Monday, December 27, 2010

Monday January 3, 2011-photos, Black Boy, semi-colons

Welcome back; there is a lot of information below, as well as some photos. Please take the time to read the following carefully. Immediately below is a copy of the semicolon rules you have been out in class. In reading your essays, it was clear some folks are struggling with these. Review the rules ; also- there is some very easy vocabulary this week from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Following the semicolon information is a copy of that handout. Note the stanza excerpt. This Friday 7 January, you will have two quizzes: the first on the semi-colon, the second on the Mariner vocabulary. This should help bring up the grades. (Keep reading after the pictures!)
Rules for Using The Semicolon
The semicolon ( ; ) has similar uses to a comma:
A semicolon doesn’t come to a complete stop like a period does.
A semicolon can join two clauses using transitional words like: however,
otherwise, therefore, subsequently, in addition etc.
A semicolon is stronger than a comma.
The semicolon separates a sentence with 2 closely related meanings. Some
teachers call the semicolon the super comma to help students remember how
to use it.
Here are some common ways to use a semicolon:
1. You tried your hardest; second place is a good finish.
2. I like chocolate; however, I don’t like dark chocolate.
Semicolons are also used in lists even though it is correct to use commas in
lists.
1. Back to school items you’ll need are: a sturdy back pack; pencil cases
equipped with pencils; lunch box; duo-tangs in five different colors.
2. I have been to: Canada; Japan; Australia; Africa and England.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge vocabulary.

1. mariner (noun) - sailor
2. kin (noun)- family
3. loon (noun)- crazy person
4. kirk (noun)- church
5. hoary (adjective)- white (hoarfrost- Frozen dew that forms a white coating on a
surface.)
6. albatross (noun)- large bird chiefly of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere; a constant, worrisome burden; an obstacle to success.
7. vespers-(noun)- The sixth of the seven canonical hours; evensong.
8. fathom- (noun / verb)- A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths; (verb) to penetrate to the meaning or nature of; comprehend.
9. to aver (verb)- to assert or justify or prove
10. gossamer (noun / adjective)- A soft sheer gauzy fabric; something delicate, light, or flimsy; (adj.); sheer, light, delicate, or tenuous.
11. sedge (noun)- grass like plants
12. sere (adjective)- very dry
13. keel (noun)- The principal structural member of a ship, running lengthwise along the center line from bow to stern, to which the frames are attached; ship. (to keel over-to collapse or fall over, as in a faint)
14. swound (noun / verb)- archaic way of swoon (faint); also note God’s wounds.
15. rood (noun)- cross
16. skiff (noun)- a flat bottom, shallow draft boat
17. to shrive (verb)- To hear the confession of and give absolution to (a penitent).

The theme of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is summed up in the following stanza. Be prepared to briefly (as in 25-50 words) explain the following stanza as it relates to the poem / romanticism.

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."



























Richard Wright's Black Boy was handed out on the Wednesday before the break with the expectation that the novel will have been read over the interim 18 days before classes resume. As stated in class, as this is not a challenging piece of literature in terms of syntax, vocabulary or narrative structure, it is an ideal independent reading, especially for folks, aka honors students.

As our ELA exam is January 11 this year, there are a limited number of options that you will have with which to write your primary essay. They works are as follows: the biography Black Boy by Richard Wright, the historical novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare and the Romantic poem Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant.

For each of the above, you should glibly be able to name: author, title, genre, plot summary, tone, theme, setting and any figurative language devices that flesh out these literary elements. As there is no way of knowing what the critical lens quote will be, you really, really must have these four down solid. No other works will be accepted. Please keep in mind that the ELA grade is not part of this marking period's grade, but a separate line item on the your report card; hence that is what colleges will see.

OK- As noted before the break we are writing about Black Boy on the Monday and Tuesday when you get back. We are in the 3rd floor computer lab. If you are absent, you will have to make it up during school at an arranged / supervised time. Below is a copy of the questions I handed out in class. You may use the notes you took over the break, but not your book in class.
Respond to two of the questions thoroughly. Make sure you have more than one example of detailled evidence to support your thesis. (Please note that you may not use the same evidence for more than one response.) As well, do not forget the analytical statement. Please approach this with the level of sophistication you wrote your final Thanatopsis essay. This is the rigor you need for the ELA. Each question should be a minimum of 250 words.


