Literature

Literature

**__Week of 5/7__** We'll watch "Dead Poets' Society" on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, we'll look at Phunny Writing and play some of our "favorite lyrics" songs. COURSE EVALUATION: DUE FRIDAY. I will give you some time in Engles to work on this, but since you must write paragraph on each of 20 or so questions, you should plan your time accordingly (in other words, you might need to work at home as well).   **__Week of 4/30 & 5/7__**  This week, we'll finish up with poetry. //Continue to perfect and memorize your poems.// **For Tuesday:** Bring in your favorite poem or poems by a published poet, typed. We'll share those and do a display. **For Wednesday**: Read the poems "Abuelito Who" (117), "The Adversary" (122) and "What Your Mother Tells You Now" (123). Write a poem about a relative: parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle. You could experiment with a haiku, but make it 11-13 syllables, total, instead of 5-7-5 (17 syllables). **For Thursday:** Slam Poetry In-Class Competition. Note: See the Writing tab on this Wiki for what to do/bring for writing. **//COURSE EVALUATION: Your only homework between Wednesday 5/2 and Monday 5/14 is the Course Evaluation. I have given you a hard copy. If you want to paste the questions into your document rather than retyping them, here is the Course Evaluation sheet: //**

**__Week of 4/23__**


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">For Wednesday: **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">In your yellow packet, read "Janet Waking" by John Crowe Ransom and "Balances" by Nikki Giovanni. You should read carefully, and if you have time, take notes; I will not check for notes, but there will be a quiz. Continue working on one poem for your slam poem by checking the Google doc for my comments and making changes based on those and on suggestions from your classmates. Practice the poem aloud several times, focusing on what you want to emphasize. Speaking loudly does not mean speaking loudly in a monotone; work on varying tone and cadence (rhythm).


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">SLAM POETRY CLASS COMPETITION: We will spend the week on this. No reading assignments. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Create a Google Doc for your poetry and send me the link. There should be a minimum of 3 poems on your Google Doc by the opening of school on Tuesday. If you can send me any earlier, please do so---it will make all our work easier and the poems better. **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">For Tuesday: Write several (3 or more) poems for the competition. Remember: each poem should take 2 minutes to perform. If you need prompts to write, try starting with one or more of these: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> *I need words to... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> *They say... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> *This was a place called... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> *My //(father, city, president, hope, fear..fill in the blank)//, for example, .... <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Remember that the competition is as much about performing as the content of the poem, so start practicing your work aloud as soon as you can.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">And here are some IMPORTANT QUESTIONS to ask yourself as you write your poems: //

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Who is the speaker?** It should be clear who is speaking the poem. Is it you? Is it some anonymous 3rd person narrator? Readers and listeners should not have to work to figure out who is speaking. // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**What is the tone?** What mood/tone are you trying to achieve? Remember that you are writing for an audience. What impact do you want the poem to have on your audience? Do you want the audience to cheer? to cry? to question? // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Why is the speaker telling this particular story?** What is the overall point? What do you want the audience to understand? Are you passionate about this story? Is this a "story that wants to be told"? In other words, is this something that feels authentic, real, and important to you? //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 4/16__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Remember: there will be quizzes over the readings and lecture items (such as poetry conventions).** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Put your notes in one place so I can check them on Tuesday. If you are keeping notes on separate sheets of paper, put them into a notebook.**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 4/17:** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">//**Reading Assignment:**// We'll discuss the three poems you read for last Thursday (so read them again) and the following ones. Read and take notes on:

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">"Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost on p. 128

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">"33" by Philip Shultz on p. 124

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Poem Number **144** "Smell and Envy" by Douglas Goetsch at this website: [| Poetry 180]

//<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Writing assignment:** //<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Write one (or more) poems. You are free to choose your topic, but if you are stuck, use the poetry readings as prompts: what are you acquainted with? how do you observe life in the city or country? how did you feel or what did you notice about your parents' preparations for a special occasion (bat or bar mitzvah, holiday, graduation, recital).

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday, 4/18:** In your yellow packet, read and take notes on "Facing It", "Beat! Beat! Drums!" and "O Captain! My Captain!" As you read, remember to look up unfamiliar words and, for Engles, information about the author. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Write a poem of a minimum of 4 lines on any topic using the same rhyme scheme as the refrain in "O Captain!" (a/b/c/b).

