated PG-13)
A Raisin in the Sun (starring Danny Glover, unrated, made for Public Television)
Parent signature _____________________________
We then copied down the poem "The New Colossus" onto notebook page. Start with MLA heading on the top left of your paper. It will look like this:
Inigo Montoya
Mr. Dessert
American Lit Period 3A
29 January 2015
Double-spaced the lines as we write the words to the "Colossus."
The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Circle the following words:
brazen
Grek
astride
imprisoned lightning
Mother of Exiles
beacon-hand
air-bridged harbor
storied pomp
yearning
refuse
teeming
tempest-tost
Your job for next class is to explain in writing what these terms mean as used in the poem. This is a written assignment. We will delve into the poem next class.
Your only other job is to get the parent signature on the class outline.
We watched a few videos and did some responses orally.
What was the mood of this song?
Students may receive up to 28 points for memorizing "The New Colossus" and reciting to the teacher. This does not have to be done in front of class, thought that might add some points if done enthusiastically. We did watch the teacher perform the poem on video.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday & Friday & Monday; May 27 thru June 1
We did class practice on the poems "Maybe dats your problem" "Give this poem a seven," "Favorite Color," and "If I had a daughter."
With these poems, we practiced author's skills and theme.
Seniors took their last on-demand test over a poem.
Everyone took a take-home test over grammar. Take home tests over grammar are due Monday or Tuesday.
Seniors turned in their choice reading projects and discussed with the teacher. They were due Thursday, but they were also taken on Friday without penalty.
With these poems, we practiced author's skills and theme.
Seniors took their last on-demand test over a poem.
Everyone took a take-home test over grammar. Take home tests over grammar are due Monday or Tuesday.
Seniors turned in their choice reading projects and discussed with the teacher. They were due Thursday, but they were also taken on Friday without penalty.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Friday & Tuesday; May 22 & 26
We practiced in groups writing about the poem "The Unknown Citizen" by W.H. Auden. Our paragraphs were summary, theme, author's skill, and connection. The connection paragraph is where you connect this poem thematically to your own life, to another piece of writing, or to a movie or song. You will have to give enough background on how there is an important connection or what inspired your connection.
Please make sure that you have turned in the Ralph Waldo Emerson full page on a quote from "Self-Reliance," your sample of a minimum of four lines of a blues song including title and creative author's name, and your parody of "This is just to say."
Bring your choice reading to class each day.
Please make sure that you have turned in the Ralph Waldo Emerson full page on a quote from "Self-Reliance," your sample of a minimum of four lines of a blues song including title and creative author's name, and your parody of "This is just to say."
Bring your choice reading to class each day.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Wednesday & Thursday; May 20 & 21
Anyone want to read their classroom appropriate blues song?
Listen to Carl Sandburg recite his short and famous poem "Fog." (1914)
Read about Sandburg on page 848 of the textbook. Then read his poem "Chicago." (1916).
Watch the youtube of the poem:
Write a short paraphrase about the poem. This should not be longer than three lines or two sentences.Do you remember how your paper should be headed, and how your first sentence should start?
Add a paragraph about the author's skill. Make the first one about the use of the literary term "apostrophe" (Poets use apostrophe to address enormous cities, inanimate objects, abstract qualities, ideas, and dead or absent people.)
Add a paragraph about what the author is saying about his topic. Use at least one citation from the text. Use parenthetic citation to note the line of the poem.
Listen to Carl Sandburg recite his short and famous poem "Fog." (1914)
Read about Sandburg on page 848 of the textbook. Then read his poem "Chicago." (1916).
Watch the youtube of the poem:
Write a short paraphrase about the poem. This should not be longer than three lines or two sentences.Do you remember how your paper should be headed, and how your first sentence should start?
Add a paragraph about the author's skill. Make the first one about the use of the literary term "apostrophe" (Poets use apostrophe to address enormous cities, inanimate objects, abstract qualities, ideas, and dead or absent people.)
