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  1. AP Literature and Composition (Period 6)
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AP Literature and Composition (Period 6) Assignments

Instructors
Term
Fall 2018 - Spring 2019
Department
English
Description
Requiring students to think, work and perform at college level, instruction in AP English Literature and Composition prepares students to take the AP English Literature and Composition examination offered by the College Board. Passing grades on the exam afford students college credit for this course, the amount of credit varying with each university. Students hone analytical, critical and evaluative skills while reading and discussing core literary works from the AP suggested reading list or equivalent works. Students cultivate the ability to convey ideas and arguments precisely, orally and in writing advanced essays, both timed and prepared. Typical AP titles include novels, plays, poetry and non-fiction works from the Renaissance through contemporary times and are multi-cultural in origin. All students enrolled in this class are required to take the AP English Literature Examination.

Assignment Calendar

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Past Assignments

Due:

Post Exam.png

Assignment

  • For your reference, I've attached the post-exam plan for our remaining meetings here.

Due:

Assignment

  • The answers for the released exam are posted below for your reference. This exam is entirely optional and is not being submitted for credit -- treat it as a practice tool, especially with regard to self-pacing.
  • AP ENGLISH LITERATURE TESTING REMINDERS:
    • Date: Wednesday, May 8th.
    • Time: 8:00 AM (arrive at the gym by 7:45 AM).
    • MSHS will provide all testing materials.
    • Exam lasts approximately 3.5 hours -- you are dismissed from school when the test is over (around noon).
    • Must be in uniform.
    • Do not bring cellphones and/or any other electronic devices into the testing room.
    • If you owe a balance, you must pay Mrs. Alves before being allowed to take the exam.
    • GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!

Due:

Assignment

  • Literature circles meeting/planning sheet is included below. Please copy this into a shared Google doc and share it with [email protected]. 
  • The answers for our last MC practice passage have been posted below for your reference. Some of the potentially trickier questions have a short explanation accompanying them. I would suggest looking at any questions you may have missed and try correcting your answers first, before looking at the answer key to confirm.

Due:

Assignment

  • Hamlet projects due by 3pm today, April 9th.
  • For your reference, the sample essays discussed during class on April 4th (regarding our last timed write) can be found in the PowerPoint below. The first sample essay received a score of 9, and the second received a score of 5.

Due:

Assignment

  • Supplemental Hamlet logs due today.
  • For your reference, the notes discussed during class on April 1st (regarding our last timed write) can be found in the PowerPoint below. 
  • Continue to bring any necessary materials for your Hamlet projects throughout the week -- we will be devoting some class time to working on those in the coming days.

Due:

Assignment

  • Study for the Sadlier/Hamlet test (Wednesday). The terms for the test have been reposted below for your reference.
    1. Inchoate -- (adj) just beginning; not fully shaped or formed.
    2. Lampoon -- (n) a malicious satire. (v) to satirize, ridicule.
    3. Malleable -- (adj) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced.
    4. Nemesis -- (n) an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival.
    5. Opt -- (v) to make a choice or decision.
    6. Philistine -- (adj) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements. (n) such a person as described above.
    7. Picaresque -- (adj) involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventurers.
    8. Queasy -- (adj) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled.
    9. Refractory -- (adj) stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure. 
    10. Savoir-faire -- (n) the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence. 
    11. Aberration -- (n) a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state.
    12. Ad hoc -- (adj) for this specific purpose; improvised. (adj) with respect to this.
    13. Bane -- (n) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison.
    14. Bathos -- (n) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase or point; an anticlimax or comedown.
    15. Cantankerous -- (adj) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with.
    16. Casuistry -- (n) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument.
    17. De facto -- (adj) actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned; (adv) in reality, actuality.
    18. Depredation -- (n) the act of preying upon or plundering.
    19. Empathy -- (n) a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else. 
    20. Harbinger -- (n) a forerunner, herald. (v) to herald the approach of. 
    21. Hedonism -- (n) the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure.
    22. Lackluster -- (adj) lacking brilliance or vitality; dull.
    23. Malcontent -- (adj) discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions. (n) such a person.
    24. Mellifluous -- (adj) flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed.
    25. Nepotism -- (n) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives.
    26. Pander -- (v) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others. (n) a person who does this.
    27. Peccadillo -- (n) a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming.
    28. Pièce de résistance -- (n) the principal dish of a meal; the principal event, incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment.
    29. Remand -- (v) to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court.
    30. Syndrome -- (n) a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterizes or indicates a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.
  • Over the course of the next week, work on the two supplemental log prompts (provided below as a Word doc so that you can copy it into your original Google doc for your logs and edit it as you go).