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday, 4/19:** No reading assignment. Write a poem from the prompt "What do you need words for?" Remember, start with feelings or at least with what is on your mind a lot. In the movie, Nova says she doesn't think about what to write, she just starts writing about what she's thinking about. A writer once said, "I write to find out what I know." Your poem needs to be long enough to last about a minute when spoken. You don't have to make it rhyme --- it can be in free verse. Have fun.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 4/9__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">We are reading poetry. You will have a book, Poetry Speaks Who I Am, and a batch of poems I've copied. You'll need to bring those and your writer's notebook to each class. There will be reading as well as writing homework. We may use some of our writing workshop periods (6th/7th) to write and/or read aloud our work.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 4/11:** Re-read "The Eagle" by Tennyson. Download this sheet. Answer each question from the sheet in your journal or on your computer. Don't write on the sheet--you'll need it for all the poems we read. Also, write a poem about an animal (pet, wild, extinct, imaginary). You may write about an eagle, using the ideas from your brainstorming about that word in class. You may use Tennyson's poem as a model, or template, for what you write (write in the same style). You will show me the notes and the poem but not turn anything in at this time.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 4/12:** Re-write the one-sentence poem you wrote in class and write at least two (2) more. Bring in the lyrics to your favorite song. Be prepared to explain how the song lyrics seem like a poem. Also, read and take notes on these poems in your poetry book: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">"Seal" by William Jay Smith on p. 97 <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">"Seahorses" by Brad Leithauser on p. 98 <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> "When You are Old" by W.B. Yeats on p. 129

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week 3/26__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 3/27:** Read the Afterword and Coda, the interview with Ray Bradbury and the author biography. Start preparing for the test by reviewing quizzes, in-class notes, and your lit notes. In class, we'll review for the test. __8th graders__, see this link, where I've posted a photo of the whiteboard from our discussion about Setting in Fahrenheit 451; you should study this information for the test.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 3/28:** Test. Bring your book and notes. You may use them for the essay questions. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">7th grade test will include some questions about characters, identifying quotations and meanings, short answer questions covering literary elements from the book, and a short essay question.You may use your book and an outline on a 3x5 index card for the essay quesiton. Click here to see the list of possible quotations Click here to see the essay question: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">8th grade test will include questions about characters, identifying quotations and their meanings, short answer questions covering literary elements from the book, and a longer essay question. You may use your book and an outline on a 3x5 index card for the essay question. Click here to see the list of possible quotations <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Click here to see the essay question choices:

