Period 4 Poem for 4/3

"Hysteria"

By: T.S. Eliot

As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved
In her laughter and being part of it, until her
Teeth were only accidental stars with a talent
For squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps,
Inhaled at each momentary recovery, lost finally
In the dark caverns of her throat, bruised by
The ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiter
With trembling hands was hurriedly spreading
A pink and white checked cloth over the rusty
Green iron table, saying: “If the lady and
Gentleman wish to take their tea I the garden,
If the lady and gentleman wish to take their
Tea in the garden…” I decided that if the
Shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of
The fragments of the afternoon might be collected,
And I concentrated my attention with careful
Subtlety to this end.

The Poetry Presentations Begin!

Today we started poetry presentations (they were fantastic!). We spent the remaining time walking around and responding to topics.

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: "Ode to the Maggot" by Yusef Komunyakaa
Period 6: "Evolution" by Sherman Alexie

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

Low-Pressure Pressure Comp.

Today we wrote about The Metamorphosis.

No Exit on Monday!

The Bug's Last Day

Today we looked explicitly at some of the study guide items, especially theme. We then examined the actual prompt in preparation for tomorrow's essay. It is:

Choose an implausible or strikingly unrealistic incident or character in a work of fiction or drama of recognized literary merit. Write an essay that explains how the incident or character is related to the more realistic or plausible elements in the rest of the work.

A Little Rock Opera & Free-Writing

Today we started with a bit of rock opera and transitioned into a discussion around these two free-writes (5 minutes each; collected at the end of class).

1) The Metamorphosis (or at least parts of it) has been called darkly humorous. Explore the possibility of humor in the novella.

2) Read this excerpt from a letter Kafka wrote to his father. How does it influence or inform your reading of The Metamorphosis?

"There is only one episode in the early years of which I have a direct memory. You may remember it, too. One night I kept on whimpering for water, not, I am certain, because I was thirsty, but probably partly to be annoying, partly to amuse myself. After several vigorous threats had failed to have any effect, you took me out of bed, carried me out onto the [balcony], and left me there alone for a while in my nightshirt, outside the shut door. I am not going to say that this was wrong—perhaps there was really no other way of getting peace and quiet that night—but I mention it as typical of your methods of bringing up a child and their effect on me. I dare say I was quite obedient afterward at that period, but it did me inner harm. What was for me a matter of course, that senseless asking for water, and then the extraordinary terror of being carried outside were Two things that I, my nature being what it was, could never properly connect with each other. Even years afterward I suffered from the tormenting fancy that the huge man, my father, the ultimate authority, would come almost for no reason at all and take me out of bed in the night and carry me out onto the [balcony], and that consequently I meant absolutely nothing as far as he was concerned."

Talking About the Bug

Today we had a long, open, and wide-ranging discussion about The Metamorphosis.

Plan for the PC and SG on Friday.

Welcome Back... with Bugs!

Today we to a beetle-infested quiz and talked about The Metamorphosis among other things.

Presidents' Week Assignment

Over the break:

1. Access and take notes on the introduction to Kafka's The Metamorphosis available at Global Classroom as a PowerPoint or at the Handouts page as a PDF file.
2. Read the novella.
3. Respond to the forum assignment at Global Classroom by class time on the 25th.
4. You may also respond to the optional forum as you read, and I have posted the complete text at GC as well.

Have a good break!

Thus Endeth Lear and the Play

Today we finished up act 5 and I collected character analyses and CRAs (w/ attached annotations).

Pressure comp and study guides tomorrow, and don't forget essay final drafts!

Storm Still

Today we finished Act 3 and went on to Act 4. Act five and a general Lear wrap up tomorrow!

Presentations Continue

We began act three in both periods today, thus, altered due dates:

• CAs & CRAs 2/14
• PC & SG 2/15
• Essay Final Drafts still 2/15

Keep the humor coming!

