Gifted English II: Finish analysis of "The Highwayman" and transition into "Richard Cory" by EA Robinson.
APees: Discussion of Streetcar and the controversial Stanley/Blanche/Stella triangle, followed by AP Review for the exam next week.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
AP Fair tonight! If you are volunteering to help, meet in the Freshman/Sophomore Cafeteria just before seven p.m.
Gifted English II: "The Highwayman," since we didn't get to it yesterday. Warning: It's depressing.
APees: Finish Streetcar.
Gifted English II: "The Highwayman," since we didn't get to it yesterday. Warning: It's depressing.
APees: Finish Streetcar.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Brief plug for travel purposes: If you are interested in going to Paris next Thanksgiving week (must be a graduate or senior at the time) or Ireland next spring, see me as soon as possible for the paperwork. We won't have another meeting until the fall, but if you want to lock in the price before airfare goes up again you'll need to decide soon.
Gifted English II: Share some odes (hw from yesterday) and then: The Ballad! We are going to listen to/read "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot and "The Highwayman" by Loreena McKennitt, based on the poem by Sir Alfred Noyes. And if you think those two are saucy, you should see some other medieval ballads. . .not happy tunes, no, not at all.
APees: More Streetcar: Stanley gets saucier. Blanche hides in shadows. STELLA!
Gifted English II: Share some odes (hw from yesterday) and then: The Ballad! We are going to listen to/read "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot and "The Highwayman" by Loreena McKennitt, based on the poem by Sir Alfred Noyes. And if you think those two are saucy, you should see some other medieval ballads. . .not happy tunes, no, not at all.
APees: More Streetcar: Stanley gets saucier. Blanche hides in shadows. STELLA!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Poetry Unit
The Gifted sophomores are studying poetry, which is getting a mixed reaction--I have noticed more people surreptitiously doing math homework rather than deconstruct lyric poems, but at the same time formerly taciturn learners have various things to say.
I was thinking about poetry today while pre-screening A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and absorbing the cadence and rhythm of the characters and their speech--I think we can find poetic resonance in everything, and not only in published, edited, carefully formulated work. Then, later, in my various journeys around the "Internets" I came across the lyrics for possibly the dumbest poem ever set to music. I respect Andrew W.K. for his aesthetic stance in the musical world, and he might be the first to admit that his lyrics aren't the focus of his work, but these are so staggeringly repititious and, well, dumb that it might make the weakest poet in each of us feel better about our inner musings. Read at your own risk, and be inspired to write something completely different. . .
Party Hard by Andrew W.K.
When it's time to party we will party hard
You,
You work all night (all night)
And when you work you don't feel all right
And we,
When things stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do as others do
(no)
Know what we want and we get it from you
Do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard...)
All right
You,
You fight that fight
And when you're fightin' you feel all right
But when,
When things stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do as others do
(no)
Know what we want and we get it from you
We do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard...)
I was thinking about poetry today while pre-screening A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and absorbing the cadence and rhythm of the characters and their speech--I think we can find poetic resonance in everything, and not only in published, edited, carefully formulated work. Then, later, in my various journeys around the "Internets" I came across the lyrics for possibly the dumbest poem ever set to music. I respect Andrew W.K. for his aesthetic stance in the musical world, and he might be the first to admit that his lyrics aren't the focus of his work, but these are so staggeringly repititious and, well, dumb that it might make the weakest poet in each of us feel better about our inner musings. Read at your own risk, and be inspired to write something completely different. . .
Party Hard by Andrew W.K.
When it's time to party we will party hard
You,
You work all night (all night)
And when you work you don't feel all right
And we,
When things stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do as others do
(no)
Know what we want and we get it from you
Do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard...)
All right
You,
You fight that fight
And when you're fightin' you feel all right
But when,
When things stop feeling all right (all right)
And everything is all right
'Cos we will never listen to your rules (no)
We will never do as others do
(no)
Know what we want and we get it from you
We do what we like and we like what we do
So let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
Now it's time to party and we'll party hard (party hard)
Let's get a party going (let's get a party going)
When it's time to party we will always party hard
Party hard (party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard party hard, party hard, party hard...)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Gifted English II: "Ode to My Socks" by Pablo Neruda, with a creative writing opportunity. And how many students memorized "The Eagle" by Tennyson for extra credit?
AP English: Streetcar, Part I, with super-duper learning packet.
AP English: Streetcar, Part I, with super-duper learning packet.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
APees
Since so many of you are taking multiple exams this spring and need to plan ahead, I'm going ahead and telling you what we will be doing in class each day. As I see what needs are present among you I will be adding help sessions and one-on-one tutoring throughout the days leading up to the exam.
Monday, April 27-Wednesday, April 29: Viewing/reading A Streetcar Named Desire in class, to add one more title to your repertoire.
Wednesday, April 29-May 1, 2009: Review all texts studied this year (the review packet with the cool font) and go over multiple choice strategies
Monday, May 4-Wednesday, May 6: Review AP Practice Examinations with several student samples. If you will be out for either Government or Calc (or both) I can give you copies of everything ahead of time and work with you online or in person outside of school hours.
The AP Lit and Comp exam is Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 a.m. at Delaney Baptist Church Gym. I will provide breakfast in room 313 starting at 6:45 that morning for interested students.
YOU ARE EXCUSED ON EACH DAY OF TESTING, BUT SCHOOL IS STILL IN SESSION ON THE DATES AFTER THE AP EXAM. You will have a final in my class; we've already discussed it in class several times, but I will reiterate its format after the AP test is over.
Monday, April 27-Wednesday, April 29: Viewing/reading A Streetcar Named Desire in class, to add one more title to your repertoire.
Wednesday, April 29-May 1, 2009: Review all texts studied this year (the review packet with the cool font) and go over multiple choice strategies
Monday, May 4-Wednesday, May 6: Review AP Practice Examinations with several student samples. If you will be out for either Government or Calc (or both) I can give you copies of everything ahead of time and work with you online or in person outside of school hours.
The AP Lit and Comp exam is Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 a.m. at Delaney Baptist Church Gym. I will provide breakfast in room 313 starting at 6:45 that morning for interested students.
YOU ARE EXCUSED ON EACH DAY OF TESTING, BUT SCHOOL IS STILL IN SESSION ON THE DATES AFTER THE AP EXAM. You will have a final in my class; we've already discussed it in class several times, but I will reiterate its format after the AP test is over.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Gifted English II: Further studies in the world of poetry.
AP Literature: Begin the epic review for the AP exam--two weeks to go!!!!!
AP Literature: Begin the epic review for the AP exam--two weeks to go!!!!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Apocalypse Now Original Trailer (RARE)
This trailer, while violent, was deemed appropriate for a wide audience. Even though it's uneven in places, I do recommend it--you can see a very young Harrison Ford and an even younger Laurence Fisburne as soldiers, and get a general feel for the film's connection to Conrad's novella.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Gifted English II: Continue with poetry; "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes, followed by figurative language.
AP Literature: Continuation of Eliot and Conrad, followed by a brief screening of two scenes from Apocalypse Now. Francis Ford Coppolla translates Heart of Darkness into the Vietnam War, and we're going to watch 1. the sequence in which Willard (our Marlow character) receives his mission, and 2. the infamous "Valkyries" sequence in which a beach is obliterated so a group of Army Rangers can surf there. I highly recommend this film, but not for the faint of heart--it is truly a confrontation of the awful darkness in each of us, and forces the viewer to reframe his or her understanding of war and human emptiness. The film opens with a drugged-out (in real life, he was actually drunk) Martin Sheen portraying an Army officer on the brink of madness, and the film descends from there. Willard is sent into Laos to find the errant Kurtz and "terminate his command with extreme prejudice."
AP Literature: Continuation of Eliot and Conrad, followed by a brief screening of two scenes from Apocalypse Now. Francis Ford Coppolla translates Heart of Darkness into the Vietnam War, and we're going to watch 1. the sequence in which Willard (our Marlow character) receives his mission, and 2. the infamous "Valkyries" sequence in which a beach is obliterated so a group of Army Rangers can surf there. I highly recommend this film, but not for the faint of heart--it is truly a confrontation of the awful darkness in each of us, and forces the viewer to reframe his or her understanding of war and human emptiness. The film opens with a drugged-out (in real life, he was actually drunk) Martin Sheen portraying an Army officer on the brink of madness, and the film descends from there. Willard is sent into Laos to find the errant Kurtz and "terminate his command with extreme prejudice."
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Gifted English II: Title Parade and Poetry Unit with Even More TP-CASTT!
AP Literature: Senior Survey, Graduation Photo Cards, various announcements, and critical essays on T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" as it relates to Conrad's novella.
AP Literature: Senior Survey, Graduation Photo Cards, various announcements, and critical essays on T.S. Eliot's "The Hollow Men" as it relates to Conrad's novella.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Gifted English II: Benchmark Testing. Good times!
AP Lit: Heart of Darkness Unit Test. Better times!
AP Lit: Heart of Darkness Unit Test. Better times!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Gifted English II: Reminder of review activity due tomorrow; schedule make-up tests for students who need to take/finish Things Fall Apart; read "On Warts" by Lewis Thomas and go over transitive verbs (handout); introduction to poetry unit. In other words--a busy day!
AP Lit and Comp: Final desperate plea for T-shirt sign-ups (it was YOUR idea, people, and my credit card can't handle this by itself) and review for HofD Unit Test tomorrow. See review list on previous post and in e-mail to each of you; that's the order I'm lecturing in tomorrow, including major quotes you need to know for the test.
Also, seniors--please go by the Media Center in the next couple of days and check out a copy of A Streetcar Named Desire (or go get your own copy if you would prefer.)
AP Lit and Comp: Final desperate plea for T-shirt sign-ups (it was YOUR idea, people, and my credit card can't handle this by itself) and review for HofD Unit Test tomorrow. See review list on previous post and in e-mail to each of you; that's the order I'm lecturing in tomorrow, including major quotes you need to know for the test.
Also, seniors--please go by the Media Center in the next couple of days and check out a copy of A Streetcar Named Desire (or go get your own copy if you would prefer.)
Heart of Darkness Unit Test Review
Heart of Darkness Review: Unit Test
Who is the narrator at the beginning of Heart of Darkness? Why the frame story structure?
Where is the story being told, and how does the description parallel Marlow’s destination? How has
Who got Marlow his job with the Company?
What Marlow’s job with the Company is to be
Fresleven and his unfortunate fate
What the French warship is doing; symbolism of the empty beaches
The condition of the natives at the Company’s station
The Company’s chief accountant
How the accountant describes Mr. Kurtz
Ivory—literally and figuratively
The condition of Marlow’s steamer at the Central Station
Description of the general manager
What the general manager inspires in Marlow
Why the general manager is worried about Mr Kurtz
How long it took to fix the steamer
How the brickmaker of the Central Station describes Mr Kurtz
The problem of the rivets
The Eldorado Exploring Expedition
description of the fireman on the steamer
Tower/Towson/Towser
The type of natives comprising the steamer’s crew
The pilgrims
What happens to the steamer just before it arrives at the Inner Station
My Intended
Kurtz’s ethnic background
International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs
what Kurtz says about how whites appear to natives in his report to the International Society
“my pamphlet”
The harlequin (Russian)
The owner of the sailors’ book found at the abandoned hut
What’s on the posts outside Kurtz’s building
The attitude of the natives to Mr Kurtz
How Kurtz first appears in the story
Mr Kurtz’s and the manager’s relationship
Who ordered the attack on the steamer
Mr. Kurtz’s last words
What Marlow tells The Intended about Kurtz’s last word
Friday, April 10, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Today is HAT DAY at BHS. Bring one dollar to the Discipline Office and get a hand stamp that allows you to wear a festive hat all day. It's a fundraiser for something we really need at Boone, and I have the coolest hat in support of this endeavor!
Also--today is the annual Art Festival. My classes are not signed up to attend, but I encourage you to go during lunch to see the artwork and hear the awesome music.
Gifted English II: Writing a Review of a Review. Your homework yesterday was to bring in a review of any kind from a newspaper, magazine, or internet printout. Today, we are going to use the material to devise a Review of a Review before we launch into our next writing assignment.
AP Literature: Return Heart of Darkness quizzes and proceed with the character analyses on the chart--due Tuesday. I do want to do a brief read-aloud of the Accountant passage for analysis purposes at the beginning of the period. Conrad really is amazing, eh? I maintain that this work will offer you a myriad of opportunities on the actual Lit exam next month.
Also--today is the annual Art Festival. My classes are not signed up to attend, but I encourage you to go during lunch to see the artwork and hear the awesome music.
Gifted English II: Writing a Review of a Review. Your homework yesterday was to bring in a review of any kind from a newspaper, magazine, or internet printout. Today, we are going to use the material to devise a Review of a Review before we launch into our next writing assignment.
AP Literature: Return Heart of Darkness quizzes and proceed with the character analyses on the chart--due Tuesday. I do want to do a brief read-aloud of the Accountant passage for analysis purposes at the beginning of the period. Conrad really is amazing, eh? I maintain that this work will offer you a myriad of opportunities on the actual Lit exam next month.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
According to Kinas's amazing calendar, today is not only Winston Churchill Day but also Name Yourself Day. So. . .can you name yourself Winston Churchill, then?
Gifted English II: Teeny quiz on Things Fall Apart, followed by establishing criteria for the review assignment.
AP Literature: Teeny quiz on Heart of Darkness, followed by continued work on the character chart.
Gifted English II: Teeny quiz on Things Fall Apart, followed by establishing criteria for the review assignment.
AP Literature: Teeny quiz on Heart of Darkness, followed by continued work on the character chart.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Be nice to your substitute!!!
Gifted English II: Work on the discussion questions on Things Fall Apart. You will have a quiz on the first part of the novel this week. Also, be sure to read over rules 12-16 of Elements as review.
AP Literature: Timed Writing from the 2004 AP exam. This will be scored and returned by Monday for in-class evaluation.
Samy Deluxe - MTV-Trailer - All Eyes On Me Pt.2
We searched in vain for this album throughout Germany; these commercials were ubiquitous over Spring Break in both Munich and Garmisch. Disturbingly, some of his commercials show him singing to children, which reminded some of our travelers of Demetri Martin's line: "It;s okay to say you love children, as long as you aren't specific, like 'I love 12-year-olds.'" Samy Deluxe! Good times.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Gifted English II: Grammar lesson involving transitive and intransitive verbs and The Elements of Style (the ultimate handbook, which you will keep coming back to again and again) and more focus on Things Fall Apart. You might have time in class tomorrow to finish those questions I gave you before Spring Break.
AP Literature: Continuing with Heart of Darkness, and focusing on the content vocabulary and developing themes of the characterization. KEEP READING. Not everyone reads as quickly as Kinas.
AP Literature: Continuing with Heart of Darkness, and focusing on the content vocabulary and developing themes of the characterization. KEEP READING. Not everyone reads as quickly as Kinas.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Welcome back after Spring Break! I hope everyone had a good experience and stayed safe. Seven weeks to go for the seniors. . .nine for the sophys. . .
I had a tremendously good time in Germany and really wish I could stay there. The mountains were breathtaking and the people were so nice, and I am very proud of how well my ten travelers comported themselves throughout the trip. Jet lag is killing me a teeny bit, but I am back and am ready to get you ready for the challenges of the fourth quarter.
Upcoming Events:
Some of you are going to the Invisible Children rally on Thursday morning. Please let me know if you are missing my class for this event. My classes will not be participating due to time restrictions.
The annual Boone Art Festival is Friday from second to fifth periods; please respectfully stop by and check out the accomplishments of your colleagues. Some of your classmates will be performing at lunch!
I might be out Wednesday for the final time this year; I'll know later today. If so, please conduct yourselves accordingly and be nice to the sub. It's just a timed writing for the APees and a short activity for the sophys so my presence shouldn't be missed.
Okay, then!
Gifted English II: Bring Elements of Style tomorrow, and for goodness sake if you haven't read Things Fall Apart get off your booty and do so. Final deadline for the ENTIRE NOVEL is April 16. Yup.
Today in class: Analysis of the Rudyard Kipling poem "White Man's Burden" with respect to the novel, and theme discussion for the first section of the novel: father figures, physiognomy, Ekweft and Ezinma, manipulation of language, the imperial mandate. See the end of this post if you lost your copy of the poem.
AP Literature: Heart of Darkness character chart and discussion of pages 1-9. (It doesn't sound like a lot of material, but it is.) See me if you need another quote packet.
White Man's Burden by Rudyard Kipling
Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden--
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden--
Have done with childish days--
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
I had a tremendously good time in Germany and really wish I could stay there. The mountains were breathtaking and the people were so nice, and I am very proud of how well my ten travelers comported themselves throughout the trip. Jet lag is killing me a teeny bit, but I am back and am ready to get you ready for the challenges of the fourth quarter.
Upcoming Events:
Some of you are going to the Invisible Children rally on Thursday morning. Please let me know if you are missing my class for this event. My classes will not be participating due to time restrictions.
The annual Boone Art Festival is Friday from second to fifth periods; please respectfully stop by and check out the accomplishments of your colleagues. Some of your classmates will be performing at lunch!
I might be out Wednesday for the final time this year; I'll know later today. If so, please conduct yourselves accordingly and be nice to the sub. It's just a timed writing for the APees and a short activity for the sophys so my presence shouldn't be missed.
Okay, then!
Gifted English II: Bring Elements of Style tomorrow, and for goodness sake if you haven't read Things Fall Apart get off your booty and do so. Final deadline for the ENTIRE NOVEL is April 16. Yup.
Today in class: Analysis of the Rudyard Kipling poem "White Man's Burden" with respect to the novel, and theme discussion for the first section of the novel: father figures, physiognomy, Ekweft and Ezinma, manipulation of language, the imperial mandate. See the end of this post if you lost your copy of the poem.
AP Literature: Heart of Darkness character chart and discussion of pages 1-9. (It doesn't sound like a lot of material, but it is.) See me if you need another quote packet.
White Man's Burden by Rudyard Kipling
Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half-devil and half-child.
Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hopes to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden--
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go mark them with your living,
And mark them with your dead.
Take up the White Man's burden--
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought he us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloke your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden--
Have done with childish days--
The lightly proferred laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
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