Welcome Back: Here's Your Quiz

The day began with a short quiz on Beloved. After some comments about essay grades and progress reports, students had the rest of the period to get started on some discussion question on the novel.

Beloved PC & SG 12/3

Paper Collection, Quizzes and Random Thoughts

We began the day by collecting the thematic essays and reading the titles out loud in class. After a reading quiz on the first 8 chapters of Beloved, we spent the rest of the period discussing the novel in general.

Wednesday & Thursday

Wednesday we started by looking at quotation from Beloved and then transitioned into a discussion of Carl Jung, the collective unconscious, and stream of consciousness. The rest of the period was spent working quietly on the Beloved Background assignment at moodle or reading.

Thursday we continued our look at stream of consciousness with a little personal stream of consciousness writing in the warm up and then an analysis of the text "Flies" by Shirley Stirnemann.

Monday & Tuesday

Monday we started the period with a bit of Faulkner fun. The rest of the period was spent with some comments on the essay and introducing Beloved.
Tuesday was a rare work day. Students had the whole period to read or work on the Beloved introductory assignment at Moodle.

New Dues Dates:

• Read Beloved through chapter 8 by Friday, 11/19
• Finish Beloved by Monday, 11/29
• Moodle Posts due 11/19 and 11/28

Rough Draft Response

We began the period looking at two strong literary analysis papers from previous years. After discussing these models briefly, students broke into response groups and spent the rest of the period responding to essay rough drafts.

• Revised drafts may be submitted to the optional drop box at moodle starting tomorrow. I will respond to drafts on a first come, first served basis.
• Bring Beloved on Monday.

Final Day for Faulkner

After briefly considering some sample essay introductions, we spent the rest of the period thinking and talking about As I Lay Dying in preparation for tomorrow's timed writing.
Due Tomorrow: Study Guide & Faulkner Character Sheet

Of Essay Plans and Ashland

Today we began with some discussion of essay outlining, and I had students outline their essay (the rough drafts of which are due Friday). We also talked a bit about the Ashland trip and wrote on one Faulkner question (In chapter 40, Addie meditates on the distance between words and actions. Is Faulkner saying that words—his own chosen medium—are inadequate? What do Addie's definitions say about her as a woman?) to end the day.

AILD PC & SG on Wednesday, 11/10.

Study Guide Frames for #8

Number 8 on the study guide continues to be a problem for some of you, either because you neglect to cite your quotation or—more commonly—because you do not sufficiently explain the significance of the quoted device. In an effort to assist with these difficulties, I have created the following sentence frames. Feel free to use them word-for-word or simply as models for your own sentences.

I hope some of you find these helpful.

Mr. Staiano

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When the author uses the device, "quoted line," s/he explores how… (page #). 

"Quoted line" (page #). Through this device name, the author shows…

Device Name: "Quoted line" (page #). What the author means here is… which helps explain… 

Lots of Thinking, Pairing and Sharing

Today we spent most of the day writing and discussing As I Lay Dying. Over the two periods, we covered the questions below, (though we had addressed some on Wednesday). At the end of the period, we talked a bit about rough drafts--in case students were planning to actually write this weekend--and I stressed the importance of planning before writing (perhaps using the tools online at moodle).
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1. Anse Bundren may be one of the most feckless characters in literature.  Why do you think his neighbors repeatedly come to his aid? Is it out of pity, respect, guilt, charity, community, or is Anse just that good at manipulation?
2. Faulkner allows Darl and Vardaman to express themselves in language that would be impossible given their lack of education and experience in the world. Why does Faulkner break with the realistic representation of character in this way?
3. What does the novel reveal about the ways in which human beings deal with death, grieving, and letting go of loved ones?
4. Why do you think Addie's chapter (40) is placed where it is? How does her chapter change your earlier perceptions of the Bundren family? For example, how well did Cora really know Addie?

Paper Topic Bonanza

Today in period 2 we finished poetry presentations (and I collected all the poetry work) and we spend the rest of the day reading and commenting on paper topics. In 6th period, we spent the whole period on topics!

Today we had two more poetry presentations (the final two in period 6, where I also collected all of the other poetry work), talked a bit about paper topics (which are due tomorrow), and then wrapped up the period writing about and discussing Faulkner.

Second Period's Poems:

• "Watchmaker God" by  Robert Lowell
• "Incident" by Countee Cullen

UC Propaganda & Class

Today in period two we sat in a small circle and discussed Faulkner and paper topics because half the class was learning about how to get into the UC system. In 6th period, we had two more poetry presentations and wrapped up the period talking about Faulkner.


6th period poems for tomorrow:

• "A Poison Tree" by William Blake
• "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost

Poetry Presentations and a Quiz

We began the day with two poetry presentations and then had a quiz on the second half of As I Lay Dying, which we discussed as the period came to a close.

Tonight's Poetry HW:
Period 2

• "Fear no more the heat of the sun" by Shakespeare
• "Good Times" by Lucille Clifton

Period 6

• "On Its Way" by May Swenson
• "The Dead" by Rupert Brooke