I can hardly believe we've arrived at Winter Break! I hope you all have a great two weeks off and come back refreshed.
From my perspective, it's been a great year so far. I'm enjoying you all very much, and I'm looking forward to our further literary adventures.
Over break, please read the rest of All My Sons. There won't be a test on the play, but it will appear on your final exam at the end of January.
Best Wishes and Happy New Year!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A Message for Kids Who Missed Class on 12/15
Be sure to check out all of the podcasts at my Edublog site here.
Also, catch up on your reading of All My Sons. I've been told by many that the plot resembles that of the new Natalie Portman movie, Brothers. How about that!
6th hour, read through page 20
5th hour, read to the middle of page 24
4th hour, read to the middle of page 25
Also, everyone needs a complete rough draft of their compare/contrast essay for tomorrow. See you then!
Also, catch up on your reading of All My Sons. I've been told by many that the plot resembles that of the new Natalie Portman movie, Brothers. How about that!
6th hour, read through page 20
5th hour, read to the middle of page 24
4th hour, read to the middle of page 25
Also, everyone needs a complete rough draft of their compare/contrast essay for tomorrow. See you then!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
New Podcasts from Fresh Press and iMpress!
The kids in fourth and fifth hour have a new podcasts! I'm very proud of myself for editing their podcasts, even though I did make a mistake on David K.'s segment in the 4th hour effort. I accidentally deleted seven of his twenty reasons that "book banning is dumb." I'm really sorry about that, David. Still, you can listen to the podcast by visiting my Edublog site here.
Go! Comment! Yay!
Go! Comment! Yay!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Finishing The Road
One purpose for literature (and all art) is to shed light on what’s important in life. Every author is essentially giving us his or her opinion on the age-old question, “What is the meaning of life?”
Ok, so what IS the meaning of life, according to Cormac McCarthy? Is his view different in ATPH than it is in The Road? What matters in the worlds he creates? How do you know?
We'll be talking about these issues in class today. I'm so excited to discuss this text with you. I know it's been powerful for many of you, and I'm really looking forward to hearing your reactions to the end of the novel.
For me, the book has been a life-changer. I think I’ll have to put it in my all-time Top 5. It’s the type of book that sticks to your bones – I’m not going to forget this one, even though (and probably because) it hurt me so much to read it. I honestly hated reading this novel, but it affected me so profoundly. If so many kids are buzzing about it, if the teachers are talking about it at lunch for months, and if the parents are weighing in on its meaning and appropriateness for study, you know there's something to this text.
Ok, so what IS the meaning of life, according to Cormac McCarthy? Is his view different in ATPH than it is in The Road? What matters in the worlds he creates? How do you know?
We'll be talking about these issues in class today. I'm so excited to discuss this text with you. I know it's been powerful for many of you, and I'm really looking forward to hearing your reactions to the end of the novel.
For me, the book has been a life-changer. I think I’ll have to put it in my all-time Top 5. It’s the type of book that sticks to your bones – I’m not going to forget this one, even though (and probably because) it hurt me so much to read it. I honestly hated reading this novel, but it affected me so profoundly. If so many kids are buzzing about it, if the teachers are talking about it at lunch for months, and if the parents are weighing in on its meaning and appropriateness for study, you know there's something to this text.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Deep Thoughts
I'm a little backlogged on grading, but I'm working late tonight to catch up. Just me. Alone here in 262. Sigh.
Anyway, to prove that I've been making some progress (and to help you understand what makes a great literary analysis) I'm posting some exemplars for the ATPH test passage.
To get an A on this part of the test, you had to do the following: 1) Respond to all elements of the question; 2)Correctly identify a motif and articulate a theory about what it represents that goes beyond the obvious (Not just "blood symbolizes death." What else could the blood symbolize, or at the very least what truths about death is McCarthy hinting at); 3)Comment clearly on how the passage contributes to a thematic idea. Your comment should include inightful ideas that go beyond the surface; and 4) Use your three supporting passages to inform a well-written thesis statement that answers the question "What about your thematic idea is important in this novel?"
Here are some examples of parts of successful papers:
From Erik R.:
"This passage expands upon the idea of nature's ability to both give and take away. John Grady Cole has just killed a doe, which is a gift from nature. However, as the doe dies, Cole begins to recognize nature's ability to take away. Not only does he indirectly compare Alejandra and the doe, but he also eventually recognizes that nature's 'heart beat at a terrible cost' and that no matter what he did "the world's pain and its beauty moved in a relationship of ... equity.' this is a moment of epiphany for Cole since his opens his eyes to the little beauty for which he has suffered so much."
from Maureen K.:
"Red is repeated several times within the whole book, as is blood, and I think that it symbolizes death. Wetness is also repeated several times in this passage, and I think it symbolizes tears or lack of them. Through everything that happened while he was in Mexico, he only cried once or twice. He dwelt a lot on what had happened but didn't show any emotion attached to the events. Pain and beauty are grouped together which is odd, but it comments that they moved together in a relationship of equality, one never overpowering or making itself more present than the other. "Cold" and "blue" I think could hint at the melancholy disappointment that John is feeling at this point before he leaves Mexico."
