Essay Topics for THE GREAT GATSBY

  

1.   

Analyze obsession in the novel, THE GREAT GATSBY, and how obsession spurred Gatsby to      material success. Analyze how the attainment of his obsession lead to tragedy.

2.   

 Analyze the concept of carelessness – of careless, wealthy people – and how their carelessness leads to tragedy for others.

3.     

Analyze the author’s use of the motif of seeing and being seen. The most obvious symbol used for seeing is the sign, which is a pair of spectacles advertising the business of Dr. Eckleburg, the optometrist. This sign is used as a metaphor for judgment – judgment of the actions of the actors, both rich and poor, who pass by the all seeing, all judging eyes of Dr. Eckleburg.

4.  

 Analyze the use of the automobile  as a metaphor for the material, decadent world of the 20’s. One should also include the significance of George Wilson’s car garage.

5.   

Analyze the stratification of society as revealed by THE GREAT GATSBY. Analyze the lower class characters, such as Myrtle and George Wilson, and contrast them with Daisy, Tom and Jordan. How does the “carelessness” of Jordan – and ultimately, of Daisy - reveal the power discrepancy between the rich and the poor?

6.    

Analyze the role of women and men in the book THE GREAT GATSBY. Include in your analysis  Daisy's reaction when she finds out the sex of her child, and her comment that she hopes her child grows up to be a beautiful little fool.

7.     

Analyze F. Scott Fitzgerald’s use of symbols in THE GREAT GATSBY, particularly the use of the green light at the end of the dock, the motif of water in all of its permutations – rain, mist, the sound, the beach.

8.     

Analyze the American Dream as realized by Jay Gatsby.

December 8, 2014 - December 12, 2014

Monday, December 8^th:

First Period:

Read THE BLUEST EYE

Pages 34 – 43

Vocabulary:

Abhorrent: arising disgust or loathing

Pervading: spreading throughout an area without being concentrated in one area. 

Furtiveness: secretiveness; attempting to avoid detection or attention due to guilt or fear of being caught in an illicit act.

Diffuse: to spread throughout, to disperse, 

Malaise: a feeling of unease or discomfort, the origin or cause of which is difficult to identify

Regimen: a daily routine or a routine of consistent regularity designed to produce some desired result or productivity;

Stultifying: tedium or boredom resulting from a restrictive environment or over regimentation.

Dissipation: a state of exhaustion as a result of over indulgence, particularly with alcohol. A lessening of one resources - money, energy, intellectual or physical abilities due to excessive indulgence.

Martyrdom: the state of being a martyr, who is someone who sacrifices his/her life for a cause greater than herself.

Eclipse:to overshadow as in one's accomplishments may overshadow or eclipse or "show up" another person

Shroud: a cloth used to bury the dead; a cloth used to cloak a dead body for burial.

Affluence: a state of being wealthy or having money and the comfort that money or wealth affords.

Spontaneity: unplanned, an immediate impulse which compels one to act in a free, unfettered way

Catapulted: to be launched 

There will be a test over the above words this Friday.

2^nd Period:

Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Chapter 3:

Pages 39 – 52

Discussion

Tuesday, December 9^th:

1^st Period:

8:00 – 8:20

Write the definitions for the following words and then write a grammatically correct sentence for each word. 

Vocabulary:

Abhorrent: Inspiring disgust, loathing or hatred
Example sentence: Many people abhor the way other people of different cultures live.

Abhorrence: the noun form of the word abhor.

Example sentence: Many people have a natural abhorrence of snakes.

Pervade: (Verb) To spread throughout and to be perceived through the senses. To permeate, to suffuse, to penetrate, to filter through.

Furtiveness: (Noun) Secretiveness; acting in such a way to avoid attention or detection due to guilt or the fear of being caught in something illicit.

Diffuse: (Verb) To spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people. (Adjective) To spread over a large area; not concentrated.

Malaise: (Noun) A feeling of unease or discomfort, the origin or cause of which is difficult to identify

Write an original sentence for each vocabulary word.

Due at 8:20

Read THE BLUEST EYE

Pages 43 – 49

Discussion

Period 2:

Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Pages 52 – 63

Discussion

Vocabulary

Wednesday, December 10^th:

Period 1:

Vocabulary Words

Please put the following words into grammatically correct sentences:

Regimen: (Noun) Daily or regular routine of exercise or procedures designed to produce a desired result.

