Butterflies, Dickinson, and Alvarez

November 1, 2017 By

E1B, Due 11/3
E3A, Due 11/6

1. In the Time of Butterflies–Read and annotate the first two chapters. Focus your annotations on structure, style, and character observations/questions.

2. My Life has stood – a Loaded Gun and I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson–Be sure they are read and annotated.

2. Julia Alvarez–Be sure to have your notes ready for Friday as well.

Due 11/1: Website Registration, Alvarez, and Poetry

October 29, 2017 By

1. Course website: Blackboarddreams.com (I will tell you more about that name later). My email: sleon@lusherschool.org

You should register for the class website, Blackboarddreams.com, by midnight Tuesday. To do this, you must scroll to the bottom of the right column of the homepage and click “Register.” Your username should be your Full Name (First and Last). Leave A SPACE between your first and last name. Do not use nicknames! Failure to register properly will lead to your account being deleted, so do it properly. Your password will be emailed to you at which point you can change it if you would like. I also suggest you take a moment to familiarize yourself with the website! Here, you and your family can access the following: homework assignments, class forums, updates on the happenings and direction of the class, complementary materials, writing and research resources, Essay and Creative Project exemplars, a link back to the Lusher homepage, and so much more! Don’t forget to bookmark your course page! So, if you are in my English II class, bookmark the English II page. Please keep in mind that I am transitioning this site from Beacon to Lusher.

2. Julia Alvarez–In your binder, research and take notes on our next author. In your research, pay particular attention to details that our helpful to know as we read/discuss In the Time of Butterflies.

3. My Life has stood – a Loaded Gun and I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson

Both poems are in the In the Time of Butterflies Poetry Unit. Read and annotate both poems. As you annotate, consider the following questions:

How are the poems thematically related? How does Dickinson develop the theme in each poem?

Due 9/27 (9/28 for 10G): The Yellow Wallpaper

September 25, 2017 By

English 10

Here’s what you should have completed thus far:

  1. Read the course syllabus
  2. All supplies should be in place
  3. Registered for class website
  4. Posted a response to the Welcome thread on the class forum
  5. Completed in-class writing assignment
  6. Read and annotated Where are You Going
  7. Read and annotated the two poems by Emily Dickinson, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath.
  8. Read the bios for Sexton and Plath

You should have the following handouts printed and in your binder:

  1. Course syllabus
  2. Literary Terms
  3. Where are You Going, Where have You Been?
  4. Annotating Guidelines
  5. The Bell Jar Unit Poetry
  6. Confessional Poetry Guide

Completed Last Class Period:

Read and annotate Her Kind by Anne Sexton and Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath. As we use these poems and those of Emily Dickinson to practice writing topic sentences, keep in mind that we are laying the thematic foundation for our first unit. I remind you that this involves sensitive subjects such as depression and suicide.

After reading the poems, in bullet form identify the primary devices (i.e. metaphor, symbolism, etc) used in each poem to develop theme.

9/26: To be completed during Monday’s class–Poetry Discussion and Topic Sentence Practice

Small Group Discussion (20 minutes): Begin class in small groups and pick up where you left off last Wednesday. Discuss both poems focusing (Sexton and Plath)  on the theme in each poem and how the poet develops that theme.

Topic Sentence Practice: To begin, a topic sentence should feature both an observation and an argument. For example:

  1. In Her Kind Anne Sexton’s witch, a misunderstood outcast, depicts how women are made to feel like strangers in their own body. (observation=the witch; argument= women are made to feel like strangers in their own body)
  2. In Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus, suicide attempts present a way for the narrator to take control over herself and the crowd. (observation=suicide; argument=suicide allows the narrator to take control over herself and the crowd)

Using the four poems (2 by Sexton and 2 by Plath), write one topic sentence per poem for a total of 4 poems.

HW:

  1. Research and take notes on Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of The Yellow Wallpaper.
  2. The Yellow Wallpaper–Print the short story.
  3. Feminist Criticism–Print this handout and be sure to have it with you in class!

My Apologies, One More Delay

September 18, 2017 By

Hello folks,

First off, let me apologize for the added delay. I love my job and am desperate to begin the year with you, but I must see to it that my family is ok first. So, hang in there. I will do my best to make it worth your wait. In the meantime, here is the plan for the next two days:

9/19: My Life has stood – a Loaded Gun and I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson

Both poems are in the The Bell Jar Unit Poetry. In class read and annotate both poems. Then, answer the following questions in one paragraph (be sure to have a proper topic sentence):

How are the poems thematically related? How does Dickinson develop the theme in each poem?

Conclude class with small group discussion.

HW: Print and read the following sections of the Confessional Poetry Guide:

  • Introduction
  • Anne Sexton (Bio and The Truth the Dead Know)
  • Sylvia Plath (Bio and Ariel)

9/20: Read and annotate Her Kind by Anne Sexton and Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath. As we use these poems and those of Emily Dickinson to practice writing topic sentences, keep in mind that we are actually (and more importantly) laying the thematic foundation for our first unit. I remind you that this involves sensitive subjects such as depression and suicide.

After reading the poems, in bullet form identify the primary devices (i.e. metaphor, symbolism, etc) used in each poem to develop theme.

So, if you have taken all assigned work seriously and completed it meaningfully, we will be good to go on 9/25! Can’t wait to meet you!

Due 9/14 (9/15 for 10G): Where Are You Going Discussion

September 13, 2017 By

Hello folks! The first week is almost in the books. If all goes as planned, I will see you on Monday and this class really begins! It is imperative that you have taken care of all responsibilities by then. This includes:

  • Registered for the website
  • Posted a response in the Welcome thread on the class forum
  • Completed the in-class writing assignment
  • Read the course syllabus
  • You should have supplies for the class
  • All handouts: (Literary terms, Where Are You Going, Annotating Guide, Bell Jar Poetry Unit)

Tomorrow, you will do the following:

Day 5: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Discussion

(15-20 minutes) In small groups of four, discuss what you annotated and WHY?

(10-15 minutes) Whole group share.

(10 minutes) Individual Writing: What is the primary theme of the short story and how does Oates use conflict to shape that theme?

(10-15 minutes) Back to small group discussion. Share your thoughts on theme.

HW:

  • The Bell Jar Unit Poetry: As part of The Bell Jar unit, we will read selections from Emily Dickinson, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath. Tonight, print the handout and be sure to bring it to class tomorrow.
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