And it keeps on going. It's like a neverending gift. Gift, right? That's what it is...

Well, beyond SBAC, I'd like to work on Gatsby. That would have been much more enlightening and fun.

Today included:

SBAC

*Vocabulary Quiz postponed until after SBAC

HOMEWORK:
1. Read Gatsby Ch. 7, look for:
*Why is it so HOT at the Buchanan's? Think Biblical Allusion
*Interactions with Daisy's child - dream, dress, white
-Where's Daddy?
*"Advertisement of the man"
*Indiscreet voice/full of $
*Cars & colors
*Eyes of Eckelburg - as they head to NY
*Wilson's realization and plan
*Myrtle's jealousy - of whom?
*"I'll be the man smoking two cigarettes"
*Irony - wedding in the room beneath them in hotel
*"Then you won't seem so stupid to yourself"
*Tom's racism
*"Your wife doesn't love you"
*Daisy's conflict - love, marriage, boyfriend
*Gatsby's truth
*Daisy's truth
*Michaelis - allusion
*Death - who, why, how, by whom?
*"Death car"
*Gatsby's "vigil"

• Current Mood: 👁 uncomfortable
  uncomfortable
• Current Music:Depeche Mode: Enjoy the Silence

Countdown - T Minus four weeks Seniors. And, as this is the case, we flash back today during class. Some got teary, some got somber, but everyone was quietly reflective.

Our day was enmeshed by:

Vocabulary: Definitions/Sentences due Thursday
Abrogate
Ameliorate
Arcane
Caveat
Demagogue
Ephemeral
Iconoclast
Loquacious
Milieu
Prevaricate
Renege
Reticent
Specious
Tautological
Visceral

*SOC: Reflection

*Thank You Letter Assignment

Choose Your Adventure:
Vocab
Thank You
Final Game
Creative Project
Make Up Work

HOMEWORK:
1. Vocabulary: Definitions/Sentences due Thursday
2. Thank You Letters due 5/20
3. Creative Project due 5/29
4. Final Game due 6/3 or 6/4 (at final)

• Current Mood: 👁 nostalgic
  nostalgic
• Current Music:U2: One

Two Days until your AP Test, Juniors. Don't worry. You've got this. You've practiced and practiced and now it's time to show the College Board what you're made of.

In our relaxed version of today, we:

Vocabulary: Definitions/Sentences due Wednesday
Debility
Esoteric
Espouse
Etymology
Euphony
Exegesis
Hidebound
Impecunious
Lummox
Posthumous
Resplendent
Salubrious
Tirade
Tome
Tyro

*Do What You Need To Do Day

HOMEWORK:
1. Vocabulary: Definitions/Sentences due Wednesday
2. Review for AP Test - be here Wednesday at 7:30 am

• Current Mood: 👁 working
  working
• Current Music:Blaqk Audio: The Love Letter

FINAL: AP ENGLISH 4 – THE GAME

While reading the various novels and plays this school year, you may noticed that the scenarios that occur within the text are much like a game – with specific rules that must be played in order to avoid punishment and/or frustration.

Your Task:
In a group of up to 5, you are going to take your knowledge of the text (characters, symbols, plot, associated ideas) and your own schema to create a board game based on the plot, setting, characters and symbolism within Brave New World, Oedipus, Siddhartha, Hamlet or The Awakening.

Your Game Should Include:
•A catchy name that references the text and makes people want to play the game.

•Packaging/Cover art that references the texts.

•A reference to at least 4 characters from the text.

•An understanding/reference to the multiple settings of the text.

•Specific references to at least seven (7) events that took place in the text (these must be from different chapters)

•A clear explanation of the purpose/point of the game (objective).

•Suggested number of players and minimum age and explanation why.

•Your game must be linked up to one of the main themes of the text

You will be creating the actual game. This is not theoretical. You will turn in a finished product that could be played by any member of your class.

You can base your game on one already in existence – but please make sure to make it your own. BE CREATIVE!!!!

Assignment is worth: 50 points

Due date: June 3 or 4, 2015

• Current Mood: 👁 accomplished
  accomplished
• Current Music:Blondie: Call Me

You have two options by which to show your understanding of the texts that we have read so far this year. Both are creative, both require time and effort. Do not think that this will be “easy points.” Come on, I’m Ms. Rod; I have a reputation to uphold.

Your options:

1. Create a visual representation of one of the characters or themes from a text we have read so far this year (Brave New World, Oedipus Rex, Siddhartha, Hamlet, The Awakening).

Your representation can take the following forms: watercolor, photography, video, sculpture, ceramics, photoshop, colored pencils, or another form I have not mentioned (with approval).

