SCRAPBOOKING AND READING DAY TOMORROW

Don't forget to bring your scrapbooking materials AND your choice AP novel for tomorrow's class. You are receiving points (15 and 10 respectively) just for bringing these materials, so TAKE ADVANTAGE OF an easy 25 points just for bringing materials to work on.

7 of you (Tamara----it's time to choose one of those "leftovers":) ) still need to post your novel on the blog under the appropriate heading, "Choose your novel."

Also, don't forget that your creative projects are due on April 16 in 2.5 weeks! Enjoy the breathing room you are getting this grading period, and take advantage of the work time to get your best grade ever. Resist the temptation to slack because your workload is slightly easier.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE SCHEDULE FOR DUE DATES. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THESE DATES VERY ACCURATE THIS NINE WEEKS SINCE WE AREN'T TRYING TO SQUEEZE IN NEARLY AS MUCH AS IN THE FIRST THREE GRADING PERIODS.

REMINDER

A few of you have still not claimed your novel that is DUE TUESDAY IN CLASS! Please post which novel you will be reading ASAP.

Hope you had a great spring break and that you are all doing well!!!!!

HAPPY SPRING BREAK! (And FINISH YOUR BLOG POSTS)

I hope everyone will have an enjoyable week!

A couple of reminders:

1. please claim your choice novel and purchase or check it out from the library over break.

2. If you haven't yet made your 4 discussion posts over the Stranger, please do so on the post below. I didn't put that as homework for Friday, so I'll give you all a couple of extra days to finish posting. DON'T FORGET TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT!

Have a relaxing Spring Break!!!

THE STRANGER DISCUSSION ONLINE--REQUIRED POST (20 POINTS)

Now that I will no longer be attending class, we will need to finish our Stranger Discussion online.

HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES:

1. You must post (substantively) a total of FOUR times, worth 5 points each.

2. Posts will be graded on the SUBSTANTIVE nature of the response (be sure to include supporting examples from the text) and adherence to the posting guidelines provided here.

3. It is preferred that you DO NOT POST TWICE IN A ROW...... (As in, you've waited till the last minute and now must post everything all at once. This isn't in the proper spirit of the assignment:) )

4. AT LEAST ONE (preferably two) of your postings MUST BE IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS OF SOMEONE ELSE.

5. You must answer/respond to at least TWO of the questions provided below.

6. DUE DATES:

*THE FIRST POST IS DUE BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 BY 7:40 A.M.
*THE SECOND POST IS DUE BY THURSDAY, MARCH 19 BY 7:40 A.M.
*THE FINAL TWO POSTS ARE DUE BY FRIDAY MARCH 20 BY 7:40 A.M.
*3 BONUS POINTS TO ANYONE WHO MAKES THEIR FIRST POST BY TUESDAY, MARCH 19 BY 7:40 A.M. Please feel free to begin posting at any time. No need to wait until the due dates.

QUESTIONS

The Stranger questions part II (Page numbers may vary according to the publication you have).

1. Explain the title of the novel. Why is this the title, and where do we see evidence of this in the novel?

2. Explain Meursault’s statement “I realized then that a man who had lived only one day could easily live for a hundred years in prison.”(79).

3. Describe Meursault’s trial. What did you find significant or noteworthy about it? What absurdities exist during the trial and how could they be a metaphor for life?

4. Explain Mersault’s statement “it doesn’t much matter whether you die at thirty or seventy, since in either case other men and women will naturally go on living—and for thousands of years.” Do you agree with his attitude towards life and death? Explain why or why not.

5. The chaplain asks Meursault “And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains.” Meursault replies “yes.” How might such a belief (as opposed to a belief in some kind of life after death) alter the behavior and decisions of a person, if at all?

6. What other aspects of the novel stand out to you? What else do you find "discussion-worthy?"

CHOOSE YOUR NOVEL

I'm taking reservations for AP novels due after Spring Break. Stake your claim here! Once you've posted, no one else can choose your novel.

You must choose a novel YOU HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY READ.

Be sure to then check local bookstores or libraries to get a copy.

THE STRANGER BONUS POINT DISCUSSION (up to 15 points)

I thought it would be nice to offer some bonus points here at the end of the grading period, so if anyone happens to check the blog today or tonight.......feel free to participate.

