Evolution and Ceremony

We began the day by reading and discussing Sherman Alexie's poem, "Evolution." We then transitioned into a short introduction to the novel Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko.

New Due Dates:

• Post to the Ceremony discussion board at GC at least once by 10/6 and twice by 10/13.
• Read roughly half of Ceremony by 10/6
• Finish Ceremony by 10/13

Antigone PC

After examining a few thesis statements from the prior pressure comp, we talked a bit about today's prompt and spend the rest of the period writing.

HW: Bring Ceremony tomorrow.

The End of Antigone

Friday we did a bit of writing about allusions from Antigone and wrapped up our discussion of the play with several quick-writes and subsequent discussion.

Pressure Comp and Study Guide Monday.

Stichomythia and Allusion

Today's warm up asked students to respond to the following: Examine the passage of stichomythia you chose for HW. To what effect does Sophocles employ stichomythia in this case? Explain in some detail, citing the passage as appropriate.

After discussing several of these examples, we defined the term "allusion" and set to work finding and examining an example of allusion in one of Antigone's choral odes.

Stichoma-what?

Today we began the day with a discussion of irony in Robinson's "Richard Cory." We then had a lively, yet moderated discussion of theme and introduced the term "stichomythia."

HW: Be prepared with your favorite example of stichomythic dialogue from Antigone.

More Irony

We began the day discussing irony with vague references to Swift's "Modest Proposal." Students then shared examples of irony gleaned from Antigone with the rest of the class.

For homework, students should simply consider the main themes of the play and how a 2500 year-old tragedy might apply in today's world.

Our 1st Quiz: Without a Trace of Irony

We began the day with a quiz on Antigone, talked a bit about the quiz and the relative merit (or lack thereof) of Wikipedia as a source, and then spent the remainder of the day discussing irony: verbal, situational, and dramatic.

HW: Find, in Antigone, an example of each type of irony. Quote and cite them on a separate sheet. Due 9/23.

@ GC: Find an example of any of the three types of irony in modern pop culture and post it to the appropriate discussion thread with a correct MLA works cited entry. Due Friday.

Introducing... The Greeks

Today we spent the period on an introduction to Greek drama, Sophocles, and Antigone.

HW Read Antigone. Yes, the whole thing.

The First Pressure Comp

After handing in study guides and dissecting the prompt a bit, we had the first timed writing test of the year today. It's over. Let it go.

We start the Greeks tomorrow.

Wrapping Up Wuthering Heights

We spent the bulk of today working on page two of the study guide, introducing several new terms, including framing, syntax, diction, register, and en medias res.

Study guides are due tomorrow followed by our first timed writing of the year.

Finally the Study Guide

Today we set the schedule for the rest of the week, wrapped up notes on the "Reading and Responding to Literature" article, and I finally handed out study guides. After talking about the first page, we worked on #6 as a group.
Tomorrow we wrap up Wuthering Heights and the study guide.

New Due Dates:

• Revised CRA 9/17
• Wuthering Heights Study Guide and PC 9/18
• Own Antigone 9/19
• Finish Antigone 9/22

Our First Quiz

We began the day with a quiz, and I checked the "Reading and Responding to Literature" notes (a double whammy for those of you who didn't manage to do the reading). WE spend the rest of the period taking notes and reacting to the article. Notes will continue tomorrow.

Defining Lit and the CRA Continues

We began the day reviewing the definitions of literature and literary merit that you researched for homework. This engendered a fairly heated discussion that we will continue on Monday after you have read "Reading and Responding to Literature" (posted at Global Classroom).
Next we presented a few more CRA paragraphs.

HW:

• Read and take notes on "Reading and Responding to Literature." Be prepared for a quiz. Due 9/15.
• Revise one of your two CRA paragraphs. Type it and hand it in with both roughs and your prewriting. Due 9/16.

Clear as a Foggy Day on the Heights

We began the day with a stimulating and potentially illuminating discussion of the distinctions among theme, thesis, and motif. Following this, groups met again and worked CRA #2, choosing one to present. Presentations will begin tomorrow.

The CRAs Continue

We finished sharing CRA #1 today, and then groups chose a passage for their second CRA. Draft CRA paragraphs with prewriting are due in class tomorrow.

CRA #1

Today we did some work in groups on the CRA paragraphs that were finished for HW. Groups then chose a spokesperson to share out the group's favorite paragraph. We will finish this sharing out tomorrow and begin CRA #2.

CRA #1

Today, after the course description quiz, we did a close reading of a paragraph of Wuthering Heights, following essentially the same three steps we did with Newton on day one.

1. Make a list of features of the paragraph that stand out.
2. Choose three that seem particularly interesting or significant.
3. Explain, briefly, why these features stand out to you.
4. Choose one feature and write a paragraph, quoting liberally from the passage, explaining how ONE of the features of the paragraph contributes to the overall message of Bronte's work, the tone of the passage, etc. In other words, Bronte chose to write this way. So what? Why does it matter.

Have draft of this paragraph in class tomorrow.

HW: Find credible definitions of the terms "literature" and "literary merit" and post them to Global Classroom. Be sure to cite your source or sources in correct MLA style. Due 9/12.

It's All About Character

Today we spent most of the day in what turned out to be a rather lively discussion of minor characters.
Expect a quiz on the course description Monday.

Wuthering Heights... Finally

We began the day with a warm-up about the title of the novel, and then, after the daily "stuff," moved on to a lively discussion of the title and the novel in general.

HW Read and contemplate the course description (available at GC). Expect a short quiz. Honor statements are also due if you have not yet submitted them.

Wrapping Up Newton

Today, after some first week business, we finished our discussion of Blake's Newton. We then discussed the summer assignment and I returned your projects.

Back to School packets from the office (given out today) are due Monday, please.

And so it begins...

We began the year writing about a painting. We will finish our work with said painting tomorrow.

Be sure to bring your Wuthering Heights materials.

HW: Find, Print, Read, and Sign the AP Honor Statement available at Global Classroom. Due 9/5.