Some helpful links

Click here to read the lyrics to a song that might answer a question or two. At Steinbeck's request, these lyrics were printed in the beginning of early editions of The Grapes of Wrath.

Click here to see a video of the same song with some remarkable visual rhetoric. I'd also click here for the Johnny Cash version, just 'cause Johnny Cash is cool (although, frankly, it kind of hurt my eyes to watch it).

I'd like to listen to the first 15 minutes of this episode from This American Life in class, but I doubt we'll have time. It's useful information for Argumentative Question 1 and your upcoming synthesis paper.

Agenda, January 31

Due Now: Perfect Multiple Choice Test
Due Wednesday: Outline Essay Revisions 
Due Thursday and Friday: Wrath Test, Parts 1 & 2

1. Discuss Multiple Choice Questions
2. Whole Class Question
3. Jigsaw

Essay Exam Topics

AP Language and Comp

Grapes of Wrath Essay Exam Topics

Argumentative Questions:

1.     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?

2.     Defend, Qualify, or Challenge Rick Santorum’s claim that “You can’t have limited government — you can’t have a wealthy society if the family breaks down, that basic unit of society. And that needs to be included in this economic discussion.” For more context, go to:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/santorum-connects-the-family-and-the-economy/2011/03/29/gIQAJcquhL_blog.html

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

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

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

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

7.     Defend, qualify, or challenge the claim that each of the following is Steinbeck’s purpose in The Grapes of Wrath: 1) We distance ourselves from the evils we do; 2) We are easily corrupted (controlled) by money; 3) We are easily persuaded by a higher power; 4) Capitalism wields too much power; 5) Just because you have faith doesn’t make you a good person; just because you don’t have faith doesn’t make you a bad person.

8.     In the novel, Steinbeck argues that being connected to the land 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:

1.     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.

2.     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.

3.     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.

4.     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?

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

6.     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?

7.     Explore the idea that Chapter 1 and Chapter 29 tell the entire story through symbolism.

Agenda, January 30

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 27-30
Due Tomorrow: Perfect Multiple Choice Test
Due Wednesday: Outline Essay Revisions
Due Thursday and Friday: Wrath Test, Parts 1 & 2

1. Well? What did you think?
2. TEP Revisions
3. The What Did You Highlight? Game 
4. Test Questions
5. Multiple Choice Practice (12 minutes)

A Subtle Hint

To transcend means to rise above or move beyond. An example of a character transcending in a surprising way can be found on page 421.

I don't know about you, but if I had been struggling for over 500 pages of a novel, and I finally found a way to transcend - to rise above - my circumstances, I might be kind of happy about it.

Enjoy your weekend!

Agenda, January 26

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 26
Due Monday: Finish Grapes of Wrath
Not Due This Week: Vocab 

1. Anything important happen in Chapter 26?
2. Pervasive Problems in your Papers
3. Argument o' the Week
4. Small group TEP's
5. American Lit and Steinbeck
6. The What Did You Highlight? Game

Agenda, January 25

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 23-25
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 26 (Whew! Only one chapter!)
Not Due This Week: Vocab 

1. American Lit and Steinbeck
2. Anything new?
3. Interchapter TEP
4. The What Did You Highlight? Game
5. The Return of the Essays 

Agenda, January 24

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 21 and 22
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 23-25
Not Due This Week: Vocab 

1. American Lit and Steinbeck
2. Anything new?
3. Steinbeck and Gov't
4. Tone in your favorite interchapter 

Greenfield Peace Contest

Here's the link to the contest we talked about on Friday. When you read the directions, you'll note you need my signature on the entry form, so make sure you plan ahead.

I'm happy to help with revisions for anyone who's interested in entering.

Agenda, January 23

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 19 and 20
Due Monday: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 21 and 22
Not Due This Week: Vocab 

1. Which Wonderings have been answered?
2. New Wonderings / Notices
3. American Lit Application

A Rhetorical Question ...

Consider the two following sentences:

1) I sit here in frantic disbelief as I watch my precious seconds, minutes, hours of sleep slip away.

2)  I sit here in frantic disbelief as I watch my precious hours, minutes, seconds of sleep slip away.

Both are excellent sentences, but they have different effects. What's the difference? Just curious.

