Hey, how's Japan?

Hi Kate and Beth.  Hope you're enjoying your time in Japan.  I can't imagine what it's like being in such a different culture.

Today we discussed three threads of theme that run through the novel Speak: ostracism, conformity, and finding your voice.  I asked students to read this novel not merely to understand the plot but read it and examine the theme while you're reading it.

We discussed analogies today and looked at the one on p. 9.  "Art follows lunch like dreams follow nightmares."  We learned that analogies are like similes and metaphors but they extends the comparison.  Really long ones can also be called extended metaphors.

Students spent 20 minutes creating at least three of their own analogies such as "RSS without Mr. Stevens is like cake without icing."

Welcome Back

1. Welcome back
2. Review the next three weeks.  Two primary areas we'll be doing are reading and studying the novel Speak and preparing for final exam.  Prepare to spend at least HALF of each long block class on quiet, in-class writing.
3. Opening Activity:  In a group create a Top Ten list:  the top 10 unwritten rules for new students to RSS (e.g for new grade 8's).  Criteria:  refrain from criticism of teachers or other students, write legibly, and, most importantly, be clever, humorous, and innovative.  Top 10 lists were handed in / presented to classmates.
4.  Students began reading the novel Speak quietly in class.
5. Students were asked to read to p. 14 for homework.

We discussed the word "ostracize" and mentioned that it would be one of the themes of the novel.

Warm Bodies and updated marks

Today we viewed Warm Bodies and completed the following assignment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzzSKr4jhiCLazBIMTZVVUcxYW8/view?usp=sharing

Here is a link to your updated marks which include your Romeo and Juliet Test marks https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzzSKr4jhiCLN0xwSUhtTU1oS3c/view?usp=sharing

In the new year we'll be studying the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

RandJ test Tuesday

Romeo and Juliet test will be Tuesday, Dec.15th.

Remember to review the Quotation Study Sheet along with everything else!

Here is a link to the answers to the Romeo and Juliet practice test that I gave out today https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzzSKr4jhiCLX0Z5MUNZb3Y4dE0/view?usp=sharing

Romeo and Juliet Quotation work

We will read Act V tomorrow.

Today we learned what the written section of the Romeo and Juliet test will look like

Instructions:

In paragraph form discuss the significance/importance of these four passages to the play.  Remember to mention who is speaking.  Complete a single paragraph for each quotation

Not sure what to say about each one?  You may wish to discuss any number of things including imagery, irony, theme, plot, conflict, foreshadowing, and character development.

“Oh Romeo . . . wherefore art thou Romeo”  

Example Paragraph:

In these lines Juliet is describing and speaking about Romeo in the balcony scene just after meeting and falling in love with him. These words help to highlight and reinforce the main conflict which is the feud between the families.  Here, Juliet is concerned not by the haste with which she has fallen in love but by the fact that Romeo’s family is an enemy of the Capulets.  He’s a Monatague, after all, which makes him a mortal enemy.  With the word “wherefore” Juliet asks “Why” is he Romeo Montague.  She suggests later on in her soliloquy that Romeo’s name actually doesn’t matter and that she’s in love with him as a person, not as a member of this family or that.  With these words the theme of forbidden love along with the idea of “star-crossed lovers” is introduced.

Then students were given a quotation and then asked to write a practice paragraph. Here is the quotation they were given: 

 “Within the infant rind of this small flower 

Poison hath residence, and medicine power:   

For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part, 

Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart.”