Due:

Assignment

  • If you would like to bring your own laptop or additional materials to begin working on your Hamlet group project in class this week, feel free to do so. We will devote some time in class to getting started on this project.
  • Study Hamlet and Sadlier terms -- there is a test coming on these two items.
  • If you have not yet shared your Hamlet logs and/or partner questions from Act 5, please do so soon to minimize the number of points deducted from your total score. If you have submitted these by the deadline, I have noted your scores and will be adding more comments on these throughout the coming days. 
    • Note: Supplemental logs will be posted on the website for you to work on this week. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Review questions for Hamlet Acts 4-5 as well as the logs for Act 5 are due no later than Friday.
  • Remember to continue reviewing your Sadlier terms throughout the week.

Due:

Assignment

  • Adjustments made to due dates: 
    • Logs for all of Act 4 due by end of Tuesday, 03/19.
    • Read Act 5 Scene 1 by the time we meet for class on Wednesday, 03/20. We will read the final scene in class together and work on our review items afterward.
  • Reminder: If you were absent on Thursday (03/14), please make up the timed write we did in class after school this week, either on Wednesday and Thursday.

Due:

Assignment

  • Over the long weekend, study the following additions to our Sadlier terms. Be ready for a check on the first half (and the previous set that was posted last week) any day this week (we will not have an in-class task with #11-20 below until later in the week):
    1. Aberration -- (n) a departure from what is proper, right, expected, or normal; a lapse from a sound mental state.
    2. Ad hoc -- (adj) for this specific purpose; improvised. (adj) with respect to this.
    3. Bane -- (n) the source or cause of fatal injury, death, destruction, or ruin; death or ruin itself; poison.
    4. Bathos -- (n) the intrusion of commonplace or trite material into a context whose tone is lofty or elevated; grossly insincere or exaggerated sentimentality; the lowest phase or point; an anticlimax or comedown.
    5. Cantankerous -- (adj) ill-tempered, quarrelsome; difficult to get along or deal with.
    6. Casuistry -- (n) the determination of right and wrong in questions of conduct or conscience by the application of general ethical principles; specious argument.
    7. De facto -- (adj) actually existing or in effect, although not legally required or sanctioned; (adv) in reality, actuality.
    8. Depredation -- (n) the act of preying upon or plundering.
    9. Empathy -- (n) a sympathetic understanding of or identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of someone or something else. 
    10. Harbinger -- (n) a forerunner, herald. (v) to herald the approach of. 
    11. Hedonism -- (n) the belief that the attainment of pleasure is life's chief aim; devotion to or pursuit of pleasure.
    12. Lackluster -- (adj) lacking brilliance or vitality; dull.
    13. Malcontent -- (adj) discontented with or in open defiance of prevailing conditions. (n) such a person.
    14. Mellifluous -- (adj) flowing sweetly or smoothly; honeyed.
    15. Nepotism -- (n) undue favoritism to or excessive patronage of one's relatives.
    16. Pander -- (v) to cater to or provide satisfaction for the low tastes or vices of others. (n) a person who does this.
    17. Peccadillo -- (n) a minor sin or offense; a trifling fault or shortcoming.
    18. Pièce de résistance -- (n) the principal dish of a meal; the principal event, incident, or item; an outstanding accomplishment.
    19. Remand -- (v) to send or order back; in law, to send back to jail or to a lower court.
    20. Syndrome -- (n) a group of symptoms or signs that collectively characterizes or indicates a disease, disorder, abnormality, etc.
  • Additionally, work on the following tasks for Hamlet.
    • By Tuesday, finish reading all of Act 4 and updating your logs for this section:
      • Scenes 1-4 (3 entries total)
      • Scenes 5-7 (3 entries total) 
    • By Wednesday, finish reading all of Act 5 and updating your logs for this section:
      • Scenes 1-2 (3 entries total)
  • Keep in mind that we will be completing additional writing tasks in class and at home throughout the week, so plan the aforementioned assignments accordingly.

Due:

Assignment

  • For this week, read the first portion of Act 4 (Scenes 1-4) only. There will be one set of log entries for these very brief scenes, but in consideration of your current workload as discussed in class, they will not be checked yet.
  • For your reference, I've included some guiding notes for the final 3 questions we didn't have time to discuss in class (PDF below). Use these to add to your own insights for these questions.

Due:

Assignment

  • Over the long weekend, read Hamlet Act 2 Scene 2 and Act 3. With this section, complete just one set of log entries (3 prompts only -- there are no discussion questions for the weekend).
    • To clarify some questions: Crucial developments take place in these scenes, so you don't have to feel confined to just talking about one scene per prompt if you have more that you wanted to say about it based on things you wished to discuss from different scenes. For instance, if you were doing Prompt #5, you could discuss your reactions to different developments or characters that stood out to you from throughout this section. Of course, if you prefer to focus on a specific scene only for a given prompt, that is perfectly fine too. Remember that the logs are your chance to interact with the text, so structure them in a way that reflects your thinking and what catches your eye.
  • Also don't forget to continue studying the last set of Sadlier terms -- we will be practicing with those and introducing more during the week.