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 3/30:** Rendered Book project due. If you are confused about what to do, see me. Basically, you will need a hardcover book (one your parents don't want or one you buy at a thrift store), paint, scissors, glue, and paper (magazine, newspaper, book paper, construction paper). I've shown you examples where students have used scrapbooking items (you can get at Michael's), beads, pipe cleaners, modge podge, drawings, and photographs. The goal is to create an "altered" book that represents Fahrenheit 451. You should paint or cover the outside, as well as 5 __pairs__ of pages (or 10 single pages). Glue a section of pages together to form a "base" for one altered page, because the altered pages get heavy with paint and additions. Make representations of symbols, ideas, quotations, characters, etc. from Fahrenheit 451. Be creative. Surprise me. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Assessment will be based on the thoughtfulness behind the elements presented, appearance of effort involved, and use of materials.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 3/19:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 3/20:** Read pages 113-136. Stop at the end of page 136. In preparation for class, write a paragraph (typed, to be turned in) from the point of view of Montag. Pretend you are him and answer Beatty's question on page 118, "Montag, you idiot, Montag, you damn fool; why did you really do it?" [Think: what is Beatty asking? Why did Montag do //what?// And, had Montag answered, what would he say?] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 3/21:** Read pages 137-154. Stop after "...putting out the fire together." Think about how Bradbury uses water in this section. Come to class prepared to discuss. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 3/22:** Read pages 154-165. Type and turn in a list of books you would want to remember if all you had was memory to rely on. Next to each book, write your favorite line OR write why you chose that book.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 3/12:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 3/13**: Read pages 48 through 68. Take notes and complete the writing assignment below. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> **8th graders:** In this first section of the book, Bradbury has scenes describing the television walls and Mildred's and Montag's experiences with the walls. Look at those scenes (pages 20-21 and 44-46). Write 2 pages (500 word minimum, typed, 12 point font, double spaced) on these questions: How is the television experience described, and what do you think Bradbury is trying to convey in these sections? Include specific details and direct quotations from the passages. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**7th graders:** Write 1 page (200 word minimum, typed, 12 point font, double spaced) describing Guy Montag. Remember: we discover characters through the narrator's description, but also through what they do and say, as well as through what others do and say. Include specific details and direct quotations from the book. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 3/14:** Read pages 71-91. Stop after "...looking at the world." Continue note taking. AND, on a sheet of paper to be turned in, make a list of the five significant characters and, for each character, make a list of what you think **motivates** these characters. What emotion or attitude or belief seems to drive their behavior? What lies behind what they say? What do they seem to want? For example, for Mildred, my list might include entertainment, limited choices, and fear. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 3/15:** Read pages 91-110. Continue note taking. Use this link to read about protagonists and antagonists. The quiz will include questions about this. [|Protagonist/Antagonist]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 3/5:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 3/6:** Read pages 3-19 and take notes. There will be the usual quiz, including material about Bradbury I told you last week. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> 7th graders, you __must__ use the note format below. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">8th graders, take notes in your own manner (or using the format below). <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">All: Come prepared to discuss the differences between Montag's life and Clarisse's life. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 3/7:** Read pages 19-35 (Stop after "...their mighty metal thunder"). Continue with the notetaking. Check back here for additional assignments. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 3/8:** Read pages 35-48 (Stop after "He did not open the window."). ALSO read the handout "The Fifties".
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 2/27:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Tuesday 2/28: There will be a short quiz about Shakespeare and the plot, characters, and vocabulary from the handouts. So,over the weekend, read the handouts on Much Ado About Nothing. If you have lost them, here they are: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Also, here is Daniel's depiction of the relationships, similar to what I had on the board: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">We'll also do a read-through of the 30-Minute Shakespeare version, so be sure to come with your assigned part highlighted and ready to read it.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Wednesday 2/29: Introduction to new lit book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Thursday 3/1: No Lit. Winter Break

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 2/20:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Tuesday 2/21: No Lit <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Wednesday 2/22: No Lit; 8th graders turn in Parent Custody Essay <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Thursday 2/23: We'll work on Much Ado About Nothing.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 2/13:__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Tuesday 2/14: Tests returned; <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Love poetry <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Wednesday 2/15: Discussion about writing test essays; type and bring in your essay. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Thursday 2/16: No class; 8th graders: here are the lists we brainstormed for your custody essays. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">AND here are other Curious Incident papers by 8th graders:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 2/6:__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Tuesday, 2/7:** Finish the book.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Wednesday, 2/8:** Review; 8th graders get essay question

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Thursday, 2/9:** Test; here is the list of quotations:

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Friday, 2/10:** 8th graders essay due

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 1/30:__**
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">All: //Here are the reading assignments for next week. No writing assignment. Take notes and prepare for quizzes as usual. 8th graders continue with Science/Math special assignments. All: read the special assignment papers already posted.// **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Wednesday, 2/1:** Read pages 140-164
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Tuesday, 1/31: **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Read pages 100-140 (stop at Chapter 181)
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Thursday, 2/2: NO READING ASSIGNMENT **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 1/23: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**General directions:** Read. Take notes using your choice of format; one is provided here:. There will be the usual quizzes. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**New for this book:** The following people should see me on Monday morning: CWK, Fin, Eli, Bryson, Maggie and Stan. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> **2 brief written assignments due this week:**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">1)Download and print out this sheet: Complete and turn in on Wednesday 1/25. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">2)Write 1/2 to 1 page, typed, double-spaced about Christopher from the point of view of the policeman, Mrs. Shears, Mrs. Alexander, Siobhan, or Mr. Boone (Father). The basis for the writing should be that character's encounter with Christopher from any scene that you've read so far. It should include that character's inner thoughts about the encounter. Turn in on Friday, 1/27.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 1/24:** Read pp. 1-50. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 1/25:** Read pp. 50-74. Turn in completed Character Notes Sheet. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 1/26:** Read pp. 74-99. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Friday 1/27:** Turn in completed writing assignment.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**All:** Here are Maggie's paper on Prime Numbers, Caroline W-K's on The Milky Way, and Stan's on The Monty Hall Problem. READ them.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 1/17__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Tuesday 1/17: Review/study period. 7th grade test: Vocabulary matching (no Spanish words); short answer fact questions; short answer inference questions; 1 paragraph essay. 8th grade test: same but 1 long essay question. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Wednesday 1/18: Test <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">Thursday 1/19: To be determined. No homework for this day.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 1/9__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Here is a link to the Vocabulary pages: **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 1/10:** __All__: Read pages 28 - the last full paragraph on page 66 (38 pages). Put green post-it notes on important character moments (such as those which show changes in the old man).

