AMERICAN LITERATURE

Monday, Aug. 24: We wrote an in-class essay today. Please see me when you return, if you were absent, to arrange to make it up. Journal #2 was assigned; the topic is dedicated to John Smith: "Discuss instances in your life in which someone's ego has complicated a situation." No homework tonight, but remember to finish your journals in a timely manner. I will be recording them near the end of the grading period and will give you plenty of warning. :) If you missed either of the first two quizzes, the make-up day is tomorrow, Tuesday, at lunch. You may bring your lunch.

Tuesday, Aug. 25: Read "Of Plymouth Plantation" (p. 78 in new book; p. 54 in the old red book). Answer the following questions (they are in the new book only; if you still only have the old red book, please copy the questions from the new book when you return to class and then do the assn. ASAP): p. 84, #'s 2,3,4, and 6 (please answer all parts of all the questions) AND, on the same paper, please find and explain three points of contrast between John Smith and William Bradford.

Wednesday, Aug 26: Read "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano." The questions assigned below are due TOMORROW! THERE WILL BE A QUIZ TOMORROW ON THIS PIECE! Please read the introductory information to the piece, so that you will gain a better appreciation for it. In the maroon (newer) book, it's on p. 42. Answer questions 1, 2, 3, and 5 on p. 48 AND questions 2, 3, and 4 on p. 49. Please remember to answer ALL parts of each question. In the older, red book, it's on p. 152. Answer questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the first column of p. 155 AND #'s 1, 2, and 3 in the second column of p. 155 (there are two columns of questions at the bottom of the page). Answer ALL parts of EACH question. FYI: The next business lunch, during which you may make up stuff or see me about any other concerns, is next Tuesday.

Thursday, Aug. 27: If you were absent today, you missed a quiz on the"Olaudah Equiano" piece. You may make up this quiz on Tuesday at lunch. You may bring your lunch with you when you take the quiz if you promise to be careful with it. I gave everyone a very important piece of information today that I forgot to tell the class before: If you have not discarded your notes titled "Those Crazy Puritans," please keep them. You will need them for an upcoming ESSAY. I know I forgot to tell eveyone this initially, so I will take a count later and make copies for anyone who no longer has the sheet. No homework tonight. :)

Friday, Aug. 28: Today, we took care of classroom business and discussed some important issues listed in the course outline that we did not completely cover during the first few days of school because I was trying to keep us in the right place on my reading timeline. No homework was given for the weekend, but there will be homework assigned on Monday, so get ready! For other important information, please read Thursday's entry, above.

Monday, Aug. 31: Discussion: the poetry of Anne Bradstreet. One of the poems is a handout and I don't have it in my hard drive yet. So, please see me when you return for the assn. sheet of questions and the copy of the poem that is not in the book. Journal #3: This is dedicated to Anne Bradstreet and her husband: Discuss the most dedicated couples you've ever known or read about. These could be people you know or knew personally, historical figures, fictional characters from literature or film, etc. MAKE-UPS FOR QUIZZES, ETC. WILL BE TOMORROW AT LUNCH.

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Today, we began the first part of a History Channel documentary on the Salem witchcraft trials. See me about this if you were absent.

Wednesday, Sept. 2: We finished the documentary on the witchcraft trials. We also watched the first scene of THE CRUCIBLE, from the 1996 film, starring Winona Ryder and Daniel Day-Lewis. We did this in preparation for reading the play, as the first scene is not in the play; the characters only refer to it. No homework at the moment.

Thursday, Sept. 3, minimum day: We cast THE CRUCIBLE, discussed the characters, and read the first few pages. You can find the play at the end of either textbook. It doesn't matter whether you have the red or the maroon book at home. We do not have homework until the end of ACT I, which will be next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Friday, Sept 4: We read through the middle of ACT I, to the end of Abigail's first scene alone with John Proctor. We do not have homework until the end of ACT I, which will be next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Tuesday, Sept. 8: We continued to read ACT I and are almost at the end of it. The following homework assignment was written on the board today, but it is not due UNTIL THURSDAY. You need to read the entirety of ACT I to address this assn. fully, but you may get started on it tonight (we will finish Act I tomorrow): Through his characters, Arthur Miller criticizes those aspects of human nature which he finds most reprehensible. Which character traits/characteristics (here, they will be faults or weaknesses of human nature.......bad personal qualities) is he criticizing through the characters of Abigail, Reverend Parris, Mr. Putnam, and Mrs. Putnam? Write a paragraph for each of these characters. You do not need a formal introduction or conclusion. That is coming later. Just write the equivalent of body paragraphs on the characters for now. IMPORTANT INFO: Journals will be recorded on Friday, 9/18. Make-ups will be today at lunch and tomorrow at lunch. See me then for any make-ups or other business.