Due:

Assignment

  • Referring to the attached PDF, finish preparing responses to the questions from the remainder of Act 1 and the first scene of Act 2, and be ready to discuss.
  • Update your Hamlet logs with responses for the aforementioned scenes (these will not be checked tomorrow, but it is highly recommended that you start because we will be adding more scenes and entries at Thursday's class meeting).

Due:

Assignment

  • Referring to the attached PDF, please prepare responses to the questions from the opening scenes of Hamlet, and be ready to discuss these in class tomorrow.
  • If you have not already done so, also share your Google doc of your Hamlet logs thus far with [email protected]. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Read Act 1, Scenes 1-3 of Hamlet and begin writing in your logs, following the format established on the handout given in class. If you were absent or misplaced your log, I have posted a PDF of the handout below so that you can also work on this assignment over the weekend.
    • Reminder: For the combination of scenes, respond to 3 of the possible prompts from the handout -- so you will have only 3 prompt responses thus far, not 9. Remember that you will be scored on the quality and thoroughness of your entries.
    • Also, although the handout asks you to keep your logs in a notebook, you may feel free to use a Google doc instead.
  • The second half of the Sadlier #7 terms have been listed below for your reference. Please begin to review these, as we will be working with them in class.
    • Inchoate -- (adj) just beginning; not fully shaped or formed.
    • Lampoon -- (n) a malicious satire. (v) to satirize, ridicule.
    • Malleable -- (adj) capable of being formed into different shapes; capable of being altered, adapted, or influenced.
    • Nemesis -- (n) an agent or force inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeatable rival.
    • Opt -- (v) to make a choice or decision.
    • Philistine -- (adj) lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements. (n) such a person as described above.
    • Picaresque -- (adj) involving or characteristic of clever rogues or adventurers.
    • Queasy -- (adj) nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled.
    • Refractory -- (adj) stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure. 
    • Savoir-faire -- (n) the ability to say and do the right thing in any situation; social competence. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Group projects for The Metamorphosis are due by today.
  • Test on Sadlier #6 and #7 (first half), as well as closing for The Metamorphosis will be today. For your reference, the terms have all been reposted below:
    1. Abortive -- (adj) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially or imperfectly developed.
    2. Bruit -- (v) to spread news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors.
    3. Contumelious -- (adj) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating.
    4. Dictum -- (n) a short saying; an authoritative statement.
    5. Ensconce -- (v) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place.
    6. Iconoclastic -- (adj) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional beliefs, ideas, or institutions.
    7. In media res -- (adv) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things.
    8. Internecine -- (adj) mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter or bloodshed.
    9. Maladroit -- (adj) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment.
    10. Maudlin -- (adj) excessively or effusively sentimental.
    11. Modulate -- (v) to change or vary the intensity or pitch to temper or soften; to regulate, adjust.
    12. Portentous -- (adj) foreshadowing an event to come; causing wonder or awe; self-consciously weighty, pompous.
    13. Prescience -- (n) knowledge of events or actions before they happen; foresight,
    14. Quid pro quo -- (n) something that is given in exchange or return for something else.
    15. Salubrious -- (adj) conducive to health or well-being; wholesome.
    16. Saturnalian -- (adj) characterized by riotous or unrestrained revelry or licentiousness.
    17. Touchstone -- (n) a means of testing worth or genuineness.
    18. Traumatic -- (adj) so shocking to the emotions as to cause lasting and substantial psychological damage.
    19. Vitiate -- (v) to weaken, debase, or corrupt; to impair the quality or value of.
    20. Waggish -- (adj) fond of making jokes; characteristic of a joker; playfully humorous or droll.
    21. Abeyance -- (n) a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside.
    22. Ambivalent -- (adj) having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something.
    23. Beleaguer -- (v) to set upon from all sides; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass.
    24. Carte blanche -- (n) full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion.
    25. Cataclysm -- (n) a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge.
    26. Debauch -- (v) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation. (n) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice.
    27. Éclat -- (n) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement).
    28. Fastidious -- (adj) overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted.
    29. Gambol -- (v) to jump or skip about playfully.
    30. Imbue -- (v) to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind.

Due:

Assignment

  • Continue to work on the group projects for The Metamorphosis. These will be due on Friday, Feb. 22.
  • Reminder: If you have not yet ordered Hamlet, please do so ASAP. We plan to begin covering this text very soon. The information for the version I recommended can be found further below on the class website. You may select a different version to use if you wish, with the exception of the No Fear Shakespeare edition.
  • Continue to study the complete list of Sadlier #6 terms. In addition, please note and begin to study the following terms from the Sadlier #7 list. You can expect additional terms when we return, and a test towards the end of the week.
    1. Abeyance: (n) a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside.
    2. Ambivalent: (adj) having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something.
    3. Beleaguer: (v) to set upon from all sides; to surround with an army; to trouble, harass.
    4. Carte blanche: (n) full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion.
    5. Cataclysm: (n) a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge.
    6. Debauch: (v) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation. (n) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice.
    7. Éclat: (n) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement).
    8. Fastidious: (adj) overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted.
    9. Gambol: (v) to jump or skip about playfully.
    10. Imbue: (v) to soak or stain thoroughly; to fill the mind.