We will be discussing the first few chapters of The Stranger during Thursday's class, so here's the bonus offering:

THE RULES:

1. UP TO 5 BONUS POINTS FOR EACH SUBSTANTIVE POST IN RESPONSE TO ONE OR MORE OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW
2. IF YOU POST MORE THAN ONCE, YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE POST OF A CLASSMATE
3. YOU MAY POST UP TO 3 TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF UP TO 15 BONUS POINTS (DEPENDING ON THE SUBSTANTIVE NATURE OF YOUR POST)
4. YOU MUST INCLUDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES FROM THE NOVEL TO SUPPORT STATEMENTS IN YOUR POSTS
5. YOU MAY POST UP UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING'S CLASS

Here are the questions:

1. What does Meursault notice during the wake/funeral? What strikes him as "absurd"?

2. What do you think Meursault's behavior in response to his mother's death says about him as a person?

3. Explain the nurse’s statement in chapter 1: “If you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church.” What larger concept is Camus trying to illustrate here?

4. Characterize Raymond—note irony in his stated values and judgments. What are similarities and differences between him and Meursault?

5. What "absurditites" have been presented in part I so far? Explain.

6. What stands out to you so far about the novel and the characters. Provide your opinion and observations, but support with examples.

A FEW ITEMS

Mr. Gladdish indicated that there was some concern over grades from the judges on Senior Project Presentations. This is the case every year, in large part because some of the grade depends on whom you get for a judge.

I am more than happy to take a look at any of the presentation grades you felt were unreasonably low. We can look at how it will affect your letter grade for the 9 weeks and go from there. Although presenting in front of judges is an important part of the "Senior Project Experience," it is not a system without its flaws.

Also, you have several things due on Thursday, and I am tempted NOT to give you the reading quiz over the next four chapters until next Monday, so you can focus on your essay and reading "Myth of Sisyphus." Mr. Gladdish said you didn't have a lot of work time because of the shortened schedule, so would anyone be terribly upset if we pushed back the reading quiz?

Post any questions here. I'll see you on Thursday.

TUESDAY'S AND THURSDAY'S CLASSES

On Tuesday, you will do the following:

1. take a quiz over chapters 1-4 of The Stranger
2. go over returned timed writings over "The Secret History"
3. receive lots of graded papers

4. Have the rest of the period for working on one or more of the following:

***reading The Stranger (quiz Thursday over chapters 5 and 6 from part I and 1 and 2 of part II)

***annotating Camus' "Myth of Sisyphus" (you need to mark/include at least 10 questions and/or comments ON the handout for our discussion on Thursday)

***preparing your essay over Death of a Salesman or Oedipus (you have a choice) that answers the AP prompt question I gave you two weeks ago. (Mr. Gladdish has extras). This essay is due Thursday and must be typed, but you can prepare/braintorm/draft for it during class if you choose.


On Thursday, we will do the following:

1. take a quiz over chapters 5,6 and 1,2 of the Stranger
2. go over returned timed writings over the e.e. cummings poem
3. Discuss Creative Projects and the last grading period schedule
4. Discuss Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger


If you have any questions, please post those here.

I will plan to see you on Thursday in class.

DON'T FORGET TO POST YOUR REFLECTION FROM FRIDAY'S DISCUSSION BELOW.

P.S. Some of you have make up quizzes and writings you need to take care of this week!!!!!!

SALESMAN REFLECTION (5 points)

DUE BY TUESDAY, MARCH 10 AT 7:40

Please post your reflection from today's discussion here. You may respond to one or more of the following questions:

**Who said something that made you think during today's discussion? Explain.

**What would you have like to have added that you didn't get a chance to say?

**Did you change your perspective in any way regarding the play or the characters? If so, explain.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN BONUS (AND FRIDAY'S CLASS)

On Friday, we will begin with oral interp, then discuss Death of a Salesman, and then I'll give you introductory info and supplemental reading material over The Stranger.

In preparation for the Salesman discussion, I'd like to ask a few questions ahead of time. Anyone responding (substantively, of course, using examples from the text) on the blog BEFORE Friday's discussion will RECEIVE BONUS POINTS on the discussion grade. Multiple responses here will also count as part of your contribution to the discussion (though it doesn't replace your responsibility for participating in class).

Here are the questions to think about (and hopefully respond to):

1. What do you think is the significance of the play as a whole? In other words, what are Miller's messages/themes? How does he express these messages/ themes?

