Welcome to our class blog, seniors!! Please visit here to check out some reminders (which will be up top, just below these notes) and then any Posts that you may be required to read, follow, use for reflection, pondering, writing, screaming, laughing, etc...these Posts will be further down. The most current ones will be first - always check the dates. There may be times where I may ask you to visit an older Post.

Remember to always converse with the author - use post-its and take notes -annotate- be active readers! Happy reading and writing.


I hope to have a wonderful last year of high school with you! Fight off that horrid senioritis!


Bulldogs Bulldogs Bow Wow Wow (that's for my Yalie son, Kyle...check out his football pic on the link to the left!)

**HP has created a Google account just for you - so check it out at the HP website. Click on the link for student Google accounts**

Happy Spring! March Madness begins...

1. Continue to actively read the memoir that you chose, and complete the open-ended/reflection questions (packet). Keep in mind the characteristics of a memoir. I hope that you are enjoying your choice! Please bring your memoir book with you to class. Have about 3/4 done for 3/24...try!

2. Over the next few days, we will be presenting the "Impact of the Written Word" PowerPts/Prezis that you created. Nice job! Enjoy.

3. See below for the Memoir packet to work on and bring with you over the next week or so...just in case you misplace it.





Thursday, March 20, 2014

March Memoir Madness!!

Keep on reading the memoir that you chose...I hope you are enjoying it. See below for the open-ended/reflection questions to work on as you read. Bring to class over the next week or so.

The White Room                                                      Name__________________________
Reader's Choice #1: Memoir

“A memoir is how one remembers one’s own life, while an autobiography is history, requiring research, dates, facts double-check” – Gore Vidal (1996)

“Unlike autobiography, which moves in a dutiful line from birth to fame, memoir narrows the lens, focusing on a time in the writer’s life that was unusually vivid, such as childhood or adolescence, or that was framed by war or travel or public service or some other special circumstance” – William Zinsser (1998)

            As you read your memoir, please keep in mind that your final project will be to persuade others to read this memoir through a presentation (PowerPoint, movie trailer, soundtrack, talk show, poster, song and dance)…use the power of persuasion through language and visual means! You might want to use post-its on certain pivotal scenes, or those parts that are powerful and memorable to you (you will have to refer to at least four). You will also be discussing at least three characteristics of a memoir and show how they relate to yours. Consider the author’s purpose, and be ready to justify it with certain text. There will be certain times in class where we will be looking at Voice Elements in your memoirs, so please bring that packet of info with your books to class when asked. Thanks.


   Please complete the following with regard to the book that you chose to read for class. (Feel free to use the back for more room.) Be ready to share and discuss the information and the book at any time over the next couple of weeks. (I will let you know when this info and/or your memoir choice will be needed in class.) This work will be handed in for a classwork grade out of  30 pts.


Book Title:__________________________  Year Published:   ________         
Author:_________________________  
If the author is writing about someone else’s life, give a quick bio of the author here:





1.  How have you enjoyed your reading experience thus far?  Offer support from the book. Have you read the entire book, or part of it?






2. Who is the perfect audience for this? Offer reasons.






3. Offer a brief summary of what you have read so far.









4. What has been the best part so far? Explain, with specific textual examples. (Use Post-its to mark) – write page numbers here…



 5. Have there been any boring parts, or anything bothersome or frustrating to you? Explain. Offer textual examples (use Post-its).









6. Pretend that you are attending a book club meeting - list three discussion questions. Be specific to the reading.









7. Locate 3 - 5 (or more!!) special sections to read aloud. Think about diction, detail, imagery, syntax, tone, etc...Use Post-its... (Comment on this here )
8. Review the list of characteristics of a memoir  - choose two that you feel are most expressed in this book. Explain.









9. Go to the board and sign your name with the book title either under "YAY" - (awesome read!) or "NAY" - (um, not really my thing :( )

10.  An author can have many purposes – other than the telling of this person’s life, list as many as you think your author has. Out of all of them, which is the one that stands out the most? Explain.









11. What is one question that you would have for your author?







12. Vocabulary - Enrich us with some vocabulary from your reading...use Post-its...define...(list a few here)…









13. The Greek philosopher Aristotle labeled three persuasive appeals as logos, pathos, and ethos – logic, emotion, and ethics. If you were to persuade me to read this book, which appeal might you use? Why?











14. Illustrate/Song Connection - Create some type of visual that represents any one part, any character, a scene, an overall impression, idea, theme, etc...you can use this space here, or another piece of paper…OR you can search for a song that relates in theme/character/plot, etc…attach the lyrics and explain. Enjoy!


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

RIP, Phillip Seymour Hoffman...

We will miss your talent.   

With the Oscar for Best Actor - Capote

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Analysis of Capote's Diction; Point of View Assessment ICB - fiilm Capote
































































** Be prepared to work on one of these in class on Monday, Feb.6th. The other can either be a typed up paper, or submitted on your blog. Have one in by Sat., Feb. 11th and the other in by Mon. Feb. 20th. **
1. Vocabulary Choices/Analysis of Capote’s Diction! By now you should have identified at least 10 challenging, unfamiliar words from various parts of ICB (you should have a few from each section). Consider the voice element of diction, and why Capote has chosen certain words that he has…discuss these choices, identify page numbers and context, definitions of each, and personal analysis of the usage of them (consider better choices?) – remember, “words are the writer’s basic tools…they create the color and texture…” (Nancy Dean, Voice Lessons). (50 pts) Works Cited for dictionary used and ICB.

2. Reaction to reading ICB and viewing the film Capote. Your focus is on the point of view – consider the fact that Capote uses third person limited as his point of view for his narrator in his famous non-fiction novel, and with the film we are closer to Capote himself, as a first person point of view experience. Two pages or so, dbl. spaced; at least two textual passages are to be incorporated from the novel, and use an outside source on the film to blend in as well. Be sure to cite your sources; include Works Cited information at the end of the paper. Film info: Capote, Director Bennett Miller, United Artists and Sony Pictures, 2005…the clips we watched are “Answered Prayers” and “The Making of Capote” (50 points)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Impact of Written Works






Mark David Chapman is seen here in the far right of the photo, with the famous John Lennon signing Mark's album - dated December 8, 1980. Little did John know how obsessed Mark was with him - and with Holden Caulfield. Just a few hours after this signing, Mark David Chapman will shoot John Lennon dead. Mark was patiently reading The Catcher in the Rye while he waited for the police to arrive. Chapman said that he first thought of going back to his hotel after the signing, but he had to wait until Lennon came back because "he knew where the ducks went in the winter, and I needed to know this" (wikipedia). After his arrest, Chapman sent notes to various media, stressing how important it was for everyone to read Salinger's novel.

It truly is amazing how much of an impact a novel, or any other written work, can have on the reader. Think of other various examples - from Harry Potter to Twilight to Lord of the Rings...to the Bible...what about songs? What about The Grateful Dead followers? Wow - amazing...think of musicals, plays, speeches (oh, William Wallace - "Will you fight? Run - you'll live...for a little while...")...you name it. You will be writing a comparison/contrast piece, discussing at least four written pieces - you are comparing and contrasting the impact of the written word! One of these pieces must be Catcher, extremely affecting Mark David Chapman. (You can use the movie Chapter 27 as the source, or anything else you find - there are plenty of articles out there). You need to have support for each work you discuss (therefore, you need at least four sources). Have fun - your tone can be humorous, sarcastic, serious...I am sure there is plenty of shocking info/stories out there.

Sources: news articles, journals, etc...try SirS, ProQuest, EBSCO, Facts on File, ABC-CLIO History...YouTube clips, your own interviews with people, your own experiences...Info for Chapter 27: J.P. Schafer, Dir. Chapter 27. Artina Films Production, 2006. Dvd.

Keep note of all source info for internal citations (yes, you must cite your sources within - directly quote or paraphrase) and a Works Cited page. 2 pages typed, dbl. sp., MLA blah blah blah...due sometime over vacation...50 pointers...you may print it up, email me, or post it on your blog! Your choice.

**You must either use the divided (subject-by-subject) pattern OR the alternating (point-by-point) pattern**

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Post #3: Holden is killing me, just killing me...



Holden Caulfield is known, by many literary critics AND many readers alike, to be representative of the universal teenager. As we all know, the years of a teen's life come with many ups and downs, stress, anxiety, wonders, fears, angst, dares, craziness, vulnerabilities...and lots more. Thank goodness we only have to live through these years once!!


Please explain, in Post #3, how Holden represents the universal teenager. Use specifics from the novel, incorporating at least two quoted textual passages (and cite properly - Salinger pg #). Length: at least two paragraphs.


Due date: by Sunday, December 4th. (15 pts)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Post #2: It creates a major 1975 Oscar sweep, but Mr. Kesey does not approve??

Hopefully you have reflected on why Ken Kesey never approved/endorsed/enjoyed the Hollywood interpretation of his famous novel while actively viewing the film in class. Now, please type up your thoughts on this, incorporating at least one quote from the film, one quoted passage from the text, and one quoted passage from an outside source on Ken Kesey. Be sure to cite correctly - use the director's last name in parentheses (Forman) after a film quote; use Kesey's last name and page number for the novel, and use the author's last name OR if there is no author, then the title of the outside source. Please give the rest of the source info for your outside source at the bottom of your post. Length: two paragraphs; 15 pts - due by Wed., Nov. 2




Please check out my first post below - click on the Kesey link to read up on Kesey's life, the Beat Movement, his bus Further, and more interesting hippie info!!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Post #1 - The Cuckoo Battle: Big Nurse vs. Big Mac



Ken Kesey's bus, 'Further.' See link below! McMurphy and the guys "watching" the

World Series on TV...



"...any of you sharpies here willing to take my five bucks that says that I can get the best of that woman - before the week's up - without her getting the best of me?...A bee in her butt, a burr in her bloomers. Get her goat" (Kesey 68 - 69).



In two well-developed paragraphs, explain the battle between Nurse Ratched and R.P. McMurphy. Who has the upper hand? Who is stronger in this fight at the present moment, and who is going to win in the long run? Refer to specific examples from the text, and include at least two quotes, citing correctly. Post is due by the weekend - October 9, 2011 (15 pts)




After you are done with Post #1, check out the link below. Read about Kesey, the Merry Pranksters, their crazy life and travels and their impact on America.

http://www.lonestar.edu/library/kin_CuckoosNest.htm