October 1, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Lit?

1. Finish performance of Act I, scene 3. Discuss it.
2. Genealogy charts for history lovers
3. Handout--Literary Essay Requirements

HW--Read your independent study book, complete the Thesis Statement Worksheet (for Friday), and engage in as many Homecoming activities as possible. Be Falstaffian (but only to a small degree. Seek joy and laughter--but eschew brew and crime! )

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

1. Act 1 performances! After attendance and greetings, assemble props, put on costumes, and prepare yourselves for your scenes.
2. As you watch the scenes, prepare questions and comments for the actors regarding their interpretation of the characaters, their ideas about the purpose of the scene, the symbols they included, etc.

Homework: Read Act 2 for Friday and complete a reading ticket.

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

Focus: Establishing Henry IV's central character dynamics and conflicts through performance

1. Warm-up: Two dramatic read-throughs of Henry IV, 2.2 (yes--we're skipping ahead, but don't worry--we'll come back)

Click HERE for the slides on how to read through and perform 2.2; scroll down to the slide that reads, "Henry IV, Day 2."

Note: Please make at least one SYMBOLIC choice in your performance.  For example, a group last year had Hal carrying around a crumpled up crown in his back pocket; during certain moments, he would take it out and smooth out the wrinkles.

2. Assignments for Act 1 scenes:

• Courtiers----l.1
• Rebels------1.2
• Pub Crawlers-----1.3 to end

Meet in your designated spaces and start rehearsing. Performances will take place on Monday, but you will have 15 minutes to touch base with your groups before the performances begin.

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:
1. Bring in any materials you need for your performance on Monday.
2. Independent reading.

September 26, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Focus: Workshopping your Tuesday writings

Take 10 minutes to perform the "The 15 Minute Henry"

1. Warm-up: Talking through the prompt and rubric together

2. Reading through a few sample essays; discussing what number range (4 and below, 5, 6-7, or 8-9) you think they received and why.  Try to use lingo from the rubric as you explain your assessment.

3. Getting into a big circle and workshopping the essays of two brave volunteers

As you listen, remember to set your notes in four quadrants:

Content/organization strengths

Content/organization weaknesses

Stylistic strengths

Stylistic weaknesses

HW:
Independent reading.  Enough said.

September 25, 2013: What's Happening in A.P. Literature?

Focus: Welcome to the world of Henry IV!
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As you walk in, pick up a nice, new copy of Henry IV.

1. Making inferences about this play using the illustrated character chart: Click HERE for the slides with all of today's specific directions on the character chart and the 15 Minute Henry
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2. Dividing the class into the Courtiers, the Rebels, and the Pub Crawlers; designating King Henry’s court, the rebel camp, and the Boar’s Head Tavern

Think about which section of the classroom makes the most sense for your particular locale, then decorate accordingly.

3. Performing “The 15 Minute Henry”
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4. Returning to the illustrated character chart and adding any new knowledge you gained about these characters in class today.

HW:
Independent reading, independent reading, independent reading.  Consider this: How much are you going to read during Homecoming Week?  So, how much do you need to read this week and weekend?

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

Focus: Writing about Wuthering Heights

1. Warm-up: Taking a quick look at a long essay (feel free to read the rest later, if you're interested) on what the feminists have to say about Wuthering Heights:

• Read and mark up the first paragraph and the last paragraph.
• Skim until you find a middle paragraph somewhere that interests you; underline the central idea of that paragraph.
• Share your thoughts and findings with the class.

2. Tuesday Writing #3: Wuthering Heights (40 minutes)

Tip of the day: Try playing around with one or two of the terms on your tone sheet (given out a couple of weeks ago) as you respond to the prompt. Feel free to have this sheet out during the timed writing.

Please note that you cannot use your books for this timed writing since you won't be able to use your books on the actual AP test; you need to get used to paraphrasing your examples specifically yet concisely.

HW:
1. Independent reading (aim to finish by October 7).
2. If you have your own copy of Henry IV, start bringing it to class tomorrow and Friday.

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

Focus: Synthesizing larger ideas about Wuthering Heights

Please take a laptop today.

1. Group warm-up: Read and react to Charlotte's original Preface to Wuthering Heights

2. Individually: Think through Wuthering Heights as you continue with your Big Question Blog post.

Two reminders:

a. Please include specific moments and quotations from the novel in your discussion.

b. Remember that your entry does not need to be a thesis-driven, five paragraph essay (unless that's what you prefer).  Feel free to wander a bit, ask questions, and engage your own, unique voice and style.

3. Final Socratic Seminar: Chapter XXX through the ending of Wuthering Heights. Bring your completed Venn diagrams.

4. If time allows, read and leave comments on each other's posts.  They are all linked to the right side of our class blog.

HW:
1. Finish your blog entry if you did not do so in class.
2. If you have a school copy of WH, please bring it to class tomorrow to turn in.
3. Start reading your independent reading book if you have not done so. 
4. Bring the handout on tone words that I gave out a couple of weeks ago; you will be able to use it on tomorrow's timed writing. 

NOTE: The essay on your independent reading book is due October 16, which means that you'll want to finish reading your book by about October 7, which means that you have about two weeks to read.