Due:

Assignment

  • MWDS for The Metamorphosis is due by the start of class on Friday. 
  • Reminder: If you are interested in requesting a fee reduction for the AP exam, you must speak with Mr. Nguyen no later than today, Feb. 15th. 

Due:

Assignment

Attention Mary Star High School Families:
 
Here is an easy way for families to earn 10 service hours!
 
We are having our Opportunity Ticket mailing this coming Tuesday, February 5th and Wednesday, February 6th during English class. STUDENTS WILL BE GRADED ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.
 
We are asking families to provide 10 address of different relatives or friends, 10 stamps, and 10 envelopes for this coming Tuesday, February 5th. Students can buy 10 stamps for $6 and 10 envelopes or $1 at school. Envelopes are size 10.
 
In order to receive your service hours, you must provide real addresses for a relative or friend.
 
This exercise normally raises over $50,000 for the high school -- so we need your help!
 
Let us make this year the best Opportunity Ticket sales ever!
 
God bless!
 
 
Additional AP class items:
  • Continue studying the Sadlier #6 terms over the weekend. We will do our second attempt of the Quizizz from Thursday's class this week, taking the average of the two attempts.
  • If you did not submit your Metamorphosis annotations, submit those as soon as possible to minimize the amount of points lost.
  • For your reference, the next major text that we will cover will be Hamlet. The information needed for this copy is posted here so that you can have plenty of time to order it and have it arrive before we dive into this play in class. https://www.amazon.com/Hamlet-Folger-Library-Shakespeare-William/dp/074347712X/ref=sr_1_9 

Due:

Assignment

  • You are highly encouraged to take advantage of the following extra credit opportunity for this semester. Please submit your entry to me by Friday, Feb. 1st, so that we can ensure that it is postmarked by the due date. When you submit your entry to me, you will also receive an entry form that must be signed by both student and teacher.

Due:

Assignment

  • Oedipus mask project due -- bring mask and writing to class (the PDF of the assignment is posted below for your reference).

Due:

Assignment

  • Read the remainder of The Metamorphosis. We will begin discussing these last two sections in class this week.
  • Study the Sadlier #6 terms. We will be practicing with these terms throughout the week.
  • Bring your list of 10 Opportunity Ticket contacts/addresses and 10 envelopes/postage to class this week -- we will set these up in preparation for next week's block day in the gym.

Due:

Assignment

  • Over the weekend, read/annotate the second part of The Metamorphosis (when Gregor is injured).
  • To save some time next week, the first half of the next Sadlier terms set is posted below for your reference. Note down and begin reviewing these terms as well. 
    1. Abortive -- (adj) failing to accomplish an intended aim or purpose; only partially developed.
    2. Bruit -- (v) to spread news, reports, or unsubstantiated rumors.
    3. Contumelious -- (adj) insolent or rude in speech or behavior; insultingly abusive; humiliating.
    4. Dictum -- (n) a short saying; an authoritative statement.
    5. Ensconce -- (v) to settle comfortably and firmly in position; to put or hide in a safe place.
    6. Iconoclastic -- (adj) attacking or seeking to overthrow popular or traditional ideas, beliefs, ideas, or institutions.
    7. In medias res -- (adv) in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things.
    8. Internecine -- (adj) mutually destructive; characterized by great slaughter and bloodshed.
    9. Maladroit -- (adj) lacking skill or dexterity; lacking tact, perception, or judgment.
    10. Maudlin -- (adj) excessively or effusively sentimental.

Due:

Assignment

  • Take-home essay for Oedipus due today by 11:59pm through turnitin.com (Times New Roman, 12-pt font, double-spaced). Please bring a hard copy to class on Friday as well. The prompt and rubric are included below for your reference. 
    • In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with scenes or acts of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how these contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid mere plot summary.

