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.