World Literature Class Info Center
What I missed...
Friday, Nov. 20 - I passed out a worksheet to guide our reading today. Click here for a handout. At the end of class, I passed out the Annotation assignment. Click here for a handout. We will be in the computer lab (E101) Monday and Tuesday.
Thursday, Nov. 19 - We began with a journal describing our earliest memories and considering what they reveal about us. Then, we turned our attention to our next project, the annotation. We will be researching an issue of interest to us; today (and tomorrow) we are thumbing through the What Matters books, considering what is interesting or important to us.
Wednesday, Nov. 18 - We had ERD today and did not meet as a class due to a school-wide assembly.
Tuesday, Nov. 17 - Unit test. I will be here Thursday AM before school for make ups.
Monday, Nov. 16 - Test Prep Day! (And Greek root Monday). Click here for some handy tips for tomorrow's test.
Friday, November 13 - Quiz! Then I returned the Religious Freedom essays. To get 10 additional points added to your score, you need to revise and then submit the essay to the contest by Nov. 23. Go to http://student.firstfreedomcenter.org/ to submit the paper. Bring me the receipt/proof of submission to receive your points. Then we played psychiatrist and diagnosed Amir, Assef and Sohrab. Finish the novel by Monday. Our test will be on TUESDAY.
Thursday, Nov 12 - Vocab quiz! Then we discussed the novel - esp. women's roles in the novel. Reach chapters 22-23 - quiz over chapters 20-23 tomorrow.
Wednesday, Nov. 11- We began by going over the guidelines for the canned food drive - it is ON. Then, we did some vocabulary play to prepare for the vocab quiz tomorrow. Then, we read. You need to be through chapter 21 by tomorrow.
Tuesday, Nov. 10 - We wrote down our vocab. Our next vocab quiz is Thursday. Focus on the words from "garrulous" on...although all are fair game. We watched Osama. For homework, read Chapter 21 by Thursday. There will be a reading quiz on Friday....Unit Test on Tuesday.
Monday, Nov. 9 - After our Greek root, we began watching a film that gives a picture of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. The film is called Osama. There is a viewing guide you will be expected to complete. Read Chapters 16-17 for homework. We will be reading two chapters a night for the remainder of the week.
Friday, Nov. 6 - Reading day today. You need to read chapters 13 - 15 by Monday.
Thursday, Nov. 5 - We began with a quiz over the reading, wrote down our vocab, and then discussed Life in California for Amir and Baba...and the image we are getting about the role women play in Afghan culture. Tomorrow will be a reading day, so bring your novels to class.
Wednesday, Nov. 4 - We began with a journal where we described a particularly memorable childhood episode. Then we broke into groups and discussed irony, symbolism and character motivations for the book thus far. Read Chapters 11-12 by tomorrow...there "may" be a quiz. :)
Tuesday, Nov. 3 - After vocab, we looked at a mentor sentence from the text and broke into groups for a sentence competition. We finished class with a discussion about the book, and pomegranates. Read Ch. 10 for tomorrow; chapters 11 and 12 for Thursday.
Monday, Nov. 2 - We attended a special presentation/showing of works by Edgar Allen Poe.
Friday, Oct. 30 - Paper turned in, then quiz over the book...then we discussed the events through Chapter 7. Read Chapters 8 and 9 by Tuesday.
Thursday, Oct. 29 - Reading Day. Read through Chapter 7 (meaning complete reading that chapter!) . There will be a reading quiz on Friday. PAPER DUE TOMORROW!!!!
Wednesday, Oct. 26 - We began with a journal where we described our favorite Halloween memories. Then, we discussed the relationships between the four mail characters through Chapter 5. Tomorrow will be a reading day - bring your novels. We will have a quiz on Friday AND your paper is due.
Tuesday, Oct. 25 - After yesterday, I got nervous about our comfort level with MLA documentation. Today, we went over the changes to MLA 2009, and then we went to the computer lab. I have decided to give an extension on the project until FRIDAY. This will be the day the paper is due - and 20 points will be deducted if you do not turn it in that day for any reason. Email it to me if you are out or make arrangements to get it to me. It is due on turnitin.com by midnight that night or you will lose 10 more points. Click here for instructions on how to submit your paper if you forgot.
Monday, Oct. 24 - I answered questions about the paper, and then we completed a peer review of the essays. Click here for a copy of the checklist. You MUST include this with your final draft on Wednesday, so if you are absent, tomorrow you will need to work with another person who was absent today to complete it.
Friday, Oct. 23 - After our open note quiz, we went over the responses and discussed the history of Afghanistan and some general, overview about the schism between Sunni and Sh'ia Muslims. We discussed Baba and Ali a bit as well. First drafts of papers are due MONDAY. The final drafts of the papers are due next Wednesday, and peer review will help. Also read Chapters 3 and 4 for Monday.