With your visual you will also turn in an explanation of your piece:
a. what character/theme it represents and from what text?
b. Why did you choose this character/theme? What spoke to you?
c. why you chose to present in the manner that you did?

2. Choose a character from one of the texts we have read so far this year (Brave New World, Oedipus Rex, Siddhartha, Hamlet, The Awakening) and place them in the setting of another of the texts we have read this year. Show your understanding of both the complexities of character and setting by creating:
a. Short story
B. Poem
C. Song
D. Scene (Play or musical)

Due: May 29 (but may be turned in earlier) Points: 50

• Current Mood: 👁 drained
  drained
• Current Music:Elton John: Tiny Dancer

So, the AP Test is over for Seniors and now it is time to get creative!

While the year winds down, we worked on:

*Vocabulary Test

End of the Year Projects:
*Creative Project
*Final Game

HOMEWORK:
1. Make up Missing Assignments
2. Work on Final Game
3. Work on Creative Project

• Current Mood: 👁 okay
  okay
• Current Music:Pearl Jam: Glorified G

So, we chose our own adventure when it came to reviewing for AP today. I think it went well. I also think you guys are fried from two weeks of AP Tests. Press on, yours isn't until next Wednesday.

Our AP Family today did:

*Vocabulary Test
*Review: Gatsby Chapter 5
*AP Review: Choose Your Own Adventure

HOMEWORK:
1. Review for AP Test
2. Read Gatsby Chapter 6, look for:
"Platonic conception of himself"
was a "son of God", "his father's business"
Gatsby's true story
Dan Cody
"I know your wife" (awkward)
Tom at Gatsby's party - why?
"the Polo player"
Gatsby - bootlegger?
"You can't repeat the past"
Autumn 5 years previous - contrast
"She blossomed like a flower and the incarnation was complete"

• Current Mood: 👁 hungry
  hungry
• Current Music:Coheed & Cambria: Time Consumer

Ok. So I thought it would be fun to review Argumentative Essays like we did - someone noted that it didn't "sound like fun." I hope it was. Most times I spend with period 4 are, in fact, fun. Except double essay days. Those aren't fun for anyone.

Today's events included:

*Argumentative Essay Review
*Practice Argumentative Prompts

HOMEWORK:
1. Vocabulary Test on Thursday
2. Review for AP Test
3. Choose Your Own Adventure Essay
-RD or -Synthesis or -Argumentative

• Current Mood: 👁 content
  content
• Current Music:Silverchair: Tomorrow

It was our last day to review before the AP Lit test. Some were here, others just in spirit because they were in other AP Lands.

Our day consisted of:

Review: Plays, novels, etc.

Review: Thematic Essay

HOMEWORK:
1. Vocabulary Test on Friday
2. Review for AP Test:
Poetry Terminology
Literary Devices
Symbols
Mythology
Bible
Novels/Plays
Edited Essays

• Current Mood: 👁 irritated
  irritated
• Current Music:The Breeders: Cannonball

Special Olympics was today. Thanks to all who came and volunteered. I think that the kids had a great time.

In other news, we took our last major combo in class essays today! Yay for Juniors.

Our world consisted of:

*Two Practice In Class Essays

HOMEWORK:

DOCUMENTARY ASSIGNMENT
For the weekend, I want you to continue to build up your arsenal of “observations” for the Argumentative Essay. You will do so by watching a Documentary of your choice. Thus, choose something that interests you. Documentaries can be found: Online, in theaters, on Netflix, on Hulu, on Amazon Prime, from RedBox, on cable TV channels such as HBO, Showtime, etc. I will not give any suggestions for documentaries, because I truly want this to be something that is your own choice.

A Documentary is defined as “a film or television or radio program that gives information about a subject and is based on facts.” Thus, watching Mean Girls or Friday Night Lights would not count as a documentary.

Your task (You will turn in 2-7):

1. Choose your documentary (Ideally of a subject that interests you)
2. Note:
a. Title
b. Date of release
c. Location of initial release (theater, TV, online, etc.)
3. Determine the documentary’s purpose. What is the point of this movie? What are you as the audience supposed to learn/do after watching the documentary? How do you know? Make direct reference to incidents/scenes/quotes from the documentary.
4. Determine any bias that the documentary held. What was the bias either toward or against? How do you know? Make direct reference to scenes/incidents/quotes from the documentary.
5. What type of argument did the Director use – Ethos? Pathos? Logos? A combination thereof? Back up your answer with direct reference to the documentary.
6. Did the documentary achieve its purpose as established in Question 3? Why or why not? Refer directly to the film in your answer.
7. What is the counterargument to your documentary? What does the opposition believe? Are there any released movies about this side’s view?

• Current Mood: 👁 lethargic
  lethargic
• Current Music:The Vandals: Anarchy Burger