Stultifying: Tedium or boredom stemming from excessive regimentation.

Dissipation: A weakening of energy or diminishment of physical or mental resources due to excessive, indulgent behavior.

Dissipation:

Example sentence: The once great athlete, handsome and strong, has fallen into a state of dissipation after years of hard drinking, drug taking and wild sex.

Example sentence: After a hard night of partying, Elise woke up feeling weak and dissipated.

Martyrdom: A state of being a martyr. A martyr is one who has dedicated one’s life to a cause greater than oneself. A martyr is someone who has died for a worthy cause such as social justice or a religion. Martin Luther King would be considered a martyr.

Eclipse: To be overshadowed by another.  Example: Elvis Presley’s popularity reigned supreme until he was eclipsed by the Beatles.

Collected vocabulary sentences.

Read THE BLUEST EYE

Pages 49 – 63

Period 2:

Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Pages 62 – 82

Discussion

Vocabulary:

Punctilious

Incredulous

Rajah

Thursday, December 11^th:

Vocabulary:

Please write down the definitions and then write one grammatically correct sentence for each vocabulary word.

Shroud: (noun) a burial cloth used in ancient societies, which was used to wrap the body for burial.

Shroud: (verb) to cover

Example sentences: The city was shrouded with a thick fog this morning.

Example sentences: The death of the well known and well loved singer was shrouded in mystery.

Affluence: (noun) a state of being wealthy or having enough money to live comfortably.

Affluent: (adjective) describing someone who is rich

Example sentences: Beverly Hills is a city well known for its affluence.

Example sentences: Bentleys, BMWs and Mercedes, mansions with large, well manicured lawns, weekend ski trips and summer vacations in Europe are all marks of affluence.

Spontaneity: unplanned; an unplanned action which arises from a sudden impulse; arising suddenly without forethought.

Catapulted: past tense of the verb to catapult. To launch or be launched. The word catapult can also be used as a noun;  catapult, used as a noun, was a medieval machine used to launch or hurl stones or boiling vats at well fortified castles.

THE BLUEST EYE

Read pages 63 – 70

2^nd Period:

Read pages 83 – 93 (Start at top of page 93)

Discussion

Friday, December 12^th

1^st Period:

Vocabulary test on pages 34 – 43 in THE BLUEST EYE on students’ cell phones.

Passed back Unit Four Vocabulary Test

Define missed words and write grammatically correct sentences with the missed vocabulary words and grades will be raised to a minimum of a “C”.

Read THE BLUEST EYE; pages 70 – 83.

Told them to read up to page 132 over the weekend.

2^nd Period:

Passed back Unit Four Vocabulary Test

Define missed words and write grammatically correct sentences with the missed vocabulary words and grades will be raised to a minimum of a “C”.

Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Pages 92 - 102

December 8, 2014 - December 12, 2014 Agenda

Monday, December 8th:
First Period:
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Pages 34 - 43
Vocabulary:
Abhorrent
Pervading
Furtive
Diffuse
Malaise
Regimen
Stultifying
Dissipation
Martyrdon
Eclipse
Shroud
Affluence
Spontaneity
Catapulted
You will be tested over these words on Friday, November 12th.

Period 2:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY
Chapter 3
Pages 39 - 52
Discussion

December 1, 2014 - December 5, 2014 Weekly Agenda for American Literature

Monday, December 1st:
First Period:
Begin reading THE BLUEST EYE

Second Period:
Begin reading THE GREAT GATSBY

Tuesday, December 2nd:
First Period:
Short vocabulary test on Unit 4
Read THE BLUEST EYE

Second Period:
Short vocabulary test on Unit 4
Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Wednesday, December 3rd:
First Period:
Grammar handout on run-ons
Read THE BLUEST EYE

Second Period:
Grammar handout on run-ons
Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Thursday, December 4th:
First Period:
Read THE BLUEST EYE

2nd Period:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY

Friday, December 5th:
First Period:
Read THE BLUEST EYE

Second Period:
Read THE GREAT GATSBY

November 17, 2014 - November 21, 2014 American Literature Agenda

Monday, November 17^th:

First Period:

11^th Grade ELA Assessment

Work on the five graphic organizers

2^nd Period:

11^th Grade ELA Assessment

Wok on the five graphic organizers

Tuesday, November 18th:

1^st Period:

Continue working on the ELA Assessment: the four questions

2^nd Period:

Continue working on the ELA Assessment: the four questions

Wednesday, November 19^th:

1^ST Period:

Begin work on the fifty minute essay for the ELA Assessment.