Today we started presentations nearly completing act 1 in 4th period and completing it with time to spare in period 6. Acts 2 and 3 should be ready for tomorrow.

Continuation of Work Time

The rest of the week will be devoted to the King Lear project. Presentations begin Monday.

Other Due Dates:

• Essay Workshop Responses 2/8, 11:55 pm
• Character Analysis & Passage CRAs 2/13
• Pressure Comp and Study Guide 2/14 (Tentatively)

Crazy Work Time

Today we worked on the project.

The Lear Project

Today I assigned the major group project on King Lear. Groups will have all week to work on projects. Presentations begin Monday (2/11), first thing. Groups have chosen acts and individuals should be choosing monologues tonight.

Groups:
P4
I~Travis, Russ, Val, Christina, Alyssa
II~Thomas, Teal, Drew, Shianne, Jaci
III~Matt, Julie, Kate, Hans
IV~Everyone Else
V~James, Coral, Morgan, Josef, Allison

P6
MaiLia, Marianne, Camille
Leann, Maia, Brandon
Orion, PahChia, Kavon, Elizabeth
Tessa, Sandy, Kelsey
Holly, Ethan, Betsy

Paper Response and PC Work

Today we wrapped up the PC work from yesterday and spent the remainder of the period responding to early drafts of paper #2.

Norming and PC Eval

Today we discussed our scoring of those essays from the Crossing prompt, started Tuesday. Students wrapped up the period by looking at their own writing and doing the following highlighting activity:

A Little Bit o' Lear

Today we took a short quiz on King Lear and then talked about the play for the remainder of our short period.

More PC work tomorrow. Bring your Crossing essays from the final.

Deconstructing the McCarthy Prompt

After a few random comments at the beginning of class, we got down to the work of reexamining the McCarthy prompt from the semester one final. After rereading the excerpt and discussing it a bit, we spent the rest of the period scoring sample essays. We will go over these scores in the second half of the period tomorrow.

Warm-Up and...

Well, by the time we finished the warm up today, there was little time to do much more, but we did manage a brief discussion of the MC questions from the final exam.

Back to the Blog

So it's been a few days. Basically we've been splitting our time between looking at the multiple choice questions from the final, talking about King Lear, and paper topics.

Today we had our second Lear-based warm up and talked a bit about the play. We ran out the clock with an essay topic read-around. The topics/theses looked much better this time around!

Next week, we will continue our examination of the final, wrapping up our look at the multiple choice and spending at least a day on the Crossing essay prompt.

New Assignments:
As usual, there is a discussion board assignment for King Lear. Check it out at GC.

Welcome to the New Semester!

We began the new semester with a brief introduction to King Lear and a whole heap of due dates:

King Lear

• Act 1~1/24
• Acts 2-3~1/30
• Acts 4-5~2/4

Essay #2

• Topic/Thesis: In Class on 1/25
• Complete, Typed, Preliminary Draft: In Class on 2/1
• Revised Drafts w/ Preliminary Draft Cover Sheet Posted to Workshop: 2/5 (evening)
• Workshop Responses Complete: 2/8 (evening)
• Optional Drafts to Staiano (posted, emailed, or hardcopy) w/ cover sheet by: 2/9 (evening)
• Final Drafts with Cover Sheet: In Class on 2/15

Candide PC

Lots of quiet writing today.

Remember, bring a pencil, a pen, and some paper to the final!

Wrapping Up Voltaire

Final conversation on Candide. PC and SG tomorrow.

Candid Conversation Concerning Candide

Today we talked about the Candide CRA passages, nearly finishing them. We will wrap up our look at Candide on Monday. Remember, PCs and SGs Tuesday.

Candide CRA

Today we spent most of the period on the Candide CRA assignment. Annotations and paragraphs are due tomorrow!

Thesis Revsion Part II & Candide

Today students revised their own thesis statements from the AILD PC and we shared a few. Following that, we finished the Candide discussion and began work on the Candide CRA assignment (available at the handouts page). Groups should have passages picked by tomorrow (and bring copies if possible).