Thursday, Oct. 22 - We met in the computer lab to work on our drafts. Read chapters 1 & 2 of the book, and don't forget about our quiz tomorrow (open note!) over Afghanistan.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 - We passed out copies of our next novel, The Kite Runner. You will need to read Chapters 1 and 2 by Friday. BEFORE YOU READ THE NOVEL, you need to read the backgrounder on Afghanistan (click here for a copy). There will be an open note, timed quiz over this reading, so you should take time to underline and note important concepts, dates, events, people so that you can do a good job on this. Once you finish the reading, you can read the assignment from the novel.
We will meet tomorrow in E103 for to work on our first drafts.
Tuesday, Oct. 20 - After we turned in our outlines, we did a short writing assignment in honor of the National Day of Writing. We wrote a six word memoir of ourselves and shared some of our insightful creations. Then, we discussed the basics of incorporating quotations into our papers. We broke into pairs to work on an activity to paraphrase and incorporate quotes.
Monday, Oct. 19 - We discussed the documentary, then wrote down our vocab and went over a mentor sentence. We then turned our attention to the paper. Below are the revised deadlines:
Tuesday, Oct. 20 - Draft of introduction with outline (a few sentences describing the planned content for each of the subsequent sections of the paper is fine). This will count as a quiz grade.
Friday, October 23. Rough draft will be due
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Final draft will be due (a hard copy turned in with your drafts is due in class; the essay must also be turned in via turnitin.com.)
Friday, Oct. 16 - We watched a documentary.
Thursday, Oct. 15 - We met in the Media Center again. Click here for an important handout.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 - PSAT day - no class
Tuesday, Oct. 13 - We met in the media center and began work on our essays. Click here for a handout we used.
Monday, Oct. 12 - We wrote a journal about our best/worst vacation moments. Then, I handed back the Unit 1 tests and we reviewed them.
Lastly, now that we have a) read the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and b) watched a film that considers the UN's role in enforcement, we are going to turn our attention to an essay. Click here for the assignment. Read it over and meet tomorrow in the Media Center to do some research on our topic.
Thursday, Oct. 8 - Vocab, then we got into groups and discussed some critical questions about the movie.
Wednesday, Oct. 7 - Vocab, finish the film.
Tuesday, Oct. 6 - After vocab, we discussed the film to this point, clarifying points for understanding about major characters. Then we continued the film.
Monday, Oct. 5 - We began with a journal writing in response to some specific questions. Click here for a copy. Then, we discussed our impressions/conclusions. We began to watch the movie Hotel Rwanda.
Friday, Oct. 2 - We wrote a journal. then we read over the Universal Declaration of Human rights from the UN. We discussed our thoughts about which articles are important, relevant, inviolate, etc. Click here for a copy. For homework, I passed out some background to read in preparation for our film next week, Hotel Rwanda. You can get a copy when you return.
Thursday, Oct. 1 - Unit Test. You will need to make it up tomorrow.
Wednesday, Sept. 30 - We performed dialogs we wrote yesterday in our groups. Then, we discussed the tragic hero archetype. Click here for notes. We finished by working on a study guide game in our teams. Click here for a copy of the the game. TEST TOMORROW
Tuesday, Sept. 29 - I passed out the study guide for the unit test (click here..) It includes the choices for the essays and you CAN use an index card for prewriting. Then, we broke into groups and discussed Chapters 20-22. Finish the book for tomorrow.
Monday, Sept. 28 - We had a reading day.
Friday, Sept. 25 - We had a quiz over the selection. Then, we discussed the book. Read Chapters 18 & 19 for tomorrow. You should read Ch. 20-22 for Tuesday, and finish the book by Wednesday. Our first unit test will be on Thursday.
Thursday, Sept. 24 - We began with a journal where we described our favorite TV shows...and why they are so compelling to us. Then, we discussed the rituals in the book, what they revealed about the culture and what they reveal about the characters. For homework I passed out an excerpt from The Poisonwood Bible to read for tomorrow.
Wednesday, Sept. 23 - We finished our presentations and then worked with our vocabulary words. Read Chapters 14-17. I divided the class into three groups and asked each to review the rituals described in chapters 10, 12 and 13.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 - Rain day!
Monday, Sept. 21 - We presented our close readings. Read chapter 13.
Friday, Sept. 18 - We worked in groups to select significant passages and conduct a close reading.
Thursday, Sept. 17 - Reading/Conference day.
Wednesday, Sept. 16 - We turned in our essays, took a quiz and signed up for writers conferences. I passed out a copy of an excerpt from a novel to read as a complimentary pairing to our novel. tomorrow we will have a reading day while I conference with students; you need to read both the selection AND chapters 9-12 by Monday.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 - We had a speaker today from the PTSA. Don't forget your essays are due tomorrow (click here and get a copy of the rubric) and you need to have completed reading Chapters 7 & 8.
