Finishing Act 1

Discussion about Shakespeare's theatre.  We watched and discussed this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYfM0RFZ5cs  -- We didn't have time for this. We'll do this tomorrow.

We handed out and completed all of these Act 1 questions. Click HERE to see them. (Yeah, that's right, the first two or three answers are already right there on the page! -- You're welcome!)

We completed reading up to p. 26

I introduced students to Thug Notes on Youtube.com

Romeo and Juliet to the end of Act 1 scene 2

Today we learned what double entendre means; we learned that Shakespeare has many double-entendres in his writing.

We read and discussed the first two scenes of Act 1.  We finished off with the servant admitting that he was illiterate and that he would have to find somebody to read the invitation he had been given by Capulet.

Anticipatory guide for Romeo and Juliet

Here is a link to the Anticipatory Guide Assignment that we completed in class on Friday.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzzSKr4jhiCLcjNKNk82UmZ4NWM/view?usp=sharing

Intro to Shakespeare

We began with a discussion on what students know about Shakespeare.
Then we moved onto an anticipatory guide (a series of statements about themes. For example "My parents know more about love and relationships than I do. Agree/Disagree. Why"

Next day we'll discuss the answers and then begin reading the play

The Chrysalids, The Village, and deus ex machina

Today we discussed the irony at the end of the novel -- that the Sealand people maybe be just as brutal as the bigoted Waknuk people, a fact that is reinforced by how little sympathy the Sealand woman had after killing all the people in the Fringes.

English 10 -- Mini-Research on The Chrysalids and The Village (in computer lab).

You may work on this in small groups and submit a single piece of paper.

1. Describe the term deus ex machina.  First, translate those three words and then explain what deus ex machina means.

2. The author of The Chrysalids uses the plot device deus ex machina.  In a short paragraph, explain how the author uses it in the novel.

3. How is the ending of The Village and The Chrysalids similar?  Explain in a short paragraph.

Test day today

Jordan B, Meegan, Shana and Erin still need to write the test.

Test Prep

Today we prepared for our Chrysalids test next day by going over the terms plot, setting, character, and theme.

Your test will include MC questions, short answer questions, and a paragraph.

We also took a moment to watch the first few minutes of The Village.

Paragraph Assignment. Chrysalids test will be MONDAY

 Our final Chrysalids test has been moved to Monday.

Today we worked on the paragraph assignment (the one in the post below). The topic is to discuss David as a dynamic character.

We began class with some notes on how to use quotations correctly in a piece of literary writing. Then we did an inclass activity on using quotations correctly.

Students worked VERY well on their paragraphs.

Students WERE allowed to take the paragraph home for homework (although several finished in class).

Chapter 13, the title, and writing assignment

Last day we discussed the nature of telepathy in the novel and we had a bit of fun and drew our own telepathic messages to one another.
Mr. Pfeiffer read out a number of the short story assignments highlighting such things as effective dialogue, foreshadowing a story's conflict in the opening lines, and having indeterminate endings.  Story marks ranged from 2 out of 6 to 6 out of 6.

Today we read quietly -- students should be near the middle of chapter 13 in their reading.  At this point, the Chrysalids final exam is slated for Friday, although I might bump that to Monday.  So . . . make sure your reading is done.

Today we also started working on a paragraph assignment.  The topic is to discuss David as a dynamic character (a character who undergoes a change).  Below is the assignment sheet I handed out which includes three examples of paragraphs that I wrote.  This assignment will be due Friday or Monday.

English 10 -- Chrysalids In-Class Paragraphs

Choose the topic below and write two good paragraphs.  Use quotations from the novel to support your ideas.  Refer to our notes and exercises on quoting properly.

Topic: David is a dynamic character (he undergoes a change during the course of the novel).  Discuss.

Requirements

Ink or typed

Double-spaced

Proper use of quotations

Rough and Final copy must be submitted

Due today at the end of the class

            ********************************************************************

Example Topic

 Several characters in the novel display courage.  Select one or two and discuss.

Lousy Paragraph (this would not get a passing grade)

            The Chrysalids is an interesting story about a group of telepathic people.  The book keeps you reading.  The characters take risks like when they all accidentally meet to help Petra when she is drowning and the author says, “ Petra was on the bank, shivering.”  If I was almost drowning I sure wish I could telepathically get help.  Being telepathic would be quite a neat thing to have and I hope that by the end of the novel, that David and Rosalind and Petra will “get away” from the bad guys.

Marginal Paragraph (Better -- this would get a passing grade -- barely)

            In, The Chrysalids, a small group of people risk their lives.  The telepaths stand up to resist the prejudice of this world.  The torture of Sally and Katherine shows this:  “Katherine has admitted it; confessed.  I have confirmed it.  They would have forced me to in the end . . .  [with] the hot irons” (p. 130).  After torture, the telepaths confess.  The two captured telepaths confessed after submitting themselves to torture.  One would think that Sally and Katherine’s confession would make the others want to give up.  It is the courage, not the confession, that the two girls showed which helped the rest.

Improved Paragraph (this would get an ‘A’)

            In John Wyndham’s science fiction novel, The Chyrsalids, a small group of people show extraordinary courage.  Moreover, they risk their lives to survive amidst a futuristic world where their telepathic powers are viewed as being evil.  Rather than bowing down to the overwhelming majority of people, the telepaths stand tall, against overwhelming odds, to resist the prejudice in this futuristic world.  The torture of Sally and Katherine illustrates this resistance well:  “Katherine has admitted it; confessed.  I have confirmed it (p. 130)”.  Furthermore, Sally reveals that no matter what she does they would “have forced [her] to in the end . . .  [with] the hot irons” (p. 130).  From these words we learn that Sally’s was startlingly courageous as she refused to confess to authorities the details of her fellow telepaths. It is only through unbearable physical torture, then, that Sally and Katharine confess.    One would think that Sally and Katherine’s confession would dull the defiant attitude displayed by the rest of the group, but these two brave characters help to strengthen the determination of the other telepaths to stay alive.  It is the courage, not the confession, that the two girls showed which goes a long way in helping to sharpen the determination of the others. 

Ch. 11, Blackout poetry, Quiz

Last day we had a structured discussion on the novel up to the end of ch. 9 with each student speaking and contributing.

We completed a blackout poetry creative assignment.

Students, last day, were told to read to p. 122 for today (Friday).

Today, students wrote a quiz on chapter 11, read quietly, and I read out some blackout poetry examples.

Students should read chapter 12 and 13 over the weekend.

Chap 7-8 quiz

Today we did a quiz on ch 7-8.  It was marked and returned to students.
We began reading chapter 9 together and discussing the newest telepath -- Petra.

We learned the word of the week "bias" along with the word "incredulous."
Students got into pre-arranged groups and formulated four questions about the novel.

Abbreviations, Acronyms - Chrysalids chapter 7

1. Completed a worksheet on Abbreviations and Acronyms
2. Turned in the chapter 4-6 "Quiz" that we've been working on.
3. We read chapter 7 and discussed
4. Anticipatory Guide handed back - discussion

Lots of rich discussion and learning surrounding bigotry, racism and people's general prejudices. These are themes that play an important role in our lives -- they are also strong themes in the novel The Chrysalids

A bit of initial work was done on a "Black-out Poetry" assignment.

HOMEWORK:  Read chapter 8 for next class.