World Vision Blog

Your blog this week will cover the "World Vision" writing assignment for the Independent novel unit.

After reading a novel (or two) and three short stories by an author, what do you think the author's world vision is?  In other words, what do you think he/she wanted readers to take from his/her writing?  You've uncovered the various "common threads" between the works, but now your task is to uncover the meaning or purpose of the work - that umbrella that envelop all other aspects of your author's work.  Everyone has something to say, so what is your author's world vision, and what message is he/she sending to readers?

This post will be due at the regular time - Friday by 4pm!

Oh, Joyous Monday!

This is the game plan for today:

-Journal Entry - Now that you have finished reading your independent novel and your author's short stories, you should be thinking about the "common threads" between the two works in order to prepare for your paper.  For this journal entry, create an outline for your Common Threads paper so that you have some direction in your writing before we go to the library to begin typing.

-Your blog for this week will be to post your perception of your author's "world vision"; what message do you think your author wanted to leave with readers?

-Your Common Threads paper will be due on Wednesday, so utilize class time today and tomorrow to work on it!

Tuesday Journal Prompt

Imagine that you are being interviewed about the novel that you chose to read for the Independent Novel unit.  Your interviewer begins by asking you the following question: "What are you reading, and do you like it?"  How do you respond?  Make sure that you are specific and thorough in your response, touching on the plot, the setting, the characters and the tone of your novel.  Also, keep in mind the language used during an interview and the professional nature of the discourse - how should you "sound" when you respond to this question?

Make sure that you are keeping up with your reading schedules!

Happy Monday, Crew!

-Journal Prompt:

Using one of the writing styles on your genre sheet, write about your Thanksgiving break.

-Independent Novel reading day - make sure you are following your schedule!

-I will get paper revisions and biographies to you all later on this week!

Short Day!

Have a happy Thanksgiving, my tiny AP class! Have fun and be safe over the holiday weekend!



Monday! Short Week!

This is what's going down this week:

1. Write author biography (due Wednesday)

2. Make sure your reading schedule is solid and that you have all of your short stories gathered

3. Start reading your independent novel - keep up with your reading schedule!



Papers due Thursday!

- Your papers are due tomorrow!  Make sure that you have them printed and ready to go by the time the bell rings!

- The rest of the week we will spend watching the film - Hayley, get your consent form in!




Taken from Google Images





To Appease You, My Students...

Okay.  I've given in.  I'm posting a journal entry (Joseph - you're welcome).

The boy could smell the rain coming.  The smell of wet ash.  Night would soon fall.  Darkness would come and the phantom sun would hide her face once again.  Images seared in his mind.  They will stay there forever.  He had grown accustomed to such sights.  The dead. Their withered bodies.

He thought of his father.  His decaying body on the beach where the boy had left him years ago.  A faint memory.

I'm still a good guy, he thought.  He thumbed the revolver on the pistol.  No bullets left.  The cold metal tarnished in his calloused hand.  Calloused at thirteen.

This things his eyes had seen since that day on the beach.  The day innocence was ripped away from him like the ripping of flesh.  His hands.  He pushed down the thoughts of what he had seen since his father's breath had stopped in the night.  The pain was gone.  What his hands had done.  Would his father be proud?

The boy trudged through the forest amongst the crumbling bracken before him.  His feet were swaddled in rags.  He looked into the sky.  The first drop of rain.  The drop hit his face, stinging his taut opaque skin.

Those that had let him come along with them were now gone.  All that remained was his memory of them.  The man and his wife.  Their children.  The boy survived alone in the world.  He pondered all that his father had taught him, had shown him in their short existence together.  Aliens living in the same world.  He had forgotten his father's face.

He swung his tattered knapsack off of his back.  Protruding bones and cold, taut skin.  Perpetual cold.  He prepared for another night in the woods alone.

Moooondaaaay.

-Final vocabulary test for The Road (100 points)

-Outlining The Road Papers

-Tuesday and Wednesday will be writing days in the library; the paper will be due on Thursday (140 points)

-Thursday we will begin the film (make sure to get your parent consent forms in!)

-No blogs this week!

Weekend Homework

-Over the weekend, make sure that you find some quotes and/or passages from the text to support your paper.  We will start writing it next week.

-Also, make sure to define all of your vocab words (you should have already done this!) and study for your test - it will be on MONDAY!

Final Discussion Day for The Road!

Today...

-Journal Prompt: Adopt McCarthy's style of writing to write a passage about what happens after the novel ends.  How does the boy survive without his father?  Does he?  Were the people the boy encountered at the end of the novel the "good guys" or the "bad guys"?  Be creative with this, and be sure to use McCarthy's writing style!

