To continue our discussion on the important issues in our reading of Huckleberry Finn, we watched part of one or both of these clips in class. I wanted to post them here for your review. They may be a part of your reaction paper.

Trailer from the movie:

Spike Lee’s montage from minstrel shows:

Part 1: Multiple-Choice exam on reading comprehension.

Part 2: Essay

In a well-written essay, compare two of the major works studied so far this year. Choose the two, and select one point of comparison (theme, plot structure, characters, historical perspective, perspectives of women, etc.) to explore. Be sure to discuss specific events and characters from the works as you write.

Include:

• Solid introduction with a clear thesis statement
• Body paragraphs each focus on one point of comparison
• Satisfying conclusion that brings essay to a proper close
• A creative title that connects to your essay
• Details and analysis that display your thorough understanding of the works

Select from:

• The Tempest by William Shakespeare
• Tartuffe by Moliere
• Candide by Voltaire
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Remember:  choose only one point of comparison topic to view in two works. For example, show three ways in which the theme of resurrection is apparent in both A Tale of Two Cities and Things Fall Apart.

This essay will be scored using the 6 Traits rubric for

Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, and Conventions.

For your Product Description essay on Monday, 1/9, you’ll need the box of the product, a picture of the ad, or, as some suggested, a commercial. If you want to use a brief ad to introduce your product, please post a comment with the product and link.

This is for Wednesday, 1/4/2012. Do not do this now!

best-of-the-year-2011 doc (Download this and save with your last name.2011.period)

Begin by watching Google’s 2011 Zeigeist video

Station 1: News Year in Review http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/killing-bin-laden-voted-top-news-story-2011-15178436

Station 2: Words, Words, Words http://www.merriam-webster.com/the-year-in-words/index.htm

Station 3: Top Songs and Movies of the Year
Movies: http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2011&p=.htm

Songs: http://www.billboard.com/charts/charts-year-end?year=2011#/charts-year-end/hot-100-songs?year=2011

Station 4: Banished Words for 2012 http://www.lssu.edu/banished/

Station 5: Photo Gallery http://www.life.com/gallery/67641/image/ugc1393781/2011-pictures-of-the-year#index/0

Station 6: Internet Search Terms http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/top_10_most_searched_terms_2011_google_yahoo_bing.html

Station 7: Washington Post Top News Searches http://www.washingtonpost.com/conversations/the-top-search-terms-of-2011/2011/12/15/gIQAsbXmwO_gallery.html#photo=12

Station 8: Facebook Status Terms http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/07/9274609-osama-bin-ladens-death-tops-2011-facebook-status-updates

For each station, complete work on the Best of 2011 document. Work in triads discussing the trends from the year, and your thoughts on the questions in the small group discussion section.

Here’s what I wrote regarding reading more in 2012: http://my52books.com/eleven-easy-ways-to-read-more-in-2012/

Amazon just posted the Kindle edition of Life of Pi for only 99 cents! For all you with sparkling new Kindles from Christmas, this is a deal for you. We are reading this book in second semester, and this is a cheap, quick way to get your own copy. I highly suggest buying this.

This price is for today (12/27) only!

Remember, you must complete the following for your Power of One character documentaries:

1. Watch a non-fiction documentary for your Power of One character. This can be from the libraries, purchased through Amazon, from Netflix, or from an educational site. It CANNOT be illegally downloaded or from sites like YouTube. The movie must be a minimum of 45 minutes long.

2. Write a review, outline, etc. for the documentary for turn-in. This MUST be typed. Turn in to Mr. Coia.

3. Bring in the DVD case or the receipt from iTunes, Netflix, etc. showing rental or purchase. Turn in to Mr. Hogen.

4. Have you found a good source for documentaries? (Biography, A & E, etc.). If so, post it in the comments to help other students.

Due on Wednesday, January 4th.

After completing your worksheet on Tweeting a Novel you will add two of yours to this list. Include a recognizable username for a Candide character, and have up to 140 characters. It should look something like this:

@BestofAllCandides : “Ran into Pangloss and the Baron today as slaves. Starting to think that no one stays dead. Still waiting for Mr. Inquisitor to zombify.”

@TheFaithfulCacambo:  “Is it just me or is Candide an idiot? The more he talks about this being the best possible world, the more I think he needs glasses.”

Value: 10 points

Travel along with Candide throughout the world in search of the fair Cunegonde. This Google Lit Trip will take you through the book using Google Maps. We will complete this in class on Wednesday, 12/14.

1. Go to http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/9-12/Entries/2006/12/1_Candide_by_Voltaire.html to download the small map file. [NOTE: You need to already have a copy of the free Google Maps to use this file.]

2. Take this journey. Allow about 45 minutes to go through and read up on some of the items that you missed. There is lots of background information.

3. Write up a short response on what you learned from this journey. [250 or so words.] Turn it in.4. Comment here that you completed the work.

To follow up our discussion in class today on Candide and the sugar trade, here is an article about how the world ought to respond to diamonds. Change this to sugar, clothing, iPods, etc.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/05/world/africa/conflict-diamonds-explainer/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

November is National Novel Writing Month, where participants are challenged to write a novel in 30 days! Writers work on a 50,000 word novel (approximately 175 pages) by writing furiously each day. I tried this three years ago, but I couldn’t complete it. However…

Our very own Corenne S. from A1 is in the middle of her novel, and I am excited for her. I am posting this for her to post updates on how she is doing, and for us to post words of encouragement as she plows through this endeavour.

Find out more information here.

Go Corenne!

Post your two favorite haiKUBAs here. Give us that snapshot of the environment of our school. This is a graded assignment for A1 and A2. A3 is exempt as we did not complete this activity in class.

In case you’d like to see how others interpret the play:

Here’s a trailer to the 1926 silent film version. It looks more like a bad horror movie to me:

Want to start Quarter 2 strong with extra credit, while also supporting Kubasaki Theater AND enjoying a great comedy? Here’s your chance to do all three.

Go see Kubasaki’s production of The Red Velvet Cake Wars on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (November 10, 11, 12) at 6:30 pm. Save your program as proof, write your name on it, and turn it in to the inbox by Tuesday morning.

It’s that simple!

Post here if you are planning on attending. This opportunity is open to both Sophomores and Juniors.

A few students asked about getting the dramatized version of Tartuffe that I played in class. Here is the link to it from iTunes. It’s a mere $3.95, and worth it, especially for you Far Easters.

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAudiobook?id=389709650&s=143441

Here is the trailer for the terrible version of The Scarlet Letter from 1995. This was Demi Moore’s worst decision (of course, before getting lower by marrying Ashton Kutcher).

Indian wars, Spanish conquistadors, and monk chanting…just like in the novel!

Six-Word Memoirs by Teens: The Video from SMITHmag on Vimeo.

Here is the link to the teen site for six-word memoirs. Remember, some may not be appropriate for students. If you encounter one, move on to another. http://www.smithteens.com/. Go to the site and submit one. Who knows? You may be in the next book.

For our homework on Wednesday, 10/26, you’ll need to write 20 in your composition book. Out of those, pick two of the very best to cut into neat strips, in color, and with creative fonts.

In the meantime,  add a comment here and write one or two showing off your writing powers. Eventually, I’d like to add a six-word memoir portion to my site to showcase your work. Be sure that your memoirs are properly punctuated. This is a graded assignment!

Here are a few from me:

Loved books, now I teach them.

Rhode Island is far from home.

Write the truth; all else follows.

Some students sit, stare, sleep, slack.

Since A1 and A2 are missing classes on Wednesday for the PSAT, I am making an adjustment to the schedule.

Wednesday: A3--> Act IV due. We’ll read Act V in class
Friday: A1, A2, A3--> Play must be completed, regardless of absences, etc.

While you are at it, check out the modern version of The Tempest. I haven’t seen it, so I cannot vouch for its content or accuracies. Review on it are abysmal.

Alicia N. posted this commentary on the play: it may be worth checking out. Thanks, Alicia!

It’s a B3 thing…

To aid in your memorizing the 120-Rhetorical-Terms, I’ve created this Quizlet (actually, Zoey C. did!). Work on the flashcards and games to help you commit these to memory.

http://quizlet.com/6676736/ap-language-comp-terms-flash-cards/

Click on the link to add in your Power of One characters. DO NOT POST YOUR CHARACTER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEVUMV9yZ1VrQnNOLV94eWQxOHgzRUE6MQ

This MUST be completed no later than Wednesday, 9/21.

Any questions? Please ask.

Here’s an ad from the 1950s about the “safety” of cigarettes. A perfect example of using ethos to persuade.

9 out of 10 teachers enjoyed watching this ad.

For our assignment for the three appeals (ethos, logos, and pathos), you will print off your three ads, OR you can add a comment and post the links here for presentation in class.

I’m looking forward to seeing what you find.

Need the full-text of The Prince? It’s all over the Internet, but here is a quick link, should you need it.

Remember, chapters 17 and 18 are due next class.

After our three excellent Socratic Seminars in classes today, you are to write a 500-word Reaction paper answering the question: How does the Internet affect us? Be sure to follow the essay format, and based your responses on the text. You’ll also need at least three quotations from Carr’s article.

If you were in class, you can opt to complete this option assignment in place of the essay:

Go on a 24-hour media fast. No Internet, no TV, no texting, no video games, no smartphones. To participate in this, you must tell your parents before you begin. Go on the fast. After, write a 250-word journal entry explaining your experience with this exercise. Then, have your parents sign the paper stating that they vouch for your fast.

You can only do this alternate assignment if you were in class for the Socratic seminar!

If you were absent from the Socratic Seminar, you MUST have a second essay stating your thoughts about this issue. This is a make-up for your absence.

Sorry for the delay in posting here. I want to remind students of a few items:

1. Check the site each weekend for about 15 minutes. You will check for grades, the forum, and print off any materials if you need them.

2. I’ll post updates to lessons here. I’ll also post extra credit assignments, if any, here.

3. Feel free to post comments using only first name and period #. (e.g. Will-A4)

4. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

This is a graded assignment: Post a brief message here to show that you’ve been online on the site as the rule state.

Mr. Coia

Now that I have a have a little boy running around, I understand this better than ever!

Mesmerizing…and it is about books.

This is Thor’s pic. Zoey’s is still here. At least I have more here in this one.

(At school? Here is the site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QazmVHAO0os)

Read more on this. Time has an article titled, “How the Nixon-Kennedy Debate Changed the World.”

I could care less about Little Italy. Little Italy. Little Italy. Littlitaly.

Enjoy, English mavens.

(In case you are at school and this site is blocked, you can try this: http://www.whatyououghttoknow.com/show/2008/02/27/things-we-say-wrong/)

Add a comment and let us know.

Here’s your chance to share your latest non-school book. What are you currently reading? What do you think of it?

For those absent on Monday and/or Wednesday:

In addition to the work mentioned in the unit guide (be sure you have it printed from online), you will need to make up quizzes at lunch on Monday, 11/15.

Also, if you want credit for the “Good Country People” stations, you must have the following after reading the story and marking it up:

1. A 150-200 word typed summary of the story
2. A 100-150 word typed analysis of one of the two quotations. Show how your quote gives meaning to a larger piece of the story
3. Write a 6-line typed poem describing the story creatively
4. Draw three pictures that represent the story

All this is due by class on Tuesday, 11/16 for credit

It’s way off from the story, but you may enjoy watching this 1960s version of the short story after reading the original.