Friday 3/28/14:Homework

Block C and E:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 4 in Gatsby, keeping an eye on the following:

- Gatsby's story, as he tells it.

- The assorted "proof" that he presents to lend credibility to his story.

-The business "associates" that Gatsby introduces to Nick. 

2. Make vocab flash cards for the new word we are studying with this novel.

Block F:

1. Read and annotate Chapters 19-21 this weekend (due Tuesday). Keep in mind the focus for your annotations. Victor is supposed to be making a new lady creature-- but he is procrastinating in a big way! Why? Consider the pros and cons that we discussed in class today and why Victor may be hesitant. Take note of the setting when Victor finally gets down to business. 

Thursday 3/27/14:homework

Block E: 

Complete the first two pages of the Chapter 3 close reading activity. Annotate the passage describing Gatsby's party, and then write your own version, using Fitzgerald's moves to describe what it is like to attend a lunch in the cafeteria. 

Block F:

Read and annotate Chapter 17 in the novel, paying close attention to Victor's reaction to the monster's request. 

Block A:

Use your research to go out into the world to have an adventure! Write about the place or event that you researched. Remember to return to class on Monday with a souvenir and a story! 

Block B:

Finish the novel, reading and annotating as you go. Remember

to focus your attention on the details around Gatsby's funeral (who attends, who doesn't), Gatsby's father and the information he shares about Gatsby (or Jimmy), and Nick's tone at the end of the novel. 

Wednesday 3/26/14: Homework

Block A:

Research the subject of your adventure story that you plan to cover and write about this weekend. Bring in your research tomorrow- we will have a working block.  

Block B:

Today we cleared up some confusion around the big events in Chapter 8. We are all feeling a bit forlorn now that we've lost Gatsby. For tonight, please complete the close reading organizer handed out at the end of class. Your job is to annotate and respond to the questions on the front side, and then to complete the activity on the back side, which asks you to find another rich passage from Chapter 8 that you would like to read closely. You will be sharing your insights in class tomorrow, so be prepared! 

Block C: 

Today we noticed how closely connected the characters in Gatsby are to the settings in which they dwell.  How cool is that? We also noticed that Fitzgerald makes a lot of careful decisions in choosing the language he used sot create the characters in the novel. Tonight, your job is to try to use some of the same moves in your writing that Fitzgerald does in the novel. I gave you a handout for Chapter 3-- follow the directions and annotate the description. Take note of the ways Fitzgerald uses similes, color, and imagery to create a picture of Gatsby's party. Next, try to do the same! Use fitzgerald's techniques to depict what it is like to attend lunch at the cafeteria. Bring in your work on Friday! 

Creative Nonfiction Writers

Here is a great post from the New York Times Learning Blog. Check out all of these great topics that you can explore!

Tuesday 3/25/14:Homework

Block B:

Read and annotate Chapter 8-- taking note of contrasts and contradictions. Nick is about to uncover some truths about Gatsby, so be on the look out! 

Block C and Block E:

Read and annotate Chapter 3. Watch for the following things as you annotate your text:

Rumors about Gatsby

Owl Eyes and books

Gatsby's smile

A bizarre car accident

Block F:

Today in class you had time to read and annotate Chapter 15. Be prepared to report what happened to the Creature when he mustered the courage to talk to DeLacey. 

Tonight, read and annotate Chapter 16. Look out for the Creature's explanation of what really happened to William! The Creature also has a request for Victor. Be ready to discuss when you return to class! 

Monday 3/24/14: Homework

Block E:

• Tonight, you should read and annotate Chapter 2 of Gatsby. Remember, Nick is in for quite a shock in this chapter when he travels to Myrtle's apartment for a "party." Be prepared to tell me about the differences you've noticed in Myrtle and Daisy when you return tomorrow.

Block F:

• In class today we started to consider what the Creature has been learning about since he has been "creeping," as you say, on the cottagers. We focused today on what Safie and Felix's relationship revealed to the Creature. Tonight, please update your timeline with details from our discussion today. Shelley had a purpose when she included the Safie story--our job is to figure out what it is. 

Block A:

• Today we explored how David Foster Wallace employs narrative voice, language and structure in his creative nonfiction. Using elements of his craft, your job this week is to go on an adventure (although Lobster festivals and cruise ships are off limits, as Wallace has already covered those places extensively). You will need to go out in the world and capture a place or event with fresh eyes. Immerse yourself in a foreign setting and use Wallace's techniques to report on your experience. You should have a PLAN by WEDNESDAY. You will have some time to conduct research on Wednesday and you will have the weekend to accomplish this task. 

Friday 3/21: Homework

Block A:

Read and annotate "Shipping Out" for Monday. Complete the analytical reading sheet. 