2^nd Period:

Begin work on the fifty minute essay for the ELA Assessment.

Thursday, November 20^th:

Period 1

Check out THE BLUEST EYE

WRITER’S CHOICE

Pages 538 – 539

Exercise 4 and Exercise 5

Exercise 4:

Write out the sentences for exercise 4 and identify the sentences as either compound or simple.

Exercise 5:

On your own paper write original sentences about crocodiles, using the information and the structure (compound or simple) provided in exercise 4.

Example:

Laws protect crocodiles and ensure their survival.  (Simple sentence with compound predicate.)

Due Friday, November 21^st.

Tomorrow Vocabulary Unit 4 Test

Part of the test will include having to write five original, grammatically correct sentences using five words from the Unit 4 vocabulary.

2^nd Period:

Eddie Vargas gave his senior project presentation to my class with a short survey.

 Friday, November 21st: 

First Period:

No one here today!

Two people did the homework last night, so had the class do the homework for class work:

Writer’s Choice: pages 538 – 539; Simple and Compound Sentences; Exercises 4 and 5; due at end of period.

2^nd Period:

Had those who were absent finish the packet: the graphic organizers, the evidence based questions and the essay

For the rest assigned: Writer’s Choice; pages 538 – 539; Simple and Compound Sentences; exercises 4 and 5, collected at end of period.

November 10, 2014 - November 14, 2014

Monday, November 10^th:

Share with your partner what you know or think about emoticons.

Draw an emoticon to express what you are feeling right now.

Vocabulary:

Addled: mentally confused

To addle: to confuse

Share with your partner what the phrase “emoticon-addled” might mean.

Christian:

People put emoticons to express what they are feeling but they’re not really feeling that at all.

Kamron: When people put “LOL” when they don’t mean it at all. They’re actually being serious.

With your partner illustrate the phrase “emoticon-addled zombie”. Share with other students and discuss what each illustration shows.

Before reading the text, “Teenagers  and Social Networking – It Might Actually Be Good for Them”, number the paragraphs.  Then read the first four paragraphs.

Vocabulary:

Bemoan: to express sorry or discontent or sorrowful lament over a situation.

Empathy: the capacity to share or recognize emotions experienced by another sentient being or human.

Sympathy: feelings of compassion or sorrow for another person’s misfortune.

Hedonistic: following a life or philosophy devoted only to sensual or physical pleasure.

Titillating: Adjective. Describing something that emotionally or physically excites or that tempts or creates anticipation.

Apocalyptic: Adjective. End of times. Complete and utter destruction after which there is nothing that remains.

After reading the first four paragraphs, reread the fourth paragraph.  Now write a caption for your “emoticon-addled zombie”. Using words from the fourth paragraph, write a six to ten word caption for your illustration.

2^nd Period:

Show the dvd of Joseph, Chuy, Pamela, Cat, Ivette, Davion, Maci

Assigned and went over grammar; “Main Clauses” and “Subordinate Clauses”; pages 535 – 537; exercises 1, 2, and 3.  This is due Wednesday, November 12^th.

Rest of kids did not present due to excessive absences.

Went over play format with Tyler.

Tuesday, November 11th: 

No school!

Wednesday, November 12th: 

Period 1: 

Unit Four Vocabulary is due today. 

WRITER'S CHOICE; pages 535 - 537; exercises 1, 2, and 3 will be due today.

Continue working on ELA Assessment.

Continue reading the article, “Teenagers and Social Networking – It Might Actually Be Good for Them.” Feel free to annotate your paper. Underline the sentence you think is the thesis statement and mark it with “t.s.”(thesis statement). Underline or highlight those sentences that are used as evidence to support the author’s thesis statement. Circle those words or concepts you don’t know or understand and put a question mark next to them.

Read aloud up to paragraph 9.

Vocabulary:

Cherry-picking: to select specific examples to prove one’s point, intentionally excluding much better and many more examples which disprove one’s point.

Ambivalent: to have conflicting contradictory feelings about something

Fretted: to be worried about something.

