Week of 2/27/12- English

Monday, February 27th:  We will begin The Kite Runner today. I will disseminate the monthly calendar and the novels during class.  We will also complete a pre-reading activity and begin reading chapter 1.  Chapters 2-4 are due tomorrow.  For each nightly reading, you are to devise three discussion, which we will use to lead our discussion the next day.

Tuesday, February 28th:  We will discuss chapters 2-4 of The Kite Runner, focusing specifically on the relationships between Amir and Hassan, Amir and Baba, and Hassan and Baba. Chapters 5 and 6 are due tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 29th: We will discuss chapters 5 and 6 of the novel.  Chapters 7 and 8 are due tomorrow.

Thursday, March 1st:  We will discuss chapters 7-8 of the novel.  Chapters 9-10 are due on Monday.

Friday, March 2nd:  Grammatical concept of the week:  Correct comma usage.

Note:  If you still need to submit your nonfiction narrative, please do so ASAP!  They should have been emailed to me by Friday, February 17th if you weren't in class to submit them.  Anything handed in after the due date will receive a late penalty.

Week of 2/13- English

Monday, February 13th:  We will meet in the back of the library today to complete the group survival activity that coincides with In the Heart of the Sea. 

Tuesday- Thursday, February 14th-16th:  We will be viewing 127 Hours, a powerfully uplifting true story about one man's struggle to survive against mountainous odds.  Click HERE for the 127 Hours writing assignment.
Friday, February 17th:  Your nonfiction narrative is due.  Please make sure it is typed and double-spaced.

NOTE:  If you need to finish or take your essay test on In the Heart of the Sea, you MUST do so by Thursday, February 16th.

Week of 2/6/2012- English

Monday, February 6th:  Chapter 13 of In the Heart of the Sea is due.  We will juxtapose the homecomings of both Pollard and Chase.  For homework, finish the novel and complete the worksheet disseminated in class.  On Thursday and Friday, you will have an essay exam on the novel. Below are the requirements:

Task: After generating a thesis statement specific to In the Heart of the Sea, compose a five paragraph essay that develops/proves your thesis.   

Thesis generation:

The thesis statement you develop should be specific to one of the following topics presented to us in the novel:

• Racism
• Leadership (Note- Your thesis for this topic should not be “Chase is a more effective leader than Pollard,” as we have discussed this topic ad nauseum).
• Allusions
• Survival psychology
• Survival situations
• Man and nature (Note- Your thesis for this topic should not be “Men often underestimate the power of nature,” as we have discussed this topic ad nauseum)

If you would like to focus on a particular topic not presented here, it must be approved by me first.

MLA Citations:

In order to develop/support your thesis, you MUST make reference to textual evidence through means of MLA parenthetical citations.

Preparation:

The essay exam will take place in class on Thursday and Friday, February 9^th and 10^th.  Prior to coming to class on those dates you should plan out your response by developing a thesis and finding evidence from the text that you plan to use in your essay (place post-it notes throughout the book to indicate passages you may want to include in your essay).  

Tuesday, February 7th:  Chapter 14, epilogue, and homecoming assignment due. Please continue to work on your nonfiction narrative, which is due on February 14th.


Wednesday, February 8th: Survival activity: Would you and your group members survive based on your leader's performance? 

Thursday and Friday, February 9th and 10th:  Essay exam.  Bring your thesis statement, outline, and copy of the novel to class.  I will collect In the Heart of the Sea on Friday.