Wednesday 4/30/14: Homework

Block E:

Go on line and find a movie review on Baz Luhrmann's production of The Great Gatsby. Be sure your review comes from a credible source. 

Block F:

Work on your end-of-the-year projects! Keep tack of your due dates and feel free to stop by if you need help as you go. 

Block A: 

Begin to develop your independent project-- brainstorm ideas and bring in a list of potential topics that you may explore for class on Friday. 

Tuesday 4/29/14: Homework

Block F Seniors:

• Finish the project proposal that you started in class today. Refer to this resource to help you with developing a theme for your essay. You will share your proposal tomorrow in class. We will also begin working on your "Stranger in the Photo is Me" essays tomorrow.

Block A:

• Type up your observations based on today's "research." Write a scene, injecting your voice into the work.
• Read the short essay I gave you in class today titled "American Man, Aged 10." Take note of the "intimate details." Carefully complete the "Deconstructing the Text" sheet as you read. 

Block B: 

• Based on the activity that we did in class today, begin to organize your synthesis response. Your polished response will be due on Friday. You should have rough(ish) draft completed on Thursday so that you may confer with other students.   

Block C:

• Go online tonight and find a film review of Baz Luhmann's production of The Great Gatsby. Read it, annotate it, and print it out for class on Thursday. 

Monday 4/28/14

Block A:

• Research and print out a new update on the Pistorius case that we are following as a class. Be prepared to share it at the start of class tomorrow.
• Read your independent reading book.

Block B:

• Finish preparing your annotations and written notes on the 5 Gatsby articles I assigned prior to vacation. We will be using the articles tomorrow as we embark on an essay writing adventure. 
• Read your independent reading book. 
• Some of you are taking the SAT this coming weekend. If you have some time this week, visit this College Board SAT Practice site to brush up on your skills.

Block C 

• Finish reading and annotating the novel for tomorrow. As you read, be on the look-out for Owl Eyes, and yet another version of Gatsby's story--we will call this Gatsby 4.0. I will be checking your annotations when we start the film, so please bring your books to class tomorrow.
• Study your vocabulary flashcards.

Block E

• Finish reading and annotating the novel for tomorrow. As you read, be on the look-out for Owl Eyes, and yet another version of Gatsby's story--we will call this Gatsby 4.0. I will be checking your annotations when we start the film, so please bring your books to class.
• Write a response to the following question: Is Gatsby great? Use details from the novel to support your response. 
• Study your vocabulary words. 

Thursday 4/17/14: Homework

Block C:

• Read and annotate Chapter 8 in Gatsby and complete the "Diving into the Text" graphic organizer as you read.
• Study your Gatsby vocabulary words. If you haven't done so already, make flashcards!
• Read your independent reading book

Block E:

• Study your Gatsby vocabulary words over break. Make flashcards if you haven't already done so.
• Read your independent reading book!

Block F:

• Annotate the "Stranger in the Photo is Me" essay, keeping in mind the focus questions I asked you to observe.
• Work on mapping out your ideas and gathering your research for the theme project. 

Wednesday 4/16/14: Homework

Block E:

• Finish your Chapter 7 mind map. Remember, you should have at least 6 quotes taken from the chapter to accompany the items on your map. 
• Read and annotate Chapter 8 in the novel. Complete the "Diving into the Text" handout while you read. We will discuss the chapter in class tomorrow. 
• Read your independent reading book, and review your vocabulary words too!

Block F:

• Today in class, I showed you how I am organizing my ideas for my theme project. I've attached my notes below. Note that I have selected a piece of text to start the process--and I am developing the connections I see among the texts as I think. It is okay that I don't yet have a theme--that will come with time and more thinking. 

• For tomorrow, I would like you to spend 20-30  minutes tonight thinking and planning your project ON PAPER. Be prepared to show me some evidence of your thinking. You can make a mind map, a chart, a free write--whatever works for your learning style. 

Block A:

• Over break, refer to the chapter we read titled " A Famous and Memorable Scene" from Lee Gutkind's book. Use the first excerpt from the story on Frank Sinatra as a model. Follow the syntax and structure of that scene and write your own 3 sentence version on a moment of your own choosing. Type up the scene and bring it to class next week. 
• Also, please read and annotate page 124-134 in the chapter titled "Intimate Details" as well.
• Complete your Art Assignment project if you haven't done so already.
• Check out this link if you have time and feel like watching some "mind blowing"documentaries this week. The Imposter made the list!
• Have a great break!

