Literary Terms/Player Piano

The students are to finish writing definitions and examples for the literary terms they are familiar with. We will use this list in class tomorrow.

Students should also continue reading Player Piano. Read through chapter 9 (pg 105) for HW.

Player Piano

Students are to read through chapter 8 of Player Piano for HW.

Player Piano

Sixth period students are to complete the multiple-choice sample exam on their own. They are not to spend more than 35 minutes on it. We will examine all of the answers, correct and incorrect on Monday.

All AP literature students are to read through chapter 6 of Player Piano for Monday.

HW

We are currently working on a sample test dealing with the multiple choice section of the AP exam. The students read a passage and began answering the questions. We will spend more time tomorrow finishing the test and discussing the results.

The students also wrote thank you letters to people serving in the military.

The students are to read through chapter 4 of Player Piano for HW.

HW

The students received copies of Player Piano today. They are to read the first 2 chapters tonight for HW. I also gave out a copy of the blog scoring guide.





Blog Journals
Scoring Guide

Analysis of theme/symbol/etc.-10pts

Analysis of quote/passage-10pts

Your thoughts/reaction/reflection-10pts

Comments on your classmates’ work-10pts
(you must have 2 total)

By the end of the 1st marking period you should have journal entries for the following:

Fahrenheit 451
Anthem
We
The Handmaid’s Tale


Total point value for 1st marking period-130pts
*no passage/quote required for F451



*Reminder-Make sure my email address is typed in as your blogsend address. This can be found in the settings tab/email tab.

Bible summaries

We are currently working on our bible summary project. This is in order to understand the many biblical allusions we will encounter throughout the year. Students should continue reading The Handmaid's Tale. The novel should be completed by Monday 10/22.

U2 - Acrobat - Video by U2mixer

Video worth looking at

Watch this video by U2 and pay attention to the lyrics. I want you to write a response to this on your blog. Analyze the lyrics using the skills needed for the AP exam. (syntax, diction, detail, etc.) Is there a connection to The Handmaid's Tale beyond the chorus?

"Acrobat"

Don't believe what you hear
Don't believe what you see
If you just close your eyes
You can feel the enemy
When I first met you girl
You had fire in your soul
What happened your face
Of melting in snow

Now it looks like this
And you can swallow
Or you can spit
You can throw it up
Or choke on it
And you can dream
So dream out loud
You know that your time is coming 'round
So don't let the bastards grind you down

No, nothing makes sense
Nothing seems to fit
I know you'd hit out
If you only knew who to hit
And I'd join the movement
If there was one I could believe in
Yeah I'd break bread and wine
If there was a church I could receive in'
Cause I need it now

To take a cup
To fill it up
To drink it slow
I can't let you go
I must be an acrobat
To talk like this
And act like that
And you can dream
So dream out loud
And don't let the bastards grind you down

What are we going to do now it's all been said
No new ideas in the house and every book has been read

And I must be an acrobat
To talk like this
And act like that
And you can dream
So dream out loud
And you can find
Your own way out
You can build
And I can will
And you can call
I can't wait until
You can stash
And you can seize
In dreams begin responsibilities
And I can love
And I can love
And I know that the tide is turning 'round
So don't let the bastards grind you down

Keep reading

Although we will be starting a project tomorrow in the library, you should keep reading the novel. Read about 20 pages a night.

Today we discussed the Inquiry papers that the students wrote over the weekend. Students should continue reading The Handmaid's Tale. You want to be read up to approximately pg 160.

Weekend HW

The students are to write an inquiry paper over the weekend dealing with The Handmaid's Tale. The topic/question is their choice. I did, however, urge them to consider AP exam prompts. This means it does not have to be something dealing specifically with plot. In other words, what literary techniques does the author use to move the story forward? (Consider syntax, symbols, etc.) Historical context is also another option. We will discuss these questions/papers on Tuesday.

As for today, the students did an excellent job discussing a chapter that is very mature in nature. Although much of the novel's material is controversial, the students are doing a great job of examining the literary merit of the work.

Students should continue reading. Everyone should have read through page 140 by Tuesday.

Have a great weekend.

paper analysis

To parents,

Today the students assessed their 2-page papers and their 4-page papers. They used the 9-point scoring guide from the AP exam and wrote about their findings. I will consider their responses while scoring the papers. We will discuss the results in class and assess the value of the exercise.

For tomorrow, students should have read the first 100 pages of The Handmaid's Tale and come to class prepared to talk about it.

Students should have approximately the first 100 pages of The Handmaid's Tale read by Thursday 10/4.