The first four paragraphs set up the central question: Do teenagers text so much that it will hurt their social development and society?

In the paragraphs following (the fifth paragraph on) the author, Clive Thompson, answers his thesis statement with evidence that social media do not adversely affect teenagers.

 Period 2: 

Unit Four Vocabulary is due today. 

WRITER'S CHOICE; pages 535 - 537; exercises 1, 2, and 3 will be due today. 

Show the culminating projects on THE THINGS THEY CARRIED 

Thursday, November 13th: 

Period 1: 

Continue working on the ELA Assessment. 

Period 2: 

Start working on the ELA Assessment. 

Friday, November 14th: 

Period 1: 

Continue working on the ELA Assessment

Period 2: 

Continue  working on the ELA Assessment. 

Subordinate Clause; Writer's Choice; pages 535 - 537

WRITER’S CHOICE

Pages 535 – 537

Exercises 1, 2, and 3

Main Clauses and Subordinate Clauses

MAIN CLAUSES

A main clause is comprised of a subject and a verb.

Example:

Manufacturers produce cars, and consumers buy.

The italicized manufacturers and consumers  are nouns/subjects and produce and buy are verbs.

Page 535, exercise 1, write the entire sentence and underline the subject and circle the verb.

SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

Pages 536 – 537

Exercises 2 and 3

The relative pronoun connects the subject with the predicate or the rest of the sentence.

The relative pronouns are: that, which, who, whom, whomever, whenever, whose, when, etc.

Example: The girl whom David likes is performing in the show tonight.

(Whom is the relative pronoun; “David likes” is a subordinate clause which acts like an adjective because it is describing the girl. Which girl? The girl David likes.)

Subordinating conjunctions are used to join independent clauses to make complex sentences. The subordinating conjunctions are as follows: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, and while.

When a clause begins with a subordinate conjunction (after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if only, rather than, since, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, wherever, whether, which, and while) it is a subordinate clause and cannot stand alone.

Although we invited Elizabeth to dinner after the show, she did not join us. 

The italicized clause Although we invited Elizabeth to dinner after the show begins with a subordinate conjunction (although), and does not express a complete thought; therefore, it is a subordinate clause. 

In exercise 2, on page 536 in THE WRITER’S CHOICE, write the sentences, underline the subordinate clause and circle the relative pronoun: that, which, who, whom, whomever, whenever, whose and when. Hint: the relative pronoun introduces the subordinate clause, which immediately follows the relative pronoun.

1.     The Model T Ford, which people loved, was discontinued as a model in 1928.

In exercise 3, on page 537,   write out the sentence and identify if the italicized part of the sentence is a main clause or a subordinate clause. 

Example:

Shirley Chisholm was a congresswoman from New York, who sought the presidential nomination in 1972.  (Subordinate clause)

November 3, 2014 - November 7, 2014 Weekly Agenda for American Literature

Monday, November 3rd:

1st Period:
Work on the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
The list for essay topics is on the link: essays on the right.
This essay will be due on Wednesday, November 5th.


2nd Period:
Break into groups and work on culminating project for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED:
Digital recording of a scene from a chapter from the book
1. Script
2. Story board
Adaptation of a scene
1. Script
2. Performance on stage

This will be due on Wednesday, November 5th

Tuesday, November 4th:

1st Period:
Work on the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
Due on Wednesday, November 5th.

2nd Period:
Break into groups and work on culminating project for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
This will be due on Wednesday, November 5th

Wednesday, November 5th:

First Period:

 Your essay, the final culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED will be due at midnight tonight. You may e-mail it to me at jkatbridge@aol.com.

Unit 4 Vocabulary will be assigned today. It will be due on Wednesday, November 12^th. Please follow the same format for the other three units you have done. If you are unclear how to do it, then go to the link marked “Vocabulary” and it will show you how to do the format.

Today pages 535 – 537, “Main Clauses”, exercise 1, and “Subordinate Clauses”, exercises 2 and 3, from your grammar book, WRITER’S CHOICE, will be assigned. This will be due on Friday, November 7^th.

Tomorrow, Thursday, November 6^th, we will begin the 11^th grade ELA Assessment. It must be finished by November 21^st.

You should be either working on your essay

or

working on the grammar

or

working on your Unit 4 Vocabulary.