Add a paragraph about what the author is saying about his topic. Use at least one citation from the text. Use parenthetic citation to note the line of the poem.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Monday and Tuesday; May 18 & 19
We read the quick write on page 824 of the textbook. It asks you to jot down your associations with the word blues and the music it describes. Or, what feelings or words are associated with blues music? Or, is there any blues influence on the music you like?
We listened to BB King, God rest his soul, as we read the notes on the author (page 823)to ourselves.
On page 825, we read the poem by Hughes, "The Weary Blues." Then we listened to Langston Hughes recite it:
After discussion on the poems, we read handout "How to sing the blues". See bottom of this post.
Then we watched an example of blues written by our own Bat-Blind Jerry "Peach Pie" Dunlap Johnson, and performed by another of our own, Dan Sacks.
For next class, write a title, an author's name, and a minimum of four lines of your own blues.
How to sing the blues:
If you're new to Blues music, or like it but never really understood the
whys and wherefores, here are some very fundamental rules:
1. Most Blues begin with: "Woke up this morning ... "
2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you stick
something nasty in the next line like, "I got a good woman, with the
meanest face in town."
3. The Blues is simple. After you get the first line right, repeat it.
Then find something that rhymes ' sort of: "Got a good woman with the
meanest face in town. Yes, I got a good woman with the meanest face in
town. Got teeth like Margaret Thatcher and she weigh 500 pound."
4. The Blues is not about choice. You stuck in a ditch, you stuck in a
ditch ... ain't no way out.
5. Blues cars: Chevys, Fords, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Blues
don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or sport utility vehicles. Most Blues
transportation is a Greyhound bus or a southbound train. Jet aircraft and
state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running. Walkin' plays a
major part in the Blues lifestyle. So does fixin' to die.
6. Teenagers can't sing the Blues; they ain't fixin' to die yet. Adults
sing the Blues. In Blues, "adulthood" means being old enough to get the
electric chair if you shoot a man in Memphis.
7. Blues can take place in New York City but not in Hawaii or anywhere in
Canada. Hard times in Minneapolis or Seattle is probably just clinical
depression. Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, and N'awlins are
still the best places to have the Blues. You cannot have the Blues in any
place that don't get rain.
8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the Blues. A woman with male
pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg 'cause you were skiing is not the
Blues. Breaking your leg 'cause a alligator be chompin' on it is.
9. You can't have no Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The lighting
is wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.
10. Good places for the Blues:
a. highway
b. jailhouse
c. empty bed
d. bottom of a whiskey glass
11. Bad places for the Blues:
a. Nordstrom's
b. gallery openings
c. Ivy League institutions
d. golf courses
12. No one will believe it's the Blues if you wear a suit, 'unless you
happen to be an old person, and you slept in it.
13. Do you have the right to sing the Blues? Yes, if:
a. you're older than dirt
b. you're blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis
d. you can't be satisfied
No, if:
a. you have all your teeth
b. you were once blind but now can see
c. the man in Memphis lived
d. you have a 401K or trust fund
14. Blues is not a matter of color, it's a matter of bad luck. Tiger
Woods cannot sing the Blues. Sonny Liston could have. Ugly white people
also got a leg up on the Blues.
15. If you ask for water and your darlin' gives you gasoline, it's the
Blues. Other acceptable Blues beverages are:
a. cheap wine
b. whiskey or bourbon
c. muddy water
d. black coffee
The following are NOT Blues beverages:
a. Perrier
b. Chardonnay
c. Snapple
d. Slim Fast
16. If death occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it's a Blues
death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is another Blues way to
die. So are the electric chair, substance abuse and dying lonely on a
broken-down cot. You can't have a Blues death if you die during a tennis
match or while getting liposuction.
17. Some Blues names for women:
a. Sadie
b. Big Mama
c. Bessie
d. Hot Dumpling
18. Some Blues names for men:
a. Joe
b. Willie
c. Little Willie
d. Big Willie
19. Persons with names like Michelle, Amber, Jennifer, Debbie, and
Heather can't sing the Blues no matter how many men they shoot in
Memphis.
20. Blues Name Starter Kit
a. name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, etc.)
b. first name (see above) plus name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Peach, etc.)