Wednesday, Sept. 9: A homework assn., on some of the characters in THE CRUCIBLE, is due tomorrow. For details on this assn., please read the entry above, for Tuesday, 9/8. Today, we finished ACT I, and some of the classes read the very beginning of ACT II. If you were absent, don't worry. If your class read into ACT II, it's just a few pages. We will update you on the action of the play before we start reading tomorrow, and you won't have to read many pages to "catch up." If you were absent, be prepared, upon your return, to copy a list on the board, titled "Essay Comments." You will need it as a reference. Keep it. Again, a reminder: Journals will be recorded on 9/18.

Thursday, Sept. 10: Read the first half of Act II. No other homework. Make-ups at lunch will not only take place on Wed. of next week.

Friday, Sept. 11: Finished ACT II. Film of the play starts Monday. No homework for the weekend. Reminder: All journals will be recorded Fri., 9/18. You have three so far, and I'm assigning another this coming Wednesday.

Monday, Sept. 14: We began the viewing of the film version of THE CRUCIBLE. Reminder: Make-ups this week are Wednesday at lunch. Journals are due this Friday. There will be four due. I will be assigning the fourth on Wednesday. The test on THE CRUCIBLE will be on Friday.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: We continued viewing the film. Please read entry above for other important reminders.

Wednesday, Sept. 16: We continued viewing the film. We will be finishing it early in the period, and then discussing it, tomorrow. Journal #4: dedicated to the victims of the witch trials: When have you, or when has someone you know or have read about, fallen victim to an act of injustice? Please refer to the entry above for Mon., 9/14 for other important info and reminders.

Thursday, Sept. 17: We finished the film and discussed it. Tomorrow, we take the test. The test consists of both a scantron section and a written answers section. You will need the following materials: at least two pencils, at least two pens with appropriate color(s) of ink, and two pieces of regular, lined binder paper. You will also need your brain. Try not to leave it on your pillow. If you are absent, make-ups for this test will take place next Tuesday at lunch. REMINDER: All four journals are also due tomorrow. I will record them during the test.

Friday, Sept. 18: Today, we took the unit test on THE CRUCIBLE. If you missed it, you will have to make it up this coming Tuesday at lunch. Be prompt! You may bring your lunch to the classroom, and you will need both a pencil and pen. Journals 1 - 4 were also recorded. Please have them ready promptly on Monday if you were absent today.

Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25: We went over grades. I also assigned Journal #5: Your chance to vent. What REALLY bugs you? Write about as many things as you wish that BUG you. I will be absent Tuesday through Friday. The substitutes will be assigning some classwork for which you must have the handouts. So, if you are absent, see the subs (Mrs. Rembac and Mrs. Pellett) for that paperwork. I will not be able to answer phone messages or e-mails until Saturday or Sunday, so please feel free to leave me messages and I will return them at that time. Thank you.

Wednesday, Sept 30: We spent much of today just doing clean-up and business from my absence and starting some prep for the next essay and for the upcoming field trip for all 11th graders next Thursday. This is a yearly field trip to a site near Valencia High School at which the students will have a day of conferences and workshops which focus on preparing for a successful future. Lunch and snacks are provided, and there will be more-than-adequate adult supervision. Permission slips will be given out for that tomorrow and they must be returned with a parent's or guardian's signature no later than next Tuesday. More information on the field trip will be available on this site by the end of this week, in terms of what students should do, expect, bring, and wear.

Thursday, Oct. 1: Essay and field trip prep. No homework. Permission slips for field trip due by next Tuesday. Field trip is next Thursday.

