Welcome to 9 Honors

Summer Assignment

I hope you are enjoying the book you had chosen for your summer reading assignment.  The first assignment of the year includes sharing what you have read with the rest of the class.  I will go over your written assignment during the first week of school in order to prepare you for your informal presentation.   I will share with you past examples and discuss the Honors level expectations before you begin the written assignment.  Make sure you have your chosen work read before the start of the school year! 

EXAM REVIEW

Section I:     Vocabulary

Units 1-6 from the vocabulary book will be on this section.  This will include definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and meaning based on context clues.

Section II:    Literary Terms, Dramatic Conventions, Poetic Devices

vignette, round character, flat character, dynamic character, static character, stock character, Assonance, alliteration, consonance, simile, metaphor, protagonist, antagonist, foil, couplet, sonnet, iambic pentameter, situational irony, dramatic irony, soliloquy, concealment, blank verse, prose, diction, syntax, hyperbole, symbol, imagery, allusion, synesthesia, oxymoron, malapropism, onomatopoeia, and aside…

Section III:  Authors/Directors/Playwrights

Hedda Gabler & A Doll’s House

Antigone & Oedipus

The Alchemist

Romeo and Juliet

Whale Rider

Minority Report

The House on Mango Street

Section IV:  Quote Identification

Know the significant themes/events of the above works and the important characters within each work in order to be successful on the quote identification section of the exam.

Section V:  Writing Prompt

You will be able to choose between a creative writing prompt and a more formal writing prompt.  In any case, specifics from the works listed above must be used for either writing choice.  Therefore, review each work and know the plot, theme, characters, etc. for this section of the exam. 

The House on Mango Street & Whale Rider

UPDATE 5/30:  COMPLETE THE ROUGH DRAFTS OF YOUR FIRST THREE VIGNETTES AND BRING THEM TO CLASS ON MONDAY, JUNE 2. 


The House on Mango Street Assignments --


The Vignette Writing Project: 

• The completed booklet must be turned in by Monday, June 9, 2014 (This is the last grade of the marking period...worth 50 points)
• Individual due dates for rough drafts of each vignette will be provided in class

Reading Assignment: 

• 9 Honors students must read the entire book by Friday, June 6. 
• The following vignettes, however, are to be read by Wednesday, June 4:
• "A Smart Cookie" - page 90
• "Sally" - page 81
• "What Sally Said" - page 92
• "Linoleum Roses" - page 101
• "Marin" - page 26
• "There was an Old Woman..." - page 29
• "Alicia Who Sees Mice" - page 31
• "No Speak English" - page 76
• "Rafaela Who Drinks Coconut & Papaya Juice..." - page 79
• "Minerva Writes Poems" - page 84

Whale Rider --


We will be viewing The Whale Rider the week of June 9.  Our discussion will connect this film to The House on Mango Street.


Exam --


I will be providing you with an exam review sheet during the week of June 2. 

Upcoming Events

Friday, May 23 -- End Test for Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House.  Don't forget to review the Ibsen PowerPoint!


The Weeks of May 26  and June 2-- We will begin reading and doing a creative writing project for The House on Mango Street.  Due dates for individual vignettes will be discussed in class.


The Week of June 9th -- Whale Rider


* I will be providing each class with a review sheet during the first week of June. 

A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler

Starting on Monday, May 5 we will begin to study Henrik Ibsen's plays.  As you are reading and analyzing Hedda Gabler independently, we will focus on A Doll's House in class. 

The following assignments must be completed for Hedda Gabler:

• Taking notes (see handout) while reading Hedda Gabler in preparation for a Socratic Seminar on Thursday, May 15.
• Writing an essay based on one of the two writing prompts provided in class (see handout) by Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59PM (use turnitin.com to submit the essay).

A Doll's House assignments:

• Assignments and due dates for this play will be provided to you during class.

End test for Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House:

• To be determined at a later date.

Shakespeare Unit

Wednesday, April 30:  End Test  for Shakespeare, Elizabethan Theater, and Romeo and Juliet

• Review the PowerPoint I provided prior to studying Romeo and Juliet
• Review the webquest you completed in class on Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Theater
• Review your notes from the How William Became Shakespeare CD
• Review all handouts and notes provided before, during, and after the reading of Romeo and Juliet
• Review the entire play of Romeo and Juliet

Online text:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/

Study guide:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/romeoscenes.html

Romeo and Juliet Skits: 
Upon our return from the break, you will begin preparing a modern version of Romeo and Juliet.  The assignment and due dates will be provided in class on Wednesday, April 23. 


Upcoming Reading and Assignments:
You will be independently analyzing and reading Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler.  As you are completing Hedda Gabler at home, we will be studying Ibsen's A Doll's House as a class. 

Vocabulary and Shakespeare Resources

Writing Prompt:  Read "The Sniper" over the weekend in preparation for an in-class writing on Monday, April 7.  Please meet in computer lab #438  on Monday and Tuesday (April 7 & 8).


Vocabulary Quiz:  Unit 6 on April 9, 2014.




Shakespeare Resources:


Online text:
http://shakespeare.mit.edu/romeo_juliet/

Study guide:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/romeoscenes.html