Block B:

• Read and annotate the CRAZIEST STORY EVER, titled "The Chameleon" by David Grann. If you happen to loose your copy, you can find the story here. It is a TRUE story, folks. In fact, there is a new documentary on the subject available on Netflix (it's called The Imposter).  The story is not at all related to The Great Gatsby, however, I think you will find that both texts share some unusual connections in terms of their exploration of IDENTITY. After you read, please complete a "Recipe for Reading" response (you have the yellow sheet of instructions in your binder!)

• Finish synthesizing the scholarly articles that we read this week, using your notes to complete the graphic organizer. We will use this organizer to begin writing an essay when you return.
• Have a great break!

Tuesday 4/15/14: Homework

Block A:

• For tonight, please read the chapter on writing memorable scenes in nonfiction from the text You Can't Make This Stuff Up by Lee Gutkind. Take note of the scene's "ingredients" as noted by Gutkind. Then, revisit the essay we read today by Chuck Klosterman. Select a scene from the essay and on lined paper, describe what you notice about the way in which Klosterman constructs the scene. Bring in your response to class on Wednesday.

Block B:

• Study your vocabulary words for tomorrow's quiz. 
• Begin work on the organizer I gave you in class to categorize the articles by character and topic. Make sure you keep track of which article each piece of information comes from. We will continue to work on this tomorrow after your vocabulary quiz. Remember, you are going to earn credit for each step in the process of this assignment, so hang on to all of your good work!

Block C:

• For Thursday, please return to your mind maps from Chapter 7 and be sure to include at least 6 pieces of textual evidence (QUOTES) from the chapter to accompany your illustrations or timelines. 
• In addition, return to Chapter 7 and select a significant passage that resonated with you. Copy the passage down on lined paper, and then thoughtfully respond to the following questions:

1. What does the passage SAY? (literally)
2. What does the passage DO? (figuratively)
3. What does the passage MEAN?(why does it matter?)

Monday 4/14/14: Homework

Block B:

• Finish reading and annotating the critical essays I gave you last week. Remember to complete some form of summary task for each article (see choices in last week's homework post).
• Study for your vocabulary quiz on Wednesday! 

Block C and Block E:

• Finish reading Chapter 7 in Gatsby--a LOT happens in this chapter, so pay attention!
• Complete the mind map that you started in class today. Be sure to include quotes from the chapter to demonstrate your understanding of the events. Be on the look out for descriptions of the weather, the setting(s), the behavior/actions of the characters, Nick's perspective and CARS (and who is driving each). Bring your completed mind map to class tomorrow.

Block F:

• Tonight, please write a full paged response to the following question based on your understanding of the scene we read today:

What word best describes Polonius' purpose in speaking to Ophelia? Write a SPA paragraph, using lines from the text as evidence for your argument. 

Warn encourage inform predict. Threaten. Discourage. Persuade. Demand. Punish. Dictate. Manipulate. Protect. Support 

Friday 4/11: Homework

Block E:

1. Revise your letters to Emma Donoghue over the weekend. We will be mailing them out on Monday.
2. Read and annotate Chapter 7 in Gatsby (up to the bottom of page 134). 
3. Study your vocabulary words! There will be a quiz soon!

Block F:

1. Remind your parents/guardians about the homework assignment I gave them! Letters are due in class on Monday!
2. Respond to the question we posed in class today: What are Hamlet's responsibilities to the Ghost? Write a full page response to share your thoughts about Hamlet's dilemma.
3. Continue to work on your theme triangle project. We will spend some time talking about it on Monday. 

Block A:

1. Get out there and rock the Art Assignment already! Write up your experience for Tuesday!  
2. Read and annotate the essay that I gave you in class. Write a reaction to the essay that details the following: 3 key passages/lines, 2 observations or questions you have, and 1 opinion. 

Thursday 4/10: Homework

Block F:

• Review your character notes from our discussion of Hamlet today. 
• Read the background information sheet distributed in class, and be prepared to report on what you learned. 
• Be on time to class tomorrow.

If you were absent today, you should watch the first 15 minutes of the Hamlet film that we started to watch in class. You can find it  HERE.

Block A:

• Participate in the Art Assignment over the next week. Write up your experience. If you would like to reconsider your options, you can check out this site HERE!

Block B:

• Begin reading the FIVE critical essays on Gatsby that I gave you today. For each essay, you should do one of the following reading activities:

1. Cornell Notes
2. A Precis
3. A 3-2-1 (3 important passages that capture the critic's argument, 2 questions you have regarding the argument, and 1 opinion on the argument presented)

Feel free to try a variety of activities based on your learning style and the length of the article. You should have all of the work completed by next TUESDAY. 