-Final Discussion (pages 251-287)

-Parental Consent forms to watch the film (return them to me by Monday, November 7th!)

-Tie up any loose ends with your vocabulary terms - we will have a final vocab test on Monday, November 7th!

-Begin outlining your paper that will be due next week

Today, My Friends...

WB Yeats - taken from Google Images



-Reading of the poem "The Second Coming" by WB Yeats

-Journal Prompt: how does this poem relate to The Road?  What similarities can you find?

-Discussion over 222-250 (maybe - if we have time?)

-No reading homework for tonight!

-Begin thinking about your papers!  We will start them this week!

Ze Road Vocab

Pages 190-221

Mired
Coagulate
Hamlet
Flues
Skeins
Trundled
Corrugate
Gait
Provisions
Sloughs
Leaden
Serpentine
Seep
Verdigris
Loggia
Portico
Foyer
Lintel
Myriad
Valvestem
Disinterred
Cholera
Coppers
Combers
Bracken
Shrouded
Jetty
Spittle
Promontory
Scud

Pages 222-250

Isocline
Sepulchre
Stanchions
Stagnant
Bilge
Clerestory
Excelsior
Humidor
Sextant
Verdigris
Souwester
Bulkhead
Rotary
Composite
Strobebeacon
Pampooties
Conjuring

Pages 251-287

Bootee
Sloughed
Commune
Cognate
Salitter
Dolmen
Moldering
Quill
Rickets
Creosote
Suturing
Askew
Armatures
Incinerate
Enseulchred
Crozzled
Tabernacle
Hydroptic
Secular
Garbled
Abutment
Derelict
Swale
Isthmus
Loess
Bandolier
Torsional
Vermiculate
Glens

Thursday.

“When we’re all gone at last then there’ll be nobody here but death and his days will be numbered too.  He’ll be out in the road there with nothing to do and nobody to do it to.  He’ll say: Where did everybody go?  And that’s how it will be.  What’s wrong with that?” (173).

- Meet Joe Black movie clip and the theme of Death in The Road

- Journal Prompt: McCarthy personifies death frequently in the text - as a lover, as a friend, as an evil force.  How would you personify death?  Be creative.

- Discussion over 168-189

- Reading and Vocabulary homework: 190-221

It's Wednesday Already?!

The plan, crew:

Make sure that you have read pages 168-189 (and completed the vocab!) for tomorrow.

We will have one more journal prompt this week, and be sure to post your blogs before Friday at 4 pm! I know it's a crazy week due to four-day weekends, plays, absences and tournaments, so post your blogs early!  Get them out of the way!

And hopefully next week we can get back on track...

What's in Your Knapsack?

-Journal Prompt:

The man and boy survive off of the content of their knapsacks.  If the apocalypse occurred, what would you be carrying in your knapsack?

-Discussion over pages 138-167

-No reading homework for tonight!  Perfect one of your journal entries and be ready to post it by tomorrow!

Happy Friday!

Photo taken from Google Images

We're going to be okay, arent we, Papa?

Yes. We are.

And nothing bad is going to happen to us.

That's right.

Because we're carrying the fire.

Yes.  Because we're carrying the fire (McCarthy 83).

*****



- Quiz over vocabulary from pages 3-114

- Finish our discussion of pages 90-114

- Homework for the weekend: do vocab for pages 115-137; read the corresponding pages

- Remember to post your blog entries by 4pm!

Thursday

- Journal Prompt:

What is Art?  What would be the role of the Arts in a post-apocalyptic world?  In what ways does the man encourage the Arts even though his main priority is survival?  If you were in this situation, how would you keep the Arts alive?  Would you?

-Discussion over pages 90-114

-No reading tonight!  Study for your vocab quiz (50 points)!  It will cover the vocabulary from page 3 through 114.

Happy Tuesday!

Today we will do a journal prompt, in which you will respond to a song entitled "No Sound but the Wind" by a band called Editors.  It was written for the film The Road.

Next, we will discuss your reading of 70-89.

Lastly, you will do vocab for pages 90-114 and then read the corresponding pages for THURSDAY! 

Good luck on your tests tomorrow, Joseph and Hayley!

Monday FUNday.

Homework:

• Do vocab for pages 70-89
• Read pages 70-89 - be ready for discussion tomorrow!

"It's Friday, Friday..."

THE PLAN:

 -Go over quizzes

 -Discussion over 49-69

- Work on Vocab/Post blogs

NO READING HOMEWORK THIS WEEKEND!  Enjoy and be safe!

