Assignments for the Week of May 26th

This week we will finish Romeo and Juliet. The end test will be on Tuesday, June 3rd.

The thesis paper is what you should be working on at home. Budget your time and do not wait until the last minute to complete this paper. It is worth 100 points...the last grade of the marking period!

Thesis Paper Due Dates:

Wednesday, May 28th -- 2-3 articles you will be using in your thesis paper and your outline
Friday, May 30th -- thesis statement and introduction due
Monday, June 2nd -- works cited page due (Use noodletools!)
Thursday, June 5th -- final draft due (MLA format!)

The Week of May 19th

*Reminder*

Period 3: Class is canceled on Monday and Tuesday. Those of you not involved in the Biology testing will need to go to the library for the period.



Period 3 & 8: We will be studying Act III of Romeo and Juliet this week. We will be viewing scene i and listening to scenes ii, iii, iv, & v. On Friday, we will start to discuss the final thesis paper of the year -- the effect war has on a country and its people. All students are to use their literature circle books as a primary source and two other works from the unit -- Night, All Quiet on the Western Front, and/or Romeo and Juliet. You will also need to find current events (magazine articles or newspaper articles) having something to do with the effects of war. These articles will help support your thesis statement and will be included on your works cited page.

Assignments for the Week of May 12th

Monday, May 12th -- Quiz on background information (review definitions, handouts, notes, etc.) and Act I of Romeo and Juliet.

Tuesday, May 13th-Thursday, May 15th -- Act II will be read and viewed during these three days. We will be comparing the balcony scenes from the old film version and the new film version of Romeo and Juliet.

FYI...Tuesday, May 13th on PBS from 8PM-9PM..."Three Ethiopian Women with Childbirth Injuries." Although this is not mandatory to watch, this looks like it will be an interesting show. Click on the following website address for information: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beautiful/

Friday, May 16th -- Final Literature Circle meeting for Real Time, Swallows of Kabul, and The Attack. Have a typed sheet that includes the following: 2 passages you liked and want to discuss (provide page #s and explain why they were chosen), 1 connection (explain), 2-3 vocabulary words (provide page # and definition), 2 discussion questions, and 1 researched topic (give topic and provide researched information). These typed sheets will be handed in for a 20 point grade. Although you will not have a test on your literature circle book, your book must be included in the final thesis paper of the year.

Assignments for the Week of May 5th

Monday, May 5th -- "The Introduction to The Globe Theater" ditto, "An Introduction to Shakespeare's Language" ditto, "Reading Romeo and Juliet" ditto, and a definition sheet will all be handed out and discussed today. Finally, we will begin Romeo and Juliet (The Prologue).

Tuesday, May 6th ,Wednesday, May 7th, & Thursday, May 8th -- We will view/read Act I of Romeo and Juliet.

We will do the following for Act I:

• View the fight scene in Act I, Scene i
• Listen to the rest of scene i
• Listen to scene ii & scene iii
• View scene iv & v

Friday, May 9th --Literature Circle meeting for Real Time, Swallows of Kabul, and The Attack. Have a typed sheet that includes the following: 2 passages you liked and want to discuss (provide page #s and explain why they were chosen), 1 connection (explain), 2-3 vocabulary words (provide page # and definition), 2 discussion questions, and 1 researched topic (give topic and provide researched information). These typed sheets will be handed in for a 20 point grade. Although you will not have a test on your literature circle book, your book must be included in the final thesis paper of the year.

*Over the weekend prepare for the quiz on the background information we have studied and Act I of Romeo and Juliet!

Assignments for the Week of April 28th

INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE

Monday, April 28th -- We will be going to the library to prepare for our 9th grade research project.

Tuesday, April 29th -- Please have your completed Shakespeare internet sheet with you today.

Wednesday, April 3oth -- "How William Became Shakespeare" activity (Side A)

Thursday, May 1st -- "How William Became Shakespeare" activity (Side B)

Friday, May 2nd -- Library

This week we will be picking novels for our literature circles. The novels of choice are Real Time, Swallows of Kabul, and The Attack. You will have two group meetings -- May 9th and May 16th. For each meeting you must have a typed sheet that includes the following: 2 passages you liked and want to discuss (provide page #s and explain why they were chosen), 1 connection (explain), 2-3 vocabulary words (provide page # and definition), 2 discussion questions, and 1 researched topic (give topic and provide researched information). These typed sheets will be handed in for a 20 point grade. Although you will not have a test on your literature circle book, your book must be included in the final thesis paper of the year.

