Day 43!

If you're not in class, you will probably miss the fact that we are moving over to Google Classroom. So, wave a sad little goodbye to our blogs here, and head on over to classroom.google.com

Day 42!

Happy Friday!

Rough drafts are due today! We will spend time peer editing them today! Once you have a partner, please make a copy of this PEER EDITING FORM and get started with editing.

We will use Monday as a revision day, and your final drafts will be due before class on Tuesday.

Day 41!

Happy Thursday.

If you're just tuning in to yesterday's class, we decided as a group to push back the due date on this assignment, since we felt that the product would be better if it were due on Monday rather than Friday. This also means that this assignment will be on your quarter 2 grades rather than on your quarter 1 grades.

So, that means today is a writing day to finish your rough drafts of your movie reviews. We will peer edit them tomorrow!

Please shoot me an email if you have any questions!

Day 40!

Happy Day 40!

It's a writing day!

You should be moving from your outline to your rough draft. Your goal is to have your rough draft ready for class tomorrow!

Day 39!

Happy Tuesday!

We will keep working on your MOVIE REVIEWS today. For today, you were to have written down the basics of your thesis statement. You were to pick a side (is the movie a good representation of the book?). Then, you were to start making a list of reasons why based on your notes from the film.  Pick your three strongest reasons, and then watch this helpful video. It will show you how to put your thesis together.

Next, I want you to start outlining your review. Remember, we analyzed the structure of the published reviews, and we decided that an outline would look something like the one I have included below. Your goal is to complete an outline and begin writing your rough drafts today.

If you need some inspiration/ examples of kind of what you are aiming to create. Check out last year's reviews on the "Student Work" tab of this blog.

Sample Outline:

Introduction: 

• A: Attention Getter
• N: Necessary Background Information
• T: Thesis Statement (example: The 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby is a poor representation of the book in that the characters were not true to the book, the setting was too over-the-top, and the Jazz Age was inaccurately represented.) 

Body Paragraph 1: 

• Topic Sentence: characters were not true to the book (1st reason in thesis)
• Supporting Details: Include detail from book
• Supporting Details: Include detail from movie
• Justify how that supports your thesis

Body Paragraph 2: 

• Topic Sentence: the sets were too over-the-top (2nd reason in thesis)
• Supporting Details: Include detail from book
• Supporting Details: Include detail from movie
• Justify how that supports your thesis

Body Paragraph 3: 

• Topic Sentence: the Jazz Age was inaccurately portrayed (3rd reason in thesis) 
• Supporting Details: Include detail from book
• Supporting Details: Include detail from movie
• Justify how that supports your thesis

Conclusion: 

• Summarize the points you have made
• Restate your thesis in different words

Day 38!

Happy Monday!

We will take a closer look at the movie reviews that you read on Friday. Then, we will begin working on our own MOVIE REVIEWS!

Day 36!

Movie. Day.

Day 35!

Happy Wednesday!

Another movie day!

Day 34!

Happy Tuesday! Happy Homecoming Week!

Movie day!

Day 33!

Happy Friday!

Today, we will finish talking about the book. Then, we movie!!

Day 32!

Thursday!!

Today. We finish the book!

Day 31!

Happy Wednesday!

We'll spend some time talking about Chapter 8 today (whoa, right?) and then move on to the FINAL chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 30!

Happy Tuesday...I almost typed "Wednesday" there...embarrassing.

Today, we will read chapter 8 in class. When you are done reading, please answer the questions below.

Day 29!

Happy Monday!

We'll talk about Chapter 7 today (it was a big one), and then we will move on to chapter 8!

Day 28!

Happy Friday!

Hopefully, we can get everybody back on the same page today. Like literally, the same page in the book. We'll talk a little bit about Chapter 6, add anything to our charts that we may need, and then we will move forward!

Day 27!

Thursday!

We'll do chapter 6 today since you did not get time to get to it yesterday!

Day 26!

Good morning!

I'm sorry I left you for the day, but you're in good hands with Mr. Peterson!

Okay, so this is the plan for today.

First, since Chapter 5 was a big one (significance wise), I would like you to add to our very favorite characterization charts. Please focus on Gatsby and Daisy.

Then, if you are Sydney and you are present today, welcome back. You will be working on the writing assignment linked to Monday's blog post. The others can fill you in on the instructions. Once you're done, please turn it in on the form below.

The rest of yous (get it? I sound like a mobster), I would like you to turn in your writing assignment using the form below.  Then, please read Chapter 6 and identify those  instances of characterization. Brad, obviously since you've read this chapter already, you can go back through and look for the characterization.

Day 25!

Tuesday.

Well, Peyton, Alina, and I had a blast yesterday without you guys. We'll do yesterday's plan today!

Day 24!

Happy Monday!

We'll spend a little time talking about Chapter 5 today. Then, you will have time to complete this writing assignment.

Day 23!

Friday!

We'll do chapter 4, then move forward to chapter 5!

Chapter 4

1. The introductory section of Chapter 4 gives a long roster of those who attended Gatsby’s parties. How do they behave toward their host? Why, then, do they accept his hospitality?
2. Describe Gatsby’s car.
3. Discuss the details that Gatsby shares with Nick about his past.
4. Does Nick believe Gatsby’s story? Why or why not?
5. Who is Meyer Wolfsheim? What seems to be his connection with Gatsby?
6. Jordan Baker tells Nick about Daisy, Gatsby, and Tom. Summarize the story.
7. Explain the epigraph on the title page of the novel (“it’s the quote”). What does it reveal about Gatsby and his love for Daisy?
8.  Do we know why Gatsby has so many parties? Why did he buy the house? Explain.
9. When Gatsby spoke to Jordan in his library in Chapter 3, he had devised a plan involving Nick. What was it? Why did he not ask Nick directly?

Day 22!

Happy Thursday!

We'll spend a little time talking about Chapter 4 today, and then we will keep moving forward!

Day 21!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm sorry I'm not with you today; I hope you don't miss me too much! :) I'm upstairs in a meeting, so if you have a question, send me an email or a chat, and I will try to get back to you ASAP.

Today, I want you to start by finishing the characterization charts  based on chapter 3. I changed the editing rights, so you all should be able to access and edit them now. One of you can plug into the SMART board and you can finish this together.

Once you are done with that, please start on chapter 4. You can pick how you read this, but it's all together or all separate. Whatever you don't finish should be read for homework for Thursday!

Have a good day!

Day 20!

We'll finish discussing chapter 3 today, and then we will move on to chapter 4!

Day 19!

Monday!

Today, we will finish up with chapter 3. We'll talk about the figurative language, and we'll add to our characterization charts. Then, we will move on to chapter 4!

Day 18!

Happy Friday!

We'll spend a little time talking about the end of Chapter 2, and then we will move on! We will add to our characterization charts, and then begin reading Chapter 3!

As we read this next chapter, please keep track of examples of any figurative language that you come across.

Day 17!

Thursday!

Onward with chapter two today!

Remember, be on the look out for examples of figurative language, and continue to notice the methods of characterization. How does Fitzgerald want us to interpret his characters? It's all about the word choice!

The 16th Day.

Happy Wednesday!

After we FINALLY finish our characterization charts, we will begin reading chapter two!

Day 15!

Tuesday!

We will finish up with the characterization charts for chapter one today. Then, we may FINALLY get to move on to chapter two! Yay!

Day 14!

Monday.

OKAY. So. Today we will finally get to talk about methods of characterization in the first chapter of The Great Gatsby. We will hopefully get to start/ finish the characterization charts!

Day 13!

Happy Friday!

I have my fingers crossed that we can finish our 20 questions game today and finally move on to our characterization charts for chapter one of The Great Gatsby. 

On Monday, we will move on to chapter two!

Day 12!

Thursday!

We will continue with our 20 questions game from yesterday to start class today.

Then, we will take a look at characterization in the first chapter of The Great Gatsby. We will use these characterization charts to track the development of the five main characters throughout the novel.

Day 11!

Happy Wednesday.

I hope you enjoyed your extended weekend!

Today, we will start by discussing Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby. You will group up with two other students. Together, you will create a list of twenty questions about the chapter designed to test the other group's knowledge of the reading. Then, we will have a competition to see who knows the most about the reading!

After that, we will talk a little bit about methods of characterization. Then, we will begin charting character development on these characterization charts.

Day 10!

Happy Friday!

We will continue reading Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby today!

Day 9!

Thursday! The week is slowly passing!

We will finish up with our group presentations today. THEN, the main event will begin. We get to start reading The Great Gatsby!

Day 8!

Wednesday!

You will have some more time to work with your groups today, and then we will present!

Day 7!

Tuesday! 

We will pick up where we left off yesterday with some biographical information about F. Scott Fitzgerald. We will finish listening to the audio portion and then you will get some time to work with your partner on your article! 

Day 6!

MONDAY!

We'll finish up looking at our Langston Hughes poems this morning.

Once we finish up with that, we will move on to another aspect of the Roaring Twenties- The Great Gatsby. We will listen to an audio cast about Gatsby's author, F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Fitzgerald Bio Audio Transcript.

Then, we will do some additional biographical work in groups!

Day 5!

Friday!

Today, we will take some time to talk about the poems you analyzed yesterday! We will share them on the board and discuss what you found in each.

What emotions are present in the poem?
What point of view is this told from?
What is the overall message?

After we've looked at several of the poems, we will compare/ contrast the themes. What ideas reoccur?

Now when you picture the 1920s, what do you see?

Day 4!

GOOD MORNING THURSDAY!

You will get to read some poetry today! Check out this website to select any two Langston Hughes poems. Use the TWIST method of analyzation to determine the theme and message of your poems!

TWIST Method of Poetry Analysis

T= Title: Read the title and stop. Predict what the poem will be about.  Consider connotations of the wording.

W=What is it about?  Paraphrase each LINE of the poem. Don’t interpret it, just tell it in your own words.

I= Imagery: Look for any imagery (description that makes it so real you can imagine it with any of your five senses), symbolism, metaphors, similes, personification, irony, understatement, allusions, alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, rhythm (write out the meter pattern), rhyme scheme, tone and the tone shift, poet’s attitude toward the subject, etc.

S=  Structure: Look for the tone shift, punctuation used, stanza division, changes in stanza or line length, layout of poem, or capitalized words. Discuss how these elements relate to the meaning of the poem.

T= Theme: Look at the title again from an interpretive level.  Do you see anything new? What is the subject of the poem? Then determine what the poet is saying about each of the subjects which is your theme.

Day 3!

Happy Wednesday!

I will give you some time at the beginning of class today to finish up your notes on the terms from yesterday. Then we will have a nice little chat about what it was like to live during this time period.

After that, we are going to take a look at some Langston Hughes poems. I will have you select two of his poems from this site. Please analyze them using the TWIST method. If you don't remember what the steps are, you can find them below! You can complete these steps on Google Docs or by printing them out. We will share your poems and analysis tomorrow!

TWIST Method of Poetry Analysis

T= Title: Read the title and stop. Predict what the poem will be about.  Consider connotations of the wording.

W=What is it about?  Paraphrase each LINE of the poem. Don’t interpret it, just tell it in your own words.

I= Imagery: Look for any imagery (description that makes it so real you can imagine it with any of your five senses), symbolism, metaphors, similes, personification, irony, understatement, allusions, alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance, rhythm (write out the meter pattern), rhyme scheme, tone and the tone shift, poet’s attitude toward the subject, etc.

S=  Structure: Look for the tone shift, punctuation used, stanza division, changes in stanza or line length, layout of poem, or capitalized words. Discuss how these elements relate to the meaning of the poem.

T= Theme: Look at the title again from an interpretive level.  Do you see anything new? What is the subject of the poem? Then determine what the poet is saying about each of the subjects which is your theme.

Day 2!

Learning!

Today, we begin the work. Below, you will find a list of terms. With a partner, or individually, I want you to research to discover what these terms mean, and figure out how they are related!

Roaring Twenties (basic definition, cause, end, economic status)
Disenchantment
Lost Generation
Suffrage
Flapper
Jazz Age
Harlem Renaissance (who? what? where? when? why?)
Great Migration (where? what? when?)
Prohibition
Speakeasy

Day 1! First day of school! Day 1!

Welcome back to school! I can't believe summer is OVER. I hope you had a great vacation and that you are stoked to be back.

Today, we will spend some time getting to know each other, and will go over the basics of life in Mrs. Gulley's room. It's going to be so exciting!

Yay for school!