Monday, Sept. 14 - We copied down the root for today and the vocab word. We looked at a few sentences to get a sense for what passive voice looks like and to consider when it is a good idea to use it....hint: NOT in your college essay! Then, we broke into small groups and discussed the novel up to this point. Read chapters 7 and 8 for tomorrow.
Friday, Sept. 11 - We ate some food from West Africa and listened to some music and talked a little about food and culture. Then we broke into pairs and peer-edited our college essay. Click here for a check list to use. Essays are due WEDNESDAY. Be sure to have read through Chapter 6 by Monday.
Thursday, Sept. 10 - We wrote a journal describing what we thought life would be like one year from now...then we wrote down grammar and did our new grammar work! Wooo! After that, we looked at some maps of Africa from 1707 and more currently and identified more precisely our setting. We discussed the potential pitfalls of having more than one wife as Onkonkwa does. For homework - don't forget to complete your rough drafts and to read Chapters 4-6.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 - I checked for the prewriting while your fellow students took a quiz over the reading from last night. I passed out a handout to aid in our understanding of the context of the book; click here for a handout. We began a discussion of the characters. Read Chapters 4-6 by Friday...and your rough draft is due on Friday as well.
Tuesday, Sept. 8 - After vocab and identifying the parts of speech for this week's grammar sentence, we went over the expectations for the homework tomorrow - which is to turn in the essay question AND prewriting. (This counts for TWO homework grades.) I passed out copies of the book we are going to read, Things Fall Apart. Read chapters 1-3 for homework. We discussed superstition and dreams...and how their significant is oftentimes rooted in our cultures.
Friday, Sept. 4 - After diagramming our sentence we finished our group work/discussion of the aphorisms. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, Sept. 3 - We wrote a journal describing our favorite things. Then we did our grammar thing, and I returned the reading timelines. We went over the specifics of prewriting for the college essay. Click here for a copy of the handout. Then we broke into small groups and looked more closely at the aphorisms from Tuesday's readings.
Wednesday, Sept. 2 - After the vocab quiz, we passed out graded papers and reviewed some of them; then I handed our the college application essay assignment. Click here for a copy. The question and prewriting are due on Weds., Sept 9.
Tuesday, Sept. 1 - We discussed Didactic Literature and then read some stories of this mode. Click here for a handout/assignment/notes. Don't forget the vocab quiz tomorrow!
Monday, August 31 - Latin Root Monday, then we were able to get our parts of speech in under a minute! Woo! We assessed the sentence competition entries from Friday. We took a "buddy" quiz over the reading from the weekend. Then, we discussed Folk Tales. Click here for a copy of the handout; get notes from a friend to complete. We will have our first vocab quiz on Wednesday. BRING YOUR BOOKS TOMORROW!!!!
Friday, August 27 - We began with a quick diagram of our sentence - and then I collected the grammar sheets for a grade. We finished our discussion of the folk tale and the reading from Wednesday. Then, we learned about teams and had our first "sentence competition." For homework, read the story "The Fisherman and the Jinnee" from the book which starts on page 92. Bring your books with you on Monday.
Thursday, August 26 - We began with a journal about which we would rather be...rich or famous. Then we discussed the "rhetorical triangle" - how each communication "transaction" we have has a speaker, an audience and a purpose. With this in mind, we discussed and considered these three categories for the folk tales we read on Tuesday. Once we had that established ( In essence it was a story mothers told their daughters to prepare them for matrimony to older men who may appear like beasts. It wasn’t unusual or considered scandalous for a girl of 12 to marry a man three to four times her age. The younger girls of poorer families were often given the worst lot, such as older men whose first (or second wives) had died. Some were practically sold.). Then, we watched a clip from the Disney version of the story and considered what differences were made to the story and the implications they bring.
Wednesday, August 25 - After vocab (we got a few extra words for our latin root of “bellare, bellum”), we corrected our grammar sentence. Then, we watched a short clip of an interview of George Lucas by Joseph Campbell, a scholar who studied myths and archetypes of the world’s cultures. We read an essay and then discussed, analyzed a couple of images. Click here for a copy of the assignment.
Tuesday, August 25 - We had a quiz over the reading, and then we wrote down our vocabulary and identified the parts of the sentence for our grammar sentence. We read two versions of the classic folk tale, Beauty and the Beast. Click here for the first; click here for the second. Then we broke into small groups and compared and contrasted the two versions, highlighting the similarities between the two and the myth we read for homework.
Monday, August 24 - Latin Root Monday! This week's root is bellare, bellum which means "to wage war; war." Words with this root include rebellious, bellicose, antebellum. See if you can find one more to share tomorrow...we identified the parts of speech for this week's grammar sentence and then finished our discussion of Academic Integrity. We discussed the reading "The Stowaway." For homework, read the myth of Cupid and Psyche. Click here for a copy.
WOOOOO! The webpage is back up!
For any information about what we did up to Friday, August 21, including the syllabus, visit my blog through chattcougar.com.