Monday, November 21, 2011

Night Wrap~Up

Night Final Project~ 50 points
 Due Thurs. 12/1

You will create a collage that represents what you have learned about the Holocaust and Elie Wiesel’s tragic survival of Nazi Germany. This collage should be an assortment of hand-drawn pictures, photographs from the Internet, significant lines from Night, quotes from other survivors, objects that represent Jewish history, etc. Be creative, but most importantly you need to reflect in your collage what you have learned during this unit.

Grading:

Title                                                                 5 points                  
5 Night Quotes                                                10 points              
3 Examples of Figurative Language                   5 points                
10 or more related items on collage                   10 points              
Neatness and Creativity                                    10 points    
Presentation in Small Group                             10 points    

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Night Journal

Night Journal #4: Survival
Due Friday 11/18

(1 page minimum in length – provide specific details to support your ideas)

Horrible circumstances, such as the ones that Elie Wiesel and the other Jews faced during the Holocaust, cause people to go into survival mode. When struggling to survive, people take desperate measures and act in ways that they normally may not. It can be difficult to balance one’s responsibility and love for their family with their instinct to survive.

What does Elie do to survive? How is Elie different from Rabbi Eliahu’s son? Have you ever been in a situation where you had to act in survival mode? How did your instinct to survive change your normal behavior? If you have never been in a position where you were fighting for survival, try to put yourself into the shoes of the Jewish people. How do you think you would respond? What lengths would you go through to survive?

Monday, October 17, 2011

Glass Castle: Text Essay

Choose one option from the following:                DUE FRIDAY OCTOBER 21

1. THE GLASS CASTLE:  Examine the symbolism of the Glass Castle. What is it, when is it mentioned in the book, and how does it relate to Jeannette’s experience as well as the themes of the book?

2. REX WALLS: Examine Jeannette’s relationship to her father closely. How does it change in the story? How does Jeannette come to terms with it in the end?

3. CHARACTER RELATIONSHIP PAIRS: Compare and contrast two relationships in the book. For example, Jeannette/Rex to Jeanette/Rose Mary, or Jeannette/Lori to Jeannette/Brian. How do the differences and similarities help Jeannette come to terms with her life?

4. FIRE AND TURBULENCE: The last line of the memoir reads, “the candle flames suddenly shifted, dancing along the border between turbulence and order.” This mirrors the first chapter of the book, which depicts Jeannette’s burning incident. In what way does Jeannette’s life waver between turmoil and order? What do the themes of fire and burning demonstrate? Cite specific examples in the book.

5. POVERTY: Examine the descriptions of poverty in the book. How does Jeannette’s impoverished upbringing shape who she becomes at the end of the memoir?

Extra Credit Option 20 points
2-3 pages: View the South African film, “Tsotsi.” Compare the destitution portrayed in the film with that of the book, “The Glass Castle.” How does poverty shape each of the main characters in the film vs. the book?

Requirements:

1. A solid argument: Make sure to include a solid, well-reasoned and thoughtful thesis statement in your first paragraph.

2. Polished, college level style & tone: Keep in mind that your audience is university-level readers. Use accurate diction and correct spelling, mechanics, grammar, and punctuation—eliminate surface level errors.

3. Evidentiary support: Provide specific details and passages from the novel to support your claim.  Provide a Works Cited page only if you use sources other than the novel.

4. MLA format: typed, double spaced, one inch margins (you need to adjust this—it is not your default setting), proper headings, 12 point font, Times New Roman.

5. Page Length: 3-4 full pages.

6. Grading: Points will be deducted if the paper does not meet the page limit or is handed in late.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

HW Journal #4

The Glass Castle pgs. 155-213
1-2 Full Page(s) due Th. 10/6

Choose one of the following two options to answer thoughtfully and fully:

A) When the Walls family moves to Little Hobart Street, they quickly descend into impoverished living conditions. How does Jeannette cope with the deficiencies in her life? Discuss at least one specific example.

