Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Effect of War Unit

Due Wednesday, Oct. 2:  Have "War" read for class.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Homework:
  • Finish reading "Marriage is a Private Affair" and do the questions:  Due Monday, Sept. 16!  This assignment will be given to you on Friday, September 13.  You will have the period to work on it.  

  • Literature Circle Book - Part I Reading and Assignment:  Due Tuesday, Sept. 17!
  • Literature Circle Book - Part II Reading and Assignment:  Due Wednesday, Sept. 25!
**********************************

Unit 1 of 9 Honors World Literature:  Below is a brief synopsis of what we will be doing during the first few weeks of school.

As 9th grade English students, you will be exposed to many different cultures this year through films, literary works, and nonfiction.  What can we learn from reading articles and stories and from viewing films about different cultures?   Why is it so important for young students in today’s society to be exposed to these different cultures?  Although both of these questions will be revisited throughout the year, it is how I would like to begin your first marking period of 9th grade English.

You will be using the film we will be watching, the articles we will be reviewing, and the short stories and novel we will be reading this marking period to help answer the above questions.  Eventually, you will answer the question in a formal thesis paper.  All of the tools you will need to be a successful high school English student will be given to you during the first marking period.

The following are the items we will be working on over the next marking period:
·         Quote Analyss
·         Critical Thinking Skills
·         Writing Skills (Thesis Statements, Paragraph Organization, MLA format, Citations, Works Cited Page, etc.)

To learn and strengthen these skills we will use the following for our discussions:
·         Summer Reading Choice
·         The Sirens of Baghdad, The Swallows of Kabul, or The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
·         “Marriage is a Private Affair” (http://peopleandstories.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/marriage-is-a-private-affair.pdf) and other selections from World Literature: An Anthology of Great Short Stories, Drama, and Poetry
·         Osama
·         2012 summer and fall current event articles from around the world
·         Nonfiction Sample




TAKING NOTES...
You are required to take notes while reading and viewing films.  During the first unit, your notes should focus on the essential questions listed above. 

The following will help you when it comes time to write our first thesis paper and therefore should also be a part of your notes: 

·         Where does the story take place? 

·         What culture is being discussed?

·         What is the conflict involved in the work?

·         Who are the main characters?  (spell the names correctly)

·         List the most important things you have learned about the country and culture being discussed. Include author and page number after each example.

·         Write down quotes you can use in a thesis paper to support new information you have learned about the culture being studied and quotes that will help support why it is important to study World Literature, foreign films, nonfiction pieces, and current events. Make sure the quotes you choose are significant.   It can be something someone says or it can be part of the narration.  Include author and page numbers. 
 

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Final Exam Review Sheet

You must review all notes, powerpoints, webquests, tests, etc. from the second semester. The exam will include a literary term section, important contributors to World Literature and Drama section, vocabulary section, quote analysis section, and a writing prompt. The following information will be very helpful for studying:

Terms:

Vignette

Imagery

Metaphor

Simile

Synesthesia

Sonnet

Blank Verse

Flat Character

Round Character

Dynamic Character

Stock Character

Static Character

Foil

Oxymoron

Malapropism

Allusion

Anachronism

Rhetoric

Couplet

Magical Realism

Soliloquy

Aside

Concealment

Syntax

Diction

Prose

Allegory

People:

Niki Caro

Aeschylus

William Shakespeare

Thespis

Paulo Coelho

Henrik Ibsen

Sophocles

Sandra Cisneros

Works:

Hedda Gabler

A Doll’s House

Romeo and Juliet

Julius Caesar

The House on Mango Street

Oedipus

Antigone

The Alchemist

The Whale Rider

Rabbit Proof Fence

Minority Report

Vocabulary:

Units 4,5,6, and 7



Friday, May 24, 2013

Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theater Background Test -- Thursday, May 30
(You must study for this test!   Review PowerPoint handout, How William Became Shakespeare (CD) notes*,  and the Computer Scavenger Hunt, as well as the Globe Theater handouts.)

*If you missed the How William Became Shakespeare CD, I will be happy to stay after school on Tuesday, May 28 for you to listen to the CD.  It is about 40 minutes in length.  If that doesn't work for you, please see me during your lunch period between now and May 28.  I will let you borrow the CD for the period.  You may go to the library and listen to it on a computer.  You will need your headphones.

Julius Caesar:  Acts IV and V --Monday, June 3 (*notice the due date has changed from Friday, May 31 to June 3)

Romeo and Juliet:  End Test-- Tuesday, June 4 (*notice the date has changed from Friday, May 31 to Tuesday, June 4)
This will include an objective section and an essay section

Julius Caesar End Test -- TBD
This will include an objective section and an essay section.

Romeo and Juliet Skit:  "Save Romeo and Juliet..."  -- TBD

Literature Circle Books:  Depending on our time, I would like to end the year with you being part of a literature circle group.  Possible works include:  The Stranger, Animal Farm, Purple Hibiscus, Nectar in a Sieve, Walkabout, or a Yasmina Khadra novel you did not read yet.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Romeo and Juliet & Julius Caesar

Listed below are due dates and upcoming tests/quizzes.

Vocabulary:  Unit 7 Quiz -- Thursday, May 23  (study definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, antonyms, and spelling)

Julius Caesar:  Acts II and III -- Thursday, May 23

Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theater Background Test -- Thursday, May 30
(You must study for this test!   Review PowerPoint handout, How William Became Shakespeare (CD) notes*,  and the Computer Scavenger Hunt, as well as the Globe Theater handouts.)

*If you missed the How William Became Shakespeare CD, I will be happy to stay after school on Tuesday, May 28 for you to listen to the CD.  It is about 40 minutes in length.  If that doesn't work for you, please see me during your lunch period between now and May 28.  I will let you borrow the CD for the period.  You may go to the library and listen to it on a computer.  You will need your headphones.

 Julius Caesar:  Acts IV and V --  TBD

Romeo and Juliet & Julius Caesar End Test -- TBD
This will include an objective section and an essay section.

Romeo and Juliet Skit:  "Save Romeo and Juliet..."  -- TBD

Literature Circle Books:  Depending on our time, I would like to end the year with you being part of a literature circle group.  Possible works include:  The Stranger, Animal Farm, Purple Hibiscus, Nectar in a Sieve, Walkabout, or a Yasmina Khadra novel you did not read yet.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Shakespeare Unit

Romeo and Juliet:  We will begin viewing Romeo and Juliet this week.  If you miss a day of the film Romeo and Juliet, you will be responsible for reading the scenes you missed in class. I will provide you a copy of the play.

Julius Caesar Act I and the study guide are due on Wednesday.  Please use the study guide sheet to take notes for our discussion on Wednesday. 

May is the month for many exciting trips for 9th grade students.  Please remember you are responsible for any work you miss in class.  Please remind me a day in advance if you will be missing class. 


Sunday, May 5, 2013

Shakespeare Unit

End Test on A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler will take place on Monday, May 6.

The following websites will be used for the webquest you will be completing in class on Monday and Tuesday for our Shakespeare Unit:   

Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare Background Webquest



 
Julius Caesar Webquest: