TODAY IN CLASS
Short reading check quiz over Part II: if at all possible come in at 9:45 sharp tomorrow to make up!
Continued discussion . . . .

FOR TOMORROW

3rd:  On the same paper as the visual lay-out for the "grove of death" paragraphs, write a potential thesis for this passage.

4th:  Continue working on what you started the last few minutes of class--do some sort of graphic organizer for the  section starting mid-paragraph "At last under the trees" [right after the drainage pipe smash-up].  Look at the next three paragraphs  (see yesterday's post, 3rd period, for exact wording); focus on selection of detail, diction, imagery, allusion.  Try to find PATTERNS that help us understand how Conrad is writing this.  (Yes, Marlow's POV here, of course, but it's Conrad's style achievements that we're mostly interested in at the moment.  We will make the transition to Marlow's "attitude" toward what he sees as a next step.)
Your categories should not just be what I listed above; you should try to nail down how Conrad is using language to achieve various effects.  Just try it.  Group together "stuff" that seems similar; see where it leads you. HAVE WITH YOU AT THE START OF CLASS

Missing blogs, rearranged plans, confusion reigns . . . SO sorry.

Updated info:  Short story objective quiz is postponed,micro-theme topics available in full tomorrow, and there will be "daily work" category work assigned on the "solid sentence" and essential similarities/differences material.  That requires teaching and practice before assessment; there will be plenty of time to "test" you on these concepts with later material.

But new info:  having said that Part II was "due" to be finished on Friday, or Monday, OK, no later than Tuesday-- tomorrow (Tuesday) there WILL be a reading check quiz on this.  You will need to supply responses--not multiple choice or matching!

TODAY IN CLASS
People who missed the quick-write on Friday had the rare opportunity to do that at the start of class. We discussed the "boiler passage" at some length (considering how short it is); tomorrow I will show you a couple of pretty solid examples. In 3rd we went on to the "chain gang" paragraph (did not get to the actual "grove of death" paragraph"--3rd has some prep work to do for tomorrow (see below).

In 4th we had to catch up with the voyage to Africa on the French steamer; then we moved on to the boiler passage.  I didn't have the chance to explain the work for tomorrow, and I'm going to shift that portion to in-class.  (Don't worry, 3rd, this will even out in the long run!) 

So, FOR TOMORROW
4th--READ the next several paragraphs carefully (chain gang, two kinds of devils, and then especially the three paragraphs about the individuals gathered in the shade, apparently near death:  "Black shapes crouched . . . , " "They were dying slowly . . ,  " and "Near the same tree . . ."

3rd--I pointed out the exact paragraphs in class and asked you to do some sort of graphic organizer that gives categories--look at selection of detail, diction, imagery, allusion, and try to find PATTERNS that help us understand how Conrad is writing this.  (Yes, Marlow's POV here, of course, but it's Conrad's style achievements that we're mostly interested in at the moment.  We will make the transition to Marlow's "attitude" toward what he sees as a next step.)
Your categories should not just be what I listed above; you should try to nail down how Conrad is using language to achieve various effects.  Just try it.  Group together "stuff" that seems similar; see where it leads you.


FOR THE SHORT FICTION MICRO-ESSAYS

Fuller details tomorrow:  but here is the one topic that everyone must do.  It's an out-of-class Question 3--similar in structure to what you'd do closed book on the AP exam, but different in that you will be expected to incorporate quotations:  600 words or so including some well-chosen, finely honed quoted material.  There will be some further guidance on the final assignment sheet, but this is the topic, with the restriction that you are writing here about "Metamorphosis."  That WAS on the list of choices for 1989, and that is the only work you may use for responding to this question:

1989. In questioning the value of literary realism, Flannery O’Connor has written, “I am interested in making a good case for distortion because I am coming to believe that it is the only way to make people see.” Write an essay in which you “make a good case for distortion”" as distinct from literary realism. Analyze how important elements of the work you choose are “distorted” and explain how these distortions contribute to the effectiveness of the work. Avoid plot summary.