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> __7th graders__: Bring in another object or photo or drawing to illustrate something from the book. __Also__, write one paragraph about what you think of the old man so far. What kind of man is this? How would you describe him to a friend? What qualities have you noticed?

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">__8th graders__: Choose ONE of the following quotations and write one typed page about what you think it means (in general...not about the story) and/or what it means to you. Include any experience you have had as an example of what this means.

//<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">“It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.” p. 32 // //<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">"But, thank God, they [creatures] are not as intelligent as we who kill them; although they are more noble and more able." p. 63 //

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 1/11:** __All__: Read pages 66-96 (Stop after the first line at the top of the page). AND write down at least 4 passages where the man addresses (talks to) the fish and write a paragraph about what these passages show about the relationship between Santiago and the fish. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday 1/12:** __All__: Read pages 96-end. Go back through the whole book and put blue post-it notes on passages that you think suggest a theme or themes. Come prepared to discuss at least one passage and reason why you think it shows a theme. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday 1/17:** Review and Study Period. Test will include questions about Hemingway. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday 1/18:** Test (Note: the 7th and 8th grade tests will be different. 8th grade will include an in-class essay.)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 1/3__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**All:** This week, we begin our study of Ernest Hemingway's __The Old Man and the Sea.__

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday:** I'll introduce Hemingway and the book and give you your copies. I will also hand out a sheet of vocabulary words. For this book, you will need three colors of post-it notes: blue for themes, green for important character moments, and yellow for favorite passages. We have some in class or you can buy your own. You'll need them for the homework for Thursday. You will also need to use your Writer's Notebook, notebook paper, computer or iPad for class notes and assignments. For Wednesday, read this link: [|Nobel Laureate]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday:** __All__: Read pages 9-27 (18 pages). Use the vocabulary sheet as you read. Put a yellow post-it note on any line(s) or passage(s) you find especially interesting and come prepared to discuss at least one of those lines or passages. Note: there will be the usual quizzes with a question about at least one vocabulary word. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> __7th graders:__ Bring in a photograph or object to illustrate an object or place in the book so far. The photos should be large enough to put on the bulletin board.(Examples: photo of a skiff, drawing of a harpoon, etc.) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;"> __8th graders__: Write a short paragraph on one passage that you selected. Why did you like this passage?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 12/12__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Tuesday:** Finish the book, pages 103-153. Take notes using the required notepaper. Fill out as much as you can. Print it out, because these will be collected. There will be a quiz over 1/2 of the reading, pages 103-125. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Wednesday:** There will be a quiz over the rest of the reading, pages 125-153. We will spend the rest of the class period watching the movie version of the book. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Thursday:** We will finish the movie. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**For Friday:** Graphic Memoir due. Black and white MUST be inked or colored in. (I will NOT accept drawings done only in pencil.)
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">All: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 12/5__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">1. If you are using Pixton, go to Pixton.com/activate and use the activation key XX5-GDD. That should allow you to set up your own screen name and password. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">2. First, select the story or part of story that you will use. Then, using the Comic Strip Planning Sheet I will hand out Wednesday, draft an outline/storyboard, showing the key story points (as a list) and a written description of each frame of the comic. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">You want to have a pretty good idea of how many panels it will take to tell your story. Make additional copies if you need to. This is what is due on Friday. Here is the document if you need more copies. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">3. After you have the outline, or while you are working on it, play around on Pixton to get used to it. You can cancel/delete the panels you create or you can save them if you think you'll use them. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">4. If you are drawing by hand, start playing with drafts. Here are some panel pages for you to print out. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;"> <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">5. We'll talk Wednesday and Thursday in Engles about ways to emphasize certain points, show important emotions, handle story flow, and create meaning with your drawings.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">All: By Friday, you must submit a draft of your graphic memoir story. We will use some of Engles class to work on these. **
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Here are some more directions: **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**For Tuesday:** Here are some **more terms** from the chapters. In addition, you should download and review **this** group of **terms about graphic novels**: Also, begin a **Reader's Journal** for this book, either on your iPad or computer or on lined notebook paper. You may use your Writer's Notebook for this purpose. In your Journal, write about these questions for Tuesday:

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">1. Besides actual daylight and darkness, what else is suggested by Satrapi's use of black in the background of the panels in these chapters? (Give examples with page numbers.) <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">2. What kind of child is Marji? How would you describe her? Are there a couple of panels you can point to that define her in your mind? Write a few sentences about how you see her at this point in the story, using examples with page numbers.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**For Wednesday:** Read pages 40-71. Here is the topic for your Readers' Journal.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">On page 60, after telling Marji his story, Anoosh tells her that "[O]ur family memory must not be lost. Even if it's not easy for you, even if you don't understand it all." Think about your family. Are there family stories that have been passed on to you? If so, write about one of them here. It doesn't have to be a tragic story; good family memories are also important. But try to include WHY this story says something about who your family is and why you think you should remember it to tell you children.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">//Note:// Here are terms for pages 40-71 that I put up on Tuesday night.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Here is a list of other graphic novels for your age group:
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">For Thursday: **<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Read pages 72-102. Here is a list of terms. [[file:Persepolis Terms #3.doc]] Instead of Readers' Journal, you will take notes. Everyone MUST use this notetaking paper. If you download and type the paper, you MUST print out before class. This will be TURNED IN. [[file:Notes for Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.doc]]

> (Bloomsbury, 2008)
 * // The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook // by Eleanor Davis (Bloomsbury, 2009) (upper elementary)
 * // Rapunzel's Revenge // by Shannon and Dean Hale and Nathan Hale (Bloomsbury, 2008) (upper elementary)
 * // Amulet: The Stonekeeper // by Kazu Kibuishi (Scholastic, 2008)
 * // Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures in Japan // by Aimee Major Steinberger (Go!Comi, 2007)
 * // Freddie and Me: A Coming-of-Age (Bohemian) Rhapsody // by Mike Dawson
 * // Isadora Duncan: A Graphic Biography // by Sabrina Jones (Hill and Wang, 2008)
 * // Cairo // by G. Willow Wilson and M. K. Perker (DC Comics, 2007)
 * // Skim // by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (Groundwood Books, 2008)
 * // Pitch Black // by Youme Landowne and Anthony Horton (Cinco Puntos Press, 2008)

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Here is a link to an interview with Marjane Satrapi. You will receive Engles if you read this article and write a short paragraph on what you learned about her. [|Guardian Interview]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 11/28__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Wednesday:** Test. You should spend time Monday (today) and Tuesday studying. Gather and staple your quizzes and look them over. Most importantly, __read the BLOG posts__ (excluding vocabulary and class notes). The Test consists of 100 points, allocated like this: 10 short answer questions about material covered on quizzes and in discussions (50 points); 10 multiple choice questions taken from information in the BLOG posts (20 points); 3 quotations to identify speaker, context and meaning (18 points); and one short essay in which you'll write a letter to Sherman Alexie about what tribes you belong to and what gives you joy/hope (12 points). <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Thursday:** Introduction to __Persepolis.__ Assignment for Tuesday: Read the Introduction and pages 3-39. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Friday:** Marty returns to answer questions. Be prepared, curious, and attentive.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">All: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 11/14__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Tuesday:** Read Chapters 23 through 26, as previously assigned, AND read the blog posts. Marty Hays will teach 2nd and 3rd period. We'll have a REGULAR LIT CLASS during your 6th and 7th periods. Yes, I know this means the groups will be different, but that's fine. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Wednesday:** Read through the end of the book. Marty will teach 2nd and 3rd, and, again, we'll use 6th and 7th for a REGULAR LIT CLASS. Got it? <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Thursday:** NO Lit and NO Engles class. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">**Friday:** Blog assignments completed before Goal Sheet Check.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 140%;">All: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 11/7__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**All:** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Reading Assignments and Summary Assignments:** I have created a table for the remaining reading assignments. I will NOT post any more assignments here. The table gives each chapter a number, includes the chapter title and page numbers, the due date (date we'll discuss in class) and the person assigned to summarize that chapter. Chapter summaries should be posted to the blog by the END of the day of the class for which that chapter is assigned. Remember that summaries are limited to 200 words. Please type in Times New Roman 12 point font. You may do the summary as a Word document and then copy and paste it into New Post box on the blog. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Here is the table of assignments: If you are a summarizer, you are not required to have notes that day. Everyone else should have notes, and class will begin with the usual quiz.

