Moonrise Kingdom Questions

HERE is a link to the questions due by email to me on or before class on Thurs., June 6th.

Sonnets of Possibility

Using your responses to today's prewriting questions, you need to write a Sonnet of Possibility that will be due next Monday.  Writing in sonnet form requires that you follow certain rules related to meter, rhyme and structure.  THIS WEBSITE will walk you through the rules for English sonnet writing, but you may use any of the sonnet forms we discussed in class before the exam.

The website suggests reading some sonnets and mimicking the writing style, so here are some of the sonnets we've studied or been introduced to this year:

Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare (English sonnet)
"Ozymandius" by Percy Shelley (indefinite form)

Lastly, please start thinking of pictures or a note you might like to place in your letter to yourself.  We will fill and address your letters next week.

Interesting Lives Film Unit: Searching for Sugar Man

HERE is a link to the guiding questions.  This is an optional assignment.  If you choose to do it, please email me your responses on or before Mon., May 20th.

Film Unit and CELEBRATION

We will begin our "Interesting Lives" film unit next Tuesday.

If you'd like to help us celebrate our hard work in preparing for the exam, you can sign up HERE to bring something in for us to share on Tuesday.

Socratic Seminar Prep

EXAM PREP

Your homework is to continue AP exam preparation.  Please review some of the comparative poem prompts and sample essays below, so you have a sense of how to answer a comparative analysis prompt in the event one appears this year.

2007 -
Question 1
Question 1 Sample Essays

Please take a look at these comparative essay suggestions especially if you've had difficulty organizing your thinking around a prompt.


DISCUSSION PREP

Today you will use the following Google Doc links to prepare for your seminar on Friday:

Block 1
Block 3
Block 7

3 Classes to go before the exam...

Lit Circles

Finish reading your novel for next class.  I'll give you time to discuss your lit circle roles and prepare for discussion next Tuesday.

Exam Prep

Depending on where you are in your preparation, you may find the resources below useful:

How should I study literary terms?

Know your strengths from our vocabulary sheet.   This sheet is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good starting point.  You may consider making custom flash cards from your own reading experience.  Placing passages/stanzas that you've read on the front and terms and definitions on the back is the best strategy.  Because you'll need to pick out many of these terms as you read, you will want to work from your reading comprehension toward the terms.  Here is a flash card strategy example.

Where can I compare my writing to others' writing on the various essay prompts?

Here is a link to the last decade of questions with sample responses for each question.  By reading through what others have written, you can measure how your organizing and sharing of your thinking in response to a prompt stacks up against others who've taken the exam.

FRIDAY - Summative In-Class Essay / TUESDAY finish novel

IN-CLASS ESSAY: You will have 40-min to read, plan, and write in response to a prose passage.

LIT CIRCLES: Next Tuesday we'll continue preparing for a whole class discussion on your self-selected novels, so please finish your reading and literature circle roles over the weekend.

Wednesday

For Wednesday, please complete the following:

1) Read Section #6 for your self-selected text; and

2) OPTIONAL - Want to improve your grade?  Analyze your performance on today's MC Mock Exam and for each question you answered incorrectly, a) identify the question type and b) provide a sentence reflection on why you missed each and how you might be able to respond correctly next time.  (You will receive an additional 4 for a formative grade for your effort in Skyward)

MC Mock Exam Monday

A little Catch 22 humor for you...

Exam Prep (6 CLASSES REMAINING BEFORE EXAM DAY)

Mock MC Exam -
You'll measure your growth in comparison to your original Mock MC Exam on Monday.  I'll give you 60 minutes to respond to 55 multiple choice questions.

What will my score be on May 9th?  -
Many of you have been asking what your path is to a 3, 4, or 5 on the exam.  This website allows you to plug in your anticipated scores on the MC and essays to predict your performance.  Also, this website gives a sampling of schools that accept exam scores, and what you need to score to receive college credit.