Due:

Assignment

  • Begin reading and annotating the first part of The Metamorphosis at home (p. 21-51, when Gregor's family discovers his transformation) for our next class meeting, and be ready to receive the next reading assignment in class that day. 
  • Study for Thursday's test -- it will cover Sadlier #5 terms (listed below for your reference), Oedipus, and The Metamorphosis thus far.
    • Aficionado -- (n) an enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan.
    • Browbeat -- (v) to intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully.
    • Commensurate -- (adj) equal in size, extent,  duration, or importance.
    • Diaphanous -- (adj) very sheer and tight; almost completely transparent.
    • Emolument -- (n) profit derived from an office or position or from employment; a fee or salary.
    • Foray -- (n) a quick raid, esp. for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor. (v) to make such a raid.
    • Genre -- (n) a type, class, or variety, esp. a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted.
    • Homily -- (n) a sermon stressing moral principles; a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse.
    • Immure -- (v) to enclose or confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate.
    • Insouciant -- (adj) blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky.
    • Matrix -- (n) a mold; the surrounding situation or environment.
    • Obsequies -- (n) funeral rites or ceremonies.
    • Panache -- (n) a confident and stylish manner; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display.
    • Persona -- (n) a character in a novel/play; the outward character or role that a person assumes.
    • Philippic -- (n) a bitter verbal attack.
    • Prurient -- (adj) having lustful desires or interests.
    • Sacrosanct -- (adj) very sacred or holy; never to be infringed or dishonored; set apart or immune from questioning or attach.
    • Systemic -- (adj) of or pertaining to the entire body; relating to a system.
    • Tendentious -- (adj) intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan.
    • Vicissitude -- (n) a change, variation, or alteration. (plural) successive or changing phases or conditions.
  • For Wednesday's class, feel free to bring your laptops and/or any other resources you may need to work on your essay or mask project -- we will aim to save some class time to devote for these items, receiving feedback, etc.

Due:

Assignment

  • Finish Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS) for Oedipus -- due at start of class on Thursday. 
  • Study for test next week -- it will cover Sadlier #5 terms, Oedipus, and what we will have read of The Metamorphosis at that point.

Due:

Assignment

  • Finish the guest presentation notes and reflection form to receive credit for Monday's class. Don't forget to complete the reflection paragraph on the back (instructions at the bottom of the page).
  • In preparation for our Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS) for Oedipus Rex, research/collect any additional relevant information for the following categories:
    • Biographical information about the author
    • Historical information about the period 
    • Characteristics of the genre
    • Plot summary

Due:

Assignment

  • Over the weekend, please respond to the following two questions, which were left out of our roundtable discussion. For those who were heavily involved in the class discussion, your answers can be brief (a few sentences, since you already will have received significant credit from the discussion itself). If you did not participate in the class discussion or did so minimally, I would suggest much greater depth in your responses to help balance out the points.
    • In what sense may Oedipus be regarded as a better man, though a less fortunate one, at the end of the play than at the beginning? What has he gained from his experience?
    • The plot of Oedipus Rex has been called one of the most perfect dramatic plots ever devised. Why is it admired? What are its outstanding characteristics?

Due:

Assignment

  • The notes for the remaining Sadlier #5 terms have been posted below. Please bring your hard copy of the notes for the full set of terms to class so that we can begin our practice exercises in class.

Due:

Assignment

Happy holidays! Over the course of your break, please do the following:
  • Finish reading/annotating the remainder of Oedipus Rex (the final scene). Please note that you do not have to complete the questions that accompany this play in our textbook over break -- it may be helpful to look over them briefly to help you review key aspects of the entire work and some of these questions will be incorporated into our class discussions when we return from break, but again, you are not expected to complete them while we are on break.
    • Note: We will do a reading check task (to check your comprehension of key events/details) when we return to ensure that you finished reading over break.
  • Begin acquiring a copy of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, which will be our next central text -- there are different translations available, so for the sake of uniformity throughout the class I will be suggesting a specific version. You will not be expected to read it over break, but I'm posting the information just so that you can have the book on hand for when we wrap up our work with Oedipus. The translation we will be using is by Susan Bernofsky. The ISBN information and link to order through Amazon are both listed below. 

Due:

Assignment

  • The study guide for our semester final is attached below for your reference. You will receive a hard copy of this handout in class on Monday, December 10th, so there's no need to print it out beforehand.

Due:

Assignment

  • If you didn't have a chance to finish the group practice essay for the Gascoigne piece, please share it with me at [email protected] at any point today or tomorrow. I will take care of printing these out for sharing and a quick feedback session on Monday.

Due:

Assignment

  • Annotate through the end of Scene 3 for Oedipus Rex. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Major Works Data Sheet for A Doll's House due Monday, Dec. 3rd.
  • Annotate Oedipus Rex through Scene 2 (p. 1235) in your textbook.
  • Over the weekend, read/annotate John Keats' poem on p. 886 of your textbook, using the guiding questions to help you. We will be working on an assignment involving this piece on Monday, so it will save you time to look at it beforehand.

Due:

Assignment

  • One Pager task for A Doll's House due Friday, Nov. 30th (directions posted in PDF below). Continue to work on this task as well as the Major Works Data Sheet (PDF posted below in case you misplace your hard copy), which was passed out on Wednesday, Nov 21st. It is highly recommended that you work on these over the long weekend, as you will have reading, annotation, and writing assignments to be completed throughout the week as we prepare to close out the semester.
  • Complete the Sadlier practice quiz on Quizizz by 4pm. The information you will need is listed below:

Due:

Assignment

  • Read and annotate Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") on p. 656 in your textbook. Answer the corresponding questions (#1-5) and be ready to discuss the piece in class.
  • Sonnet and Oedipus background notes have been posted below for your reference.

