Skip to main content

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving... Congratulations to the guys for the great win last week -- looking forward to the game on Thursday!

This will be a short week, but we have much to do (of course):

First, although I didn't give any homework over the break, you should be finishing up DEAR books and any other outside reading assignments. Your papers will be due soon on those.

Seniors, I'll give you your research papers on Monday to REVISE. We'll discuss the final format and answer general questions concerning your papers. I'm happy to say that many (most?) of your papers are close to finished, and I believe you've produced some good writing overall. However, as noted, I have made corrections/suggestions on ALL of your papers (three each, for those who have completed the assignments), and I fully expect you to follow my suggestions for revision. Those of you who are behind need to catch up. All grades are due in about three weeks, which means you have about two weeks to deliver the final product.

Juniors, we will start reading "Young Goodman Brown" and Other Stories on Monday. There are a total of seven stories, and we'll read all of them before the break. We'll also discuss paper topics, research, and integrating sources.

Freshmen, we are currently reading Act Three of Romeo & Juliet (just in case you've mysteriously forgotten what we've been doing). I've posted a link to the "No Fear" edition for those interested. I encourage you to shop locally and to order from Windows.

NOTE: You are not required to buy a copy of the play in modern language. We will be discussing the play in class and watching two different film versions, as well.

We will finish the play in the next two weeks, and a large portion of the midterm will cover the play; however, our video projects might have to wait until after the break.

Popular posts from this blog

O Brother, A Response Paper

Hello Freshmen... Your assignment for the weekend is to write a 250-word (one page) response paper on O Brother, Where Art Thou . Please type and format according to MLA. You may choose from the two topics below: (1) Respond to the lyrics of one song from the film. Using your lyric sheet (or the internet ), connect the lyrics of one song to the movie's characters/setting/events. In other words, explain how the lyrics are relevant to the film. (2) Choose one of the historically relevant elements of the movie and look up an article on Wikipedia . Print out the article; then, summarize it and connect it to the movie's characters/setting/events. Be careful not to plagiarize the article, which should be stapled to your reponse. Ideas discussed in class include The Great Depression, con artist, chain gang, Populism (George Wallace, Huey P. Long, W. Lee O'Daniel), Ku Klux Klan (William Joseph Simmons), and George "Babyface" Nelson.
Read more

Monty Python & The Holy Grail

Before you start scoffing and claiming that I am merely killing time until midterms, hear me out. Okay, it's true that this is a perfect time to NOT start anything new, and I do have grading, of course; however, there is more merit to this than you may realize. First, Monty Python -- the British comedy troupe -- has become inextricably associated with all that is "British" in the minds of many. Their educated humor and sharp-minded wit have helped to define what we think of as British comedy, certainly. Their biting satire has taken aim at the British government (and our own), and Britain's monarchy, institutions and social customs. In a sense, their humor (like Shakespeare's) is timeless; no period of history is safe from ridicule (or illumination), and no taboo is too taboo. Second, the movie is a send-up of everything we've studied so far regarding the Middle Ages. They touch on Arthurian Lit and the Grail quest motif (of course), and also feudalism, k...
Read more

Senior End-of-Year Schedule!

Seniors, the end is near, and there are a few assignments left to schedule. Here is a list of everything due in the next two weeks: Career Update - a one-page addendum to your research paper, updating your plans for college and beyond. Be sure to include what you originally planned and if that's changed. Whether plans have changed or not, please explain why and what steps you've taken towards reaching your goal -- i.e. where you've decided to attend and what major you've declared. This is due WEDNESDAY 4/24. Letter to Future Self - this is an OPTIONAL assignment, but I encourage you to take it seriously. As discussed in class, this letter will be sent to you in about five years. Think about what you'd like to tell yourself five years from now. For example, maybe it would be interesting to reflect on your plans at the time, what values you held dear, what you wanted to remember. In addition, you might think about your current likes/dislikes related to pop cultur...
Read more