> c. last name of President (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.); for
example: Blind Lemon Jefferson, Pegleg Lime Johnson or Cripple Peach
Fillmore, etc.
21. I don't care how tragic your life is: if you own a computer, you
cannot sing the blues, period. Sorry.
We listened to BB King, God rest his soul, as we read the notes on the author (page 823)to ourselves.
On page 825, we read the poem by Hughes, "The Weary Blues." Then we listened to Langston Hughes recite it:
After discussion on the poems, we read handout "How to sing the blues". See bottom of this post.
Then we watched an example of blues written by our own Bat-Blind Jerry "Peach Pie" Dunlap Johnson, and performed by another of our own, Dan Sacks.
For next class, write a title, an author's name, and a minimum of four lines of your own blues.
How to sing the blues:
If you're new to Blues music, or like it but never really understood the
whys and wherefores, here are some very fundamental rules:
1. Most Blues begin with: "Woke up this morning ... "
2. "I got a good woman" is a bad way to begin the Blues, unless you stick
something nasty in the next line like, "I got a good woman, with the
meanest face in town."
3. The Blues is simple. After you get the first line right, repeat it.
Then find something that rhymes ' sort of: "Got a good woman with the
meanest face in town. Yes, I got a good woman with the meanest face in
town. Got teeth like Margaret Thatcher and she weigh 500 pound."
4. The Blues is not about choice. You stuck in a ditch, you stuck in a
ditch ... ain't no way out.
5. Blues cars: Chevys, Fords, Cadillacs and broken-down trucks. Blues
don't travel in Volvos, BMWs, or sport utility vehicles. Most Blues
transportation is a Greyhound bus or a southbound train. Jet aircraft and
state-sponsored motor pools ain't even in the running. Walkin' plays a
major part in the Blues lifestyle. So does fixin' to die.
6. Teenagers can't sing the Blues; they ain't fixin' to die yet. Adults
sing the Blues. In Blues, "adulthood" means being old enough to get the
electric chair if you shoot a man in Memphis.
7. Blues can take place in New York City but not in Hawaii or anywhere in
Canada. Hard times in Minneapolis or Seattle is probably just clinical
depression. Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, and N'awlins are
still the best places to have the Blues. You cannot have the Blues in any
place that don't get rain.
8. A man with male pattern baldness ain't the Blues. A woman with male
pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg 'cause you were skiing is not the
Blues. Breaking your leg 'cause a alligator be chompin' on it is.
9. You can't have no Blues in an office or a shopping mall. The lighting
is wrong. Go outside to the parking lot or sit by the dumpster.
10. Good places for the Blues:
a. highway
b. jailhouse
c. empty bed
d. bottom of a whiskey glass
11. Bad places for the Blues:
a. Nordstrom's
b. gallery openings
c. Ivy League institutions
d. golf courses
12. No one will believe it's the Blues if you wear a suit, 'unless you
happen to be an old person, and you slept in it.
13. Do you have the right to sing the Blues? Yes, if:
a. you're older than dirt
b. you're blind
c. you shot a man in Memphis
d. you can't be satisfied
No, if:
a. you have all your teeth
b. you were once blind but now can see
c. the man in Memphis lived
d. you have a 401K or trust fund
14. Blues is not a matter of color, it's a matter of bad luck. Tiger
Woods cannot sing the Blues. Sonny Liston could have. Ugly white people
also got a leg up on the Blues.
15. If you ask for water and your darlin' gives you gasoline, it's the
Blues. Other acceptable Blues beverages are:
a. cheap wine
b. whiskey or bourbon
c. muddy water
d. black coffee
The following are NOT Blues beverages:
a. Perrier
b. Chardonnay
c. Snapple
d. Slim Fast
16. If death occurs in a cheap motel or a shotgun shack, it's a Blues
death. Stabbed in the back by a jealous lover is another Blues way to
die. So are the electric chair, substance abuse and dying lonely on a
broken-down cot. You can't have a Blues death if you die during a tennis
match or while getting liposuction.
