And the winner is ...

Tomorrow, you will be writing an essay about one of the argumentative topics. Some time between now and the beginning of fourth period, I'll decide which prompts I'll offer.

If you want to gather in B206 during Advisory, feel free.

Remember:

Books? Yes.

Stickies? Yes.

Notes? No.

Can you ace it? Heck yes!

Happy studying!

Agenda, November 30

Due Now: New definition of Steinbeck's Justice

Tonight, some time between 8:30 and 9:30, I will post the type of question you will be answering on tomorrow's final. You will be allowed to use your books on the final, but you will not be allowed to use any notes.

1. Argumentative Wrap Up
2. Whole Class Discussion
3. Small Group Discussions

Agenda, November 29

Due Now: Steinbeck's Definition of Justice
Due Tomorrow: Your new and improved Steinbeck's Definition of Justice

1. Whole class discussion
2. Small group discussions

In the likely event of a snow day ...

If you were absent on Monday, I posted the exam discussion questions below. I'll turn off comment moderation so you can discuss the questions via the blog. I also highly encourage you to gather with your friends to discuss the questions.

As for your revisions, remember that we are focused on learning, not grading. If you revise your essay, it will make you a better writer even if it doesn't affect your grade. If your first draft was a C- or below, you really need to revise to make sure you have the synthesis skills necessary for future papers.

It's easiest for me (and therefore, you) if you can scan your first draft into a single file and e-mail it to me along with your revision. I'll have plenty of time this weekend to read. If you can't do that (I don't own a scanner; why would I expect all of you to own one?) bring the revision to me on Monday. I'll do my best to make sure your grade accurately reflects your learning and understanding (but not, alas, your effort; there are no effort grades in AP).

Have a good Thanksgiving. I hope you all have plenty to be thankful for.

AP Language and Comp

Grapes of Wrath Essay Exam Topics

Argumentative Questions:

Compare the treatment of the migrant “Okies” in the novel to the treatment of modern immigrant workers. What can modern readers learn from the similarities and the differences of these situations?

Defend, challenge, or qualify the claim that The Grapes of Wrath is anti-religious.

Defend, challenge, or qualify the claim that The Grapes of Wrath is a patriotic novel.

How would Steinbeck define justice? Point to three examples of justice or injustice (consider the author’s rewards and punishments) to support your answer. Does his definition agree with or contradict with yours?

Defend, challenge, or qualify the claim that Casy becomes a “better” man after he renounces his faith. Be certain to define what “better” means.

In the novel, Steinbeck argues that being connected to nature makes people bigger while being disconnected from nature makes them smaller. How does he define big and small? How do these definitions connect to the other arguments in the novel?

Rhetorical Analysis Questions:

Steinbeck did not merely want his readers to be moved by his novel, he wanted them moved to act. What actions does Steinbeck argue for? Be sure to keep your answer to this question rooted in the text.

Consider how Steinbeck’s writing style is a reaction to, rejection of, or embracement of each of the following styles of American Literature: The Age of Faith, The Age of Reason, Romanticism, Gothic Literature, Transcendentalism, Realism, and Naturalism.

Be prepared to write a rhetorical analysis of one of the interchapters. This will require you to identify the purpose of the given chapter and three rhetorical strategies Steinbeck employs to achieve his purpose.

Consider Steinbeck’s thoughts about government in Chapter 17. How do his arguments in this chapter connect to his thoughts about society in other areas of the book?

How does Steinbeck use the structure of the novel to advance his arguments?

Consider the role of nature in the novel. Think both about the connections (or lack thereof) between people and land and the role of weather in the novel. Are his attitudes towards nature consistent? Inconsistent? Contradictory? How do they fit into his arguments about man and God?

Explore the idea that the first chapter of the novel tells the entire story through symbolism.

Agenda, November 22

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath
Due Tomorrow: Synthesis Revisions
Due Tomorrow: One sentence - What is Steinbeck's definition of "justice"?
Due Tomorrow: Basic research - How / why did the Great Depression end?
Due Tomorrow: Basic research - Names (unless, of course, this comes up during class today)

1. Well?
2. What have we missed?
3. Kline steers the discussion
4. Essay exam topics

Just in case ...

In a further effort to avoid a snow day by being prepared for a snow day, it wouldn't hurt to turn in your synthesis revision on Monday. That way, you won't have to wonder what to do if there's no school on Tuesday.

Bundle up tonight! Those low temperatures look low!

Agenda, November 19

Due Now: Chapter 26
Due Monday: Chapters 1-30 (581)

In the unlikely event of a snow day, I will post The Grapes of Wrath study questions to the blog on Tuesday. I highly recommend discussing those questions in small groups.

1. Three things you are going to contribute to today's discussion
2. American Lit Notes
3. Today's Discussion
4. TEP in 23 or 25

Agenda, November 18

Due Now: Ch 23-25
Due Tomorrow: Ch 26
Due Monday: Ch 27-30
Due Tuesday (or sooner): Synthesis Revisions, highlighted when you walk in the door.