Due:

Assignment

  • Sadlier test #3 will take place during block period on Tuesday. It will cover the terms, the textbook reading material on drama, and A Doll's House. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Ensure that one person in your small group from last week has emailed/shared the review questions for "A Doll's House" with me. This will be used to give you classwork credit for the work completed in my absence.
    • Even if you split up the questions when you were working on them, ensure that you are familiarized with your group's ideas for each question. Also review your annotations from throughout the entirety of the play -- we will be having class discussion sessions this week that will be based in part on some of these questions, as well as others we have not yet revealed. Close familiarity with the play is crucial for this activity to be effective.
  • Finish the symbols chart from class. This will also be needed for the above activity. Remember that you can bullet point your notes for each item, as these will be used for discussion. The list of symbols appears below:
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION/APPEARANCE IN PLAY MEANING
1. Christmas tree    
2. Macaroons    
3. Tarantella    
4. Doll's house    
5. Clothing/Costume    
6. Children    
7. Light    
8. Letterbox    

Due:

Assignment

  • Bring a hard copy of your essay to class.
  • Bring the finished questions for "A Doll's House" to review in class. Also, make sure your annotations are complete for all three acts.

Due:

Assignment

  • NOTE DEADLINE CHANGE: Final draft of essay for "The Other Paris" is due by Friday at 11:59pm through turnitin.com. Please print out a hard copy to bring to class next week as well. The info needed to join the class on the site is listed below:
    • Class ID: 19264282
    • Enrollment Key: english2006
  • If you have not played the Sadlier/DH check on Quizizz (which we played in class on Monday), or you would like to replay the same game for your own study purposes, feel free to access the game at the following link:

Due:

Assignment

  • Sadlier #3 assignment -- due on Monday.
  • Study the Sadlier #3 terms over the weekend as well -- we will start doing comprehension checks at the start of the week for credit. 
  • Finish reading and annotating Acts 1 and 2 of "A Doll's House" -- by Monday.
    • Act 1: p. 1079-1103
    • Act 2: p. 1103-1122

Due:

Assignment

  • Sadlier #3 assignment (listed below) can be submitted on Friday, but is due no later than Monday. Bear in mind that you will receive a reading assignment over the weekend, and will also have your essay to continue working on -- therefore, if you submit your Sadlier work on Friday, you will lighten your load for the weekend.
  • Sadlier Set #3: For the second half of vocabulary terms (listed below), begin to write 2 original sentences for each term and come up with a list of synonyms for each (~3). This will be combined with the previous half of the set. All work will be collected at the end of the week.
    • Mountebank: (n) A trickster or swindler; a charlatan.
    • Paean: (n) A song of praise, joy, or triumph.
    • Persiflage: (n) Lighthearted joking, talk, or writing.
    • Plethora: (n) Overfullness; superabundance; superfluity.
    • Pragmatic: (adj) Concerned with practical considerations or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory.
    • Quizzical: (adj) Puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal.
    • Rapacity: (n) Inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one's desires by force, extortion, or plunder.
    • Schism: (n) A formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions. 
    • Therapeutic: (adj) Having the power to heal or cure; beneficial.
    • Virtuoso: (n) A brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique. (adj) Masterly or brilliant.
  • Feel free to bring your laptops or tablets on Thursday for our drafts on "The Other Paris." The PowerPoint shown in class when discussing the prompt is included below for your reference.

Due:

Assignment

  • Sadlier Set #3: For the first half of vocabulary terms (listed below), begin to write 2 original sentences for each term and come up with a list of synonyms for each (~3). This will be combined with the second half of the set, which will be posted after school on Wednesday.
    • Ancillary: (adj) Subordinate or supplementary.
    • Bowdlerize: (v) To remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc.).
    • Condescend: (v) To come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner.
    • Cozen: (v) To trick; to cheat or swindle.
    • Enclave: (n) An enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character.
    • Forte: (n) A person's strong point; what a person does best. 
    • Gratis: (adj) Free. (adv) Without charge.
    • Icon: (n) A representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion. 
    • Interstice: (n) A small, narrow space between things or parts of things.
    • Macrocosm: (n) The universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something.

Due:

Assignment

  • In preparation for our exploration of drama, read the following chapters from your textbooks. It is recommended that you take notes, as this information is also fair game for tests.
    • Ch. 1: The Nature of Drama (p. 1027-1031)
    • Ch. 2: Realistic and Non-realistic Drama (p. 1074-1078)
    • Ch. 3: Tragedy and Comedy (p. 1209-1216)

Due:

Assignment

  • Study for the next Sadlier test. This will cover:
    • Sadlier terms (focus on second set).
    • "Everyday Use" terms.
    • Central topics from our fiction chapter readings, as they apply to the short stories we've covered since the last test ("The Lottery," "Everyday Use," "The Story of an Hour").
    • A practice has been posted for the Sadlier terms below. Feel free to use this to help you study.

