Aladdin

What a nice easy day for all of you! Today we started picking apart Disney. We are watching Aladdin and analyzing it using the various literary theories. Hopefully, with a new perspective on the movie some new things are popping out to you.

Upcoming: Don't forget to finish Gatsby and the sheet. You should also be thinking about your paper topics. Procrastination is not your friend!

MC Review

Today was a relatively light day. I assigned the Gatsby paper so if you were gone make sure you get a copy of the assignment either from me or print it off the website. Then we spent the rest of the hour going over the last multiple-choice test. Hopefully, you all found the correct answers and understand why they are correct. Remember that you should also be looking up and keeping a list of words you don't know.
Upcoming: Gatsby for Friday and an interesting analyzing surprise tomorrow.

Random: Nice work on whoever got the queue answer yesterday.
I'll give you a harder one today. Where does the term honeymoon come from?

Lit. Theory

Today was packed with entertaining and informative nuggets. We started off the hour with a new set of vocab and if you missed any words the set is online under SAT terms. Then we had a quick intro. to literary theory and did a little dissection of The Lion King. Don't worry there will be more deconstruction of Disney coming up soon. While you are finishing up Gatsby try to look at it from the various theories we talked about today. They actually make analyzing a little easier.
Upcoming: Finish Gatsby for Friday along with the guide.
Gatsby final paper will be assigned tomorrow and we will review the MC test.

Random: Nice guess on the wife of man (although I think I might have said that one in class).
What 5 letter English word keeps the same pronunciation if you remove 4 of its letters?

Gatsby Part 1

Yesterday was the discussion for the first half of Gatsby. Since it drives me crazy to keep my mouth shut, I'll use this as my outlet.
Some things to consider

Nick as narrator—how reliable is he? He makes a big deal out of saying how honest and nonjudgmental he is but I think the narrator doth protest too much. He definitely makes judgments about Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. Speaking of Jordan why is she such a liar?

Not to mention did anyone catch the Nick is a bit of a player?? (p. 59)

Pay careful attention to the descriptions of people.
Description of Tom—very masculine, physical, cruel
Jordan--very masculine as well but then George Wilson is very feminine--what's going on here?

Daisy's bizarre mothering skills. Why turn your head away and weep at the sight of a girl?

Don't be like the elitist and neglect the Valley of Ashes. There is a lot going on here some hints—desolate, biblical, industrial, lower class p. 24

Watch for parallel scenes. Fitzy is a genius when it comes to this. We already talked about Tom's violence with both Daisy and Myrtle but there are others. Look at the different settings we have between ch. 1 and 2 along with Myrtle's treatment of Tom.

Okay, I'll stop now but upcoming pay careful attention to everything surrounding Gatsby and Daisy's meeting...

Vocab Test

The good news is that we are done with the really hard vocab words and now will be moving into the world of SAT words but even better than that--more movies. I now have vocab videos for the rest of the year! Today we took a vocab test while watching TV (good thing you all are great at multi-tasking).
We then spent a little bit of time talking about Gatsby, but we'll have the full discussion tomorrow so bring your ideas to discuss.
If you need some tips look at the 10 step analysis I gave you a long time ago. Gatsby is ripe with interpretive possibilities.
Upcoming: Complete the study guide for Wednesday (yes write your answers down).
Finish Gatsby along with accompanying study guide for 1/30

Random: Woman is also an abbreviation. What does it stand for?
By the way if you want past answers you will actually have to talk to me. I'm trying to encourage student-teacher interaction.

Answer from yesterday

Oops I forgot to give the answer about posh. Port-side out, starboard home. If you need more explanation you'll have to ask me.

Random Question two: Why do Southern people have that type of accent?

Shakespeare's Sister

Today we started with another MC selection. The good news is that there is only one left and hopefully these ones make the real one seem easy. We then had a mini-informal discussion on the Woolf piece about women's writing. Sorry the discussion was a little confusing with the different excerpts. We also ran out of time to really do the piece justice but hopefully it got you thinking about how things are grouped.
Upcoming: Synthesis Essay tomorrow!
Vocab Test and Gatsby due Tuesday 1/20

Sentence Types--more than meets the eye

We started the hour off with a little practice with sentence types. They are a little tricky at first but it does get easier and knowing the different types will improve your writing as well. Once you get comfortable distinguishing the difference then you can start incorporating more of a variety within your own writing.
After the sentences then we took another multiple-choice quiz and had a presentation. Just a note on the presentations: you want to make sure that you have some type of plan of action before you get up in front of the class. You also should have looked up any words that you don't know. I had a good question about the timing issue too. For the test you should plan to spend about 12-15 minutes on each selection of questions. If you are not finishing but are coming within a question or two you are on track. If you need/want more practice I have books in the back you can borrow and I of course have extra samples I could give you.
Upcoming: Synthesis essay due Friday (make sure you come see me if you need help).

Random word fact of the day: The word posh is actually an acronym any guesses what it stands for???

Gatsby Time

Sorry this is late again.
Today we finally started our next novel. The Great Gatsby is where it's at this week. I should have a study guide for the first four chapters by the end of this week. We also did a mini timed MC and then had a group present the answers. For the groups yet to go make sure that you are prepared to explain the right answer and any confusing terms.
Upcoming: Synthesis due Friday and Gatsby 1-4 due Tuesday.

Synthesis Practice

Today we started with some entertaining and somewhat disturbing "I Want a Husband" pieces. I thought all were pretty well done but it was interesting to see how some groups slipped back into mocking men more than women.
We then looked at a sample synthesis question and went over some of the things to look for when analyzing the sources.
Upcoming: Vocab test some time soon.

Work Day

Well I hope you all had a relaxing day. My day was very long but it's great to see so many of you involved in multiple clubs. I think Phung and Sarah win for being in just about every picture today. I'm assuming everyone was able to finish their multiple-choice selection. I would just suggest having someone in your group check their answers with me sometime before or after school because it would be embarrassing to have the wrong answer when you are explaining to the class. Looking forward to the husband pleas tomorrow.
Upcoming: Still nothing! I hope you are using this time to study those vocab words though.

I want a wife (or a husband)

Today we looked at some amusing sarcasm and a creatively structured argument all wrapped in one and then you all had a chance to give it a try. There were definitely some interesting ideas tossed around as I was listening in to the various groups so I can't wait to hear the final results on Friday. Tomorrow remember I will be gone (sad I know try to contain your tears) and you will have a work day for your multiple-choice section.
We will begin the presentations on Monday with probably one each day. The main thing I'm looking for is that your group is able to relatively clearly explain what the right answer is and why. You should also know definitions for any unfamiliar terms.
Finally, I want to know when you would like to have your next vocab test. Your options are: next Friday which would be the standard two weeks or would you like it some time the last week of the semester knowing that you will also have a timed MC that week (most likely Thursday).
I will go with majority rules based on the comments I get.
Upcoming: Still nothing, what's wrong with me!?

Welcome Back

Sorry this is late and I forgot to post yesterday--hard to get back in the swing of things. Well I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break sans homework. Monday we got new Syntax vocab and the Huck essays back.
Tuesday we talked about gender constraints and still prevalent stereotypes. You also got a multiple-choice selection to work with in groups.
Upcoming: Weird, there is nothing for homework other than the MC right now....