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">**Blog Assignments:** By Friday at 8:15 a.m., your GROUP must create a minimum of ONE blog POST and YOU must make a minimum of TWO comments to someone else's post. Here are the blog assignments and expectations (they are on the blog site, too): <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">Please respect your classmates in your comments. Remember that people beyond our class and our school will or may see this blog. This is your opportunity to show that you understand literature. It will also count as part of your grade in Literature.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 10/31__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**8th graders:** Don't forget: your __Little Worlds__ projects are due this week. See the post below for a reminder of which day yours is due. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**All:** //The blog is set up. Go to it with this link and then bookmark it for yourself. [|Josy Lit]// <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">//Here is the blog username: sydneylitteacher@gmail.com and password: josy2011. Here is list of assignments/groups: //

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**Tuesday 11/1:** Read pp. 1-31 in __The Absolutel____y True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.__ For this book, there will be the usual quiz each class meeting. Also, each person in the class will be assigned to write a summary of one chapter. The summary should be no more than 200 words. If you are the summarizer, you do not need to have other notes for that class meeting, unless you choose to do so. Everyone not summarizing is expected to have notes. Here is a notetaking format: If you have an older version of Word, click on this document for notetaking paper: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">For Tuesday the summarizers are: Ollie, Jacob, Stan, and Noah. (Ollie will have the first chapter, Jacob the second, and so on.) For now, email me the summary. Later, we'll put summaries on the blog. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**Wednesday 11/2:** Read pp. 32-53 (21 pp). Summarizers: Anna, Jade, Bronwyn <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 160%;">**Thursday 11/2:** Read pp. 54-73 (19 pp). Summarizers: CWK, Kaya.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 10/24__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 150%;">All: Your __Little Worlds__ projects are due this week. Here is the schedule.

Here are the due dates for your projects this week. Eight balls, since we didn't discuss this, let me know if your due date presents a significant hardship. If you have done an iMovie, you may send it to me by email or turn in a flash drive with your name on it. Any written product should be typed, 12 point Times New Roman. Any artwork should have your name on it. I'm looking forward to seeing your creativity.

Tuesday- Bronwyn, Chloe, Kaya, Jacob, Jordan, Anna, Claire, Jade, Ollie, Noah, Tamir Wednesday- Carter, Christopher, Daniel, Hannah, Libby, maddie, Bryson, CD, Fin, Stan Thursday- Clara, Gillis, Isabel, Madeleine, Will, Alex, CWK, Eli, Lily, Maggie

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 10/10-10/12 and Week of 10/17-10/21__**


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">ALL: here are the Little Worlds Project Instructions. Please read carefully. Note: you are NOT limited to making an iMovie; see the Instructions for more ideas. [|Little Worlds Short Story Project.doc] **

//<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">**One more thing:** All the projects will be due the week of 10/24. Some will be due on 10/25, some on 10/25, and some on 10/27. You MAY turn them in earlier if you wish. Please don't forget to let me know what you plan to do BY THIS MONDAY 10/17, and then we'll set your individual due date. //


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">8th Graders **
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Don't forget: begin studying for the Test. The test consists of matching authors to stories; identifying quotations by story and speaker; multiple choice on elements of fiction; short answer questions about stories; and a short essay on THIS topic: Miranda in "The Fig Tree" and Lizabeth in "Marigolds" learn about the adult world in different ways and have different reactions to it because one is a child of privilege while the other is a child of poverty." You may plan your essay beforehand, but you must write it in class. The essay is a minimum of 10 sentences and should use details from the story concerning their different situations, how and what they each learn about the adult world, what they do and feel as a result. **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/18: Read "The Fig Tree" (10 pp); notes and quiz <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/19: Review; here is a blank chart for you to fill out and use to study for the test: [|8th LW Blank Chart.docx] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/20: Test

