Thursday, October 31, 2013

November 1, 2013 What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Help yourself to a copy of Invisible Man. We'll do some pre-reading activities on Monday and begin reading the Prologue out loud.
2. Take a computer and create a Henry IV document for today's in-class essay.

  • Read the prompt carefully. (Warning: The prompt limits you, so please notice that!) Write a profound, brilliant, and detailed essay.
  • Print the essay and hand it in at the end of the hour.
HW

  • Find a poem by Monday. Print it. Include the name of the poet.
  •  Due Thursday: Invisible Man--Prologue + Chapters 1-5. (That's 135 pages of reading!) More information about the reading ticket is forthcoming.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

October 31, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Happy Halloween!
1. Arrange the desks for a Socratic seminar.
2. Non-participants: Please volunteer for one of these jobs:
  • scribe (on class blog)
  • record-keeper
  • quote-keeper (Would you also serve as a time-keeper? Stop us in time to do the go-around at the end!)
HW--Write about Henry IV, Part 1 on your Big Question Blog. This is due tomorrow.
Review some of the key speeches in Henry--those by Henry, Hal, Hotspur, Falstaff. Put a few small quotes in your head that you can insert in your essay. Adding the actual language of the play will contribute to the richness of your detail.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

October 30, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature

Hello Juniors! The seniors aren't with us today, so we'll read poems from the links on Mrs. Leclaire's web page. Take out a computer and begin searching for a poem that...
  • you've never studied before
  • you want to read again and again
  • intrigues and tantalizes you
  • befuddles and frustrates you
  • is perplexing but delightful
  • is a puzzle you want to solve
  • hits you in your solar plexus
  • hurts your head
Read a wide variety of poems--traditional, modern, post-modern. Copy and paste the poem that calls to you on a document, print it, and hand it in on Monday.

Enjoy this day!

HW--(You may work on this if after you find your poem.)
  1. Write about Henry IV, Part 1 on your Big Question Blog. This is due Friday.
  2. Prepare the ticket (see the 10/28 class blog) and 3 questions for tomorrow's Socratic seminar.

Monday, October 28, 2013

October 29, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Finish Act V performances.
2. Discuss poetry assignment.
3. Sign up to do a paper or a creative project. (Half and half, please--)

HW

  1. Write about Henry IV, Part 1 on your Big Question Blog. This is due Friday.
  2. Prepare a ticket and 3 questions for Thursday's Socratic seminar.
  3. Find a  poem that...
  • you've never studied before
  • you want to read again and again
  • intrigues and tantalizes you
  • befuddles and frustrates you
  • is perplexing but delightful
  • is a puzzle you want to solve
  • hits you in your solar plexus
  • hurts your head
A printed copy of the poem is due Monday.

Friday, October 25, 2013

October 27, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Finish rehearsing the battle scenes in Act V.
2. At 9:00, begin presentations.
3. If we don't finish the scenes today, we'll do that tomorrow.
4. Henry IV, Part 1 final Socratic Seminar--Thursday.

 Ticket for Thursday: Defend or refute each statement with bullet points or a paragraph:
  • Henry IV is a respectable king.
  • Falstaff is this play's only innocent character
  • Henry IV is essentially an anti-war play.
Also--Write 2-3 strong questions for our discussion. This is part of the ticket.


5. On Thursday  Friday, we'll write an in-class essay about Henry IV, using an A.P. question. Please use the computers for that essay.

HW--Begin looking at the poems linked on Mrs. Leclaire's web page. Do you want to write about the poem or do a creative project about the poem? We'll decide that on Tuesday. On Monday, submit your chosen poem to Mrs. Makovsky.


Thursday, October 24, 2013

October 24, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Enjoy Orson Welles' incredible Battle of Shrewsbury from his film, Chimes at Midnight. (Look for Falstaff in the midst of the chaos...)
2. Go into your acting groups to read and prepare scenes for Monday's presentations. Here are the assignments:
  • Courtiers: 5.1. Suggestion: Cut out repetitive material about the rebel cause and discuss why it is repeated.
  • Rebels: 5.2
  • All Groups: 5.3 and 5.4. The battle!! All groups come together to fight. We need swords and maybe even horses. Assign speaking parts and one director for the battle. It is very important that actors with speaking parts rehearse well. No standing like statues this time. We need fighting and dying.
  • Pub Crawlers: 5.5 (Most of the tavern crew stayed at home, so please lower yourselves and play courtiers today....)
Please use simple props or costumes to distinguish characters; otherwise, things will become too confusing. For example, Henry can wear the crown; Falstaff, a padded hoody. If you hate costumes, at least create name tags for the various characters.

Next Tuesday, I will present information to you about the poetry independent study assignment.

Have a great weekend. No homework!!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

October 24, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Writing Workshop Day!

Henry's Soliloquy--from Orson Welles' 1965 film, Chimes at Midnight, starring John Guilgud as Henry (Begin viewing a little past 8:50.)

