Block Day ~ Short Story #4: Fish Cheeks

Heads up! Journal checks on Monday and Dangling Modifiers/Roots Quiz on Block next week.

ROOTS

• acu - sharp
• ali, allo, alter - other
• am, amor - love, liking
• anni, annu, enni - year

Short Story Notes:

• Activity: How well do you really know a person? 
• EQ:  What is the difference between direct characterization and indirect characterization?
• LIT NOTES: Click here to get the definitions and a pneumonic trick called STEAL.

SHORT STORY #4: Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan

Activity: First discuss: Agree, Disagree, or Somewhere in the Middle?

1. My parents generally give me wise advice.
2. I like having friends over for dinner with my family.
3. My parents are embarrassing.
4. My parents have had a deep influence on who I am today.
5. I can remember a time when I tried to change myself to fit in.

Journal 30: Fishcheeks by Amy Tan
Part A: Use the STEAL chart to explain the characterization in Fishcheeks
Part B: Create a detailed STEAL chart about the main character you are considering for your own short story. This should be 1/2 to 1 full page in your journal.

HW: Complete J30

Wednesday, November 29 ~ Short Story #3: Through the Tunnel

No roots today!

SHORT STORIES

• Review Masque of the Red Death
• Allegory decoded
• Can you apply the Plot steps below? 
• P.S. You may want to add these to your notes if you don't know it by heart.

Plot - a general pattern of events that takes place in the narrative and the resolution of the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist .

• Beginning
• exposition
• complication or inciting incident (the antagonist presents an obstacle to the protagonist)
• rising action which features 
• crisis points

• Middle
• climax or ultimate crisis 
• there may be a black moment (darkest point of the climax)
• the protagonist may experience an epiphany, sudden realization, clarification, or anagnorisis

•  End
• falling action, denouement
• resolution
• open ending
• closed ending

LIT NOTES: Do you know your point of view? If you don't, now you do. Add this to your notes in your journal section. 

EQ: What effect does POV have on the our stories so far? Why would an author use the unreliable pov?

• First-person point of view
• Why don't we talk about second person?

• Third-person point of view
• limited
• objective or dramatic
• omniscient

• Unreliable

Story #2: Through the Tunnel  by Doris Lessing

• Click here for the story.

EQ: What effect does POV have on the our stories so far? Why would an author use the unreliable pov?

LIT NOTES: Do you know your point of view? If you don't, now you do. Add this to your notes in your journal section. 

• First-person point of view
• Why don't we talk about second person?
• Third-person point of view
• limited
• objective or dramatic
• omniscient

• Unreliable

JOURNAL 29: Through the Tunnel: 
SAT Vocab

1. contrition - a state of feeling crushed by guilt
2. luminous - bright or shining
3. supplication - the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly
4. sputtering - spitting or spraying
5. beseeching - urgently requesting someone to do something
6. minute - tiny
7. clambered - to climb, move, or get out of something in an awkward or laborious way
8. incredulous - unbelievable
9. gout - a type of arthritis

1. Have you ever taken a risk to prove yourself before? Do you find it convincing that Jerry takes such a large risk and survives?
2. Track the plot in this story, bullet point style or with a diagram.

HW: Complete Journal 29 & read Through the Tunnel.

Tuesday, November 28 ~ Short Story #2: The Masque of the Red Death

WORD PARTS

Prefix

• utilis - useful
• vide, visibil, vis - see

Root

• dox - opinion, praise 
• dura - lasting

SHORT STORIES

• Review J27 Two Kinds: Conflict? Theme? 
• EQ: What is allegory?

LIT NOTES ~ Add these definitions to your journals section.

• Symbol
• Allegory

SHORT STORY #6 "The Masque of the Red Death " by Edgar Allan Poe

• Who was Poe? What other works from Poe have you read?

