For Tuesday, May 5

Relax!  Think about the skills you have gained this year.

Synthesis Essay:

Opinion Driven
Use 3 sources
Let sources talk to each other
Make sure my own opinion is clear

Analysis Essay:

How does the author persuade his readers to change their thinking or move them to action?
In your thesis, include the author's goal.
You are looking for rhetorical strategies.  You are writing about the writing.

Argument Essay:

Make sure your opinion is clear.
Fill your essay with current events, reading, and experiences that support your opinion.

For Monday, April 27

For Monday, I want you to write a "spoken word" piece.   "Writing" a "spoken" word piece might seem impossible, but I am positive that these performers begin with a manuscript that the writers memorize to present to their audiences.  AND...no worries, you will get a chance to "speak" your written word to our class.  (This is like poetry or heavy impact paragraphs.  Stylize your "word" with intentionality.)

Step One:  Select a social "issue" about which you feel strongly.
Step Two:  Think about words that will express your feelings on the subject.
Step Three:  Think about scenarios in which you would find your "issue" in action.
Step Four:  Think about ways you see to fix the problem...or at least make an effort to fix it.
Step Five:  Start writing.
Step Six:  Read your work aloud.
Step Seven:  Rewrite, fine tune, restructure, and refine.
Step Eight:  Read your work to your parents.  What do they think?  Do they have any suggestions?
Step Nine:  One more look, refine...one more time.
Step Ten:  Get ready to present...

For your review:  This is the clip we watched in class:

http://goo.gl/xWbT50  You can find many more clips online.

For Thursday, April 23

Here is the link to the ny times debate room stream...does poetry matter.  Read through the discussion...take 15 minutes to do this.  If you do not get to all 7 articles, that is fine.  You just need to cite three articles.

Set your timer on 40 minutes.  Write a synthesis essay which is driven by your personal opinion.  In this case, the entire stream of the discussion within the debate room is one side...contending that poetry does matter.  If you disagree, you will
give your point of view with personal examples and then cite 3 of the sources in your counter argument paragraph.

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/07/18/does-poetry-matter

For Tuesday, April 21

Walk...barefoot
Look at a painting
Listen to music
Taste an exotic fruit
Touch a flower
Breathe deep
Watch your grass grow
Write a poem

For Friday, April 17

The Road essay is due BOP on Friday, April 17.

I would at least look through the questions below.  If you want an A, proofreading will be an important part of this essay writing process.

Essay Writing: Writer’s Checklist
Introduction:
 Does your thesis include the "why" of your statement?  Why does McCarthy make the choices he does?
 Is the introductory paragraph interesting? Does it make the reader want to keep on reading?
Body Paragraphs:
 Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence that is related to the main idea of the essay?  Does each body paragraph include specific information from the text (including quoted evidence from the text) that supports the topic sentence?  You need solid evidence for each claim...think a minimum of three.
 Is there a clear plan for the order of the body paragraphs (i.e., order of importance, chronology in the story, etc.)?
 Does each body paragraph transition smoothly to the next?
Conclusion:
 Are the supporting ideas summarized succinctly and clearly?
 Is the concluding paragraph interesting? Does it leave an impression on the reader?
__ Does the conclusion speak to the lessons learned by contemporary readers?  or demonstrate McCarthy's purpose?
Overall Essay:
 Is any important material left unsaid?
 Is any material repetitious and unnecessary?
 Has the writer tried to incorporate “voice” in the essay so that it has his/her distinctive mark?
 Are there changes needed in word choice, sentence length and structure, etc.? Think:  vivid verbs
 Are the quotations properly cited?
 Has the essay been proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.?
 DOES THE ESSAY HAVE AN INTERESTING AND APPROPRIATE TITLE?

For Wednesday, April 15

Bring in a rough draft of your The Road paper.  The final paper is due on Friday, April 17.

For extra credit, select one of the images below.  Next, let it inspire you to write a poem.  Bring me the poem.

For Thursday, April 9

Select a paper topic for your essay over The Road.  Remember: your topic must be narrow enough to cover in approximately 1000 words.  PRIMARY GOALS:  ANALYZE MCCARTHY'S PURPOSE FOR THE NOVEL; FORM YOUR PERSONAL OPINION REGARDING HIS PURPOSE/WORLDVIEW AND STATE IT.

Write a working thesis (we can change as necessary) and find (highlighted or typed) a minimum of six insightful and apropos quotes from the novel that you will use to prove your thesis.

Know the definition of apropos.