Happy Thursday!

Today:

• Quiz over PowerPoint and Vocabulary Terms (40 points)
• Discussion over pages 26-48 in the novel
• Define vocab terms for the next section of reading: pages 49-69
• Read pages 49-69 for tomorrow (FRIDAY!)
• Post your blog entry by 4 pm tomorrow!

Good Luck Tonight, Hayley!

Wed-nes-day.

Excellent discussion today!

Homework for tonight:

• Define your vocab terms for pages 26-48
• Read pages 26 through 48 of the text
• Prepare for your quiz tomorrow!  Study your notes from the PowerPoint and know the first and second sets of vocab terms from the reading (40 points!)



Photo taken from Google Images



October 4th

New unit! YAY!

Continue to work on your vocab list for The Road; McCarthy uses many words that are going to be unfamiliar to you, so define them before you begin each section of reading.  When you come to an unfamiliar word as you read, look it up on your vocab list; it will enrich your reading of this beautiful piece of literature.

Tonight for homework:

• Read pages 3-25; come to class Wednesday prepared for some discussion
• Also, make sure you are studying your notes from the PowerPoint I showed you Monday; you will have a quiz over the information on Thursday!



Taken from Google Images

Thuuuursday.

Tonight:

Study for your Final Gatsby Test!

Tomorrow:

Write your Movie Review and post it to your blog by 4!

Happy Middle-of-the-Week Day!

• Continue with the film today - finish it tomorrow
• Paper revisions due tomorrow! (make sure you staple the original and the rubric to the revised copy)
• Vocab/Literary Device test Friday - this will conclude our Gatsby Unit; we will have a test review on Thursday
• Blog Entry (your movie review) due Friday by 4 pm

Tuesday, September 27th

Today I am going to hand back your Gatsby papers, and we'll continue with the film.  Make sure that you are studying your Gatsby vocab and Literary Devices!  Be prepared for your test on either Thursday or Friday!

Your journal entry for this week will be to write a movie review of the '74 version of The Great Gatsby film starring Robert Redford - post 'em by 4 pm on Friday!

Things to consider when writing your movie review:

• Plot - was it true to the novel?
• Characters/Actors - were they what you had expected?  Why/why not?
• Cinematography - how was it filmed?
• Setting - Valley of Ashes, East Egg, West Egg - how were they different?
• Costumes - the 20's Flapper style!

Happy Homecoming Friday!

Hello, my lovely AP class!  A few things:

• I can't wait to read your Gatsby papers!  I will have them back to you by Monday!
• The beginning of next week will be reserved for watching the 1974 version of The Great Gatsby, but we will also have a test over some more of the vocab, literary devices and book content.  Be prepared for a Tuesday or Wednesday test.
• We are starting Joseph's book pick - The Road next week (if our books ever come in!).  Exciting!

And one more thing...

GO HERDERS!

(and have a super fun and safe weekend!)

Tuesday 9/20

Homework for tonight:

- Finish the book!

- Draft your Gatsby essay - we will go to the writing lab to type tomorrow!

Monday 9/19

Homework for tonight:

-Read chapter 8 in The Great Gatsby

-Start drafting your paper - due Friday by 4 pm!

Weekend Homework

Post blog entries by 4 pm today!

Continue working on those Chapter 7 discussion questions - we'll go over them Monday!  No reading homework this weekend!

Also, start thinking about your Gatsby paper - it's due next Friday (23rd)!

Photo taken from Google Images

AP Reminders

• Study for your quiz tomorrow - know literary terms, examples and vocabulary words
• Read Chapter 7 for Friday
• Blog entries due by Friday at 4

Journal Prompt 9/13

"As I went over to say good-by I saw that the expression of bewilderment had come back into Gatsby's face, as though a faint doubt had occurred to him as to the quality of his present happiness.  Almost five years!  There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams - not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion" (95).

Gatsby finally sees Daisy after five years of yearning and toiling, creating the life she wanted - even by illegal means.  By Nick's observations of Gatsby, readers get the sense that he is somewhat disappointed in seeing her again.  Why do you think this is?  For this journal, write about a time in your life in which you wanted something badly, attained it (or came close to attaining it) and realized it wasn't all you had made it out to be - what "tumbled short" of your dreams?  Why were you disappointed?

Homework - Read chapter 6 for tomorrow and begin studying for your vocab/literary device quiz scheduled for Thursday!

Journal Prompt 9/12

Good morning, all!  Let's get your brains a-goin' with a Monday morning journal prompt!