From Annie D.:
"Throughout the book, McCarthy uses the motif of darkness, death and cold to reinforce the idea of loneliness. In this passage, specifically, McCarthy uses works like "dark," "cold," "cold blue," "dying light," and "darkening landscape." Even though these are in relation to the setting, it strengthens the motif of darkeness and cold while simultaneously enhancing the theme of loneliness because he shows that John is all alone in a dark, cold world. This is seen throughout the book when Alejandra leaves John, when Rawlins returns home, when John must face the judge alone, and finally when he rides off in the sunset alone at the end of the novel. The effect of the motif is that it further reinforces the idea that John is rebelling against the rest of society and striking out on his own to try to reconnect with an older era. This is because the darkness and loneliness that he encounters is a direct result of the choices he made along his journey. Theis motif could symbolize the empirical truth about humanity that is if we pursue womething whole-heartedly, especially if it stands in contrast to the rest of society, we will inevitably face obstacles such as loneliness."
Anyway, to prove that I've been making some progress (and to help you understand what makes a great literary analysis) I'm posting some exemplars for the ATPH test passage.
To get an A on this part of the test, you had to do the following: 1) Respond to all elements of the question; 2)Correctly identify a motif and articulate a theory about what it represents that goes beyond the obvious (Not just "blood symbolizes death." What else could the blood symbolize, or at the very least what truths about death is McCarthy hinting at); 3)Comment clearly on how the passage contributes to a thematic idea. Your comment should include inightful ideas that go beyond the surface; and 4) Use your three supporting passages to inform a well-written thesis statement that answers the question "What about your thematic idea is important in this novel?"
Here are some examples of parts of successful papers:
From Erik R.:
"This passage expands upon the idea of nature's ability to both give and take away. John Grady Cole has just killed a doe, which is a gift from nature. However, as the doe dies, Cole begins to recognize nature's ability to take away. Not only does he indirectly compare Alejandra and the doe, but he also eventually recognizes that nature's 'heart beat at a terrible cost' and that no matter what he did "the world's pain and its beauty moved in a relationship of ... equity.' this is a moment of epiphany for Cole since his opens his eyes to the little beauty for which he has suffered so much."
from Maureen K.:
"Red is repeated several times within the whole book, as is blood, and I think that it symbolizes death. Wetness is also repeated several times in this passage, and I think it symbolizes tears or lack of them. Through everything that happened while he was in Mexico, he only cried once or twice. He dwelt a lot on what had happened but didn't show any emotion attached to the events. Pain and beauty are grouped together which is odd, but it comments that they moved together in a relationship of equality, one never overpowering or making itself more present than the other. "Cold" and "blue" I think could hint at the melancholy disappointment that John is feeling at this point before he leaves Mexico."
From Annie D.:
"Throughout the book, McCarthy uses the motif of darkness, death and cold to reinforce the idea of loneliness. In this passage, specifically, McCarthy uses works like "dark," "cold," "cold blue," "dying light," and "darkening landscape." Even though these are in relation to the setting, it strengthens the motif of darkeness and cold while simultaneously enhancing the theme of loneliness because he shows that John is all alone in a dark, cold world. This is seen throughout the book when Alejandra leaves John, when Rawlins returns home, when John must face the judge alone, and finally when he rides off in the sunset alone at the end of the novel. The effect of the motif is that it further reinforces the idea that John is rebelling against the rest of society and striking out on his own to try to reconnect with an older era. This is because the darkness and loneliness that he encounters is a direct result of the choices he made along his journey. Theis motif could symbolize the empirical truth about humanity that is if we pursue womething whole-heartedly, especially if it stands in contrast to the rest of society, we will inevitably face obstacles such as loneliness."
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Podcasting Project!
We're going to do a podcasting project with some third graders at Fairview Elementary School in Bloomington, Indiana.
On Wednesday, we're going to listen to the third graders' podcast, and then we're going to think about how to respond. Our topic will be censorship and literature.
To help us, I've compiled some links relating to these topics. You can find them on my Diigo page here:
Links!
I hope that works.
Here's the link to the Fairview kids' podcast!
On Wednesday, we're going to listen to the third graders' podcast, and then we're going to think about how to respond. Our topic will be censorship and literature.
To help us, I've compiled some links relating to these topics. You can find them on my Diigo page here:
Links!
I hope that works.
Here's the link to the Fairview kids' podcast!
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