Friday, December 16, 2011

Today, we finished the powerpoint on the introduction of Animal Farm. Over the holidays, you are to read the novel and answer the questions in point form. I am posting the questions here for you.

Animal Farm
Instructions: Answer each of the following questions in list form if you choose. They must be highly detailed.
Questions: Chapters 1 to 3

1. Explain the most important ideas of Animalism (value: 3)

2. List the Seven Commandments. (value: 7)

3. Describe (give a detailed account of) the Rebellion. (value: 7)

4. Describe (give a detailed account of) the hay harvest (including its outcome).(value: 5)

5. Describe the education of the animals. How does the education of the animals work out? (value: 4)

6. What happened to the milk and apples? How does this align itself to the Seven Commandments? How is this “change” explained? (value: 3)


Questions: Chapters 4 to 6


1. Describe and explain the growing conflict between Napoleon and Snowball as well as the events leading up to the eventual outcome. (value: 7)


2. What is the importance of the windmill in the story? What does it represent in the real world? (value: 2)

3. Describe (give a detailed account of ) the Battle of the Cowshed. (value: 7)

4. Tell how the pigs corrupt the Seven Commandments. (value: 3)

5. What is a scapegoat? Explain how the pigs make use of scapegoats. (value: 3)

Questions: Chapters 7 – 10


1. Describe the purge, in detail, from the beginning to the end. (value: 8)

2. What becomes of “Beasts of England”? Why? (value: 2)

3. Describe the negotiations for the pile of lumber. (value: 5)

4. Describe the Battle of the Windmill. (value: 6)

5. Describe what happens to Boxer. (value: 5)

6. Describe the final scene and explain its meaning. (value: 7)

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Today, I introduced the novel Animal Farm. If you were not here, I have placed information on it in your portfolio. As part of the discussion, we defined totalitarianism, socialism, communism and fascism. These are types of government that you will need to look up.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Today, you wrote your Shakespeare unit exam. We will begin our novel study unit tomorrow (it will be on the novel Animal Farm).

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Today, we finished watching The Merchant of Venice. We then discussed tomorrow's exam (it is multiple choice and both a Shakespeare comprehension and a Merchant of Venice comprehension exam). We also reviewed how to use process of elimination to answer the questions when referring to a reading.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Today, you watched the feature film The Merchant of Venice. Keep in mind that you have a Shakespeare comprehension exam on Wednesday.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Today, we finished reading The Merchant of Venice. We will watch the film on Monday and Tuesday, and write a comprehension exam on Wednesday (the essay on this will be one of two options for the final).

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Today, we continued reading The Merchant of Venice. We finished up to Act 4, Scene I, line 215.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Today, we read up to Act 3, Scene 2, line 174 of The Merchant of Venice. We finished right after Portia gave Bassinio a ring for him to wear and never take off.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Today, we read finished reading Act II of The Merchant of Venice. I then assigned you to answer question 3 on page 116 and hand it in. I have pasted it below for those who weren't here.

Make a list of the possible reasons why Portia's father insisted that potential suitors never seek another bride. Discuss whether you think this is a fair condition for playing the "lottery."

I also defined the term enjambment which means the continuation of meaning, without pause or break, from one line of poetry to the next.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Today, we read up to Act II, Scene 6 or the Merchant of Venice (page 82). Be sure to keep up with your readings if you are not here. You can find them online, so knowing what Scene we completed (5) will indicate where you should be. I also had you hand in your commas assignments from last week.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Today, we finished marking the Act One questions for The Merchant of Venice. In doing this, I explained mythological allusion (A myth is a traditional story about heroes or supernatural beings (fiction)), and historical allusion (Historical means based on the past, or describing people who lived in the past or events that happened in the past).
I also explained the difference between hyberbole and understatement.
Finally, we discussed the terms connotation and denotation, using the word "sponge".

If you look up the word "sponge" it will be defined as a porous, ocean creature or a porous fabric used to absorb. This is known as a denotation (the exact dictionary meaning of a word).

If you figure out, contextually, what the word "sponge" means in The Merchant of Venice, it means a drunk. Not only is this a different meaning (not an exact denotation), but the meaning is negative.

If you figure out, contextually, what the word "sponge" means if the teacher says it to the smartest student in class, it means someone who learns quickly (absorbs knowlege). Not only is this a different meaning (not an exact denotation), but the meaning is positive.

Connotation means either a different meaning for a word or, more often, an emotional meaning different from the denotation being added to it (positive or negative). You need to know this as part of understanding figurative language and choice of words.

I also gave you a worksheet to do on proper use of question marks, sentence fragments and complete sentences. If you were here, this is due for Monday. If you were not here, it is in your portfolio.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Today, we discussed commas again. I then handed out another exercise. I expect you to have these rules for punctuation memorized. I then had you get into groups of four (co-ed) to discuss your answers to The Merchant of Venice (Act One). We then marked a number of them.