2. Which characters do you find most and least appealing, and explain why?

3. Do you have any sympathy for Willy or not? Explain specifically why or why not? Do you think Miller likes or sympathizes with any of his main characters?

4. The characters' various speeches at Willy's funeral/gravesite are very different. Charley, Biff, Happy, and Linda all have very different things to say at the end of the play. Which of the characters' dialogue stands out to you the most, and what do you think the words say about the characters themselves?

5. Did you like this play? Why or why not? Explain your thoughts using specific examples from the text.

You may respond to one or more of the questions, and as always you are encouraged to respond to each other as well. If you have a difficult time speaking in class, this is a good alternative way to contribute, THOUGH I SAY AGAIN......IT DOESN'T REPLACE the need to contribute in class as well:)


I hope you guys are having a good week. It has been strange not seeing everyone this week. I am excited to hear about how your presentations went. I've been hearing very good things about them.

WEDNESDAY'S CLASS

Tomorrow (Wednesday) you will finish reading Death of a Salesman, watch the rest of the movie, and take the quiz. Some of you will present your senior projects to the judges.

On Friday, I will be sneaking up to school just for your class to listen to your fabulous oral interpretation, discuss Act II of Death of a Salesman, and introduce Camus' The Stranger.

REGARDING THE INTERP:

1. DON'T FORGET THAT THERE IS A SHORT WRITTEN COMPONENT IN WHICH YOU MUST TYPE OUT WHY YOU CHOSE THOSE PARTICULAR LINES AND WHAT THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IS. This is on the handout I gave you weeks ago. If you lost yours, I left some extras for Mr. Gladish to give you.

2. Also, be sure to bring me a copy of what you're reciting, so I can see if you have it memorized AND I can cue your line in case you forget.

***By the end of this 9 weeks, I will give you a schedule for the rest of the year. It will basically consist of reading one novel of your choice (off the AP list I hand out), writing about it, and finishing your scrapbooks.

***There will also be one creative project. Those who are working on the editing of Hamlet may use that as their creative project.

Any questions, post them here. Otherwise, I'll see you friday. Continue to look for gradebook updates as I grade your work from home.

SENIOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Good luck on your Senior Project Presentations this week! I know you will all be great. You did a nice job on your in-class presentations, and most of you only had a couple of changes to make.

HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS WHEN YOU PRESENT TO THE JUDGES:

1. WHEN YOU WALK IN THE ROOM, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SHAKE THEIR HANDS BEFORE YOU WALK UP TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. For example, you would walk in and walk right over to the judges and say, "Hi, I"m Ashley. Nice to meet you." Then shake hands. They will be impressed by this.

2. DRESS PROFESSIONALLY. NO JEANS! GUYS SHOULD WEAR DRESS PANTS OR KHAKIS AND GIRLS SHOULD WEAR DRESS PANTS OR A SKIRT.

3. IF YOU HAVE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, DON'T PANIC. Most of you are in the IMC (Sorry Max and Kirstie), so you have close access to Mr. Hammonds if you need help.

4. TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU ENJOYED THE PROJECT AND HOW MUCH YOU LEARNED. If you seem passionate and positive about what you did, it will make a better impression.

5. BE CLEAR AND DETAILED ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PROJECT INVOLVED. I noticed in your presenations last week, many of you glossed over the details quickly and assumed I had a thorough sense of what went into your project. Remember, these judges are listening to dozens of presenations. BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOUR PROJECT INVOLVED.


NOW, HERE'S THE SCHEDULE.

IMC FICTION ROOM: MONDAY, MARCH 2

8-8:15 Coleigh and Alyssa
8:15-8:30 Sara F.
8:30-8:45 Shawn (and Sam)
8:45-9 Rachel and Sarah
9-9:15 Wes and Tyler T.
9:15-9;30 Ben
9:30-9:45 Tyler V.

11:15-11:30 Ashley (and Jenna)


IMC FICTION ROOM: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

8:15-8:30 Kaity
8:30-8:45 Tamara (and partner.....is it Michelle? I'm drawing a blank on her name)
8:45-9 Lauren (and Korrinne (sp?))
9-9:15 Colten (and partner)

ROOM 200: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4

8:30-8:45 Max
8;45-9 Kirstie


Good luck everyone! I know you will do a great job. Let me know how it goes.

DON'T FORGET TO POST BELOW FOR DEATH OF A SALESMAN ACT I!!!!