1. Discuss Richard's relationship with food.



2. What did Richard come to understand about religion, and how did this come about?


3. Discuss how books and literature transformed Richard's life?


4. Explain the following quote as it pertains to Richard's experiences: "...they hate him for the tone of [his] thoughts."

5. Explain the following quote as it pertains to Richard's philosophy olife: "I lived on what I did not eat."

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Monday, December 6

Happy Monday :)

We will be in the computer lab today finishing up any last minute research for your final projects, which are due Thursday. Assuming you worked on your project this weekend, my hope is that you can use today to prepare your presentation. Remember, you are to come to class in character. As you deliver your presentation, you must address who you are, what you have been accused of, how you have been treated/shunned by society, and why you do not deserve the branding you received.

I have randomly compiled the order of presentations. Several people volunteered to present on Thursday, so I honored those requests. As for the rest of the class, the selection was at random. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thursday 12/9
  1. Lee
  2. Maddy
  3. Lee Ana
  4. Willis
  5. Marissa
  6. Shaundrana
  7. Melissa
  8. Nautica
  9. Emil
  10. Shanelle

Friday 12/10

  1. Brennan
  2. Olivia
  3. Roberto
  4. Nell
  5. Leon
  6. Manny
  7. Mary
  8. Latriece
  9. Helene
  10. Peri

Friday, December 3, 2010

Friday, December 3

Finish The Scarlet Letter over the weekend and be prepared to discuss on Tuesday! You also have your vocabulary quiz over the French phrases we went over in class on Tuesday.

Monday we will be in the computer lab again. As I said in class, although we will be in the lab, I advise you all to begin and/or finish at least the poster part of the project this weekend. E-mail me if you have any questions (meghan.kazer@gmail.com). I will compose a list of who will present when and give that to you on Monday.

Have a great weekend!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Wednesday, December 1

Remember, we will be in the library today researching for your projects that are due next week. I have included the assignment below. You will be selecting a contemporary figure who has been shunned by society for committing one of the seven deadly sins (pride, envy, gluttony, wrath, lust, sloth, greed). Once you have selected your figure and discussed it with me, you will do a bit of research on this person and his/her crime. On the day of your presentation, you will come dressed as your figure. In a five-minute presentation, you will present your poster (including the letter assigned to the figure, an image of the figure, and any other information about the shunning that took place). You will also justify your actions. Let me know if you have any questions! I have provided some suggestions below - some are historical figures, and others are more contemporary.

Ms. Kazer

The Scarlet Letter Final Project

Shunning is deliberately ostracizing an individual as punishment for his ideas or actions. This is much more than simply ignoring someone, rather is a physical and emotional isolation.

This final project consists of two parts, each of which will be assessed individually; that means you’ll receive 2 grades.

Part one: POSTER Find a person in today’s society who has been “shunned.” We will have an in-class library day for you to begin your research. Why has this person been shunned and what was the crime? (Remember to think objectively.) Once you have identified the crime, name it and note the initial letter of the word that best describes the crime for which he has been accused. For example, Hester was guilty of adultery, which begins with the letter A. Now you’ll need to be creative. Draw/paint/print/color a poster (half-size) that includes (1) an imaginative rendition of your letter, (2) a picture of the guilty party and (3) any other information that elucidates the shunning. Do not use the poster to express your opinion.

Part two: THE ORAL REPORT You will present your information to the class in a 5-minute presentation. This should include your art project and, if you so choose, you may use the Smartboard, tape, or CD player. You may have five note cards and your visual. Students will assess each other.

DUE DATE

All projects will be due Thursday, December 9th

Presentations will take place on December 9th and 10th

Suggestions:

Al Capone

Lee Harvey Oswald

Billy the Kid

Blackbeard

Butch Cassidy

Bonnie and Clyde

John Gotti

O.J. Simpson

Eric Rudolph

Tonya Harding

Michael Jackson