Period 2:

Unit Four Vocabulary is assigned today.  This will be due on Wednesday, November 12^th.

Today pages 535 – 537, “Main Clauses”, exercise 1, and “Subordinate Clauses”, exercises 2 and 3, from your grammar book, WRITER’S CHOICE, will be assigned.

This will be due on Wednesday, November 12th. 

As soon as we are finished with the final culminating project for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED,  we will begin the 11th grade ELA Assessment, which will be due no later than November 21st. 

Finish working on the final culminating project for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED. The projects will be presented tomorrow, Thursday, November 6th. 

If your group is doing a digital recording, your script and storyboard are due.
If your group is doing an adaptation, your script and a run through of your performance are due.

Thursday, November 6th:

1st Period:

Went over WRITER'S CHOICE; pages 535 - 537; exercises 1, 2, and 3 on "Main Clauses" and "Subordinate Classes". Please check the link "Grammar: Subordinate Clauses" for additional information on how to do the exercises.
Did exercise1 orally on page 535 in class.
Assigned exercise 2 to do in class and turn in when finished.
Assigned exercise 3 tomorrow for classwork during my absence due to field trip.

2nd Period:
Continue working on  your digital recording of  your culminating THE THINGS THEY CARRIED project or
continue rehearsing for your performance of your culminating THE THINGS THEY CARRIED  project in class.

If your group is doing a digital recording, your script and storyboard will be due on Monday. No exception!

If your group is doing an adaptation, your script and a run through of your performance will be due on Monday. No exception!

Your scripts must be correctly formatted and typed! 

Friday, November 7th:

1st Period:
Your grammar assignment is due today: WRITER'S CHOICE; pages 536 - 537; "Subordinate Clauses", exercises 2 and 3.
We will start working on the ELA 11th Grade Interim Assessment on Monday, November 10th.

2nd Period:
Finish working on  THE THINGS THEY CARRIED project.
If you are finished with your project, then begin working  on the grammar and/or vocabulary homework, which will be due on Wednesday, November 12th.
For additional information about how to do the grammar homework, WRITER'S CHOICE, pages 535 - 537; exercises 1, 2, and 3, please go to the link "Grammar: subordinate clauses" on this blog.

Looking ahead:
This week we will begin working on the 11th grade ELA assessment, which will be due no later than November 21st

Grammar assignment:  WRITER'S CHOICE; pages 535 - 537; "Main Clauses", exercise 1 and "Subordinate Clauses", exercises 2 and 3. Due on Wednesday, November 12th.

Vocabulary assignment: Vocabulary Unit 4. Due on Wednesday, November 12th.

October 27, 2014 - October 31, 2014 Weekly Agenda for American Literature

Monday, October 27th:
1st Period:
Break into groups
Socratic Circle Discussion
The depth and breadth of your knowledge of the book and the depth of though you put into both your questions and answers will determine your grade.
The socratic discussion is worth 100 points.
Your questions are worth 100 points.
Your answers are worth 100 points.
Remember: all outstanding work will be due on October 29th.

2nd Period:
Read a brief excerpt from LAST NIGHT I DREAM OF PEACE.

Work on your essay
An additional essay topic is:
Compare and contrast Tim O'Brien's and Dang Thuy Tram's attitude towards the war.
The essay will be due on Tuesday, October 28th.

Remember: all outstanding work will be due on October 29th.

Tuesday, October 28th:
1st Period:
Socratic Circle Discussion
Break into groups and continue with the Socratic Circle Discussion

2nd Period:
Finish your essay and turn it in today.
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED Screenplay
Break into groups
Choose a scene from the book
Using standard screenplay format adapt your chapter into a dramatization
This will be due on Friday, October 1st.

Wednesday, October 29th:
1st Period:
All outstanding work is due today!
Read a brief excerpt from TONIGHT I DREAM OF PEACE
Go over the requirements for the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
This essay will be due on Monday, November 3rd.

2nd Period:
All outstanding work is due today!
Work on THE THINGS THEY CARRIED screenplay
This will be due on Friday, October 31st.

Thursday, October 30th:
1st Period:
Work on the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
The culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED will be due on Monday, November 3rd.

2nd Period:
Work on THE THINGS THEY CARRIED screenplay
This will be due on Friday, October 31st.

