MLA Madness

Today we spent the period considering the overall structure of longer expository essays in general and, eventually, of your individual papers in specific. There was also, however, a lengthy and surprising freak-out about MLA format. I reiterate: There should be no question about whether you need to document your sources (both parenthetically and at the end of the paper). This is academia; of course you must.

It's All on You

Today we spent the period in lively discussion about Jean-Paul Sartre and Existentialism.

Due Dates:

• Read No Exit by Friday
• Essay Rough Drafts posted to GC by Saturday night

Lear PC

Today we wrapped up King Lear with the timed essay (I collected study guides as well). Afterward, I demonstrated how to search English-specific journals through the HSU library database.

Bring No Exit tomorrow.

The End of Lear

Today we talked a bit about the paper and then finished up act 5 of King Lear. The essay is tomorrow and study guides are due if you have not yet turned them in.

Due Dates:

• Bring No Exit on Wednesday.
• Complete, typed essay drafts are due Friday.

The Next Essay and a Bit o' Lear

So today I assigned the next essay (see GC for details) and then we watched a bit of King Lear featuring Ian Holm as the venerable monarch.

HW Topics are due to GC by Tuesday night at 11:55.

So Close... and Yet So Far...

OK, so things have changed in Lear Land. My overly ambitious plan has succumbed to the realities of time. Though we managed part of act 5 today, we did not finish, and many of the actors will be gone tomorrow for Limited, so we will move on to the newly minted plan B.

Tomorrow, we will speak some about the next essay and view part of King Lear (I know, a film in AP! Can you imagine?). Presentations will commence when we return.

Due Dates (revised):

• PC and SG 2/24

Acts 2, 3, & 4!

Well, OK, one monologue from act 2 and only half of act 4, but we did manage all of act 3 (minus the monologues of two people who were absent, but still).

We WILL finish Lear tomorrow.

ACT 2

Must... move... more... quickly... Nearly through act 2 today... nearly.

Presentations Begin

Today we began King Lear presentations with act one (of course).

Fieldtrip Fun

Fun at HSU. ID cards for everyone!

Cherie Z and McCarthy

Today we spent about half the time reviewing and scoring some essays based on the final exam prompt. Use these essays and the other activity we did this week to revise your McCarthy essay for extra credit if you'd like.

Cherie talked about the AP tests and registration.

Crazy Final Work Day

Today we spent the whole day working on Lear presentations. HSU Forms are due tomorrow!

Work Time

Today we spent a bit more time on the McCarthy essay and HSU, and then wrapped up the day in Lear groups.

Lots of Due Dates

Today we began some work with the final exam essays on the passage from Cormac McCarthy's The Crossing. We then spoke for a bit about HSU and how you need to PAY YOUR BILL now. The rest of the period was spent working on the Lear project.

New Due Dates:

• Pay HSU 2/3 before 5 pm
• HSU Forms 2/5
• Presentations Begin 2/9
• Lear PC & SG 2/13
• Paper #3 Assigned 2/13

Prject Time... Mostly

Today we spent most of the period working on the Lear project. By Monday, students should have a handwritten annotation of their chosen monologue on a separate, printed sheet. In addition, students should have an initial draft of their CRA paragraph about their passage.

In Defense of Lear

Today we talked about the multiple choice a bit. I then ranted at some length in defense of Shakespeare's brilliance and the important of King Lear in the western literary tradition. Students finished up by choosing a monologues for the Lear presentations. More on this tomorrow.

Welcome to Your Group

Today we began with a bit of solo reflection on the multiple choice questions from the final exam. We continued this activity in groups and will finish it as a whole class tomorrow.
These same groups then faced off in a Lear minutia contest to choose acts for our King Lear presentations.

HW Students should consider their monologues and come prepared to negotiate with the rest of the group.

The Lear Project

Today, after a short quotation-based Lear warm-up and a general discussion of the play, we went over the handout for the Lear presentations and watched a short video of a well-performed monologue from act 5.

Welcome to the New Semester

Today we began with a short Lear quiz, talked about next week's field trip to HSU, and read a bit of Lear aloud.

Enter Shakespeare

Today we spent the day talking about William Shakespeare in general and King Lear in specific. In fact, we even read a bit of the play aloud. Fun stuff!

I collected HSU forms and warm-ups today.

Due Dates:

• Act 1 -- 1/20
• Acts 2-5 -- 1/26
• GC Posts -- 1/23 & 1/26