Due:

Assignment

  • Finish annotating "The Story of an Hour" more fully.
  • Finish the classwork handout, and be ready to discuss the story further in class.
  • Begin studying for the upcoming Sadlier test (next week).

Due:

Assignment

  • We will spend part of our block period this week continuing to work on our college/scholarship essays -- when you come in, you should know what prompt you'll be working on and ideally have an outline to work with (it doesn't have to strictly be a UC prompt). If you would prefer to bring your own laptop or tablet, you may do so. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Study the Sadlier terms (listed below for your reference). We will have an activity in class with these terms on Friday.
    • Aegis: (n) Protection; patronage; sponsorship.
    • Apprise: (v) To inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice.
    • Bibulous: (adj) Fond of or inclined to drink; absorb.
    • Claque: (n) A group of people hired to applaud a performer or performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat.
    • Deracinate: (v) To pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of.
    • Exegesis: (n) An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text).
    • Indigenous: (adj) Originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent.
    • Lachrymose: (adj) Given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious.
    • Lexicon: (n) A dictionary of a language; the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium.
    • Melee: (n) A confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling.
    • Microcosm: (n) A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system.
    • Minuscule: (adj) Very small; tiny. (n) A lowercase letter.
    • Obfuscate: (v) To darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder.
    • Paternalism: (n) The policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children.
    • Polarize: (v) To cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern.
    • Purview: (n) The range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute.
    • Sanguine: (adj) Having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook.
    • Solecism: (n) A substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake.
    • Vassal: (n) A person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he/she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant. (adj) Subservient.
    • Verisimilitude: (n) The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable.

Due:

Assignment

  • Finish the sentences/synonyms task for the 20 Sadlier terms from the second set. For your reference, the last 10 are listed below:
    • Microcosm: (n) A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system.
    • Minuscule: (adj) Very small; tiny. (n) A lowercase letter.
    • Obfuscate: (v) To darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder.
    • Paternalism: (n) The policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner of a father dealing with his children.
    • Polarize: (v) To cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause light to vibrate in a pattern.
    • Purview: (n) The range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute.
    • Sanguine: (adj) Having a ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook.
    • Solecism: (n) A substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake.
    • Vassal: (n) A person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he/she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant. (adj) Subservient.
    • Verisimilitude: (n) The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable.
  • Over the next few days, work with your group to gather the information needed to answer your focus question. We will review these at our next class meeting after the ACT field test.

Due:

Assignment

  • Read and annotate "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker (p.166 of your textbook). Remember to pay particular attention to the use of both direct and indirect characterization for Mama, Dee, and Maggie. 
  • Work on sentences/synonyms for second set of Sadlier terms (#1-10). You will continue working on these throughout the next few days. The second half will be introduced later in the week. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Study for Monday's test -- it will cover the Sadlier terms, "Cask of Amontillado" terms, and information gleaned from the textbook readings that were assigned previously. 
  • I have uploaded the notes from Wednesday's overview of the TP-CASTT method below for your reference. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Study the Sadlier terms, the "Cask of Amontillado" vocabulary, and the notes from the assigned readings last week. You will be tested on these soon. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Begin reading the following chapter from this section of our textbook. Just as was the case for the last set, you do not have to complete the review questions -- but it is suggested you take notes to help you recall key information, as it is fair game for our next test.
    • Ch. 7 Humor and Irony (p. 334-338)

Due:

Assignment

  • Begin reading the following sections in your textbook. While you do not have to complete the review questions for submission, it is highly recommended that you take notes as you read -- the content from these sections and future assigned readings are fair game for upcoming tests.
    • Ch. 2: Plot and Structure (p. 103-110)
    • Ch. 3: Characterization (p. 161-165)
    • Ch. 4: Theme (p. 188-195)
    • Ch. 5: Point of View (p. 227-233)

Due:

Assignment

  • Answer the questions for "The Cask of Amontillado" -- remember that you will only need to submit one set of group answers for a score. Feel free to do this as a Google doc, if you prefer. Please ensure that you are familiar with all responses, as we will discuss these in class.