Friday, October 31st:
1st Period:
Work on the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
This will be due on Monday, November 3rd.

2nd Period:
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED screenplay is due today.
Be prepared to read it to class!

Heads up for next week:
Vocabulary Four will be assigned!
Forays into grammar next week!
Begin reading a new book!

October 20, 2014 - October 24, 2014 Weekly Schedule for 11th Grade English

Monday, October 20th:

1st Period:
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
The questions for "Ghost Soldier", which were given on Friday, October 17th,  will be due today. Please check last week's agenda and/or Engrade for the questions.

“Night Life”

Pages 219 - 224

Vocabulary:

Inert: inactive; unmovable;

Vouch: to attest to; to stand up for; to put in a good word for

Blunder: to stumble, to awkwardly get into a situation you didn’t meant to get into; to do something by mistake.

Euphemism: a more attractive or pleasant word or  phrase to disguise a less attractive or unpleasant word or phrase;  an example of this would be “I have to see a man about a horse” is a euphemism about going to the bathroom.

Questions:

1.     Why did the platoon call the night march “night life”? O’Brien says that it was a language trick. What did he mean by that?

2.     What effect was the night march having on Rat Kiley, the medic? 

3.     What did Rat Kiley tell Sanders he was seeing and thinking ?

4.     Do you think Rat Kiley’s position as medic had anything to do with his breakdown? 

5.     What did Rat Kiley say about the War? Who or what was the war really for?

6.     What did Rat Kiley wind up doing? Did the men blame him?

"Lives of the Dead"
Pages 225 - 234
Read and discuss

2nd Period:
Break into your groups; discuss your questions and answers
Begin the socratic circle

Tuesday, October 21th: 

1st Period:
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

“Night Life”

Pages 219 - 224
Review "Night Life"; vocabulary, and questions

Vocabulary:

Inert: inactive; unmovable;

Vouch: to attest to; to stand up for; to put in a good word for

Blunder: to stumble, to awkwardly get into a situation you didn’t meant to get into; to do something by mistake.

Euphemism: a more attractive or pleasant word or  phrase to disguise a less attractive or unpleasant word or phrase;  an example of this would be “I have to see a man about a horse” is a euphemism about going to the bathroom.

Questions:

1.     Why did the platoon call the night march “night life”? O’Brien says that it was a language trick. What did he mean by that?

2.     What effect was the night march having on Rat Kiley, the medic? 

3.     What did Rat Kiley tell Sanders he was seeing and thinking ?

4.     Do you think Rat Kiley’s position as medic had anything to do with his breakdown? 

5.     What did Rat Kiley say about the War? Who or what was the war really for?

6.     What did Rat Kiley wind up doing? Did the men blame him?

Finish reading THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
"Lives of the Dead"
Pages 234 - 246

2nd Period:

Continue the socratic circle.
Today the following groups participated in the socratic circle:
Cat, Kona, Marlinda, Rebecca, Christopher
Maria, Ricardo, Stephanie, Maryrose, Davion

Tomorrow finish with Clarissa's group:
Clarissa, Ivette, Tyler, Hilda, Jessiane
At end of class please turn in your questions and answers if you have not already.

Wednesday, October 22nd: 

1st Period: 

Create five complex questions and answers over THE THINGS THEY CARRIED. The grade for this assignment will be based on the quality of your questions and answers.

The questions and answers must meet the following criteria:

1.  Knowledge of the book

2.  Must not be a yes or no answer.

3.  Must not be a level one question, such as the name of a character, or where the book is set, but must be questions which require a depth of literary and/or philosophical understanding of the book in order to answer the question.

2nd  Period: 

Begin work on the culminating  essay for this book.  This essay will be due on Monday, October 27th.

The students will be given a list of essay prompts to choose from. 

The essay must meet the following criteria:

The essay must be a minimum of three pages
Must be in 12 font
Along with the essay the student should turn in "The Character Chart".

Thursday, October 23rd: 

1st Period: 

Begin work on the socratic circle

2nd Period: 

Work on essay 

Friday, October 24th:

1st Period:

Begin work on the culminating essay for THE THINGS THEY CARRIED. This will be due on Thursday, October 30th.  