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/11: Read "To Build a Fire" (17 pp); notes and quiz <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/12: Read "The Crop" (9 pp); notes and quiz; check WIKI for Project Instructions <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/13: FALL BREAK/no class

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">7th Graders ** **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Don't forget: begin studying for the Test. Here is a document with author names/photos. There will be a test section asking you to match the author to his or her name and short story. In addition, your test will include short answer questions about story details (similar to the quizzes); multiple choice questions about the elements of fiction; identifying quotations by story (extra points for speaker); and extra credit questions about the authors. **

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/18: Read "Sun and Shadow" (7 pp); notes and quiz <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/19: Review; here is a blank chart for you to fill out and use to study for the test: [|7th LW Blank Chart.docx] <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/20: Test

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/11: Read "Symbol," "Maud Martha and New York," and "The Japanese Quince" (9 pp); notes and quiz <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/12: Read "Theme" and "The Last Lesson" (6 pp); notes and quiz; check WIKI for Project Instructions <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/13: FALL BREAK/no class

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Note: Projects will be due the week of 10/24; look here later this week for instructions. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Our next book will be __The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian__ by Sherman Alexie and we will have Lit as mixed grade level groups.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 10/3- 10/7__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">8th Graders <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/4: IOWA Testing; no assignment; no class <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/5: "Through the Tunnel"; notes and quiz <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/6: "The Necklace"; notes and quiz

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">7th Graders <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 10/4: <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">We WILL have LIT during 7th period. "Point of View", "Miss Brill", and "A Telephone Call"; notes and quiz <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 10/5: "Irony", "The Gift of the Magi"; notes and quiz <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 10/6: "The Monkey's Paw"; notes and quiz

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;"><span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">ALL: Special Assignment due the week of October 23: Create an iMovie "trailer" for one (or more) of the short stories, as if the story were a movie and your piece is the advertisement for it. More information will be posted, and we'll discuss later. Begin thinking about which short story (or stories) you would like to use.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 9/26-9/30__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">__8th Graders__ <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 9/27: Read and take notes on "The Minister's Black Veil". <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 9/28: Read and take notes on "Old Man at the Bridge" AND "African Morning" <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 9/29: No School __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">7th Graders __ <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Tuesday 9/27: Read and take notes on the chapter on "Setting and Atmosphere". Read and take notes on "Masque of the Red Death". <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Wednesday 9/28: Read and take notes on "The Lottery". <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 170%;">Thursday 9/29: No School

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">**__Week of 9/19-9/23__**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__Links to sites of interest. Easy engles for visiting and writing a short paragraph about what you find.__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;"> [|Willa Cather] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">[|Erskine Caldwell] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">[|Ambrose Bierce] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">[|Margaret Bourke-White and Erskine Caldwell] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">[|Tannhauser Summary] <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">[|Kate Chopin]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__8th Graders__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Tuesday//__, 9/20: Read "Daughter" AND "A Wagner Matinee". The quiz will cover both stories. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Wednesday//__, 9/21: Read "Story of an Hour" as well. Notes and Quiz. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Thursday//__, 9/22: Read "Marigolds". Notes and Quiz. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Quiz on Elements of Fiction. Questions will be taken from the element pages of Little Worlds (e.g., the chapter on "Plot"). <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Friday//__, 9/23: Turn in a WIT on one of the short stories you read this week. Click on these links for instructions and some ideas. [|WIT.docx] [|Possible WIT topics.docx]

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__7th Graders__** <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Tuesday//__, 9/20: Read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", with particular attention to the sequence of events. Complete the same note form (or take notes in that format) as for "The Sniper". Again, there will be a quiz at the beginning of each Lit class. [|OwlCreek.docx] <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">__//Wednesday//__, 9/21: Read the chapter on "Character" and "The Catbird Seat" and take notes on each. Here is a new notetaking form: [|Visit.docx] <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">//__Thursday__//, 9/22: Read "A Visit of Charity" and take notes. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">//__Friday__//, 9/23: On (or before) this day, turn in a high-quality drawing or collage illustrating a scene, place or character from one of the stories we've read so far. On the back of the piece, record the amount of time you spent. These will be displayed, so do your very best work. All drawings must be colored in. All collages must be thoughtful and include more than 3 images. <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">ALSO for Friday: Complete and turn in the Plot Pyramid page--one side for "The Sniper", the other for "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". Note: you will not be able to fill out all the blanks on the "Owl Creek" side; just do your best. Here is the link to the Power Point on Plot to help you: [|PlotStructure.pps]