Due:

Assignment

  • Read and annotate "The Cask of Amontillado" (p. 611) in your textbook, and be ready to discuss. 
  • Finish the Sadlier vocabulary set #1 assignment. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Continue working on the sentences and synonyms for the second half of the vocabulary given in class. These will be due on Friday (all 21 words).
    • Noisome: (adj) Offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious.
    • Oblivious: (adj) Forgetful; unaware.
    • Poltroon: (n) A base coward.
    • Proselyte: (n) A convert; a disciple.
    • Quasi: (adj) Resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely.
    • Raillery: (n) Good-humored ridicule; teasing.
    • Ribald: (adj) Irreverently mocking; course, vulgar, or indecent in language.
    • Supine: (adj) Lying flat on one's back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive.
    • Vignette: (n) A short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter.
  • If you did not submit your drafts for the college prompts, please do so.

Due:

Assignment

  • For the first set of vocabulary terms (listed below), write 2 original sentences for each term and come up with a list of synonyms for each (~3).
    • Adjunct: (n) Something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable equality or characteristic. (adj.) Added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity.
    • Bellwether: (n) The male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends.
    • Caterwaul: (v) To howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel. (n) A harsh or noisy cry; a racket.
    • Chimerical: (adj) Absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible.
    • Effete: (adj) Lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date.
    • Fait accompli: (n) An accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action. 
    • Hidebound: (adj) Narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative.
    • Hierarchy: (n) Any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc. 
    • Laissez-faire: (adj) A philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action. 
    • Liturgy: (n) A religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship. 
    • Mirage: (n) Something illusory, without substance, or without a basis in reality; an illusion.
    • Morass: (n) A patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand.
  • Bring your first pair of essay drafts with you to class. These will be collected and we will work on providing feedback as we go on. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Continue to work on the drafts of your first two college essay prompts. Remember to bring these with you to class next week for feedback.
  • If you needed to make any changes to your MWDS for The Road, don't forget to resubmit those as well.

Due:

Assignment

  • Choose your top 4 prompts from the list of college essay prompts (given in class and uploaded again below). From these four prompts, choose the first two you plan to write about -- begin planning and continue working on these drafts throughout the rest of the week.
    • If you are attending the Freshman Day of Prayer, remember to work on the college essays on your own at home. 
  • Reminder: You can leave your textbook in your lockers for the rest of this week.

Due:

Assignment

  • Finish Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS) for The Road.
  • If you do not have a score entered under "Textbook Check" in PowerSchool, please bring your textbook to class so that I can give you your points. 

Due:

Assignment

  • The test on literary terms and The Road will be on Monday.
  • Major Works Data Sheet is now due on Wednesday.

Due:

Assignment

  • Your typed personal intro writing is due today. See previous posts for details, if needed.
  • Study for the test (now moved to next week) -- this will cover literary terms from the list provided over the summer, as well as content from The Road.
  • Continue to work on your Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS) for The Road. These will be reviewed and collected next week. 
    • NOTE: Please pick up your novel from the bookcase at your earliest convenience. They have been reviewed -- if you don't see any note on the inside cover of your book, this means you received all or most of the points. If you do have a note posted, this means your score was a "C" or lower, and I have given feedback regarding how that could be improved. 

Due:

Assignment

  • Continue studying your literary terms. We will have a review activity in class, and you will be quizzed this week. You should be able to match definitions to terms, as well as identify instances of their usage. For your reference, I've included the PDF of the summer reading assignment below, which has the list of terms included.
  • Reminder that the personal intro writing is due by the end of the week (typed, Times New Roman, 12-point font). 
  • If you did not turn in your book annotations in class today, please do so as soon as possible to minimize the number of points lost. 

Due:

PW Rubric.png

Assignment

  • Complete your research for the first part of your Major Works Data Sheet (MWDS) on The Road. The sections you should have noted by Wednesday are the following: biographical info about the author, historical info about the period of publication, characteristics of the genre, plot summary (with sufficient depth!), author's style, and examples of the style. If you need more space as you work, feel free to use the back of the page and label the information accordingly. I have attached a PDF of the MWDS below in case you misplace your copy.
  • Continue working on the draft of your personal intro writing. You will need to type the final copy and submit it no later than the end of this week. Remember the following requirements:
    • Minimum 300-350 words describing yourself and the most important aspects of your life (e.g. background, interests, talents, relationship with faith, etc.).
    • Intro describes general background info and contains a thesis -- this statement should succinctly describe the most important aspects of your life, which you will describe in more detail in the body paragraph(s).
    • Body paragraph(s) should include supporting details that elaborate more fully on the points made in the thesis.
  • Bring your annotations for The Road this week (whether they are in the book, on a separate sheet, etc.). We will be completing a check in class.
  • If you did not bring your textbook for the check today, remember to bring it to class during block. If you have already had your textbook checked, you may leave it at home during block.

Due:

Assignment

  • Print a hard copy of your summer reading homework. Also continue reviewing the list of literary terms provided -- you will be tested on those soon!
  • Sign your course policy statement. If you misplace your copy, note that I have uploaded the PDF below.
  • Be prepared for a book annotation check and a textbook check this week. Remember to bring your books daily (Perrine's and The Road).