Friday, Oct. 2: In class and for homework: ASSN. #1: GOAL UPDATE (from the worksheet assignments from last week): Report on your goals: Part A. In a paragraph of at least eight sentences, discuss which goals were the easiest and most difficult. Project what will be the most easy and the most difficult over the course of the next few weeks. If you have forgotten about your goals, project what will be the easiest and most difficult in the coming weeks. Part B. (on same paper) Write a shorter paragraph, of at least six sentences, for EACH of your goals. Report on what you did already and will do in the next few weeks to pursue your goals. Obviously, if you have not given your goals any attention yet, you can only write about what you WILL do. ASSN, #2: JOURNAL #6: This journal is about finding out something new about someone you know. Interview a family member (grandparents are a great source) or friend and have them tell you about an experience that has always "stuck" with them because it has been really humorous or memorable in some other way. You know... we all have the stories about experiences we never forget, and we and our friends or family keep bringing them up and reliving them ("Remember when Grandpa Fred climbed onto the roof and...?"). Journals are due later in October and the goals update is due Tuesday. There will be a presentation all period on Monday, given by Mr. Dan Williams. Perfect behavior is expected from all students. There will be consequences if this does not happen. Regarding the field trip, clothes other than denim, tennis shoes, and t-shirts, are requested: Shirts with a collar, such as polo or button-down shirts for the boys, dressier shirts or blouses for girls. Docker-style or other non-denim pants for boys and girls; girls may also wear skirts. Longer, more flowing skirts are suggested because there is a chance some students may have to sit on the carpet in the lunch area. Shoes other than tennis shoes are suggested. If students do not have these items and cannot obtain them, they should wear the newest, cleanest clothes and shoes they have. NO shorts! Be clean and neat for the field trip!!!

Monday, Oct. 5: Please refer to entry above. Thanks.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Classwork/Homework: Please write an evaluation of Dan Williams' presentation (from yesterday). This may be neatly hand-written or typed. Please devote a paragraph containing at least five sentences to EACH of the following questions (a paragraph for EACH of the following questions!): 1. What were the main points of the presentation? 2. What did you gain/learn from it? 3. Was the presentation valuable? Why or why not? You may be honest. Finally --and this does not have to be five sentences long --what constructive criticism, if any, would you give if you were given the chance to speak to Mr. Williams about his presentation? Also, Journal #7 was assigned today: What are the most important pieces of advice you've been given to this point in your life, and who gave them to you? Have you, or will you, follow(ed) the advice?

Wednesday, Oct. 7: 1.Final field trip prep. 2. Grammar and spelling problems addressed on the board. 3.Intro to the Romantic Period. If you were not here to get your slip which tells you where to go at 8:00 tomorrow morning for the field trip, please find me in the morning. I will be either in the MPR or the theater. Also, see me for some paperwork that I handed out today. If you were at school and listened to Dr. Priesz's speech on VTV, please note that I spoke to him about the issue of some students not having anything other than jeans and not being in the position to buy some at this time. He said to just wear the cleanest, newest jeans you have and dress them up with a nice button-down or polo shirt. Be as neat and clean as you can tomorrow! Be ready to be on your BEST behavior!

Thursday, Oct. 8: There was no class today because all of the 11th graders were on the Connecting to Success field trip.

Friday, Oct. 9: Connecting to Success field trip discussed. Introduction to Romanticism and recap of where we've been in the literary world. See me for a sheet on the elements of Romanticism if you were absent. Grammar issues addressed on the board.

Monday, Oct. 12: Read and discuss most of"The Devil and Tom Walker" (page 242). Finish for homework. Quiz tomorrow on the story. QUIZ MAY BE MADE UP TUESDAY, 10/20, AT LUNCH.

Tuesday, Oct. 13: Fill out Mrs. Moscoe's evaluation forms for the Connecting to Success field trip. Grammar/sentence structure/essay issues addressed on the board.

Wednesday, Oct. 14: Grammar/sentence structure/essay issues addressed on the board. JOURNAL #8: Dedicated to Tom Walker and his wife. Discuss the greediest people you have even known or read about and/or instances in which you have been greedy or have been affected/victimized by someone else's greed. For periods 3 and 4, journals (all four, from 5 to 8) are due tomorrow. For periods 6 and 7, they are due Friday. "...TOM WALKER" QUIZ MAY BE MADE UP TUESDAY, 10/20, AT LUNCH (story starts on page 242).