This one will be due at the end of the week you are back from Thanksgiving; two more (choices available tomorrow) will be due after that week-end (so by Dec. 8/9).  Plenty else will be going on; this just gives you some flexibility.

Upcoming Assignments and Tests
From the past:  There are still some people missing parts of work from when I was gone (or for a person or two, even earlier).  I'll get that sorted out ASAP, but if you know you missed the multiple choice exam on Friday, Nov. 7, please try to make it up Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. Thanks to the individual who came in today!

1) Start reviewing short fiction (all short stories plus Metamorphosis) for a mid-semester accountability process before we move on.  This material will NOT be covered on the final exam for this semester, so the following work counts as major assessments.

• A two-part test on Monday, Nov. 24:  Part I = a data-oriented objective quiz over elements from the various stories.  (I don't mean "elements of fiction" here; I am referring to concrete details from the various stories.)
• Part II = A"solid sentence"/Essential similarities or differences section. Yes, I will explain.
• A packet of three micro-essays; more info to be provided by Wednesday--due Thursday or so after Thanksgiving.  You should be able to get one or two done before the break, and non-travelers can easily finish over break.  But the extra allowance is given to provide individual flexibility (starting on Wednesday). 

2) Heart of Darkness Reading

For tomorrow--Get Marlow to Africa and through the paragraph about a boiler wallowing in the grass. You don't need to go on to the clank of chains paragraph that follows.

For Wednesday, Nov. 19:  Finish Part I

For Friday, Nov. 21:  Finish Part II

For Tuesday, Nov. 25:  Finish Part III 

Life is good; you'll be fine.

TODAY IN CLASS
Base-line AP Passage Analysis.

TOMORROW IN CLASS
We will start with Marlow's comments on the Romans in Britain, and then move on , , ,

If you don't have Heart of Darkness yet, use this text to print out at least five pages beyond where your hand-out stopped.  Have it with you tomorrow.

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/526/pg526-images.html

Class Instructions for Wednesday, Nov. 12

You will receive a hand-out for the opening passages of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.  Use it rather than your book (if you brought it), because you'll be annotation heavily.

You'll have 15 minutes to read the passage carefully and to annotate as fully as possible for diction, imagery, and whatever else catches your attention.  I'm not trying to restrict what you notice!

After the annotation time has elapsed, get into small groups—3 is ideal, but pairs are okay.  No 4’s or more today.

In your groups, use your annotated passages as the basis for discussing the TONE of the novel’s opening.  Look for more than one dominant effect or tone, probably a set of COMPLEMENTARY tones.
  

Group Product:  

·         One strong well-written thesis sentence that establishes the tone(s) of the opening passage . . .

·         Supported by the gist of two body paragraphs--bullet points and note-style fragments are okay for these body "paragraphs,"  Identify the tone under scrutiny, provide some textual evidence, and offer at least some commentary on the effect of that evidence.  

Yes, it’s Wednesday, but get as far as you can, and turn in what you have.

BRING YOUR HEART OF DARKNESS BOOK WITH YOU TO CLASS ON THURSDAY

FRIDAY IN CLASS
Full-length Multiple Choice Practice exam (55 questions; 60 minutes actual AP exam time; only the 55-minute class period for us.

If you missed it, we will arrange make-ups when I return. 

By Sunday night--the Kafka "Letters to My Father"/Parallels to "Metamorphosis" papers due to turnitin.com (11:59 p.m.)

MONDAY IN CLASS

1. Get into groups of no more than four. 

2.  You can use either the computers along the wall or your phones to access Ch. 2 of  Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor .  

3.  Read the chapter. Try to do this individually insofar as personal and school technology allows.

4.  Re-read the portion late in "Metamorphosis" that describes Gregor listening in on the family dinner conversations with his door ajar.  Pay particular attention to the pivotal dinner when the boarders learn of Gregor's existence.

5. Write up via bullets and shortened commentary how the family dinners Gregor overhears from his opened door function as "communion" in the manner described by Foster.

6.  Each group needs to turn in their work by the end of the period.

FOR WEDNESDAY

Read Ch. 3 of Foster's book.

Make sure that you've obtained Heart of Darkness  so that you will have it in class on Thursday. 