Literature Circles

Reading Blogs - Please write your third reading blog on your self-selected novel for class next Wednesday.

Multiple Choice Week

Spend some time analyzing your "gaming" of your MC quizzes using the "AP English Multiple Choice Questions" sheet I provided in class today.  Know when you are dealing with a MAIN IDEA question versus a LITERARY TERMINOLOGY question.

For Thursday, you will work in pairs to respond to MC Prose Quiz #4 for correct responses and question types.

I am not assigning any further reading this week, but your third reading blog for your self-selected book is due next Wednesday.

Literature Circles Section #5 and Reading Blog #2

For next Tuesday, please read and complete your literature circle task for Section #5.

Also, please post your second reading blog.  If you did not connect your reading to one of your Fantastic 4 in your first post, please do so this time with specific textual references to your Fantastic novel/play as an exam prep activity.

Friday Literature Circle

Read Section #4 and complete your literary circle role(s).

Lit Circles and Reading Blog #1

For Wednesday, please complete your Reading Section #3 reading and lit circle role, and write Reading Blog #1 for your self-selected novel.

Ellen Voigt biographical information is HERE.

Open Question Mock Exam MONDAY

Lit Circles
DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY - You need to read and complete your lit circle responsibilities for part #3

Exam Prep
Mock Prose Essay Exam #2 - Spend 40-minutes writing a response to the prompt on "Under the Feet of Jesus" by Helena Viramontes (given in-class).  You may read and annotate the passage before you start your 40-minute timer.  Use the scoring guide to self-assess your writing with a predicted grade.

"Open Question" Summative Assessment - bring your Fantastic 4-5 major work reviews for novels/plays.  You may use these to respond to the "Open Question" prompt you will answer on Monday.  You will have 50 minutes to write your essay.

Requested resources:
30-years of AP Exam Questions
AP Literary Terms Sheet

Thursday todos

Literary Circles

Great conversations today!  Read section #2 and complete your literature circle task, so you'll be ready to contribute to your group's conversation.

AP Exam Prep
Spent 40-minutes writing a response to the prompt on "The Pupil" by Henry James (given in-class).  You may read and annotate the passage before you start your 40-minute timer.  Use the scoring guide to self-assess your writing with a predicted grade.

Enjoy the Break!

We'll hold our first literary circle session when we return.

Please read SECTION #1 of your independent reading selection and complete your literary circle role responsibility in preparation.

Here is a link to the lit circle roles.  Please print this and keep it in your notebook to guide your reading.

Poetry Powerpoint Projects Due FRIDAY

Sign up for your poems here:

BLOCK 1
BLOCK 3
BLOCK 7

Thinking in Public about Poetry Project

Next Friday, you will present a poem to our class.  We want your presentation to help us think in public on the AP exam when we write our poetry essays; presenters who are not aiding in this effort (through conversation that isn't text-centered or by failing to teach us about a lesser known literary device found in the poem) will be asked to discontinue their presentations.

 I will provide you with details on what will be expected of you on Monday, but over the weekend, you need to select, read, and annotate three of the poems on this website using your growing TPCASTT skills.  For each you need to consider literary devices found in the poems (preferably those that are lesser known to help us learn through example).  Rank your poems from most favorite to least favorite, so we can attempt to match you with your first or second choice on Monday.

NOTE FROM TODAY'S DISCUSSION-
Here is a link to the science of resuscitation podcast I mentioned during our R and G are D discussion.

R and D are Dead Discussion Prep

In preparation for a Socratic Seminar on Thursday, we will work together in groups today to develop and select the most discussion-worthy questions and quotes for each of the subtopics on your reading guide.

STEP 1:

Share your quotes and justifications for each of the subtopics

STEP 2: 

Develop a question for each topic and include a related-quote from Hamlet and R and D are Dead that we might consider during our discussion on Thursday.  