Thesis Revision & Candide

Today we started a week-long look at the AILD PCs with a short thesis revision. We will revise your theses tomorrow, so make sure you bring those essays.

Following the thesis revision, we began our discussion of Candide with comment circle.

Welcome Back

Today after a brief "old school"-type quiz on Candide, we went over some pressing issues regarding returned work, semester grades, and the final exam.

New Due Date:

• Candide PC and SG 1/15

Baby Barf & Candide

After a brief story about my daughter's perhaps overly critical response to last night's Limited Edition performance, we zipped through a brief introduction to Candide and exchanged holiday pleasantries.

HW

• Read Candide.
• Post Twice at GC.

The End of Presentations

Today we wrapped up the Romantic poetry presentations. Tomorrow we'll spend a bit of our short class on Candide...

Let the Presentations Begin!

We spent the day presenting today with generally good effect. We'll finish tomorrow!

The Work Continues...

Today we learned to print slides!

Then we worked.

Work Time

The bulk of the period was spent working on poetry projects.

New Due Dates:

• Poetry Presentations Begin 12/19
• Finish Candide by 1/7
• Candide Discusison board at GC (2 posts) by 1/6

Poem Project Time

After some brief thoughts about the field trip tomorrow (meet by the gym before 8:30; bring something to write with and upon), we spent the rest of the period on the poetry project.

The Romantics

Today we did a brief introduction to the Romantic period and I assigned the project that will take us almost through break. Handouts are available at the handout page.

3 spots remain for Ashland!

The Sonnet Continued

We continued our look at the sonnet today, spending a bit more time with Wordsworth and reviewing last night's HW. In fourth period we had a quick look at the villanelle, another common poetic form (period six will do this for HW).

Only four spots remain for Ashland!

HW: Romantic Period Notes Assignment at Global Classroom Due 12/14 (11:55 p.m.)

The Sonnet

Today started the day with a warm-up annotation of Wordsworth's "The world is too much with us" and then took some notes on the sonnet form, particularly the difference between basic differences between Italian and English sonnets.

HW: Do exercise #1 (#3 in the 6th edition) in the sonnet subsection of the "Pattern" chapter in Sound and Sense (page 212 in the 7th edition, page 220 in the 8th edition, page 209-10, exercise #3 in the 6th edition).

Bye, bye Faulkner

Today, after I collected a bunch of stuff, students wrote their pressure comp for As I Lay Dying.

Wrapping Up Faulkner

Today we wrapped up our discussion of AILD in preparation for the PC tomorrow.

Due Friday:

• Character Sheet
• Study Guide
• Warm-Ups
• Revised Essays (after consultation only)

Field Trip Forms & Faulkner Qs

Today I handed out field trip forms and we talked a bit about the HSU field trip scheduled for Friday of next week. We discussed the Faulkner discussion questions for teh rest of teh period and will wrap them up tomorrow.

Dickinson and Faulkner Sitting in a Tree

We began today with a look at Emily Dickinson's poem "Much madness is divinest sense" then began our discussion of the Faulkner questions that were HW over the weekend.

Questions, Questions

Today I collected (most of) the HSU forms and then we spent the rest of the period working on some discussion questions (available online) for AILD (Due Monday).

Deja Vu

Oddly, today was again much like yesterday. Remember HSU forms are due tomorrow!

See Yesterday

Though we examined a different quotation, today was much like yesterday... ;-)

HSU, Ashland, & Some Faulkner

We started the day with a quotation analysis from AILD and, after a further discussion of HSU concurrent enrollment and the May field trip to Ashland, we discussed the Faulkner quotation and some other nagging questions about the novel.

New Due Dates:

• HSU Forms Due Friday, 11/30
• Ashland $ Due 12/21 (but ASAP to reserve a spot)

HSU, Essays Returned and a bit of Faulkner

We began the day by filling out HSU paperwork. Completed forms are due in class with $15 ($10 if you already have an ID) by this Friday, 11/30.