Study the Henry IV, Part 2 speech's rubric and student examples. Discuss.
Go into the large circle, read several essays, and give feedback.

HW: Read Act V for tomorrow. We'll break into acting groups and rehearse the scenes. See yesterday's blog for the acting assignments.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

October 23, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Please make a name tag. (Mrs. Makovsky is a struggling learner who still doesn't have all of your names in her brain.)

1. Reading ticket? Join the seminar on Act IV!
2. No reading ticket? No desire to participate? See Mrs. Makovsky for an alternate assignment:
  • Post a detailed summary of the discussion on the class blog (under comments, below)
  • Track comments from participants
    • c=comment or response
    • ?=question
    • !=Wow--a breakthrough moment
    • " "=quotation given
  • Log specific references to text--page and line numbers
HW--Read Act V and prepare for Friday's acting groups:
  • Courtiers: 5.1. Suggestion: Cut out repetitive material about the rebel cause and discuss why it is repeated.
  • Rebels: 5.2
  • All Groups: 5.3 and 5.4. The battle!! All groups come together to fight. Assign speaking parts and one director for the battle. It is very important that actors with speaking parts rehearse well. No standing like statues this time. We need fighting and dying.
  • Pub Crawlers: 5.5 (Most of the tavern crew stayed at home, so please lower yourselves and play courtiers today....)
To allay confusion, please use simple props or costumes to distinguish characters. For example, Henry wears the crown; Falstaff, a padded hoody. If you hate costumes, at least create name tags for the various characters.

Monday, October 21, 2013

October 22, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Today we write!

Apostrophe: definition and examples (Hand-out)

Reading tip: Read poetry carefully, paying attention to punctuation marks, particularly end marks. Read from end-mark to end-mark, and figure out the subject of each sentence.

In the following poem, what do you notice about the syntax? Why does the poet do what he does?


Lesson
Forrest Hamer
It was 1963 or 4, summer,
and my father was driving our family
from Ft. Hood to North Carolina in our 56 Buick.
We'd been hearing about Klan attacks, and we knew
Mississippi to be more dangerous than usual.
Dark lay hanging from the trees the way moss did,
and when it moaned light against the windows
that night, my father pulled off the road to sleep.
Noises
that usually woke me from rest afraid of monsters
kept my father awake that night, too,
and I lay in the quiet noticing him listen, learning
that he might not be able always to protect us
from everything and the creatures besides;
perhaps not even from the fury suddenly loud
through my body about his trip from Texas
to settle us home before he would go away
to a place no place in the world
he named Viet Nam. A boy needs a father
with him, I kept thinking, fixed against noise
from the dark.
from Call & Response, 1995
Alice James Books, Farmington, Me.
 
Copyright 1995 by Forrest Hamer.
All rights reserved.
HW--Read and prepare Act IV for tomorrow's (shortened) Socratic Seminar.
 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

October 21, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Hand back Literary Essay #1. If you would like to revise the essay, please set up an appointment with Mrs. Makovsky before you begin rewriting.
2. Finish Act III Henry performances.
3. Discuss Act III, focusing on character development and Shakespeare's developing themes.

Overview of the week:
Tuesday--Timed writing (Henry IV, Part 2 speech)
Wednesday--Act IV is due. Complete the reading ticket and prepare for a Socratic Seminar. At the bottom of your ticket, please compose at least three strong questions to bring forth in discussion.
Thursday--Writing workshop
Friday--Prepare Act V scenes in small groups.

HW--Act IV and reading ticket (plus 3 questions) due Wednesday.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

October 16:2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Hand in literary essays.
In-progress grades are posted. Questions about A.P. grading procedures?
Continue Henry performances...

Note--On Tuesday, we'll write a timed, in-class essay--an A.P. Lit. question about a passage from Henry IV, Part II. Next Thursday, we'll workshop that essay in class.

HW--Read Act IV of Henry IV, Part I, and prepare for a Socratic Seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Reading ticket: Henry One-Liners (click here for a copy of the document).

Enjoy your long weekend!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Letter to Your Parents

Linked here is the letter I'm asking you to give to your parents. I'm also asking you to have them sign a slip of paper saying that they received the letter.

Thank you,
Mrs. Makovsky

October 15, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

In your acting groups, study and rehearse your scenes. Showtime: 9:00 (unless that's totally impossible--we'll see...)

Do these things:
  • Read over the entire script together at least once.
  • Paraphrase your lines to ensure that every person in your group understands them.
  • Decide how you will deliver these lines; consider tone, dramatic pauses, volume, body posture, gestures, etc.
  • Develop and implement at least one symbolic choice.
  • Select costumes that fit your character group, literally or symbolically.
  • Practice a few times.

HW--Literary Essay is due tomorrow in class.

Friday, October 11, 2013

October 14, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Today we'll finish the Henry speeches.
2. We'll divide Act III and go into our acting groups to prepare and rehearse.

