Archives for September 2016

Due 9/21: Sexton and Plath

September 20, 2016 By

1. Class Forum–Post your topic sentence to the appropriate class forum.

2. Reading–45 Mercy Street by Anne Sexton and Mad Girl’s Love Song by Sylvia Plath.

3. Research and take notes on Sylvia Plath. More than most authors, the writer’s life (context) is key to fully understanding her work.

Due 9/20: Poetry of Sexton and Plath; Topic Sentences

September 19, 2016 By

Tomorrow, we open with a brief discussion of This is Water! The goal of this discussion is understanding.

1. Reading–Read and annotate Her Kind by Anne Sexton and Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath. As we use these poems and those of Emily Dickinson to practice writing topic sentences, keep in mind that we are actually (and more importantly) laying the thematic foundation for our first unit. I remind you that this involves sensitive subjects such as depression and suicide.

2. Writing–Tonight, you will write a total of three topic sentences. The first will be a continuation of the one started in class today with a focus on one of Emily Dickinson’s poems. You should do the same for Sexton’s Her Kind and Plath’s Lady Lazarus. Keep in mind the template: topic=observation + opinion.

Remember, when choosing a point of analysis you are assigning value to that point. So, choosing to build a paragraph around Dickinson’s “loaded gun” is to suggest that that metaphor is IMPORTANT! It is critical to understanding the poem. If you have questions, email me.

3. Vocab Section–You should have your first five vocab words by the end of this week. Formatted like this:

  1. Autonomy
    The power of a country, group, etc. to govern itself; existing/acting separately from others.
    Encouraging autonomy in the classroom, Mr. Johnson’s students developed a sense of self-reliance that benefitted them later in life.
    Noun
    Source: 1984, p. 146

 

Due 9/20: Iambic Pentameter and John Donne

September 19, 2016 By

1. Poetry Journals–Write 6 individual lines of iambic pentameter and two couplets (also iambic pentameter). You should have a total of 10 lines written.

2. Fundamentals of Poetry–This past weekend you were to focus on meter. Tonight, read pages 18-20 (Devices of Sound).

3. Reading–Tonight, read and annotate the poetry of John Donne (pp. 51-52).

3. Be sure to bring annotated poems to class (including Shakespeare’s sonnets). Remember, I randomly collect annotations.

Due 9/19: It’s All Happening! (Almost Famous Reference!)

September 15, 2016 By

1. The coming week represents the true beginning of the year! Everyone should be registered for the site. You should have all supplies in place! I hope to see us begin with an open mind and a positive disposition.

2. This is Water by David Foster Wallace–Read and annotate (click the link and print the handout) the commencement address. For the ensuing discussion, I am not interested in a critical discussion. Our discussion will be aimed at understanding. Here is a link to audio of the speech if you are interested:

3. The Bell Jar Unit Poetry–As part of this unit, we will read selections from Emily Dickinson, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath. This weekend print the handout and read and annotate the selections from Emily Dickinson.

Due 9/19: Future Readings

September 15, 2016 By

1. Man’s Search for Meaning–Please be prepared to discuss the book on Monday!
2. Philosophy Packet–Please take very good care of the packet! 🙂

Future Readings:

1. (Due 9/20) Read and annotate William Barrett’s The Encounter with Nothingness(Second reading in the packet). Be sure to read all three parts (the third part being Science and Finitude). Barrett’s reading will give us just a nugget of context before we move ahead. Remember, you must annotate all readings for this class! Failure to do so will result in a zero!  You will learn how to provide some focus to your annotations.  Ultimately, focused annotating prepares you for your reading responses, formal essays, and class discussions.  To annotate is to supply with critical or explanatory notes:

  • identifying lines that resonate with you, confuse you, or make you want to know more
  • asking questions of general thematic/philosophical value
  • tracking the development of a theme that may connect to one or more of the philosophical readings or other fiction.

2. (Due 9/21) Existentialism is a Humanism–Jean Paul Sartre is often the first name to come to mind when one considers Existentialism. His brand of atheistic existentialism so dominates the existential landscape that one forgets that the “first existentialist” Kierkegaard was indeed a theist. Nevertheless, Sartre’s essay most clearly defines the existential mindset. It becomes a fundamental piece of this course’s foundation.   Additionally, his essay establishes some of the tenets of existentialism that are universally applicable.  Read and ANNOTATE! Be sure you are able to discuss the four reproaches of existentialism and his defense against those reproaches.

Class Forum–Remember you must post by midnight Tuesday (in preparation for Wednesday’s class)! AND REMEMBER TO BRING A PRINTED COPY OF YOUR RESPONSE IN TO CLASS. The responses should be added to the reading response section of your binder. Be sure to include the heading and title each printed response.

3. (Due 9/22) Soren Kierkegaard–Read and annotate That Individual. Be sure you can articulate Kierkegaard’s thesis and supporting argument. The following week we will write our first précis. This requires that you have at least Control of the source article. Print out the précis detail sheet.

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