After some discussion of my grading/comment policy, I returned student esays today. On this paper only, students may revise for a better grade after meeting with me first (by appointment only). Paper revisions must be complete by 12/7.

We then took a brief quiz on As I Lay Dying.

Due Dates:

• Faulkner Character Handout 11/27 (actually was due today)
• MLA Reformatting of Essays 11/27

Papers and Poetry

Amazingly, despite our shortened periods, we managed to hand in papers and, after the customary reading of the titles, did the poetry presentations and squeezed in a bit of Faulkner discussion for good measure.

Use the discussion boards over break to help you as you finish the novel.

Poetry Continued

Today we finished preparing short poetry presentations in class. Lots going on during our short period tomorrow. Be ready!

Troubleshooting the Essay Workshop & Faulkner

Today we talked through some issues with the essay workshop at GC (make sure you post in .rtf or .doc). And then we had a short Faulkner intro, including a video in 6th period (period 4 will watch it tomorrow).

New Due dates:
AILD Sections 1-14 Due 11/16
Finish AILD Due 11/26
GC Posts Due 11/16 & 11/25
AILD Character Handout Due 11/26

End of the Week Wrap

Today we:

• wrote a bit about and discussed Pope's "Sound and Sense;"
• discussed the procedure for posting drafts to the workshop at Global Classroom (Drafts should be posted by midnight Saturday);
• introduced the poetry project and finished response groups.

Bring As I Lay Dying on Tuesday. We will continue the poetry project on Wednesday.

Response Groups

Today we worked through response groups for the first paper. Revise the drafts you worked on today and get them to me (via email, online post @ GC or by hand) by the end of the day tomorrow if you want me to read them over the weekend.

Check Global Classroom for the next phase in our drafting process: The experimental online response phase. This phase will be explained in class tomorrow.

In the Fish Bowl

Today we practiced response groups, fish bowl style. Yes, that means another day for most of you on paper drafts. Hopefully you will use it well.

Response groups tomorrow.

Return to poetry Friday.

More Metrical Madness

After a short quiz, we continued our look at meter with some kinetic practice and a look at Coleridge's "Metrical Feet" and Pope's "Sound and Sense."

Fun with Meter

Today we talked about meter, taking a few notes and doing a short out-of-seat activity (a bit of revenge on the noisy neighbors) to practice the new terms with some theatrical mnemonics. Practice at home in preparation for our short quiz tomorrow.

Paper Topics

Today we spent the period reading and responding to paper topics. Monday we'll be back to poetry with a look at meter.

Remember, paper drafts are due in class next Wednesday, 11/7.

Sound and Sense

Today we warmed up for the whole period with a "short" activity about how the sound of poetry should echo the sense, how form creates and supports meaning. We were going to do other things as well, but, well, we didn't.

More Poetry... More Flies

Today we applied some of our new poetry terms to Dickinson's poem "I heard a fly buzz when I died."

Poetry Terms... Lots of Them...

Today we continued our work with Jean Toomer's poem "Reapers," including extensive notes on poetry-related terms (primarily devices of sound).

Poetry, Handouts and Essay #1

Today we began our introduction to poetry with a warm-up which I intended to get back to, but then, well, I introduced the first paper (there were many handouts) and we sort of got stuck on that. More poetry tomorrow. Bring Sound and Sense!

Essay Due Dates:

• Topic/Thesis in class 11/2
• Completed draft in class 11/7
• Drafts to Mr. Staiano for comments (optional) 11/9 w/cover sheet
• Drafts posted to online response groups 11/10 @ midnight w/ cover sheet
• Online Comments 11/14
• Final Drafts Due w/ Cover Sheets 11/16

Beloved Pressure Comp

Today I collected study guides and movie notes, and then we spent the period on the timed writing for Beloved.