Because the court scene is brief and contains only two actors, Courtiers will divide. One group will do a rebel scene, one where we see a man and wife who speak two different languages. (Actors might choose to substitute a contemporary love song, which should be easier than Welsh to obtain.)

  • Rebels: 3.1.1-197
  • First Courtiers: 3:1.198-276
  • Second Courtiers: 3.2
  • Pub Crawlers 3.3
As you prepare with your Acting Groups...

  • Read over the entire script together at least once.
  • Paraphrase your lines to ensure that every person in your group understands them.
  • Decide how you will deliver these lines; consider tone, dramatic pauses, volume, body posture, gestures, etc.
  • Develop and implement at least one symbolic choice.
  • Select costumes that fit your character group, literally or symbolically.
  • Practice a few times.

HW--Independent study essay is due Wednesday.

What is a Thesis?

A thesis is a specific, provable, debatable assertion (not a statement of the obvious).


  • Assertion: Something you state as true
  • Specific: Your assertion involves a highly focused statement
  • Provable: Your assertion can be supported with numerous examples from the text, at the same time, not flatly contradicted by other examples in the text, which you might choose to ignore. It needs to be specific enough to prove in a few pages.
  • Debatable: Your assertion provokes viable, intelligent arguments on the opposite side, and it's not a statement of the obvious (addresses the "so what" question). One way to make sure your thesis is debatable is to write it out, then create its "antithesis" that contradicts the original. Does the antithesis sound like a statement of the obvious? If it does, then so is your thesis. The best thesis digs beneath the obvious stereotypes and observations to something deeper.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

October 11, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Today our goal is to finish the Henry presentations.

Monday, we'll break into the acting groups to prepare Henry, Act III scenes.

HW--Independent Study Essay is due next Wednesday.

Enjoy your weekend!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

October 10, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Continue the Henry IV speech presentations

  • Read the speech (very well) in front of the class
  • Paraphrase it (very accurately and clearly)
  • Do all the steps that were assigned.
  • Audience will ask questions of you after your presentation
  • Mrs. M will grade this as a Tuesday writing. Grade will be based on your presentation--on how thoroughly and competently you meet the requirements.
If you would like to modify the thesis statement, please post a new one on the Oct. 7 class blog. If you reply to my reply, I'll reply again.
Or--if you prefer a face-to-face conversation, come in and see Mrs. Makovsky in the L.A. office. 

Literary Essay #1 is due Wednesday. (I talked to Mr. Miles after school yesterday. He and I are standing firm on next Wednesday's due date!)


October 9, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Mrs. Makovsky would like to talk about blank verse for a few minutes
2. Complete your Henry explications
3. Begin presentations

  • Read the speech (very well) in front of the class
  • Paraphrase it (very accurately and clearly)
  • Do all the steps that were assigned.
  • Audience will ask questions of you after your presentation
  • Mrs. M will grade this as a Tuesday writing. Grade will be based on your presentation--on how thoroughly and competently you meet the requirements.
Enjoy!

HW--Independent study essay is due in one week.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

October 8, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Wuthering Heights papers will be returned, and Mrs. Mak has a few words about the novel and the papers.
2. Work on your Henry speeches and be prepared to explicate the speech in front of the class tomorrow.

HW--Begin working on the literary essay. Check the blog later today for comments about your thesis.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

October 7, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

1. Grab a computer and post your tentative thesis statements on today's blog (under comments). Also please name your book and author. I will respond to each one of you sometime this week. You may also respond to each other's statements. This is the week to come in and see Mrs. Makovsky if you would like help with the upcoming paper.
2. Today we will complete our reading and viewing of Henry, Act II.
3. Time permitting, we'll begin a close-reading assignment that will be our focus this week.

HW--Independent study essay. Begin working on it now...


Thursday, October 3, 2013

October 4, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Lit?

1. I found Mrs. Boldman's candy! Winners of Multiple Choice Contest get ALL of it!
2. Act II, Henry IV
  • Continue scene 2
  • View and discuss scenes 3, 4, and 5 (or read out loud if you prefer)
Clip 1: Act 2, scene 3 (a bit grainy...and Hotspur has fuzzy hair)
Clip 2: Act 2, scene 4 (2010 production at the Globe Theatre in London!!)
Clip 3: Act 2, scene 5 (2010 production at the Globe Theatre)

Homework: Thesis statement worksheet is due on Monday if you didn't hand it in today.

Have a safe and memorable Homecoming weekend. Make good memories! Take care of each other!

October 3, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Focus: Preparing for the A.P. Exam

Multiple choice practice--individually and in groups.

HW
Thesis worksheet due tomorrow or Monday

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

October 2, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature

1. Wrap up the genealogy chart
2. Read and discuss the Sample Literary Essay from Mr. Kleeman's student
3. If time permits, begin reading Act II of Henry IV

Homework:
Literary Essay Thesis Worksheet due Friday or Monday (your choice)
Continue reading your book for independent study

Tomorrow: Practice A.P. Lit. Multiple Choice exam