See yesterday's post for the "Letter to My Father" assignment; make sure it's on turnitin.com by the generous deadline.

Also note what it says about getting the next round of books!!

TOMORROW--Friday--you'll be doing a 60 minute Multiple Choice Practice Test in 55 minutes. Try to encourage rapid passing out of materials (bubble sheet and test booklet) if the sub doesn't quite get the importance of time.

Monday's work in class will involve Ch. 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor and the text of Metamorphosis. There will be groups.  Do not be afraid.

FINALLY

I promised you a worthy blog post tonight.  This is the Wednesday that just keeps on giving, though, and it just didn't happen earlier.    But if you're sitting around waiting, I'll at least offer you a few things. But not to panic--nothing here is "due" tomorrow.

Kafka's "Letter to My Father"
Make sure you've read yesterday's post, and given some good attention to the link to Kafka's "Letter to My Father."  That's all that's essential for tonight, as well--but there is a short assignment for Friday or over the week-end (your choice).

1) "Letter to My Father" assignment

After skimming the long "Letter to My Father," find a 3-4 page chunk to focus on.  Your goal is to make connections between elements in the letter and Kafka's story, and explain how those connections deepen our understanding of issues in "The Metamorphosis."

What to Write

Your write-up should analyze some specific correlations to Kafka's fictional "Metamorphosis" based on elements he writes about in his letter.  Do NOT try to be "comprehensive"--this assignment is meant to have much smaller scope.  Choose no more than a few pages of the letter (but choose carefully based on the light reading--not strictly at random) and then show how THOSE pages enrich our understanding of some element in  Metamorphosis.  Your own analysis should be about 250 words (300 max).  But make your words count:  pack in as much insight as you can.

Use the regular single-spaced heading (name, period , date, "Letter to My Father" Parallels). Don't worry about formatting citations; we will tacitly assume that all quoted material comes from the link given in the earlier post.

Specific Instructions for Turning It In

This assignment is online only.  I see it as "due" Friday, in part to make room for other upcoming things. But I'd intended for you to have two evenings (Wednesday/Thursday) to fit it in to your schedule.  So as long as it's in by the end of the week-end (11:59 p.m. Sunday night, Nov. 9), it's fine with me.  And I repeat:  you do not need to submit a hard copy for this assignment.

2) How to Read Literature Like a Professor
Read Chapters 2 and 3 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Ch. 2--"Nice to Eat with You:  Acts of Communion"
Ch. 3--"Nice to Eat You":  Acts of Vampires"
You'll get an out-of-class prep work assignment on Monday, and there will be an in-class analysis in the near future.

3) Heart of Darkness (and Frankenstein and The Awakening)
Remember the hand-out that told you to have Conrad's book by about Nov. 1 and advised you to get all three of these titles at once because they'd be stacked pretty closely during the second quarter? Well.  It's here.

You're going to need Heart of Darkness by Wednesday (the 12th).  And you'll be starting to read Frankenstein before we're fully "done" with HoD.  Amazon, or a local brick and mortar bookseller (new or used), or perhaps a bookshelf in your very own home is calling your name.  ASAP.

4) Short Fiction Cumulative Assessments upcoming--they will overlap as out-of-class work with our (slow) early mostly in-class  progress with Heart of Darkness. More information forthcoming soon.

I'll be updating the blog later, with more information about where we've been and (short-term) where we're going--but for now, here's the promised link to Kafka's "Letter to My Father."  There will be a short assignment linked with this in a day or two, but for tomorrow, your responsibility is to skim through this.

Get an idea of the overall length, read some sections that catch your eye, and be especially alert for things that you think are connected to ideas you saw in "Metamorphosis."  Please do NOT cruise in search of other material "about" the letter,  Just use the source provided here:

http://heavysideindustries.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Franz-Kafka-Letter-to-his-father1.pdf

Barebones Rainy Night Home Too Late/Too Much to Do Blog:

If you missed class today--you'll need to make up a short (15 minute) MC test.

FOR TOMORROW

Make sure you've read Part III of "The Metamorphosis."