Assignments for the Weeks of April 7th & April 14th

Night Reading Assignments

Due Monday, April 7th -- Pages 21-43

Due Wednesday, April 9th -- Pages 45-80

Due Friday, April 11th -- Pages 81-109

Night Activities

Monday, April 7th --

1. Class discussion on references to night found in the novel

2. Group discussion on Eve Bunting's "Terrible Things"

3. Sign up for group assignment -- The ABC Book of Night

Tuesday, April 8th -- Prepare for Wednesday's fishbowl discussion. I will discuss the fishbowl discussion format in class and how you will be assessed. The following two topics will be discussed in the fishbowl discussion on Wednesday:

Topic # 1-- Faith

Reflecting on the three weeks he spent at Auschwitz, Wiesel admits on page 42: “Some talk of God, of his mysterious ways, of the sins of the Jewish people, and of their future deliverance. But I had ceased to pray. How I sympathized with Job!” What happens to the man called Job in the Bible? What is his story? Explain why Eliezer feels connected to him.

On page 62, Eliezer witnesses one of the several public hangings he sees in Buna. “Where is God now?” asks a prisoner next to Wiesel who also sees the hanging. “Where is he?” answers Eliezer, though talking only to himself, “Here He is – He is hanging here on this gallows…” What does he mean by this? How could God have been hanged? How have Eliezer’s thoughts and feelings changed since he identified with Job while in Auschwitz? Discuss the relationship Eliezer has with God throughout Night.

Topic # 2 -- Relationships

As the story progresses, we witness instances where the Jews have been reduced to acting - and even treating their fellow prisoners - like rabid animals. However, we also witness many acts of kindness. Did the relationship between the Jewish prisoners become stronger? Or were bonds being broken? What has happened to Elie and his father's relationship?

Wednesday, April 9th -- Fishbowl Discussion (Pages 1-80)

Thursday, April 10th -- Viewing of First Person Singular: Elie Wiesel.

You will have some time in class to meet up with your group to discuss progress on ABC Book.

Friday, April 11th -- End discussion on Night & continue viewing DVD on Elie Wiesel.

Tuesday, April 15th -- End test for Night

Friday, April 18th -- ABC Book due at the end of the period! I will give you the period to put the book together. Bring the necessary materials to finish the book.

Romeo and Juliet Activities

Monday, April 14th -- Introduction to Shakespeare (Listen to How William Became Shakespeare Side A & B)

Wednesday, April 16th & Thursday, April 17th -- Computer Lab Activity on Shakespeare

Friday, April 18th -- Happy Birthday Party for Shakespeare!

Hope you all have an enjoyable vacation!

Assignments for the Week of March 24th and March 31st

All Quiet on the Western Front

3/27, 3/28, & 3/31 -- We will be going to computer lab # 438 to work on the Letters Home in-class writing assignment. The project is due April 1st. (Period 8 -- Due to the lockdown and evacuation drills, your paper is due April 2nd. We will go to the computer lab on Tuesday, April 1st.) The assignment is as follows:

INTRODUCTION

In the novel, the characters often discuss their homes and families. They may have had the opportunity to write letters home. You will create one letter home (approximately 3 pages in length) from any of the choices listed below. Be sure to carefully read the directions below.

PROCESS

A letter from a German World War I nurse to her family back home

Although the main characters in the novel are males, women also played an important role in World War I. This letter will let you explore the war’s impact on the women involved. Assume the voice of a World War I nurse who observes Kemmerich or Paul and Albert in the hospital. Write home using first person point of view describing your experiences, feelings, thoughts, etc. This letter should focus on the following theme: Destruction of War.

A letter from Tjaden to his family

Tjaden seemed to be the one who had the most trouble with Himmelstoss. Because the novel is told from Paul’s point of view, we never know how Tjaden is feeling about his experience with Himmelstoss. This letter should focus on the following theme: Corrupting Effect of Power.

A letter from Paul to his friend Mittelstaedt

This letter is in the voice of Paul to his friend back home. This letter is written toward the end of the war. Allow Paul to first reflect on his experiences with the enemy. This part of the letter should focus on the following theme: Shared Humanity. Think about the Duval incident, his experience with the Russian prisoners, and his conversations with the men in his company. The second part of the letter should focus on the theme of Camaraderie. This will give Paul the opportunity to tell Mittelstaedt how important the men in his company are to him.

Evaluation

Your letter must include the following:

Be in first-person point of view.
Follow the letter format: date, greeting, closing.
Discuss the experiences, emotions, and thoughts of the individual.
Structure ideas logically.
Focus on a specific theme.
Defend positions with evidence from the novel.
Include at least three significant quotes from the novel using proper documentation.
Accurately portray events in the novel.
Must be at least 3 pages in length.
Must be typed, double-spaced, 12 size font.
An appropriate font style.
Must have an appropriate photograph enclosed and a description of the picture (use websites to find WWI photos).

4/1 & 4/2 -- We will spend these two days discussing the end of the novel. We will then connect the novel to a poem and a few other short works dealing with war.

4/2 -- Thesis paper rewrites are due today. You must hand in the original graded draft with your revised draft.

4/3 & 4/4 -- We will start the novel Night.