Agenda, January 20

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 17 and 18.
Due Monday: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 19 and 20
Due Now: Lucky Vocab 13 

1. Vocab Questions
2. Argument o' the Week
3. Author's attitude towards religion
4. Which Wonderings have been answered?

Agenda, January 19

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 14-16
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 17 and 18
Due Friday: Lucky Vocab 13 

1. American Lit Notes
2. Steinbeck's Rhetoric
3. Author's attitude towards religion

Agenda, January 18

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 11-13
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 14-16. Are you looking up unfamiliar words? Allusions?
Due Friday: Lucky Vocab 13

1. American Lit Notes
2. I've been wondering ... 
3. Steinbeck's Rhetoric (if time allows)

Agenda, January 17

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 9 and 10
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 11-13. 
Due Now: Lucky Vocab 13
Due Now: Outline Essay. Please reread the assignment before printing your essay. 

1. Lingering Vocab 12 Questions
2. American Lit Notes
3. Who are these people?
4. I've been wondering ... 
5. Steinbeck's Rhetoric (if time allows)

Lucky Vocab the 13th

Ways of Knowing

Words for the Wise

Due January 20

1.     Conception

2.     Conviction

3.     Dogmatic

4.     Enlightening

5.     Impression

6.     Intuition

7.     Misconception

8.     Perception

9.     Perspective

10.  Profound

Happy MLK Day!

When you wrap up your Wrath reading, you might enjoy this speech.

In the highly unlikely event of a snow day Tuesday, I'll collect your essays on Wednesday. Keep up with the reading schedule; we don't have time to skip a day of reading.

That said, enjoy the flurries and I'll see you tomorrow!

Agenda, Lucky Friday the 13th

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 7 and 8
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 9 and 10. Don't be afraid to read ahead. 
Due Now: Vocab 12
Due Next Tuesday: Outline Essay. Please reread the assignment before printing your essay. 

1. Rhetorical Devices Quiz 2
2. Wrath Quiz, Ch 1-8
3. Still in search of purpose ...
4. Steinbeck's Rhetoric
5. Vocab, if time allows

Agenda, January 12

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 5 and 6
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 7 and 8
Due Friday: Vocab 12
Due Next Tuesday: Outline Essay. Please reread the assignment before printing your essay.

1. Rhetorical Devices Small Groups - spend some time with your Virtual Salt tonight
2. American Lit Notes
3. 6 important quotes
4. Whole Class Disco

Agenda, January 11

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 3 and 4
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 5 and 6
Due Friday: Vocab 12
Due Next Tuesday: Outline Essay. Please reread the assignment before printing your essay.

1. Poetry Out Loud, anyone?
2. Rhetorical Devices Small Groups
3. American Lit Notes
4. While I was reading ...
5. Whole Class Disco

Agenda, January 10

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 1 and 2
Due Tomorrow: Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 3 and 4
Due Next Tuesday: Outline Essay. Please reread the assignment before printing your essay.

1. Welcome Back!
2. Rhetorical Devices Quiz
3. American Lit Notes
4. While I was reading ...
5. Whole Class Disco

Grapes of Wrath Reading Schedule

Please have the assigned pages read when you enter the classroom. You should be able to summarize the important plot points and be aware of Steinbeck’s use of rhetorical strategies.

   

Tuesday 1/10 – Chapters 1-2 (18)

Wednesday 1/11 – Chapters 3-4 (20)

Thursday 1/12 – Chapters 5-6 (38)

Friday 1/13 – Chapters 7-8 (31)

Tuesday 1/17 – Chapters 9-10 (37)

Wednesday 1/18 - Chapters 11-13 (42)

Thursday 1/19 - Chapters 14-16 (57)

Friday 1/20 – Chapters 17-18 (47)

Monday 1/23  - Chapters 19-20 (65)

Tuesday 1/24 – Chapters 21-22 (55)

Wednesday 1/25 - Chapters 23-25 (32)

Thursday 1/26 – Chapter 26 (68)

Monday 1/30 – Chapters 27-30 (61)

Tuesday 1/31 - Review for Exam

Wednesday 2/1 – Review for Exam

Thursday 2/2 – Exam, part 1

Friday 2/3 – Exam, part 2

(indicates approximate number of pages)

Take your book home with you every night so that if you are absent, you will be able to keep up with the reading.

On the 12th day of Vocab ...

Go With the Flow

Words for the Weak Willed

Due Friday, January 13 (How lucky!)

1.     Assimilation

2.     Consensus

3.     Context

4.     Derived

5.     Incumbent

6.     Inevitable

7.     Malleable

8.     Subdue

Feeling at Home

Words for the Comfortable

1.     Inherent

2.     Innate

3.     Inveterate

4.     Omnipotent

5.     Proximity