Final Poetry Work Day

Today we worked on projects and drew presentation order out of the sorting hat (complete presentation is available at the handouts page).

Essay Topics Due Tomorrow!

Don't forget your poetry HW tonight:

1. Paraphrase the plot of this poem. Briefly, what is it about?
2. What is the overall tone of the poem?
3. Note a few literary techniques stand out in this poem.

Period 4: "Woman" by Nikki Giovanni
Period 6: "Richard Cory" by E. A. Robinson

Work Time

Today we worked on the poetry project and I checked journals.

Monday is the last work day.

Essays and Work Time

Today we talked a bit about the next essay. The remainder of the period was spent working on the project.

Essay Dates:

• Topics Due 4/1
• Drafts in Class 4/4
• Final Drafts 4/11

Contemporary Poetry

Project assigned. Handouts online.

Introducing Mrs Dalloway

Today I gave an introductory lecture on Mrs. Dalloway. Notes are available at the handouts page.

New Due Dates:

• Dialectical Journal Daily
• 2/3rds of Dalloway 4/11
• Dalloway Finished 4/21

The Wait is Over

Today we wrapped up our always too brief look at Godot with a pressure comp. Study guides were collected as well.

Wrapping up Godot

Today we wrapped Godot, a bit hurriedly, but wrapped nonetheless. PC Monday.

Godot Finally Arrives.

Excellent and entertaining presentations today!

Preparing to Present Godot

Today we started by discussing the act one worksheet (though we applied it to the whole play. The class wrapped up with me assigning the Waiting for Godot presentation. Due Thursday.

Still Waiting...

Today we talked a bit about the second act of Godot, after a short quiz of course, and then spent a moment or two on the handout we started Friday.

HW: Please finish at least the chart part of the handout for tomorrow's class.

They do not move.

Today we had a short quiz, talked about hanging and mandrakes, and had a brief visit from Mr. Bressoud in period 6. We then started some questions on act 1.

Due Dates:

• Godot Act 2 due 3/17
• "Hollow Men" GC due 3/18

Nothing to be Done

We talked a bit about the Theater of the Absurd today, and, after the intro PowerPoint (available at the handouts page), we spend a bit of time reading Godot out loud and even watched a bit of the film.

Due Dates:

• Act 1 due Friday, 3/14
• Act 2 due Monday, 3/17
• Two Part GC assignment on "The Hollow Men" due 3/18 (evening)

Existential Essay Time

Today we finally took the long-awaited "No Exit" PC.

Bring Godot tomorrow. If he doesn't show up, at least bring the play.

A Day for Talking

Rather than write the pressure comp today, we spent the day in discussion. In fourth we talked through the powerful and thought-provoking themes of Bang, Bang, You're Dead. In sixth we talked more specifically about the symbols and motifs in Sartre's play.

Wrapping up Sartre

Today we did a bit of writing and a bit of talking about some key issue in "No Exit." Be ready for the pressure comp tomorrow.

Visions of Earth & the Food Motif

Today we finished our look at the three portfolio papers we examined yesterday, as well as talking a bit more about Sartre. More "No Exit" on Monday. PC Tuesday probably.

No Exit for Garcin & More Norming

We spent the first part of the period writing about and then discussing Garcin's inability to leave the room in "No Exit." The remainder of the period was spent reading and scoring three portfolio papers. We will discuss these scores tomorrow. Feel free to drop by and read the papers between now and then.

Entering "No Exit"

We started the day with a brief but fruitful discussion of Sartre's play. We then moved on to a short essay scoring activity where we examined a successful portfolio essay from a previous year. After scoring and norming, I returned papers (to everyone but four unlucky soul in period 6. Sorry.).

Tomorrow. More Sartre and more norming!

The Void Continued

Today we finished our discussion of existentialism and had a brief, but exceedingly pleasant visit from Cherie Z.

Looking into the Void

Today we began our look at Sartre, Existentialism, and "No Exit" with an introductory lecture.

New Due Dates:

• Read "No Exit" 3/5
• Global Classroom Assignment 3/7