Block B:

Complete the close reading organizer while you finish reading Chapter 7. Prepare for a reading quiz on Chapters 1-7 on Tuesday. Make vocabulary flash cards for our Gatsby vocabulary words. 

Block C: 

Finish reading Chapter 2. Fill in your character chart on the characters you have met in Chapter 2. Remember to annotate your text-- I will be checking annotations on Tuesday!

Thursday 3/20: homework

Yikes! What a crazy day it was yesterday! I completely forgot to post to the blog, even though I was at school until 8:45 last night! 

Here's the homework for Thursday night:

Block A:

Work on Writing invitation #2-- humor-- for Friday. 

Read and annotate "Drama Bug" by David Sedaris.

Block B: 

Begin reading Chapter 7 in Gatsby (to the bottom of page 134). 

Block C and Block E: 

Complete the character chart on the first 4 characters. 

Read and annotate the beginning of Chapter 2 (to the bottom of page 31).

 

Wednesday 3/19: Homework

Block F:

1. Read and annotate Chapter 14 in Frankenstein

2. Write a 2 paragraph response to the TED talk that we watched in class today. You may revisit the talk here: .

Tuesday 3/18/14: Homework

Block E:

• Finish reading and annotating Chapter 1. You will follow Nick to an awkward dinner party and you will meet the lovely Buchanans. Take note of Nick's observations (remember, he promised he wouldn't judge!)
• Read your independent reading book too.

Block F:

• Read Chapter 13 in the novel. Continue to track the Creature's experiences on your timeline using quotes and language from the text as you record the events in his story. 

Block A:

• Work on revising your "Lie" story (final due on Friday) based on the feedback that you received today.
• Work on responding to Writing Invitation #1--follow the directions on the handout and bring in your response (typed, saved to your Google Drive). Remember, writing invitations are practice pieces that are meant to provide you with a structured way to explore your ideas that you will eventually develop into a more formal essay. 

Block B:

• Begin reading the circus known as Chapter 7 of The Great Gatsby. Get ready for some DRAMA, some HOT weather, some DRUNK and DISORDERLY conduct, and some very BIG events. For tonight, read to page 135. Take note of the travel arrangements, the weather, and Nick's observations. Pay attention to language--there are lots of great lines in this chapter!

Monday 3/17/14: Homework

Block A: 

• Read "Consider the Lobster" for tomorrow. 
• Write a story of a "Lie" due tomorrow.

Block B:

• Finish the figurative language essay you began this weekend, using the feedback I gave you in class today. 

Block C:

• Finish reading and annotating Chapter 1. Remember to focus on Nick's background.

Friday 3/14/14:Homework

Block B:

• Work on the figurative language essay response--develop an introductory paragraph and one body paragraph. Bring a typed and printed copy of your work in progress to class on Monday.
• Continue to study your vocabulary words. The list is growing!
• Make sure you have read and annotated Chapter 6 of Gatsby.  We will be talking about the chapter again on Monday.

Block C and E:

• Review the notes you took in class today on the historical context of the "Roaring 20's." Here's John Green's Crash Course on the 1920's that we watched in class. Check it out again as you study:

• Begin reading and annotating Chapter 1 of Gatsby pages 1-8. 

Block F:

• Begin reading the Creature's story, which begins on Chapter 11. Use the timeline/chart we created in class to trace the important aspects of his story and the events that have occurred since his "birth." Remember to use quotations and specific language from the text as you complete the timeline. 
  

• Read Chapters 11 and 12 this weekend and trace the events as you read. 

Thursday 3/13/14: Homework

Block E:

• Bring your final draft of your letter to Emma Donoghue to class tomorrow. Be sure to proofread it and PRINT IT BEFORE YOU ARRIVE TO CLASS!
• Bring the notes that we started to take on The Great Gatsby. We will begin the novel tomorrow.

Block F:

• Read Chapters 9 and 10 tonight. Focus Question: How does the setting affect Victor's mood?
• Create an illustration of an important scene in the novel thus far. Be sure to provide a caption that includes a specific quote from the novel that captures the essence of your illustration. 

Block A:

• We had a great discussion on the report by David Grann titled "The Chameleon" today. Use our discussions this week to develop the third piece in our project that we are calling "Two Truths and a Lie." This week your story should be about a lie; one that you've told, one that you have been told, or one that you've heard about in the world that you are curious about. Be ready to do some research. For more inspiration, you can check out this episode of This American Life that features an entire hour of true stories about liars! Check it out here.
• Don't forget, you are also responsible for completing and writing about one of the "Art Assignments" by the end of the month!  Remember, you should document your assignment (take pictures) and then write about your process and experience. Have fun! 

Wednesday 3/12/13: homework

Block F:

Today we created a chronological timeline of events thus far in Frankenstein. I've attached the notes in case you missed class. 