You are no longer a student at SGCHS.  You are now a certified psychologist.  Your task on this fine Monday is to psychoanalyze Mr. Jay Gatsby.  Why does he act the way he does? What is he hiding?  After a careful analysis, draw some conclusions about this complex character (incorporate some of your Byronic Hero knowledge and support from the text!).  Have fun with this!  Creativity is key.

-Be sure to finish chapter 5 for tomorrow (Tuesday).

Thursday, September 8th

Here's what is happening today:

- We will share our journals from yesterday

-We will discuss chapter 3

-We will research The Byronic Hero (what is that, you might ask?  You shall find out!)

Homework for tonight:

-Read chapter 4

-Prepare for a reading quiz tomorrow!

Journal Prompt 9/7

Journal Prompt: Each chapter thus far has proven to be more outlandish than the last for our narrator Nick.  He has entered a society that is unfamiliar to him.  For your journal entry, take on the role of Nick; you have just gotten back from Gatsby's party, and your head is full from the evening's events.  Write a journal entry from Nick's perspective regarding what has happened in the past three weeks and how you feel about it.

*No reading homework for tonight - be prepared to go to the library on Thursday to do a lil' bit o' research regarding the novel!

Agenda 9/6

I hope everyone's long weekend was fantastic!  I enjoyed reading your blog entries - can't wait to read more and see how everyone progresses throughout the semester.  Here's what's on the agenda today:

Vocab sheets due! (be prepared for a quiz later on in the week!)

Journal Prompt: Using one of the different writing styles on the genre sheet I gave you the first week of class, tell me about something you did over your Labor Day weekend.  Be creative!

Start reading chapter #3 for tomorrow! (Wednesday).  Come to class prepared for some discussion on Gatsby's crazy parties!

Journal Prompt 9/2

In last night's reading, Nick narrates: "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (35).  What does this quote mean to you?  Why would Nick feel both enchanted and repelled by the people that surround him?  Give specific examples from the text.

*No reading homework over the long weekend - just finish your vocabulary sheets!

Reading Homework

Make sure you finish chapter 2 for tomorrow (Friday)!

Common names for the 1920's:

1. The Roaring 20's

2. The Jazz Age

3. Age of Intolerance

August 31st - Journal Prompts and Such...

QUIZ TODAY!

Journal Prompt:

Respond to your reading of chapter 1 - free write.  With your new found knowledge of Fitzgerald's life, how is The Great Gatsby somewhat autobiographical?

*No reading homework for tonight

-Keep on keepin' on with those vocab words - they're due next Tuesday!  Also, remember that Friday you must have your book choice from the AP list of texts that I gave you!

Homework for 8/30

1. Read chapter 1 of Gatsby

2. Study for your F. Scott Fitzgerald quiz

3. Come in Wednesday ready for some discussion over the text!

Good luck in volleyball tonight, Hayley!

Journal Topic 8/29

What do you remember about reading The Great Gatsby as a freshman?  Do you think that you will read the text differently as an upperclassman?  Why or why not?  What do you hope to gain from it this time around?

Your Expectations

Thank you for taking the time yesterday to write down what you hope to get out of AP English and what you expect of me, your teacher.  I appreciate it, and I will try my hardest this year to accommodate all of you.

Some things you listed that you would like to know/obtain/get better at:

a. college credits
b. better reading skills
c. better writing skills
d. write a good essay
e. read and interpret famous literature
f. understand themes in literature
g. reading comprehension
h. expand vocabulary
i. college preparation

Some things that you expect of me:

a. keep the class fun and interesting
b. be fair
c. help when needed
d. be patient

Due Dates!

Remember what you need to have by Friday, August 26th -

1. Letter of Introduction (25 points)
2. Notebook for Journaling
3. SSR Book

And by Monday, August 29th, please return your Student Behavior Acknowledgment Forms - signed by you and your parent/guardian!  They will be an easy 20 points, so make sure to get them in!

Welcome!

Helllooo, my teeny-tiny AP class! 

Welcome to Advanced Placement English with Miss Perkins!  I'm looking forward to getting to know all whoppin' four of you this semester!  A small class like this has many advantages, and I can't wait to see what we can discover together this year.  This blog will be used as an academic communication/brainstorming tool between the five of us.  We will also use it to post weekly journals and any interesting sites we may find that relate to class content.  I encourage you to peruse and comment on one another's blog sites every week, for I intend to do so; we can only gain more knowledge from one another, so please use this site to your academic advantage.  Happy blogging!



"...a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock." -F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby