Archives for September 2017

Due 9/27: Albert Camus

September 25, 2017 By

Existentialism

Here’s what you should have completed thus far:

  1. Read the course syllabus
  2. All supplies should be in place
  3. Registered for class website
  4. Posted a response to the Welcome and Existentialism is a Humanism threads on the class forum
  5. Completed in-class essay on Man’s Search for Meaning
  6. Read and annotated Existentialism is a Humanism
  7. Read the guidelines for precis and annotating
  8. Critical discussion of Frankl
  9. Read and Discussed Kierkegaard

You should have the following handouts printed and in your binder:

  1. Course syllabus
  2. Existentialism is a Humanism
  3. Precis Handout
  4. Annotating Guidelines
  5. Kierkegaard, Ethics and Religion
  6. Kierkegaard, That Individual

Completed Last Class Period:

That Individual

Spend the first half of class outlining Kierkegaard’s argument in this essay. Start with his thesis and then outline how he develops the thesis.

Conclude class with a small group discussion. Practice intellectual accountability by ensuring that everyone in the group understands his argument. Then, move into a critical discussion.

9/26: To be completed in class today. One of the keys to success in this class is to make connections between the philosophers read. In this case we have read Frankl, Sartre, and Kierkegaard. Working in pairs, identify points of agreement and disagreement between and among them. The most intriguing discussions are the ones born out of nuanced philosophical observations. Write out your thoughts. Spend the last half of class discussing in small groups.

HW:

  1. Print out, read and annotate the following sections on Albert Camus:
  • Suicide, Absurdity, and Happiness: The Myth of Sisyphus
  • The Limits of Reason
  • Criticism of Existentialists
  • Happiness in Accepting One’s Fate
  1. The Stranger–If you would like to buy your own copy, buy this one!

Due 9/27 (9/28 for 10G): The Yellow Wallpaper

September 25, 2017 By

English 10

Here’s what you should have completed thus far:

  1. Read the course syllabus
  2. All supplies should be in place
  3. Registered for class website
  4. Posted a response to the Welcome thread on the class forum
  5. Completed in-class writing assignment
  6. Read and annotated Where are You Going
  7. Read and annotated the two poems by Emily Dickinson, Anne Sexton, and Sylvia Plath.
  8. Read the bios for Sexton and Plath

You should have the following handouts printed and in your binder:

  1. Course syllabus
  2. Literary Terms
  3. Where are You Going, Where have You Been?
  4. Annotating Guidelines
  5. The Bell Jar Unit Poetry
  6. Confessional Poetry Guide

Completed Last Class Period:

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 laying the thematic foundation for our first unit. I remind you that this involves sensitive subjects such as depression and suicide.

After reading the poems, in bullet form identify the primary devices (i.e. metaphor, symbolism, etc) used in each poem to develop theme.

9/26: To be completed during Monday’s class–Poetry Discussion and Topic Sentence Practice

Small Group Discussion (20 minutes): Begin class in small groups and pick up where you left off last Wednesday. Discuss both poems focusing (Sexton and Plath)  on the theme in each poem and how the poet develops that theme.

Topic Sentence Practice: To begin, a topic sentence should feature both an observation and an argument. For example:

  1. In Her Kind Anne Sexton’s witch, a misunderstood outcast, depicts how women are made to feel like strangers in their own body. (observation=the witch; argument= women are made to feel like strangers in their own body)
  2. In Sylvia Plath’s Lady Lazarus, suicide attempts present a way for the narrator to take control over herself and the crowd. (observation=suicide; argument=suicide allows the narrator to take control over herself and the crowd)

Using the four poems (2 by Sexton and 2 by Plath), write one topic sentence per poem for a total of 4 poems.

HW:

  1. Research and take notes on Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of The Yellow Wallpaper.
  2. The Yellow Wallpaper–Print the short story.
  3. Feminist Criticism–Print this handout and be sure to have it with you in class!

My Apologies, One More Delay

September 18, 2017 By

Hello folks,

First off, let me apologize for the added delay. I love my job and am desperate to begin the year with you, but I must see to it that my family is ok first. So, hang in there. I will do my best to make it worth your wait. In the meantime, here is the plan for the next two days:

9/19: Frankl, A Critical Discussion

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” – Viktor Frankl

Open class by thinking (independently) about Frankl’s point here. Then, write a critical response (20 minutes of writing) to Frankl. What do you think of his argument? Keep in mind Frankl’s points in development of his argument. Your response should be in paragraph format.

Close class with a small group discussion. Listen intently to one another. Please do not just go around and share your response. Talk to one another. Have a conversation.

HW:

  • Kierkegaard–Print and read this handout on Kierkegaard. Read the sections on Ethics and Religion!
  • Soren Kierkegaard–Print, Read, and annotate That Individual.

9/20: That Individual

Spend the first half of class outlining Kierkegaard’s argument in this essay. Start with his thesis and then outline how he develops the thesis.

Conclude class with a small group discussion. Practice intellectual accountability by ensuring that everyone in the group understands his argument. Then, move into a critical discussion.

So, if you have taken all assigned work seriously and completed it meaningfully, we will be good to go on 9/25! Can’t wait to meet you!

My Apologies, One More Delay

September 18, 2017 By

Hello folks,

First off, let me apologize for the added delay. I love my job and am desperate to begin the year with you, but I must see to it that my family is ok first. So, hang in there. I will do my best to make it worth your wait. In the meantime, here is the plan for the next two days:

9/19: My Life has stood – a Loaded Gun and I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson

Both poems are in the The Bell Jar Unit Poetry. In class read and annotate both poems. Then, answer the following questions in one paragraph (be sure to have a proper topic sentence):

How are the poems thematically related? How does Dickinson develop the theme in each poem?

Conclude class with small group discussion.

HW: Print and read the following sections of the Confessional Poetry Guide:

  • Introduction
  • Anne Sexton (Bio and The Truth the Dead Know)
  • Sylvia Plath (Bio and Ariel)

9/20: 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.

After reading the poems, in bullet form identify the primary devices (i.e. metaphor, symbolism, etc) used in each poem to develop theme.

So, if you have taken all assigned work seriously and completed it meaningfully, we will be good to go on 9/25! Can’t wait to meet you!

Due 9/14: Class Forum

September 13, 2017 By

Hello folks! The first week is almost in the books. If all goes as planned, I will see you on Monday and this class really begins! It is imperative that you have taken care of all responsibilities by then. This includes:

  • Registered for the website
  • Posted a response in the Welcome thread on the class forum
  • Completed the in-class essay
  • Read the course syllabus
  • You should have supplies for the class

Tomorrow, you will do the following:

Day 5: Existentialism is a Humanism Discussion

Please be sure to have a printed copy of your forum response in front of you. During this period, discuss each of the four reproaches and Sartre’s response to those reproaches. DO NOT get into a critical discussion until you think you have great control of his argument. Leave your printed response with the Sub at the end of class.

HW: Class Forum–Remember you must post by midnight before the next class period (in preparation for Thursday’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.

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