Tonight, please read and annotate Chapter 8, keeping in mind our focus questions:

     What happened to William and why does Victor feel responsible? 

Block A:

1. Read, annotate, and respond to "The Chameleon" in The New Yorker. 

2. Revise your first 2 memoir (truth) pieces. Print and prepare to submit for tomorrow. 

Block B:

1. Begin planning your close reading response on the figurative language prompt we started in class today. By Friday, you should have a plan and a working thesis to show me, along with your passage annotations. 

2. Work on your assigned Vocabulary word that you will use to teach the class. Bring your word to class on Friday. 

Block C:

1. Revise and proofread your letter to Donoghue. Print it before class on Friday. 

Tuesday 3/11/13: Homework

Block A:
Work on revising your first two memoir pieces due on Thursday. Read and annotate "The Chameleon" for Thursday.

Block B:

• Read and annotate Chapter 6 in Gatsby
• Revisit our discussion and the film clips we watched today. I've included them here for you to look at again. Then, write a SPA paragraph in response to the following question:

In what way are the central ideas in Fitzgerald's novel still relevant and alive today in our world?

Block C and Block E:

Work on revising your formal letters to Emma Donoghue. They should be as close to perfect as possible...ask a parent, a friend, or an older sibling to proofread it for you. Letters are due at the start of class (PRINT BEFORE  YOU ARRIVE TO CLASS!) on Thursday (Block E) and Friday (Block C). 

Monday 3/10/14: Homework

Block C and E:
Revise and develop your letters to Emma Donoghue, using the discussion that we had in class today as inspiration. Remember, your letter is meant to demonstrate your thorough understanding of the text, so you should be including specific details and asking specific questions as you write. Bring your revision to class tomorrow.

Block F:
Read and annotate Chapter 7 tonight, answering the guide questions I gave you to help with comprehension. Think about the discussion we had on Friday about Victor's role and responsibility as a "parent." Evaluate how he is doing thus far in this role. I've included the notes from our discussion below.

Friday 3/7/14:Homework

Block C and  E: 
Work on your letter to Emma Donoghue due on Monday. Follow the format prescribed in the assignment.

Block F:
Complete the take-home quiz on Chapters 5-6. Be sure to complete your work on lined paper, and be specific in your responses.

Block A:
Finish your "2nd Chapter" of your memoir for Tuesday. We will be sharing your work and seeking feedback in a more informal protocol. If you have time, begin reading the story titled "The Chameleon" from the New Yorker due on Thursday.

Block B: 
Read your independent reading book this weekend!
Review what you've read of Gatsby thus far. Be ready for a quiz to check your understanding.

Thursday 3/6/14: homework

Block A: 

Work on developing ideas for Chapter 2-- we will have some time to write in class tomorrow. 

Block B: 

Read and annotate Chapter 5 in Gatsby and complete the "scavenger hunt " assignment for tomorrow. 

Block C:

Work on drafting your letter to Emma Donoghue following the format and instructions I gave you in class today. Your letter should be saved on your Google drive and printed out before class on Monday. 

Wednesday 3/5/14: Homework

Block E: 
Read your independent reading book.

Block F:
Respond to questions on the Padlet posted on the blog assignment below.

Wednesday 3/5: Block F Seniors

The Creation Scene! 

Watch the two versions of the creation scene that we've just read in Shelley's Frankenstein.

Frankenstein 1931 production

Frankenstein 1994 production

For homework tonight, go to this site and participate in the discussion.

Tuesday 3/4/14: Homework

Block B:
Read and annotate Chapter 5 in The Great Gatsby. Fill out the Scavenger Hunt sheet as you read, keeping in mind some of the fantastically awkward moments that fill the chapter. We will have a readers' theater on Friday!

Block C:
Work on your RAFT projects due on Thursday! 
Read your independent reading books!

Block E:
Work on your RAFT projects due tomorrow! (Wednesday!)

Block F:
Revisit our on-line discussion here and take some time to read your colleagues comments. Write a short reflection on what you learned, and how the process went.

Tuesday 3/4: Block F Seniors

Welcome to Padlet!

Today we are going to have an on-line discussion using the IPADs and a site called Padlet. Go to the link here and follow the directions I've provided.

Monday 3/3/14: Homework

Block E:
Work on creating your RAFT projects due in class on Wednesday.

Block F:
Use the notes you took today in class to respond to the following question in a 1-2 well-written and well-supported SPA paragraphs.

Are Victor's actions JUSTIFIED or CRIMINAL?

Block A:

Develop an idea for you second chapter for your memoir project, built around a specific memory or scenario from your past. To prepare for our class on Thursday, please bring in one of the following items: 

1. Something that has a scent that conjures a memory for you. 

2. An image or photo that conjures a memory for you. 

3. A sound that conjures a memory for you.