EXAMPLE:  If you choose to analyze McCarthy's use of light imagery, you will justify your interpretations regarding light imagery with multiple concrete examples from the novel. In your conclusion, you will agree or disagree with the way McCarthy sees light in his post-apocalyptic world.  You might ask yourself:  What does light mean to me?  How has light been used or seen (in a literary sense) throughout history?  How does God (our God) define light?  In a landscape without moral absolutes, does light/hope have any purpose?

Comparing The Road to another piece of literature, film, painting, song, tv series could be excellent. Make sure to check with me if you are unsure about the validity of a companion piece.

Off the top of my head:

Father-Son Relationships
Night by Elie Wiesel
A Beautiful Life 1997 film
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Post-Apocalyptic Novels/Films
The Book of Eli
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (think about the importance of story/history/memory)
Brave New World by Alex Huxley (think:  Does society make a difference in moral absolutes? or even Which world is more cannibalistic?)

If you want to run some ideas past me, feel free to email or text.

DUE DATE FOR ESSAY:  BOP - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2015

For Wednesday, April 8

If you have not alread done so, finish reading The Road.

For Monday, March 30

For John Taylor and the rest of you who missed my citation for the quote on my last post.  When I copied and pasted from the senior blog, I missed this.  Sorry:(

http://ignoringoccupation.blogspot.com/p/art-and-culture.html

Now, finish reading The Road. Continue annotating as you discover themes, symbols, motifs, purpose.  

You should look over the handouts Mrs. Allen gave you regarding the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  You will be writing a timed essay over this material on Monday in class.  This mimics the synthesis question on the AP Language exam.

You should use embedded quotes from each of the three sources provided.  I will give you 55 minutes to write this essay.  That gives you 15 minutes of reading/prep time and 40 minutes writing time.

For Thursday, March 26

Complete the Quick Write over the relationship between music and humanity.  You should bring in about a page and a half.  Remember to answer all parts of the question.

In search of a world language, music seems to the universal language of Earth regardless if the song is sung in Arabic or Spanish or Japanese or is recorded in Swahili. Humanity has been communicating through music longer than spoken language. Even now instruments in fusion music, local and indigenous and classical music still earns respect from warring factions and divided nations. Music has been used in the past and currently the present as a form of diplomacy sometimes backed by governments across the world in cultural exchanges by citizen led initiatives from film festivals, musical collaborations between national bands across borders or further away to call for understanding, cooperation and peace where politicians have failed to bridge the gap. Just as it has been used for diplomacy it has also become a tool of therapy for distressed people: soldiers and civilians suffering PTSD and daily stress of life in general. Than there is the role of music in propaganda and how it has been used to promote a jingoistic and exclusionary nationalism. But at the end of the day, music is still regarded as a culture and sound everyone around the world enjoys and immerses in.

For Tuesday, March 24

Read the novel The Road by Cormac McCarthy to page 200.  Remember that as you read, I want you looking for symbols, recurring motifs, themes, allusions.  I will be looking forward to rich discussion when we return from spring break.

For tomorrow, we will meet in the FAB.  Plan to rehearse and/or Drop Everything and Read.  If you would like to bring a pillow, FANTASTIC.

For Wednesday, March 11

Bring in the novel The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

For Monday, March 9

Let me just say:
I am so excited by the variety of ideas I heard today.  As always, you guys make me so happy.  You are creative, motivated, and AMAZINGNESS!

For one and all:

Each project should have a Notes page that tells me the pages on which your quotes can be found. This can be a numbered list.  Put your quotes in the order they appear in the project.

Project Requirements per Individual Student:

Gabby Banks: 
Animoto-
Theme:  Dorian's Transformation Due to Negative Influence
Minimum:  9 quotes
Commentary:  Conclusion that states Wilde's purpose and application for today

Connor Bolleter: SWAG
Ad Campaign-
Theme:  Good vs. Evil in Dorian's Soul
Playbill, Movie Critic Review, Talk Show Interview with Wilde, Animoto movie trailer
9 Quotes
Commentary-will come through in interview and review; theme in movie trailer and playbill
Make sure I know what Wilde accomplishes for his readers.

Abbey Collins:
Video-
Theme:  Loss of Innocence     Literary Device:  symbols/influence
9 Quotes
Commentary:  Maybe at end or even during video:  Be careful of falling prey to negative influence.  Cure the soul by means of the senses...??