17. Some Blues names for women:
a. Sadie
b. Big Mama
c. Bessie
d. Hot Dumpling
18. Some Blues names for men:
a. Joe
b. Willie
c. Little Willie
d. Big Willie
19. Persons with names like Michelle, Amber, Jennifer, Debbie, and
Heather can't sing the Blues no matter how many men they shoot in
Memphis.
20. Blues Name Starter Kit
a. name of physical infirmity (Blind, Cripple, Lame, etc.)
b. first name (see above) plus name of fruit (Lemon, Lime, Peach, etc.)
> c. last name of President (Jefferson, Johnson, Fillmore, etc.); for
example: Blind Lemon Jefferson, Pegleg Lime Johnson or Cripple Peach
Fillmore, etc.
21. I don't care how tragic your life is: if you own a computer, you
cannot sing the blues, period. Sorry.
Thursday & Friday; May 14 & 15
On page 669 of the textbook, we read three poems by William Carlos Williams. The last one is "This is just to say," by William Carlos Williams. Our job for Wednesday and Thursday is to write a parody of this poem. The first stanza should be a statement of the sin, or transgression. The second stanza should be a confession of how that will affect the other person. The third stanza is a statement of sorry, but we can tell that the person is not really sorry. The title can be the same as the author's, but you have to make some reference to the original. An example is to say, Apologies to William Carlos Williams.
This is Just to Say- by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Samples of a parody of this:
Example #1
I have stolen
Your confidence
From the pit
Of your Mind
That you were
Likely planning to
Use
For your speech
So sorry
Now you’ll fail.
So sad
So funny.
Frank G.
Example # 2
I have copied
the painting
that was on
the wall
and which
was probably
against
the law
Forgive me
It was Mona Lisa
so haunting
I had to draw
Cambria B.
Example #3
I have stolen
your dozen roses
that were in
your boyfriend’s hands
and which
were probably
for your
anniversary
Forgive me
they were so beautiful,
the same reason
you stole
him from me
-elisha g.
Example #4
I have broken
the china
the new
shiny one
which you
were probably
saving
for New Year’s
Forgive me
they made
great
paperweights
Roberto-H
Example #5
I have broken
the china
the new
shiny one
which you
were probably
saving
for New Year’s
Forgive me
they made
great
paperweights
Roberto-H
Example # 6
Sorry, girl
I ran him over
in the middle of the road
with my car
him to whom
you were engaged to
be married
I am sorry
I didn’t see him
.... but, hey,
I’m single
Will B
Example #7
Luke, I have told you
I am your
Father.
I lied
I know
This probably
Meant a lot
To you
I am sorry
I have abandonment issues
And the dark side
Is. . . Well. . . evil
Kristian A
This is Just to Say- by William Carlos Williams
I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox
and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast
Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold
Samples of a parody of this:
Example #1
I have stolen
Your confidence
From the pit
Of your Mind
That you were
Likely planning to
Use
For your speech
So sorry
Now you’ll fail.
So sad
So funny.
Frank G.
Example # 2
I have copied
the painting
that was on
the wall
and which
was probably
against
the law
Forgive me
It was Mona Lisa
so haunting
I had to draw
Cambria B.
Example #3
I have stolen
your dozen roses
that were in
your boyfriend’s hands
and which
were probably
for your
anniversary
Forgive me
they were so beautiful,
the same reason
you stole
him from me
-elisha g.
Example #4
I have broken
the china
the new
shiny one
which you
were probably
saving
for New Year’s
Forgive me
they made
great
paperweights
Roberto-H
Example #5
I have broken
the china
the new
shiny one
which you
were probably
saving
for New Year’s
Forgive me
they made
great
paperweights
Roberto-H
Example # 6
Sorry, girl
I ran him over
in the middle of the road
with my car
him to whom
you were engaged to
be married
I am sorry
I didn’t see him
.... but, hey,
I’m single
Will B
Example #7
Luke, I have told you
I am your
Father.
I lied
I know
This probably
Meant a lot
To you
I am sorry
I have abandonment issues
And the dark side
Is. . . Well. . . evil
Kristian A
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