Block C:

• Begin reading Chapter 7 in Gatsby (pages 120 to the bottom of page 134). Annotate the text as you read so that you will be ready to discuss in class on Tuesday. 

Wednesday 4/9/14: Homework

Block A:

• Revision on your biographical piece are due by tomorrow. Please print out your essay prior to class. 
• We will continue our discussion of the documentary structure and narrative voice. See the "30 for 30" episode featuring Chris Herren  here.

Block B: 

• Study your Gatsby vocabulary cards for the test on Monday!
• Read your independent reading book.

Block C and E:

• Review your annotations and notes on Chapters 1-6 in Gatsby. We will have a reading quiz on what we've read thus far. 
• Study your Gatsby vocabulary words.
• Read your independent reading book!

Tuesday 4/8/14: Homework

Block C and E:

• Read and annotate Chapter 6, using the Reading Road Map to help you as you read. 
• Update your vocabulary flashcards with the new words we learned today.
• Read your independent reading book.

Block F:

• Begin planning your theme project. Consider which texts you will use, and what a third option might be. Begin by considering what big ideas connect the texts together, and what they have taught you about the process of growing up. 
• Arrive to class on Thursday ready to jump into our study of the story of Hamlet!

Monday 4/7/14: Homework

Block E:

Today we watched MTV "Cribs" and considered how the ideas in Gatsby are still very much alive today in our culture. Tonight, your job is to write a SPA paragraph in response to the question I gave you on the organizer we used when watching the show. In case you want to watch again, you can find the episode:
here:

Block F:

Take a look at the Theme triangle assignment I handed out to you today. We will be talking about the project tomorrow. 

Block A:

1. Follow the story with "roots"-- the Oscar Pistorius story. Find an interesting article or news report and bring it in to share. 

2. Work on your biographical piece for Wednesday. 

Friday 4/4/14: Homework

Block A:

Use your research to write a biographical piece on the person you have been researching. Don't forget to include your own voice in the piece.  Revisit excerpts of "Death of an Innocent" for a model. Consider how Krakauer establishes the structure and context for his story. 

Block B:

Read and annotate the article titled "A Whole Heap of Ashes." 

Use the directions I gave you to write a précis of the article. Bring both the article and the précis with you to class on Wednesday. 

Also, don't forget to turn your essay in to Turnitin.com.

Block C:

Write a SPA paragraph on the MTV "Cribs" episode that we watched in class today. Be sure to use evidence from both the episode and the novel. Type your response and bring it to class at the start of class on Monday. 

Thursday 4/3/14: Homework

Block B:

Work on your essay revisions, using the comments I gave you. Remember, you are adding a few new things:

1. A newly revised thesis that considers how Fitzgerald uses figurative language to characterize Gatsby at both the beginning and end of the novel. 

2. A new body paragraph or two that expands your initial observations on Gatsby as a character. 

3. A new conclusion. 

Your essays should be ready to turn in at the start of class tomorrow. Please also submit an electronic copy to Turnitin.com by Monday. 

Block C: 

Write a short reflection on today's readers theater. What did you notice about how Fitzgerald creates the tension in the chapter using dialogue and narration. 

Block E:

Prepare your vocabulary word for your upcoming presentation. Remember, Vocabulary.com is a good resource. 

Block F:

Write a one-page reflection on what you heard today during the Socratic seminars. Prepare for the in-class essay test in class on Monday. You will be able to use your notes on the exam, so bring them with you. 

Wednesday 4/2/14: Homework

Block E:

Read and annotate Chapter 5 in Gatsby. Complete the scavenger hunt activity. 

Block F: 

Finish the novel and prepare your notes for tomorrow's Socratic seminars. 

Block A: 

Continue to research and develop a topic for your next piece based on a person. We will be writing and researching next class. 

Tuesday April 1, 2014

Block F:

Read and annotate Chapter 22 in the novel. Be sure to keep an eye on Victor's mood and the way in which Shelley creates the tension in the chapter. 

Block A: 

Read and annotate the article from Outside Magazine and be prepared to share your insights. 

Block B:

1. Locate another passage from the later chapters in Gatsby to use in your essay revision. Type it out, print it out, annotate it, and bring it to class on Thursday. 

2. Read and mark up the article on Daisy and Myrtle's names. 

3. Study vocabulary. 

Block C: 

1. Read and annotate Chapter 5. Complete the scavenger hunt activity using specific examples from the chapter.