For Monday, September 22

1. Read Chapters 19 and 20 in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
2. You might want to review the essay "Corn Pone Opinions" before class on Monday.
3. Look at the following five (5) pieces of social commentary.  For each artist, identify his/her purpose.  
4. Find a piece of social commentary to share with class:  this can be a cartoon, a painting, a billboard, an essay, a video clip, etc.

For Thursday, September 18

DO NOT FORGET THAT YOUR RECITATION IS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, 9-17

Read Huck Finn Chapters 16-18.

Think about or annotate:

• Look for Huck's anxiety in Chapter 16.  Think about God's law and man's law.
• Notice Twain's satirization of the feud between the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords.
• What else does Twain mock?
• Pay particular attention to Col.Grangerford's description
• Last paragraph of 18-enjoy the freedom of the raft!  Where do you find freedom?

Bring to Class:
Literary Analysis Worksheet (for reference)
Voice Lessons-handouts detail, diction, diction
"Corn Pone Opinions" by Mark Twain

For Tuesday, September 16

Read Huckleberry Finn through Chapter 15. Pay particular attention to Huck's various attitudes toward Jim.  When do his attitudes seem to be authentically his; when do they seem to represent a social norm.  Huck and Jim's developing relationship is key to these chapters.

Also, notice Huck's ability or inability to lie and his ingenuity.  The superstitions held by various characters also indicate something about the era.  Look for things you would consider ironic or satirical.

Weekend Blessings!  I love being your teacher; it IS my life calling.

For Friday, September 12

Read Chapters 5-8 of Huckleberry Finn.  Plot development.  Huck's character development.  Jim's character development.  Pap's characterization. Imagery.  Focus your reading on these elements of the story.

Important Notice:  Sometime in the next week, you must come and read aloud (in private with me) the second to last paragraph of Chapter 4.  Practice before you come.  I will grade for fluency and vocal variation.  It is essential when you read for the AP exam to hear the language of your selection in your head in a way that makes the reading more accessible for interpretation.  This is a key skill we will work on this year.

A German experiment reveals that reciting poetry is good for your heart. It was a small test group--seven people walked around a room reciting traditional poetry and breathing in time to the poem's beat. The result: their heat rate dropped and their heart's ability to rest and recuperate from stress increased. 

The researcher, Dietrich von Bonin said, "Recitation links body and soul--mind, breath, and body--in a unique way."

The generation before mine was taught to recite poetry, mine was just asked to read it--today, is it still part of the curriculum? Maybe we can bring back the practice--we could use a poetry App on our iPhone and recite as we walk to the store or while commuting. It would be more entertaining than hearing someone braying, "I'm on the train! I'll be home in twenty minutes!" If you take a hat, you could even make some money...

http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/2010/06/in-case-you-need-an-excuse-for-poetry.html

For Wednesday, September 10

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been the American novel most frequently banned from high school reading lists and libraries across our nation.  One synthesis activity we will tackle during this unit will require us to research the arguments made for and against this novel.  We will, then, finish our discussion of the text and begin debating the literary merits of Twain's work.

In year's past, I have held a trial wherein the prosecution accuses Mr. Twain of racism and prejudicial indoctrination of young minds.  Students adopt the roles of lawyers, witnesses, and jurors.  My intention this year will be to continue this tradition.  Therefore, equip yourself with the tools of rhetoric and argumentation as you read the novel.  You need to read in support of both sides of the issue.  Impossible?  Maybe, but I urge you to keep it in mind.

Do you realize that a version of this novel has been produced without the "N" word?  What are your thoughts on that?  Think about it.

Before starting Chapter 1 of this great/horrible novel, make sure to read the NOTICE and the EXPLANATORY notes from the author.  Both can be found on the pages before the table of contents in your hard copy or kindle edition.

SO...read Chapters 1-4 and expect a quick reading quiz on Wednesday.  Quiz will be multiple choice and one short essay response (paragraph).
 

For Monday, September 8

First, I want you to peruse the devotional at this link:  http://www.keyway.ca/htm2011/20110211.htm

Now, imagine that you are the leper or the blind person who Jesus touched.  After considering how important touch is to the human being, read and annotate the following article.  See if you agree with the assertions Kearney makes.

This link should put you on the NY Times Opinion Page.  The title of the article is "Losing Our Touch" by Richard Kearney.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/08/30/losing-our-touch/?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A6%22%7D

Print the article out and annotate.

Which rhetorical appeals does Kearney use and to what effect?  Consider:  diction, imagery, irony, allusion.  Label the rhetorical appeals-to emotion, to character, to logic.  Most importantly-As you highlight an example of a particular strategy...label the strategy and then describe the effect on the reader. 

Your annotations should lend themselves to your argument as to HOW Kearney persuades his readers to his point of view. 

For Thursday, September 4

Using your close reading strategies, annotate the excerpt from Narrative Life of Frederick Douglass which I have entitled "Slave Songs."

Mark examples of diction, irony, imagery, rhetorical appeals.  Think about the ways these Douglass utilizes these tools of the written language.  What effect do each of the strategies have within the text? 

I will make sure you have annotations for a homework grade on Thursday.  You will work for the majority of the class on a Team Discussion Page over this excerpt. 

Come prepared to be a part of your team's discussion!