STEP 3: 

As a class we will discuss which questions will be best for Thursday, so post 7 questions and 2 related quotes for each question here:

BLOCK 1

BLOCK 3

BLOCK 7

R and D are Dead

Don't forget that your reading of Act III and the completion of your reading guide (typed and printed) is due tomorrow.

Summative Poetry Essay Exam Friday

Poetry Exam

Please review your TPCASTT approach to previous poems in the exam prep section of your notebook.

On Friday, you will write a Poetry Essay Exam in-class.  You will have 40 minutes to write your response.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Read Act II and don't forget to download your reading guide assignment.  Your work on the guide is due next Tuesday.

R and G are Dead Act 1 / Poetry Essay Mock Exam

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Read Act I of the play for Wednesday.  If you would prefer the e-book version, here is a link.

Use this guide as you read.  Your guide responses are due next Tuesday, March 12th.

Poetry Mock Essay Exam

Type up a paragraph-length Google Doc reflection on the strength and challenge you faced in your formative essay exam.  If you received a grade below a three, I would encourage you to attend opportunity period on Wednesday or Thursday with you revisions and edits typed into your Google Doc.

Bring your Mock Essay Exam to class on Wednesday.  We will use them to prepare for the summative essay exam you will write on Friday.

Final Hamlet Reading Blog

Please read this short article on procrastination and post a reading blog entry.

You should now have three reading blog entries related to Hamlet.

Trials on Wednesday

For HW, please make sure you organize and rehearse your roles during the trials.  Practice, practice, practice (in front of a mirror) witness cards, opening statements, and (judges) order of trial!

Important Mock Trial Documents:
Order of Trial
Common Objections
Trial Rubric

If you need to review any of the witness cards from your block, you'll find most of them posted here.

Poetry Essays and Finalizing Witness Prep Cards

TRIAL PREP - Post your final witness cards tonight to these Google Doc links: BLOCK 1, BLOCK 3, and BLOCK 7.  I will be printing them for your trial teams for next class, so make sure they include all the witnesses, questions, and quotes that will help the character respond.  I will print two copies of each card, so the attorney and the witness can have one during the trial.

POETRY ESSAY MOCK EXAMS - Using the prompts I gave you today, complete two mock poetry essay exams this weekend.  You should time yourself for 40 min each exam.  You may study the poem and prompt before writing, but you should only write for 40 min.  AFTER EACH EXAM, review the AP reader guide and estimate where an AP reader would grade your essay from 1-9.

THE FOLLOWING WILL BE DUE MONDAY:  annotated prompts and poems, essays, and completed scoring guides.

Witness Preparation and Opening Statements

For Thursday, please complete the following trial preparation:

JUDGES - Witness preparation cards for witnesses.  Here is a sample card.  Prepare one for each witness your team plans to call during the trial. 

ATTORNEYS - Prepare opening statements.  Here is a guide for what you should include in your statement.

Looking Back at Hamlet

On next Tuesday, we are scheduled to hold Skype depositions in preparation for your upcoming trials.  In order for this experience to be a success, trial teams must be ready to both ask questions of witnesses and anticipate the parts of the text the witnesses might use in response.

In advance of Tuesday, please complete the following tasks:

1) Listen to this podcast;

2) Post a reading blog in response to your "reading" of the podcast; 

3) Complete a major work review for Hamlet; and

4) OPTIONAL - complete an answer key for the Take Home Poetry Questions.

NOTE - follow up to today's discussion about the equalizing nature of death and the role of the court jester or comedian in our lives.  In case you are still curious, here is an article about the stand up routine lauded by Louis CK and mentioned in today's class.

To Procrastinate or Not to Procrastinate

For Wednesday, please write a blog entry comparing J. Alfred Prufrock with Hamlet.  Your focus in this entry should be on your analytic body paragraph writing.

If you need a reminder of what a great analytic body paragraph contains, review this link.

Trial Prep and Act V

Use this link today to pose deposition questions for witnesses you plan to call during your trial.