Jeany and Peach De Jager:
Scrapbook
Theme:  The conflict in Dorian's soul
Creative Elements:  partner work 
10 quotes each - identify who picked what quote
Commentary at end:  - individual commentary - identify who wrote what

Taylor Gilleyan:
Scrapbook
Theme:  Increasing corruption of Dorian
10 quotes minimum
Commentary:  - Images themselves, even paper, reflect growing corruption
At end-conclusion stating purpose of novel - Can be in the form of diary entry, etc.

Nic Hatcher: TRUE Chains 
CD Soundtrack and Album Cover
Theme:    Characterization - in novel
9 Quotes - a written rationale for each chosen song
Make sure you have commentary that points to Wilde's purpose through his character development. - can be on album cover or within rationales

Alex Holsem:
CD Sountrack and Album Cover
Theme:  Dorian's Depravity - humanity's sin nature
9 quotes - a written rationale for each chosen song
Make sure you have commentary that points to what Wilde shows his readers through this theme. - can be on album cover or within rationales

Jonathan Martin: SUP FAM
Psychiatrist's File
Theme:  Dorian's dual nature
9 quotes
3 significant explanations or (session notes that provide analysis)
Presented in a folder

Ross Ohendalski:
Additional character and chapter
Theme:  Dorian's guilt - Sin will find you out
9 quotes 
Commentary - either through director's notes or as a final conclusion at end of chapter
What is Wilde's message for the world?  

Maddie Ream:
Dance  + Rationale
Theme:  Dorian's fall into depravity
9 Quotes - perhaps broken into the three movements 
Rationale for song
Rationale for the three "movements" of the dance ( innocence, captured by sin, etc.)
Rationale for dance can include tone, references to physicality, setting, etc.

John Taylor:
New Character - skit
Original Song
10 poems
Theme:  Dorian's contradictory soul - nature of his fall/repentance is available
9 quotes
Make sure to have commentary either within the creative part of the project or as an added concluding paragraph

For Thursday, March 5

NOTICE:  todaysmeet actually closed today at 12:01 p.m. which meant lunch today.  So..if you responded with your comments=100 minor grade for you. If you did not respond, there is no benefit/no penalty. You are exempt from the assignment.

We will finish up your team discussion sheets over PoDG.

Salvador Dali
Metamorphosis of Narcissus

The remainder of class time will be spent on your PoDG project.  You will meet with me to go over the specific requirements for your particular project.  Everyone must meet with me on Thursday.

PROJECT DUE:  9 March 2015

Keys for success:

You want your project to do everything a quality analytical essay over this novel would do.  Think:  3 body paragraphs...9 quotes with explanations or quotations sandwiches.  So, in your project, include a similar amount of evidence and explanation.

Obviously, this will look different for every project, but if you realize that this is our goal as far as tools used and exercised, your project will be superior in all its parts.

For Friday, February 27 and Thursday, March 5

Finish the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Friday, February 27.  We will spend time Friday brainstorming ideas for your project (worth two major grades).

For our TodaysMeet chatroom, you will be responding to the 2012 prompt on the AP Language and composition exam.  This chatroom will be open for one week; all comments must be in by March 5.

ROOM URL:  
http://today.io/Pstq

Kristof Kintera is one of the most successful and most interesting Czech artists of the youngest generation. His oeuvre is characteristic of a certain doubt concerning the possibilities and role of the arts.

I DESIRE:

1. For you to have a fun way to see how many creative ideas and proofs you can come up with as a whole group.  12 minds are better than 1.
2. A free exchange of ideas; feel free to disagree with one another; however, I do not want you to create dissension in the class.  Be respectful and fight fair.  Use concrete examples to back up your opinions.
3. Each student must contribute at least five comments to the chat room.  I will grade your comments as one minor grade.
4. Note, if your comment exceeds the character limit, just add another box.  
5. The prompt in the chat room is limited because of space; refer back to the blog for the entire prompt.
6. Have fun!  

THE PROMPT:
Consider the distinct perspectives expressed in the following statements.

If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible. William Lyon Phelps, American educator, journalist, and professo
r (1865–1943)

I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine. Bertrand Russell, British author, mathematician, and philosopher (1872–1970)

 In a well-organized essay, take a position on the relationship between certainty and doubt. Support your argument with appropriate evidence and examples.

For Wednesday, February 25

Name the painting and artist Mr. Brook represents on this cover.

Finish the novel Picture of Dorian Gray by Friday, February 27.


Options for raising your grade/extra credit:  This will take the place of your lowest major grade.

Write the argument essay over the relationship between art and humanity.