Thursday, Oct. 15: Grammar/sentence structure/essay issues addressed on the board. Journals were recorded in periods 3 and 4. They will be recorded tomorrow in periods 6 and 7. Remember, late points for journals are better than NO points for journals. Do them, even if they are going to be late! "...TOM WALKER" QUIZ MAY BE MADE UP TUESDAY, 10/20, AT LUNCH (story starts on page 242).

Friday, Oct. 16: Journals/clean-up discussion/grades discussed for progress report. "...TOM WALKER" QUIZ MAY BE MADE UP TUESDAY, 10/20, AT LUNCH (story starts on page 242).

Monday, Oct. 19: Grammar/sentence structure/essay issues addressed on the board. Final progress report issues. Crucible test handed back and discussed (I'm sorry I kept forgettiing to do this).

Tuesday, Oct. 20: Essay assigned and discussed. If you were absent, see me for the assignment sheet.

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Worked on essay assignment in class. If you are absent, contact me by e-mail and I can send the assignment sheet to you as an attachment. If you are too ill to be able to work on it, please see me for the sheet when you return to school. Reminder: tomorrow is a minimum day!

Thursday, Oct. 22 (minimum day): Work on essays.

Friday, Oct. 23: Finish and turn in essays.

Monday, Oct. 26: Short film version of Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" presented. You will be responsible for knowing the story, so get the details from a friend.

Tuesday, Oct. 27: We read and discussed the poem "Thanatopsis" on page 267. You will need to know this for the upcoming unit test, so read it if you were absent and let me know if you have questions! JOURNAL #9: Write a reaction to "Thanatopsis." How did it make you feel? Did it give you anything new to think about? Did it serve as a reminder of persona experiences? You may write anything in response to the poem.

Wednesday, Oct. 28: Introduction to Gothic literature and brush-up lecture on literary elements. Please see me for a handout on Gothic literature if you were absent.

Thursday, Oct. 29: Several classes did not meet today due to the school-wide disaster drill. Classes which did meet discussed Gothic literature further, volunteered some of their journal responses, and worked on JOURNAL #10: You have already been given the chance, in a previous journal, to vent and talk about what really bugs you. Now, how about the opposite? What really makes you happy? PLEASE NOTE: I forgot to add, in my entry for 10/27, that I assigned JOURNAL #9 (so I'm typing it here and also pasting it there): Write a reaction to "Thanatopsis." How did it make you feel? Did it give you anything new to think about? Did it serve as a reminder of personal experiences? You may write anything in response to the poem.

Friday, Oct. 30: We read and discussed "The Raven" on page 326. Read it if you were absent and see me if you have questions. There will be an assignment given about the poem on Monday. We also began our discussion of the "Every 15 Minutes" program, which will take place next Thursday and Friday. More discussion of this will follow. Happy Halloween!

Monday, Nov. 2: We watched and discussed the parody of "The Raven" from The Simpsons. We also watched and discussed the first half of the A&E Biography of Edgar Allan Poe. We also devoted some time to further discussion of the "Every 15 Minutes" program, which will take place this Thursday and Friday.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: We finished and discussed the Poe biography. Assignment: Using the information from the biography, create a ten-question quiz about Poe's life and work. You must include the answers in parentheses underneath each question. I suggest you use a variety of format (a few of each): multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, true/false.

Wednesday, Nov. 4: Final prep and questions answered for the "Every 15 Minutes" program, which begins tomorrow morning. A final reminder to all students: Appropriate behavior is expected for the next two days, while the program is in progress. Please don't compromise your personal integrity -- and the integrity of our school -- by making any jokes, talking inappropriately, or focusing on other things while you should be paying polite attention. We must behave as if this were really happening. Ask yourself how you would feel if the "deaths" of your peers were real. We must also remember that on Friday, we will be hearing from people who have really lost children or whose lives have been seriously affected in some other way by an alcohol-related driving incident. It takes courage to talk about these personal losses, so please keep that in mind. Today in class, we began work on some questions for "The Raven" and finished our Poe assignment from yesterday. The Poe assignment was due at the end of the period today and the assignment for "The Raven" is due tomorrow at the end of the period. If you are absent and can contact me during the school day, I can e-mail you the sheet of questions for the poem. Otherwise, please see me tomorrow for that sheet.