For homework, write anticipated responses for each question you intend to ask.  Use quotes from each character to support your responses.

It's time to act!  Read Act V and see how a play about the inability to decide finally resolves itself.  Here is your note and quote sheet.

HW for Thursday

Hamlet Trial Preparation

Attorneys - select two quotes from possible witnesses you would call at trial.  The quotes should be relevant to the charges in the case

Judges -  select one quote for a possible witness for the defense and one quote for a possible witness for the prosecution that you think relate well to the charges in the case

Poetry Quiz #4 Thursday

On Thursday, you will have your fourth poetry quiz.  You may use your TPCASTT and Strategies Sheets during the quiz on Thursday.

Please visit our new Google Doc AP Lit Dictionary and add an example and/or explanation to one of the rhythm and rhyme words we discussed today.  We'll continue to build on this dictionary as long as everyone contributes.

We are going to shift our focus to prose soon, so please continue to take advantage of this time to focus your poetry preparation.  You should continue to develop your plan for close reading poetry under timed conditions on the exam.  Next week, you will be writing your first in-class essay in response to a poem.

Act IV

For next Tuesday, please read Act IV and TAKE NOTES using this link.  I was disappointed to find that many of you have failed to value the note taking aspect of close reading.  I am not asking a lot of you to summarize and collect quotes as you read, so come to class on Tuesday prepared.

Poetry Quiz Prep

We are going to pause on our Hamlet reading this week.  On Wednesday, we'll discuss and view scenes from the remainder of Act III.

Please use the Poetry Quiz stems I gave you today to prepare handwritten anticipated responses to the stems for Wednesday's quiz.

Hamlet Act III

1) Please read Act III over the weekend and use this link to guide your summary and quote gathering.


Lastly, for your EXAM-PREP section in your notebook:
2) Use the multiple choice strategies I gave you in class to analyze five questions from today's poetry quiz.  For each of the five questions, identify three strategies that help you answer correctly.

A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO BROUGHT PROPS AND COSTUMES FOR US TO BORROW.  IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO, PLEASE CONSIDER BRINGING SOMETHING TO ADD NEXT WEEK.

Hamlet Act II

Please read Act II for Thursday and take summary/wrong deed notes as you read using this form.

Thursday we'll have our second poetry quiz.  Review TPCASTT.

Lastly, please bring a prop or costume that you wouldn't mind leaving in class for us to use for the remainder of our Hamlet study.

Hamlet and Literary Interpretation Papers

Hamlet Act I Reading 

Over the weekend, please read Hamlet Act I (aloud) and use this form to write short scene summaries and take notes on characters whose behavior might be considered suspicious.  Bring the completed form to class on Tuesday.

If you would like to read an ebook version of the play, you can download one for FREE here.

Literary Interpretation Paper

Your grade for your literary interpretation paper will be posted today on Skyward.  If you are not satisfied with the grade you earned, please complete the following before January 21st:

Step 1 - Complete your Google Document reflection.
Step 2 - Below your reflection, demonstrate that you have acted on the feedback you received on the paper.  (Example - If I suggested that you were missing a Level 3 commentary section on a body paragraph, you need to write one and place it in your Google Doc)
Step 3 - Attend an opportunity period to discuss your paper, reflection, and feedback action.

Welcome back

For Friday, you'll need to complete the following:

1) A Few Readings 
Read the How to Read Literature Like a Professor chapter on Shakespeare and intertextuality.  Annotate sections that will help us with our reading of Hamlet that you would like to discuss.

Use TPCASTT to read and annotate “J. Alfred Prufrock” and select a passage that you’d like to discuss with the class.   

2) Literary Interpretation Reflection
2-paragraph Google Doc self-assessment and reflection on strengths and challenges in research papers is due next class.  Log in to Turnitin.com to view my comments.  On the last page, you'll see a comment that contains your strengths and challenges.  If you received feedback on challenges you face with analytic body paragraph writing, you need to be sure to address those in your reflection.