Bring Sound and Sense Monday.

Poetry Books, Ashland Voting, & Morrison

Today we got our poetry books, Perrine's Sound & Sense; bring them Monday and have them everyday until I say otherwise.

Next we voted on the second play for the Ashland trip. The Clay Cart won in a landslide.

Finally, we finished the film we started yesterday and talked about it a bit. I'll collect your film notes tomorrow before the essay.

Symbols, Motifs, and Morrison

Today we reviewed the Beloved symbol worksheet and then watched part of an interview with Toni Morrison.

Discussion Question Wrap

Today we finished the discussion question presentations and I collected the responses. We did a bit of group work on the symbol handout assigned yesterday in preparation for later discussion.

Let the Discussions Begin

Today we started the Beloved discussion presentations, getting about halfway through. We will finish these tomorrow and move on to a focused discussion of motifs based on the handout given in class today (Do 1-12 for HW tonight).

New Due Dates:

• Beloved PC & SG 10/26
• Own As I Lay Dying soon

Question Time

After a brief (relatively) warm-up, we continued work on the Beloved discussion questions. Be ready to begin discussions/presentations Monday.

Don't forget the essay critique assignment at GC. Due Monday!

Of grotesque caricatures and missing handouts...

After a long-ish warm-up, we started on a set of discussion questions in the same groups as the SOC presentations. We will continue them tomorrow in class. The handout is now on the handout page.

The Infinite Past

Today we considered Morrison's perspective on the past and finished up those stream of consciousness presentations.


HW: Beloved essay critique @ GC. Due 10/22.

Club/Agency Fair Fun!

In between wandering campus collecting free stuff and attending a riveting assembly, we managed to squeeze in a quiz and some discussion of Beloved's SOC. I am hopeful that 6th period will accomplish more...

Denver's Longing...

Today we continued with our stream of consciousness work, completing our look at Denver's SOC and beginning Beloved's.

Let the Presentations Begin

Well, I thought about giving a quiz today, but decided against it. There will be one on Tuesday though. Finish the book by then. The rest of the period was spend reading and discussing the SOC passages of Beloved. I expect these presentations/discussions will continue through Tuesday of next week.

SOC Work Day

The day was spent working on the stream of consciousness presentations, which will begin tomorrow after a five minute "get it together" period. We may also have a quiz on book two of Beloved, so be prepared.

Up the Stream of Consciousness

Today we started an in-class project/presentation focusing on the stream of consciousness portions of Beloved. The handout is online and I expect presentations to begin Friday after the quiz.

The Flies Got In...

Today we continued our work with stream of consciousness, looking at the short piece "Flies."

Finally Finished "11"

Today we wrapped our discussion of "11" and began a discussion of Stream of Consciousness.

Beloved Quiz

Today we took the quiz on book one of Beloved and discussed the text so far in a general way.

Be glad I don't grade like you do...

Today we did a little essay scoring exercise with "Eleven" essay from 1995. We got through our discussion of GGG in both classes, and in both classes folks were surprised by the essay's 4-ness (though 6th period did concede that it was at least a 3 and not the horrific two fourth period wanted it to be). We will finish our discussion of the better two essays tomorrow after our quiz.

Today I am eleven...

We continued our discussion of "Eleven" today with a focus on the actual prompt. For extra credit, spend 20 minutes and write the actual essay you planned in class.

Figurative Language and More!

Another Beloved quotation warm-up was followed by a discussion of "Eleven" and some serious delving into Cisneros' use of stylistic and figurative devices. Students created a chart listing each device (by name if possible) they could find, its line number, and the effect of the device on the story. Finished in class.

Beloved and "Eleven"

Today we did a bit of work with a quotation from Beloved, and then started our work with Cisneros' short story "Eleven." In periods 4 and 6, we wrote and then talked about being eleven and, in period 4, then read the story together. We will continue our work with this short story in both classes tomorrow.