Thursday, Nov. 5: We spent a great deal of time discussing the "Every 15 Minutes" program in progess. We also worked on the questions from yesterday for "The Raven" and started on some questions on Transcendentalism. If you were absent, see me for a sheet of questions on Ralph Waldo Emerson, the "father" of Transcendentalism. Also assigned: a reaction paper on the "Every 15 Minutes" program. This is an informal reaction paper. It does not need to be in formal essay structure. You should organize it into paragraphs as you see fit. You may speak in the first person (as "I"). The paper should be typed or written neatly in pen and should be a minimum of one side of one page. It is due on Tuesday. If you were absent for any or all of the program, then you must interview someone who was present.

Friday, Nov. 6: Some classes did not meet today due to the "Every 15 Minutes" assembly. Those that did meet worked on the assignments from yesterday.

Monday, Nov. 9: The sheet of questions on Emerson's Nature and Self-Reliance (Transcendentalism) AND the "Every 15 Minutes" response paper (see above for details) are both due at the beginning of the period tomorrow. If you were absent today, please see me as soon as you return, regarding the HUCK FINN books. If you have not already done so, you must copy the five cornerstones of Transcendentalism from the board. I suggest copying them on the back of your sheet on Gothic Literature, for study purposes. JOURNAL #11 was assigned today: What is your unfinished business? Is there something you have left undone that you need to take care of? Apologies, Confrontations? Telling someone how much you care? Visiting someone? What have you left undone? I admit that I made a mistake when making my calendar. I did not realize until this past Friday that we do not have school this Wednesday. Due to that, and the fact that Thursday is a minimum day, I will NOT be recording the new journals until next week. They will NOT be on this grading period, which closes this Friday. You should also know that we are having a unit test this coming Monday or Tuesday. The following is a list of the information for which you will be responsible, regarding the test: 1.Gothic elements (handout on Gothic literature); 2. Romantic elements (handout on Romantic literature/Romanticism); 3. elements/cornerstones (the five) of Transcendentalism and the two Emerson pieces (pages 384-392); 4. "The Devil and Tom Walker" (page 242); 5. "The Raven" (page 326); 6. info on the life of Edgar Allan Poe, from the biography we watched (see a friend for basic details of his life if you were absent); 7. "Thanatopsis" (page 267); 8. info on Anti-Transcendentalism (page 334) which we have not covered yet, but will be discussing this week; and 9."The Minister's Black Veil" (page 336) which we have not covered yet, but will be discussing this week.

Tuesday, Nov. 10: Today, we handed in the Transcendentalism sheet and the "Every 15 Minutes" response paper. We discussed the two Emerson selections. JOURNAL #12 was also assigned: Discuss both your best and worst school experiences (this could have to do with any aspect of school: academic, social, etc.). We also discussed Anti-Transcendentalism and I assigned "The Minister's Black Veil" on page 336 (you will find important introductory information on page 334 and you should read it before you start the story). There will be a quiz on "The Minister's Black Veil" on Thursday! Also, I have decided that our unit test will definitely be on Tuesday of next week, not Monday. Please see yesterday's entry, above, for important information regarding the upcoming test and other issues.

Wednesday, Nov. 11: No school - - - Veterans' Day

Thursday, Nov. 12 (minimum day): Today, we discussed and took a quiz on "The Minister's Black Veil." Please see entries above for Nov. 9 and 10 for other important information.

Friday, Nov. 13: Goal update and grades. The following questions were given for an in-class assignment, titled GOAL UPDATE, and should each be addressed in a paragraph: 1. How have you done during the past month with your goals? Give specifics and details. 2.. What can you do to improve in your pursuit of your goals, and/or what are you proud of? 3. Which goal has meant the most to you and/or to others? 4. Interview two people you know from one of my classes. Ask them #3 and report on it. 5. Assign yourself an additional goal and speculate what you can do to pursue it in the near future.

Monday, Nov. 16: Class business/discussion and final test prep/grades

Tuesday, Nov. 17: UNIT TEST: The Romantic Period. See me immediately to make this up if you were absent!

Wednesday, Nov. 18: Discussion: Henry David Thoreau. Intro lecture on Huck Finn. Read ch. 1. For homework, read chapters 2 and 3. Reminder: Journals 9 - 12 will be recorded on Friday.