Oscar Wilde adhered to the tenants of aestheticism, a late 19th-century European arts movement which centered on the doctrine that art exists for the sake of its beauty alone, and that it need serve no political, didactic, or other purpose.

Chinua Achebe believes that artistic and literary works must deal primarily with the problems of society. He has said that "art is, and always was, at the service of man" rather than an end in itself, accountable to no one. He believes that "any good story, any good novel, should have a message, should have a purpose."

Think about the differing views of art.  Then write an essay in which you explain your position on the relationship between art and humanity.  Use appropriate evidence from your reading, experience, or observations to support your argument.

THESIS TEMPLATES:

Templates for making concessions while still standing your ground:

     Although I grant that ________________________, I maintain that _____________________________________.

     Proponents of X are right to argue that _____________________. But they exaggerate when they claim that ___________________________.

     While it is true that ___________________________, it does not necessarily follow that ____________________________.

Templates for agreeing:

     X’s theory of _________________ is extremely useful because it sheds light on ______.

Template for disagreeing:

     By focusing on ____________________, X overlooks the deeper problems of _____________________.

For Monday, February 23

Read The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapter 13 through 18.  Pay particular attention to color, Biblical allusion, imagery, and symbolism.

Consider:

As we have discussed, Oscar Wilde wrote this novel 1890.  A decade later, he was arrested and charged with "'committing acts of gross indecency with male persons.'  The details of Wilde's final five years, spent in prison and in lonely exile, are tragic...Wilde's conversion took place within the last two days of his life, when desperate friends, the Catholic Robbie Ross among them, brought in a local priest to gauge Wilde's assent to the conversion and to administer Last Rites.  Appropriately, Wilde's last act was an assent to a final ritual" (Cauti xxxiii).

"Like an object caught in the tension of two opposing forces, his body and mind were torn between the love of God and the enticement of the sensual" (Zacharrias 5).

"His death at forty-six was attributed to the destruction he brought upon his body through an indulgent lifestyle" (Zaccharias 6).

So...PONDER THIS:

How do we account for Wilde's work that seems to speak so strongly against immorality and the pursuit of pleasure?  How does Wilde communicate his personal argument with Truth? What part does the Holy Spirit play in an artist's endeavor?  What does this tell us/bring up concerning the human condition?  As Christians, what is our take away?

For Thursday, February 19

Read Chapters 11 and 12 in The Picture of Dorian Gray.  Chapter 11 is a pivotal chapter in the novel.  While the first few pages contain some of the most interesting paragraphs regarding Dorian's fall into decadence, much of the chapter follows the format of A Rebours, the yellow book Lord Henry gives to Dorian.  Remember, the yellow book follows the moral decline of the young Parisian through description.  As you read, you may skim the paragraphs devoted to describing Dorian's mutliple obsessions/collections.  When you come to paragraphs where some plot development seems to occur, read them carefully.

Chapter 12 is crucial.  Read it carefully.  Mark it up.  We will read Chapter 13 together on Thursday.

Blessings!

For Tuesday, February 17

Read Chapters 9 and 10 in The Picture of Dorian Gray.  In Chapter 10, Lord Henry gives Dorian a "yellow book."  Chapter 11 will go into much detail regarding the book and its effect on Dorian. Much of Chapter 11 will mimic the book's own style and preoccupations.  So we will skim parts of Chapter 11 together and focus our attention more on plot line and symbolism.  The "yellow book" is most likely a reference to A Rebours (translated into English as Against Nature or Against the Grain), the seminal Decadent novel by the French author Joris Karl Huysmans.  Wilde first read A Rebours on his Paris honeymoon shortly after its publication in 1884.  We will talk more about this book in class.

Read the College Board sample essays for Question 3 over "ownership."  Before reading the actual grades and explanations, try to put your own grade on each sample.  Look at the differences between your essay and the samples provided.

On Tuesday, we will have a "salon" discussing Dorian Gray and as time allows the nuances of the argument essay.

In this painting, titled "Reading from Moliere," artist Jean Francois de Troy depicts a salon of the French Enlightenment.

A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to please or to educate" ("aut delectare aut prodesse est"). Salons, commonly associated with French literary and philosophical movements of the 17th and 18th centuries, were carried on until quite recently in urban settings. (Wikipedia)

The Salon by Toulouse-Leutrec

For Friday, February 13

Read Chapters 3-8 of Picture of Dorian Gray.  Use all of your close reading strategies.  You should be prepared for a reading quiz.

Wednesday is exam practice day.