OR

B) How do Jeannette and her siblings tolerate abuse? To what extent do you sympathize with her situation? Are her justifications (for her father's behavior, her mother's neglect, etc) valid or has she been taught to believe in a false reality? Explain.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

HW Journal #3

The Glass Castle pgs. 91-154
1-2 Full Page(s) due Th 9/29

A) How do the Walls siblings show loyalty toward each other? Cite specific examples. Despite her family's support and loyalty, during which instance does Jeannette feel lonely?

B) How does the Christmas incident signify a turning point in Jeannette's life? Does the event change her perspective about her father?

C) How does the Walls' life in Welch compare to Battle Mountain and Phoenix? In what way does Jeannette's life in Welch shape her late childhood/early adolescence?

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Glass Castle Prompts

In your Composition Notebook, answer three of the following questions with a detailed response:. Due Fri 9/23
  • How reliable is a memory? Do you and your siblings remember events from your childhood the same way? If not, why do you think this is so?
  • Describe your first memory.
  • Will you raise your children the same way your parents raised you? Explain.
  • Do you think that difficult family circumstances bring siblings closer together or push them apart? Explain.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Homework Journal #2

Homework Journal #2: The Glass Castle, pp. 42-90
1-2 Full Page(s) Due Wed 9/14

A) How does the following passage epitomize the Walls’ lifestyle and demonstrate Jeannette’s tolerant and understanding character? How does the swimming event compare to the fire incident on p. 9?
           
“I staggered out of the water and sat on the calcified rocks, my chest heaving. Dad came out of the water, too, and tried to hug me, but I wouldn’t have anything to do with him, or with Mom, who’d been floating on her back as if nothing were happening, or with Brian and Lori, who gathered around and were congratulating me. Dad kept telling me that he loved me, that he never would have let me drown, but you can’t cling to the side your whole life, that one lesson every parent needs to teach a child is ‘If you don’t want to sink, you better figure out how to swim.’ What other reason, he asked, would possibly make him do this? Once I got my breath back, I figured he must be right. There was no other way to explain it” (66).

B) How does Jeannette describe her father in the beginning of the memoir? How does she express her trust in her father? Cite specific examples.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Homework Journal #1

HWJ #1: The Glass Castle, pp. 3-41
1-2 Full Page(s) due Tues. 9/6
 
A) What impression of Jeannette’s mother do you get in the first section? Why do you think the author chooses to begin the memoir with this encounter?

B) How do Jeannette’s parents explain the “skedaddle?” How do they justify all the moves? What are Jeannette and her siblings’ reactions to constantly moving?

C) Describe a memory you have of moving, whether it was moving homes, schools, or even rooms. What kind of impact or significance did the move have on you?

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Caught in the Act

Choose one of the prompts below. Write a detailed paragraph {minimum of 125 words} about the prompt you chose. Focus mostly on telling the story with descriptions and your feelings.

1. Describe a time you got caught doing something you shouldn't have been doing. How did you get caught? Who caught you? How did you feel? What happened as a result? Would you try it again? Why?

2. Describe a time you got away with doing something you weren't supposed to do. Was it worth it? How'd you get away with it? How did you feel during? After?

3. Describe a time you caught someone doing something he or she shouldn't have been doing. How'd you catch them? What did you do about it, if anything? What happened as a result?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Book Interview

Tonight I want you to interview your IR book choice:

Remember, it's your job to question the text. You're the interviewer and it's your responsibilty to find out as much about this book as you can. Feel free to read some pages to get acquainted with the author's style of writing. If you want to look up more information about the author and/or text, use the Internet as your guide. Take notes on the back of your assignment sheet. Be ready to discuss what your learned in a small group tomorrow.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Quote of the Week

In your CN, explain the following quote:


"Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves." Ernest Dimnet



Monday, August 15, 2011

Back to School

So glad you joined us at Fairdale High School! Hopefully over the next few years you will experience genuine friendships, a growing education, and many life lessons. It's a safe place that I know you'll learn to love. This is my fourth year here and I can honestly say it's a wonderful environment with awesome students and staff :)

*By Monday, I want you to decorate the cover of your Composition Notebook. You can paint, draw, use magazine clippings, or anything else you can think of to make the notebook your own. It can be words, phrases, or images that represent you. I want you to use this assignment for me to get to know you a little more. What makes you you?