The Week of February 9

This week we will begin learning about Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Times in preparation for reading Romeo and Juliet. At the beginning of the week we will be going to the computer lab to complete a webquest. At the end of the week we will be listening to the How William Became Shakespeare CD. Finally, you will see a PowerPoint presentation discussing Shakespeare's language and dramatic conventions used in his plays. The reading of Romeo and Juliet will begin on the Wednesday we return from February break. In the meantime, you should be reading The Namesake (pp. 1-124) or Nectar in a Sieve (pp. 1 - 78) and preparing for Friday's Socratic seminar. I would like you to have the following items typed in preparation for the Socratic seminar: four discussion questions, two interesting quotes/passages with an explanation, and one connection to another work, film, our real life connection. These typed notes will be worth 20 points.



Webquest websites:

http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/

http://www.renfaire.com/

http://elizabethan.org/

http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-theatre-facts.htm

Assignments for the Week of February 2

We will begin viewing The Joy Luck Club this week (finally!). You will receive a viewing guide that will help you stay focused as you are watching the film.

You will also be receiving a vocabulary packet -- Lessons 3 & 4 -- to be completed by Monday, February 9.

Finally, you will receive a novel you will be reading on your own while we are viewing The Joy Luck Club and reading Romeo and Juliet as a class. The novel will either be The Namesake or Nectar in a Sieve. Please come to class on Tuesday, Feb. 3 with an idea on which novel you will want to read. A summary of both can be found on the amazon.com website. The first half of the book will need to be read by Friday, February 13 (The Namesake - pages 1-124 & Nectar in a Sieve - pages 1-78). You will have a Socratic seminar on that date. I would like you to have the following items typed in preparation for the Socratic Seminar: four discussion questions, two interesting quotes/passages with an explanation, and one connection to another work, film, our real life connection. These typed notes will be worth 20 points.

9 HONORS UPDATE

Hope you have enjoyed the unexpected snow day today. Below is a list of new dates for assignments & quizzes:

• Hedda Gabler in-class writing on Friday, January 16.
• Finish A Doll's House for Tuesday, January 20.
• A Doll's House quiz on Wednesday, January 21.

Assignments for the Weeks of January 5 & 12

Ibsen's A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler

We will be reading A Doll's House in class and you will be reading Hedda Gabler at home.

• Hedda Gabler: Reading for Hedda Gabler will be due on Monday, January 12. You will each be assigned one topic to think about and take notes on while reading the play. These notes will be used on Wednesday, January 14* for the Socratic seminar (20 points). Your notes must be organized and typed (10 points). You will have an in-class writing on Hedda Gabler on Thursday, January 15 (20 points). *note the change in the Socratic seminar date. Have your notes prepared for Wednesday.

• A Doll's House: We will spend the week of January 5 and 12 reading A Doll's House. You will have a test on the play on Tuesday, January 20. *Note the correction of the test date.

• Joy Luck Club: Please remember your permission slips. We will most likely start the movie on Wednesday, January 21*. Note the change in date for the start of the movie.

• Midterm Exam Information: I will be giving you a review sheet for the exams during the week of January 12.

I thought you might want to see my two babies -- Aslan & Paikea -- in their holiday sweaters. Hope you all have a happy & healthy holiday. Enjoy the time with your family, your friends, and a good book! P.S. Please finish reading The Good Earth for Monday, December 22.

Reading Due Dates:

Monday, December 15: Chapters 15-17 due

Wednesday, December 17: Chapters 18-21 due

Friday, December 19: Chapters 22-26 due

Monday, December 22: Finish the novel

Other Due Dates:
Tuesday, December 16: Thesis paper due! Please have your final paper, final outline, and final works cited page stapled together. You must also have your entire rough draft, rough outline, and rough works cited page stapled together. These both will be collected at the beginnning of class. Nobody will be able to leave class to print out their paper. It is your responsibility to take care of it before you come to class. If you are absent, you must still get me your paper. E-mail me a copy and then bring the printed out copy with rough draft the day you return to school.

Wednesday, December 17: Vocabulary packet due.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 8

The rough draft of the thesis paper is due on Monday, December 8. Please have the introduction, the three sections of the body, and the conclusion completed. I would like you to have your outline and works cited page attached to the rough draft. We will spend Monday doing peer evaluations and teacher-student conferencing. Let me know if you need me to stay after during the week to discuss any problems you might be having with the paper. Wednesday and Friday are the best two days for me. As of right now, the final draft of the thesis paper will be due Tuesday, December 16. This will include the revised outline, works cited page, and paper.

I hope you are enjoying The Good Earth. Below are the reading assignment due dates:

Chapters 10-14 of The Good Earth are due on Thursday, December 11. You will have a quote quiz on Friday, December 12.

Chapters 15-17 of The Good Earth are due Monday, December 15.


FYI...I found an interesting website on holiday traditions around the world. Take a look:
http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/holiday_traditions.html