Journal 28 

SAT Vocab:

1. profuse - plentiful
2. sagacious - wise
3. voluptuous - characterized with luxury or pleasure
4. contagion - the spreading of disease
5. imperial - majestic
6. emanating - coming forth
7. sedate - calm; quiet
8. pervaded - spread throughout
9. piquancy - a pleasantly sharp or appetizing flavor
10. phantasm - a figment of the imagination; an illusion
11. cessation - ceasing or stopping
12. disapprobation - strong disapproval, usually on moral grounds
13. propriety - quality of being proper
14. tangible - something that can be touched
15. impetuosity - impulsive or rash 

Analysis:
1. The rich and powerful might build walls around their sprawling estates to block out the upsetting parts of life. What realities of life must people face no matter who they are?
2. Google search: What are the symptoms of the pneumonic plague?
3. Consider the Allegory feature. Define as many symbols as you can, bullet-point style. What is the "story below the surface" if you translate each symbol? (Include at least these: Prince Prospero, the abbey, the gate, the masquerade, the ebony clock and TIME, the winding hallway, all the different colors of rooms, & the intruder)

HW: Complete J28

Monday, November 27 ~ Short Stories Begin!!!

Word Parts
Prefix

• syn - together, with
• trans - across

Root

• chron - time
• phon - sound 

Short Stories

Discuss the EQ: Why study short stories anyway?

• Short Story #1 ~ Two Kinds

Journal 27 (HW if we do not complete in class)

First, copy the SAT vocab:

• prodigy - child of highly unusual talent or genius
• lamented - said with regret or sorrow
• listlessly - without energy or interest
• discordant - clashing; not in harmony
• dawdled - wasted time; lingered
• stricken - heartbroken
• fiasco - total failure
• nonchalantly - without interest or concern

1) Meet the Author ~Write down 5-10 bullet point notes about the life of Amy Tan.
    *Start here or here.
2) List the internal and external conflicts in Two Kinds.
3) What makes this story engaging? List at least two strengths.
4) How would you describe the narrative style of this story? Is there power in the perspective that the author chose to use in her story telling?
5) What symbolic meaning is carried in the two songs at the end? How do they reflect the change that has occurred in Jing-mei?

Short Story Christmas Blessing Coming Up!

Quarter 2: A Christmas Blessing 

• Background: You will soon read many tales. Before Christmas break, you will write one! We ought to love what is beautiful, good, and true, yet the world is so often full dark challenges to what is noble and right.  The legends of old often explored this in song and story, perhaps as a kind of imaginative practice for the young.  In this assignment, we will seek to bless a young girl or boy (or an adult who is game to read your story) with a nicely woven tale paired with a related gift. 

• Prompt: Write a mighty tale of nobility, courage, and grace.  Your story must 

• be full of adventure,
• teach something noble, 
• and include references to the physical gift (such as a ball or sword) that you will give to the reader. 
• In general, your work will be descriptive.  Please read this overview of the basics from Purdue University on descriptive writing. If you are poetic, feel free to write an epic poem to tell your adventure instead. 

• Outcome

• Choose a child (or person) to bless.
• Think of a fitting gift (purchased or made by you).
• Write your adventure.  Make it look creative...not like a school essay.
• Make a map.  Make it look old or graphic in some way.
• Hide the gift during Christmas break.
• Present the legend, gift and possibly map to the recipient.
• When you return from break, tell us all about it! (Extra credit if you document the event)

• Examples
• Holly Minarik
• Sierra Myer 
• Stunning Picture Book 1
• 2
• 3
• Beautiful Pencil Work
• More

Format for turning it in

• Typed in MLA (12 point, Times New Roman, proper margins, etc.)
• MLA reminder: If you choose to write an epic poem, it should be single spaced; regular stories (prose) remains double spaced.
• Submit your work to Turnitin.com and hard copy please.

Requirements

• Click here for the rubric
• 2-5 pages (double spaced, limit 850-2,100 words) If you illustrate it, I will go by the words of course. Poetry, though single spaced, should still take at least two pages. 
• Your story must include all the steps of Plot and feature at least one literary device (such as symbolism, allegory, flashback, flash forward, en medias res, unreliable narrator, anagnorisis, etc...)
• Example Contest Winner from Bookshop Santa Cruz: "Among the Trees" by Breanna Eddy 

Block Day, November 16 & 17 ~ Dangling Modifiers Notes

Prefixes

• syn, sin - together, with
• tele - distance

Roots

• scrib, script - write
• sed, sid, sess - sit

Grammar

• Go over 12-1
• Take notes from Bedford 12e (pgs. 173-177) and complete Excercise 12-2 all.
• And here is an exercise.

Writing Preview

• Writing to entertain is quite different from writing to prove (as we do in essays). Creative writing involves a bit more finesse, description and sense of personal style. When mastered, these things only make academic writing even better. Let's have some fun with a few rounds of speed writing. You are welcome to use either digital or handwriting in this activity.
• Directions: For each prompt below, write for five minutes straight. Don't overthink the details, just start writing when the timer begins. When the timer ends, you will pass the writing to another person who will continue your writing for three minutes. Lastly, a third person will get one minute to resolve the story/scene/editorial rant.

Let the creative rounds begin!

1. Welcome to Thanksgiving 2067! We now have the power to resurrect any person we want. Who would you resurrect? Write a quick description of what it was like when you invited this mystery person to join you and your family for the Thanksgiving holiday.
2. Pretend you are a very special Turkey, possibly named Granpa Chook. You are able to both understand English and write...with your beak of course! Write a letter to Americans to convince them not to eat turkey for Thanksgiving this year. 
3. Often during the Thanksgiving meal, there is a "children's table" and an "adult table." Write a colorful description of the glories awaiting you at the table you deem more enjoyable.
4. Write a description of the ultimate Thanksgiving either according to your own traditions or the ones you would like to enact in the future when you are one day in charge of planning this holiday. 

Wednesday, November 15 ~ Do your modifiers dangle?

Prefix

• solus - alone
• subter - under, secret

Roots

• publicus - people
• scope - examine

Housekeeping

• Papers and projects returned

Grammar

• Before we take notes, click here and see if you already have this skill of untangling dangling modifiers. 
• In your journals, take notes on Dangling Modifiers: Bedford Section 12 a-d (pages 168-172). 




HW: Complete any notes we weren't able to finish in class. 

Friday ~ Veteran's Day Assembly Schedule

High School Bell Schedule
First	8:10 - 9:25	75 minutes
Second	9:30 - 10:45	75 minutes
Break	10:45 - 10:55	10 minutes
Assembly	11:00 - 11:50	50 minutes
Third	11:55-1:10	75 minutes
Lunch	1:10 - 1:40	30 minutes
Buses leave at 1:50

Get that movie finished!

No roots today.

EQ: Are you ready for your presentations tomorrow?

Don't forget to review the rubric. Is your presentation...

• meaningful in conveying a deeper understanding of the themes in the novel?
• interesting on a personal or relevant level to you and/or your classmates?
• of high quality in your efforts of making the product?
• well presented to the audience...in public speaking and display? 

Please be prepared tomorrow with a half sheet of paper with your name and your projects, each with a possible point value next to it. For example:
________________________________________________
Jane Sturdevant
Period 2

Fine Art: "The Equalizer" (Oil on canvas)     ___ / 50

Cooking: Apricot Tarts & Authentic Menu   ___ / 50
_______________________________________________

Monday, November 6 ~ POO Movie Complete!

Prefix

• pre - before
• pro - before, in favor of 

Root

• ject - throw
• pel, puls - drive, urge

Sign up with Mrs. West. You may view them here. 

Finish the POO movie!

• Have you finished Journal 26?

Block Day, October 2 & 3 ~ SVA Quiz and POO Movie

Jesus we need you....

Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz


POO Movie

• Journal 26: As we watch the movie, record at least 20 bullet point notes of differences between the movie and the book. After watching the movie, please write a paragraph explaining your assessment of the director's changes. Do you believe the changes added or subtracted to/from the meaning of the story? Why do you believe the director deviated from the novel so much? 

Wednesday, November 1 ~ I'm sad to see the POO go....

Let's take a survey to help Ms. Fenwick's students.


WORD PARTS

• Prefix
• port - carry
• post - after
• Root 
• tele - far
• grad, gress - step, go

GRAMMAR

• In your Grammar Section, please record both subject and verb for Bedford Section 21-2 (a-e & 1-5)

POO

• Discuss Ch.15
• Any questions about projects?

HW: Study for your Word Parts & Grammar Quiz on Block.

Tuesday, October 31 ~ Happy Halloween!

WORD PARTS

Prefix

• ped - foot
• peri - around

 Root 

• pedo - child
• phil - love

Let's take a survey to help Ms. Fenwick's students.

GRAMMAR

• In your Grammar Section, please record both subject and verb for Bedford Section 21-1 (a-e & 1-5)

POO

• Discuss Ch.14
• Take a looksie at projects here.

HW: Finish the book tonight! For Journal 25, write a short reaction to the book. Do you believe that Bryce Courtenay was successful in creating a book to inspire South Africa to maintain its true identity as a unified country of equality? 

• 

Power of One ~ Final Project

The Power of One

Final Project Options

* * *

Your assignment is to complete a combination of the following projects (your choice) that will total 50 points. 

Note: If you have an idea for an assignment that is not included on 
this list, email or talk to me for approval.

* * *

50 Point Assignments

• Four Letters: Write a series of letters between two main characters in the novel who might have written to one another during the course of the entire novel. (To gain full credit, you must include at least four one-page letters.)

• Fine Art: Create one large or several small high quality pieces of art about the novel. These cannot be on poster board or printer paper. They must be of higher quality. Be sure to include the major themes and/or characters.  These should be accompanied by written pieces explaining them.  

•  Cooked Points: Prepare a signature dish from South Africa, possibly a Dutch or Zulu flavor. Be able to present about why the people ate these types of foods due to their customs, demographics or geographical locations. Then prepare one dish with enough food to serve our class of 24 people. Don't forget to bring napkins, and whatever we need to eat it...like plates, forks, etc...

•      Sound Track: Select 10 songs or write ten songs that you feel say something about the theme, mood, characters or settings of the novel. Turn in a written play list with the artist, title and a brief description of why you chose each song. Be prepared to host a quick listening party in class, letting us sample each song and explaining why you chose each one.

• My Music/Poetry:  Perform an original composition, song or spoken word related to a theme or character from our book. 
• Character Come True: Come to school "in character" (that means attire and personality) for one of the characters besides Peekay. Prepare to give a 3-5 minute performance in which you tell your side of the story and give us a chance to ask you a couple of questions about your experience.

• Alternate Ending: Write a new ending for the story, a new adventure for the main character, or the beginning of a sequel. Keep the same first-person narrator. This should be 900-2100 words.

• Bible Theme: What is your personal power of one? Consider the passage in Ephesians 4:3-6. Then write a two page essay comparing the meaning behind the scripture with the meaning found in several passages in the novel. How are these passages similar or contrasting in meaning? What is the power of one offered by Jesus? What does that mean for you? (Personal pronouns are okay for this writing.)

25 Point Assignments

• Character Quotes: Select a character from the book.  Then select ten quotations from the text that you feel reveals the character’s personality.  You must explain what each quotation/sentence tells you about the character.  You must also tell which page the quotation/sentence came from.

• Story Bag:  Put together a bag that contains at least ten items that would be useful to or significant to a character in your novel.  Include a description of each item and its relevance to the story.

• Bio Research: Research the author of the novel. How much of the story is really fiction or autobiographical for Courtenay? What parts of his life could have inspired the themes from our text?  You should also include the names of other books that s/he has written, what awards/honors s/he has received. What themes are explored in his other books? Create a powerpoint slideshow to teach us your findings. This must be in your own words.

The Power of One

Rubric

	A	B	C	D
Understanding	This project shows that you really understand the events, characters and deeper themes of the book.	This project shows that you have a clear understanding of the events and ideas in the book	This project shows that you generally understand the events and meaning in the book.	This project shows that you may have misread or were somewhat confused about the story.
Interest Level	This product explicitly reveals an insight that is personally significant that you’ve gained beyond the text.	This product adequately reveals an insight that is meaningful and/or significant from our text.	This product shows that you grasp something interesting or meaningful in the text.	This project is really more of a summary of some part of the novel, rather than an insight.
Quality	This product is beautiful, creative and inspiring.	This product is clean and shows care.	This product has a few problems or errors.	The errors/issues are distracting from the meaning behind the product.
Presentation	You shared this with the class confidently and thoughtfully, thinking through all the details.	You shared this with the class clearly.	You shared this with the class nervously or without thinking through all the details.	Your presentation was hard to understand or hear.

     

Monday, October 30 ~ POOped

Prefix

• olig - few
• pater - father

Root

• arch - chief, first, rule
• cide, cise - cut down, kill

POO

• Discuss Ch.13 & J23
• How is it a force of evil when the picture is taken? 
• Describe the system of the black market.
• Why do you think Courtenay included the character, Miss Bernstein? 
• What can you gather about the legend that is developing around Peekay? 

GRAMMAR

• Finish Notes on 21g-21k
• EQ: Which rule are you most likely to mistakenly break? 

HW: Read Ch.14 & be ready for a reading quiz.
Journal 24: From Chapter 14, record two quotes that you believe are thematically significant. Briefly explain what each one reveals about the meaning of the book. 

Block Day, October 26-27 ~ Last Fishbowl!

Want to be part of an experiment? Click here.

WORD PARTS

• Prefix
• mortis - death
• nomen - name
• Root
• phage - eat
• pop - people

GRAMMAR (We must watch our time to leave an hour for the fishbowl.)

• In the Grammar section of your journal, take brief notes about the mishaps that can cause problems with Subject/Verb Agreement (21a-k). 
• Then record answers to Exercise 21-1 a-e in your journal. 

POO

• Last Fishbowl! Group three is on!

HW: Read Ch.13 & complete J23.

Journal 23:

1. Explain the legend about Peekay that is developing among the prisoners.

2. Explain the multiple layers of significance around the photograph.

3. Why do you believe that Courtenay included Ms. Bornstein in the story? 

Tuesday, October 24 ~ POO Ch. 11

WORD PARTS

• Prefix
•  mitt, miss - send
•  mono - one, single
• Root
•  poly - many
•  poli - city

POO

• What does Geel Piet teach us about Africans? the prison system?
• How does Peekay (with his helpers) help bring justice without overhauling the prison system?
• What do you think it means to be the "tadpole angel"?
• What do you think of Geel Piet's advice on avoiding bullies? Would you give that advice to your son? 

HW: Read Ch.12 (Continue accumulating questions to bring to the Fishbowl on block day).

Group 3, be ready to lead on Block Day. I won't see you before then! Good luck on the PSAT.

Monday, October 23 ~ EQ: How fast can you read?

Prefix

• meter - measure
• micro - small

Suffix

• ure - state of, act, process, rank
• ward - in the direction of
• y - inclined to, tend to  
• Suffix list is officially complete!

POO

• What conclusions can you draw from Doc's explanation of religion and God?
• Chapter 10 questions/thoughts.

SPEED READING...since PSATs are on Wednesday, let's try out some quick reading tips here.

HW: Journal 22 ~ Read Ch.11 and record two discussion questions.

Block Day, October 19 & 20 ~ Second Fishbowl

Word Parts

• Prefix
• macro - large
• mania - obssession
• Suffix
• some - like, apt, tending to
• tude - state of, condition of
• Root
• alt(us) - high, deep

Roots Quiz #3 Returned

Oral Quiz on Chs. 8 & 9

Fishbowl #2

In honor of the late, great Morgan Freeman as Geel Piet.

HW: Read Ch. 10 & do J21.

Journal 21: For chapter ten please.

• Make a list of the new characters so that you don't get confused.
• Explain what Doc's "wolves" were and how they can be gone now (last line of Ch.10).
• Explain what societal significance is riding on the concert for all participants.

Wednesday, October 18 ~ EQ: When can you come see me for your edits?

Word Parts
Prefix

• liber - free, book
• locus - place

Suffix

• ous - full of, having
• ship - state of, office, quality

Root

• ag, agi, ig, act - do, move, go

Discuss Essay Editing Process

Finally! Fishbowl #1: Second Session

HW: Read Ch. 9 and prepare for Fishbowl #2 and a possible quiz.