Winter Break Assignments-- All Classes

Dear Students,
I hope that all of you enjoyed your first week of vacation and are now back on track. By now, all of you (except period 5) should have created a blog and at least four posts and responses to those in your group. Please look for your class title below for more information:

1. AP English Literature- You should be reading your independent novel, making your posts, and responding to the questions of your group members.
2. You should have selected your vocabulary words to memorize. You also must purchase or check out The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles--but translated by Paul Roche.
3. Don't forget your practice AP Exam.
4. When we return, if you have started using your three ring spiral for other classes, you will need to clean it out. We will now begin having daily 10-15 minute routines. One some days we will do Voice Lessons, other days sentence combining; other days grammar, and possibly the fourth day will be a reading quiz of some sort, or silent reading.

Great Books period 2
1 You should also be blogging on your independent reading novel.
2. Additionally, you also need to check out or purchase The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles translated by Paul Roche ISBN 978-0-452-01167-0

English ten period 4 and 6
1.You should be reading your independent reading novel in your reading groups. Each student should have their own blog and should be making their blog posts and responding to the questions of your team members. If you are doing extra credit, be sure to create complete journal entries for your extra credit novel.

American Literature Period 5
1. Be sure to finish your Crucible Writing Questions that were distributed. Do not wait until the last minute to answer these questions. Each response should be at least three to four paragraphs.
2. Our next text is The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. To help prepare you for this text, please complete each of the following activities. Under the section of my blog, entitled "Websites of Interest" visit the links Frederick Douglass biography. Listen to the brief biography of Frederick Douglass. 2. Visit the link to the Introduction to Slave Narratives and read about the written narrative form. 3. Also visit the link for the short written biography of Frederick Douglass. Following this, complete the reflective journal (it is a google doc). Include a total of ten facts learned about Frederick Douglass/slavery Two questions; two ways you can apply or connect; two surprises you had.

The Kite Runner

Directions, Read The Kite Runner up to page 100 as stated in your reading journal. Underline thought provoking and character revealing statements or those you find significant. Then, be sure to also answer the following: 1. Who is Assef? Describe him. Why do you think his physical description is so important? Do you think it contributes to his behavior? How?
2. Explain what happened in the tournament. How does Hassan again demonstrate his superiority over Amir?
3. What Biblical connection comes to mind when Hassan hits Assef with his slingshot?
4. Even in spite of a grumesome act, how does Amir describe Hassan?
5. Explain the significance of a lamb in two religions: Islam and Christianity. How does Hassan fit this description?
6. How is Baba's affection for Amir shortlived? What disrupts it?
Be prepared to discuss the Assef, the incident, irony and sacrifices.

AP English Literature Close Reading Questions The Kite Runner

Directions: Read The Kite Runner up to page 35. Answer the following Close Reading Questions. You may answer as a narrative or each question individually. Be prepared to discuss your insights in class on Thursday.
1. What can one infer (guess) about the amount of narrative space (10 lines) on page 3 to describe Hassan and his features?
2. What condition disfigured Hassan? Why do you think the narrator states, "where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had simply grown tired and careless."
3. What details from pages 2-3 imply that Hassan and the narrator are not equals although they enjoy each others company and are wonderful friends?
4. Why do you think the narrator recollects the pictures he sees in the living room in the following order: (1) the photo of his grandfather and King Nadir Shah taken in 1931; (2) a picture of his parents' wedding night and finally, (3) a picture of the narrator's father, and Rahim Kham standing outside the house, neither one of them smiling, with Rahim Khan holding the narrator's pinky finger? What is significant about the ordering of these pictures knowing what we know about the narrator's mother?
5. What might Rahim Khan holding the narrator's pinky foreshadow or indicate? Who actually calls the narrator as the story begins in Chapter 1?
6. How does one group, the Pashtun's maintain superiority over the Hasaras?
7. Why is it significant that the narrator's first word is "Baba"?
8. Why is it significant that Hassan's first word is "Amir"?
9. Look up the name "Amir" online. What does it mean?
10. What does the story about what Amir learns in school from Mullah Fatiullah Khan (about drinking) conflict with Baba's behavior? What does Baba say about it?
11. Baba tells Amir that"every sin is a variation of theft". What other sins/crimes are a variation of theft? Consider the following: fraud; embezzlement; cheating; adultery; identity theft, speculatating/betting. Are each of those "Crimes" variations of theft? How so?
12. What details let you know that Amir is closer to Rahim Kham than his baba?
13. Why is Baba's stature significant?
14. How does the relationship between Ali and Baba mirror somewhat that relationship between Amir and Hassan?
15. How did Ali come to know Baba?
16. Why did Amir stop reading riddles to Hassan? What might this predict?
17. What question does Hassan ask of Amir in reference to his story?
18. How does Amir react to Hassan's question? Why is this significant?

American Literature Period 5- Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials

Next week, we will begin reading our first play of the year, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller. Our play is set during the Salem Witchcraft Trials that rocked Salem Massachesetts in 1692. To help you learn more about the Salem Witchcraft Trials and life in Salem, complete each of the following activities. You will need a computer in order to view the interactive activities. The assignment is due Monday, November 14, 2011.

1. Scroll to the right hand of the screen to view "Websites of General Interest". Visit all three links, choose from National Geographic, Discovery and the Salem Witch Trials Link. Read the information about the Salem Witch Trials, you can also play an interactive game at the National Geographic Site. When you are finished browsing all three sites, record what you learned about the Salem With Trials in your Reflective Journal. Click on the link to the right that states Reflective Journal. If the link does not work, create your own reflective journal with 6 facts that you learned, 3 Surprises Encountered; 3 questions you have about the Witch Trials; 4 vocabulary words; and 2 ways you can apply the information.

Reaction Response- Great Books Period 2

Take time to re-read previously assigned sections of the Academic Literacy Report. Brainstorm your ideas, thoughts, and reactions to the information contained in the document. Then, in a two page typed paper, respond to the following questions. Your response should be in paragraph form, and not read as a laundry list. You may quote the document or include your feelings and concerns.

What did you read? What did it say, and what are the consequences of the information contained in the document. Does it impact you? How or how not? Does it change or will it possibly change any of your established behaviors? With what ideas contained in the document (Academic Literacy) do you especially agree?

You must use the following words somewhere in your response: competency(ies); disposition, discipline, explicit.

AP English Literature Homework

1. In preparation to answer the question:
In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.
Be sure to re-read Chapter 1 of your independent novel. Write out answers to the following: (1) Fully identify the setting: time, place and social circumstances that are identified in Chapter 1 of your Independent Reading Novel

2. Identify at least three (things) details that are unique, important. Hint...notice the way the author describes something in chapter 1-- the way the author takes his or her time and uses adjectives, or adverbs or precise nouns.
3. From what point of view is the novel or play told? Is it from a character? If so , what is the character's name? Describe that character? Is that character a participant or a reporter? Why do you think the author chose this form of narration? If needed, you may consult your perrine text for assistance.
4. Finally, once you have thoroughly answered each of these questions, respond to the following: Why is the setting an appropriate for a conflict to take place.
5. What themes emanate from Chapter 1 based on your re-reading and analysis of it?

AP Lit

No paragraphs to write: simply read the new article- What is Critical Reading. Tomorrow in class you will write paragraphs on excerpt taken from "The Street" Ms. G