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__Week of 9/12- 9/16__** <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__8th Graders:__** Read "On Reading a Story" on page xiii-xiv __and__ read "Winter Night" by Kay Boyle on pp. 127-138. Take notes on the following literary elements: Plot, Characters, Setting/Atmosphere, Point of View, Irony, Symbols and Themes. Your notes should be specific and sufficiently detailed to show me that you've thought about each element. Read the story TWICE. There will be a quiz. Class expectations remain the same.

<span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">**__7th Graders:__** Read "On Reading a Story" on pp. xiii-xiv; "Plot" on pp. 3-4; and "The Sniper" pp. 5-9. ALSO, print out the notes template from here and fill it in (or, copy it to your documents and fill in). [|NOTES FOR LITTLE WORLDS SHORT STORIES NAME.docx] <span style="color: #00ff00; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">Read the story TWICE. There will be a quiz. Class expectations remain the same.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">New Book: Little Worlds. Check here Monday for assignments for Thursday. **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Mango Street Test on Tuesday, 9/13. **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Assignment for Thursday, 9/8: **Download and print out these __two__ documents and bring them to class on Thursday. [[file:Possible Quotations for Test.docx]] [[file:Lit Test Preparation.docx]]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Literature begins with __The House on Mango Street__ by Sandra Cisneros. **Published in 1984, this book is not exactly a novel. It’s more a series of loosely linked scenes about Esperanza, a Latina growing up in Chicago. Think of it like your writing: lots of little stories that, taken together, say something about your life so far.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 180%;">Reading assignments: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">(//Note: the date on the left is the date of the class; the pages listed on the right are to be read BY THAT DATE.)// **

Tues. 8/30 3-25 (22 pp.)

Wed. 8/31 26-42 (16 pp.)

Thurs. 9/1 43-61 (18 pp.) Writing Assignment for 8th graders due Friday, 9/2 Assignment for 7th graders due Friday, 9/2

Tues. 9/6 61-91 (30 pp.)

Wed. 9/7 92-110 (18 pp.)

Thurs. 9/8 Review

Tues. 9/13 Test

Wed. 9/14 Tests returned

Read carefully. You may need to read the assignment twice. This book is tightly constructed, with short sentences and chapters. But there is much packed into a small space. Don’t let the brevity fool you into thinking that there’s nothing special going on here. Read with an open mind. Even if this (or any book you read) isn’t the kind of book you usually enjoy, try to be open to where it may take you.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">How to read: **

8th graders -use the format for note taking you learned last year. If you would like to, you may use the one I created for this book. Click on the link below.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Take notes. **

7th graders- we’ll talk more about note taking later, but for now, download and use this document: You will need to print out or copy this document for EACH of the assigned readings. In other words, you'll end up with five of these pages, one for each assigned reading.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">//*I will check your notes at the beginning of each class.// **

There will be a short (5-10 questions) quiz at the beginning of each class, primarily to assess whether you read the material and somewhat to assess whether you understood what you read. Quizzes count as part of your overall grade.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Quizzes: **

8th graders - you know the drill.

7th graders – the shorter the book, the pickier the questions will be. Notice details. Also, try to read “between the lines” and ask yourself what might be going on here that is not fully described or easily grasped.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Class expectations: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">Read the assignment and take notes. If you don’t read the assignment, you’ll be sent out to read, thereby missing a lot of important discussion and understanding of the book, not to mention earning a lunch confinement, so read the assignment.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">Come to class prepared to listen to your peers and to participate in the discussion. If you are a big talker, plan to listen; if you hate speaking up, think of at least one question or comment to make without being called on.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">Always bring your book, notes, binder and pen/pencil to class. You may take notes at home on your laptop or iPad, and you may use those devices to take notes during class. I will check your notes at the beginning of each class.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">Whether or not you take electronic notes, you will need a binder or expanding file in which to keep handouts. An expanding file is also a good place to keep your lit book.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 200%;">In addition to the reading assignments, there may be other assignments for lit class. I expect you to give each assignment your best effort and to turn each in on time.WIT.doc