1. You talk; I listen (and nod thoughtfully)
2. Character Arcs: Ma, Casy, Tom, Rose of Sharon
3. Things that happen twice
4. TEP Repeat
5. American Lit Notes (Ha!)

Agenda, November 17

Due Tomorrow: Ch 23-25
Due Tues (or sooner): Synth and W.C. revisions

1. Remember when we had good news?
2. Slow motion TEP
3. Tracking changes in characters: Ma, Rose of Sharon, Casy, Tom

Agenda, November 16

Due Now: Chapters 21 & 22
Due Thursday: Chapters 23-25 (only 32 pages! Whew!)
Due Next Tuesday (or sooner): Synthesis Revisions. Walk in the door with your changes highlighted.

1. The Good News
2. What "required" means
3. Model Works Cited Pages
4. 21&22: Things that must be said.
5. Tone in groups
6. Tone on your own

Agenda, November 15

Due Now: Chapters 19 & 20
Due Tomorrow: Chapters 21 & 22

1. In defense of teachers ...
2. While I was reading, I noticed ...
3. Kline's Checklist
4. Pronouns in 14
5. Tone in 17

Free Money for Seniors!

Every once in a while, I receive info about scholarships in my e-mail. I recently received this link from the Pride Foundation, which offers 50 different scholarships to LBGT teens and their allies on one single application. Only students from five northwest states can apply, so your competition should be manageable. Good luck!

Some expert commentary ...

This video explains what Sir Ken Robinson thinks is wrong with public education and how/why we got that way. He makes some pretty controversial statements about ADHD, but I don't think he's attacking students as much as he's attacking the system.

We'll talk more about visual rhetoric later in the year, but I'm pretty sure the artist wasn't working with the speaker to create this video. The artist was creating images to both complement and supplement the text. It's a good use of intellectual energy to think about the relationship of the word and image.

I'm curious to know what y'all think. Agree? Disagree? Comment below.

Agenda, November 10

Due Now: Chapters 17-18
Due Monday: Chapters 19-20
Use the weekend to get ahead!

1. Any thoughts about the assembly?
2. A note about the synthesis
3. Professional nouns: 15 minute TEP Paragraph
4. Does this book have anything to do with you?

Agenda, November 9

Due Now: Chapters 14-16

Due Tomorrow: Chapters 17-18

1. High School Style Quiz, Chapters 9-16
   
2. You talk, I listen (Formerly known as "Burning issues / Urgent questions")
3. Does fixing the car remind you of anything else in the novel?
4. Quick character review
5. Juxtaposition
6. Professional Nouns

Coming soon ...

Pop Quiz on Chapters 9-16 tomorrow, 11/9. Tell your friends and relations.

Agenda, November 8

Due Now: Chapters 11-13
Due Now: Revisions and Hard Copies
Due Tomorrow: Chapters 14-16

1. Brilliant Observations / Urgent Questions
2. American Lit Notes
3. Page 117
4. Why does Muley Graves matter?
5. Who are these people?
   
6. Juxtaposition

Agenda, November 5

Due Monday: Chapters 11-13
Due Monday: All revisions and hard copies.

1. American Lit Notes
2. The Two Most Important Pages, Whole Class
3. The Two Most Important Pages, Small Group
4. Imagery Practice, Just for Kicks
   

Agenda, November 4

Due Now: Chapters 9 and 10
Tomorrow: Get ahead / Catch up
Due Monday: All revisions / finished papers

1. You know what I like about this book?
2. Noticings / Wonderings
3. Persona
4. The two most important pages

Agenda, November 3

Due Again: Synthesis and Works Cited
Due Now: Chapters 7 & 8
Due Thursday: Chapters 9 & 10
Due Monday: All revisions. All papers to me for portfolio.

1. A High School Quiz
2. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to do?
3. Little "true" v. Big "Truth"
4. You can call me Al
5. Questions / Concerns / Wonderings
6. The Two Most Important Pages
7. New Rhetorical Device: Persona

Agenda, November 2

Due Tomorrow: Synthesis Essay and Works Cited - attend to the little details, format, header, parallelism
Due Tomorrow: Wrath, Chapters 7 and 8
Due Tomorrow: High School Style Quiz on Ch 1-8
Due Monday: Any and all revisions. If you still have an essay you are not revising, it needs to be in my hands on Monday.

1. Where does the comma go?
2. You know what makes me mad?
3. Quick review of yesterday
4. Additional notices
5. Call things by the right names: Personification, Metaphor, Analogy
6. Quotation marks in chapter 5
7. American Lit Notes

Agenda, November 1

Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Ch. 6
Due Tomorrow: Synthesis Essay plus Works Cited
Due Next Monday: All revisions

1. Syn-cere questions
2. Oh, SHIPS!
3. While I was reading, I noticed ...
4. Pressing Questions
5. Who are these people?
6. American Lit Notes