2nd Period:

Work on essay 

October 13, 2014 - October 17, 2014

Monday, October 13^th:

1^st Period:

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

“In the Field”

Pages 162 - 178

Question:
1. What fundamental blunder did Jimmy Cross commit as the commander of his platoon?
2. How was Jimmy Cross trained to relate to his men? Did he follow his military training in how he related to his men?
3. What is Jimmy Cross thinking about during the search and recovery in the fields?
4. Normally, the men joke about the dead and the wounded. Why are the men annoyed with Azar about his jokes in this situation?
5. What combination of events contributed to the tragic circumstance of Kiowa's death?
6. What role did the boy play in the death of Kiowa?
7. What is the boy searching for in the muck? Why is it ironic that the boy is searching for that particular item?
8. Describe the recovery of Kiowa's body.
9. After the men recover Kiowa's body, what are their conflicting feelings? What are they secretly feeling?
10. What does the boy want to tell Jimmy Cross? Is Jimmy Cross listening? What is he thinking about instead and why?
11. According to Jimmy Cross, who could be blamed for the war?  But on the battlefield, who is ultimately responsible?

“Good Form”

 Pages 179 – 180

Questions:
1. What is story-truth?
2. What is happening-truth?
3. What is the difference between story-truth and story-happening?
4. Did O'Brien kill anyone during the war?

     

“Field Trip”

Pages 181 - 188

Vocabulary:

Mausoleum: a big tomb in which important, rich people are buried.

Dike: a dam; a large wall built to dam up water; however, beavers build dams with sticks, logs and mud.

Questions:
1. Why did Tim O'Brien go back to the sewage field where Kiowa died?
2. What was the long term emotional effect of Kiowa's death on Tim O'Brien?
3. What was the point of O'Brien wading into the water and releasing the moccasins into the mud where Kiowa died?
4. Describe the field of death on the night of Kiowa's death and how it looked when O'Brien returned twenty years later. What was the emotion O'Brien was feeling at the field of death?
5. What do you think the old Vietnamese farmer's gesture meant?
6. What does the field represent to Tim O'Brien?

1  

Period 2:

Earthquake Drill

Tuesday, October 14^th:

1^st Period:

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

“Ghosts Soldiers”

Pages 189 - 202

Vocabulary:

Green: young and inexperienced; think of fruit as being green and unripe and unready.

Civilian:  a person who is not in the military, para military or the police.

2^nd Period:

Earthquake drill 

Wednesday, October 15th:

First Period:

PSAT testing 

2nd Period:

No class today

Thursday, October 16th: 

Thursday, October 16^th:

1^st Period:

“Breakfast in the Classroom” fiasco

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

“Ghost Soldier”

Pages 202 – 208

Vocabulary:

Chuminess: friendliness, being chummy with or friendly with; being pals with someone

Terrain: geography, the lay of the land,

Perimeter: the boundaries

Gyroscope: compass,  a device which registers location or direction

Questions:

1.     Why did O’Brien dislike the new medic, Jorgenson, so much?

2.     Why did O’Brien want revenge against Jorgenson?

3.     What was O’Brien’s little joke that he wanted play on Jorgenson?

4.     What was the attitude that Sanders and the other soldiers had toward O’Brien when he tried to get them to help him?

5.     Who was the one soldier who agreed to help him?

2^nd Period:

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

Preparation for the Socratic Circle

Write five questions and their answers; then break into groups and share.

 Tigran

Ty

Ruth

Joseph

Chuy

 Maria

Ricardo

Stephanie

Christian

Mary Rose

Davion

Clarissa

Ivette

Tyler

Hilda

Jessiane
Macy

Ray

Taraz

Jahayra

Chantal

Logan
Pamela

 Cat

Kona

Marlinda

Rebecca

Christopher

Friday, October 17th:

THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

"The Ghost Soldier"

Pages 208 - 218

Vocabulary:

Atrocity: complete and utter destruction stemming from violence

Questions:

1.     Why did O’Brien dislike the new medic, Jorgenson, so much?

2.     Why did O’Brien want revenge against Jorgenson?

3.     What was O’Brien’s little joke that he wanted play on Jorgenson?

4.     What was the attitude that Sanders and the other soldiers had toward O’Brien when he tried to get them to help him?

5.     Who was the one soldier who agreed to help him?

These questions will be due on Monday.

2nd Period:
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
Break into socratic groups; read each other's questions and discuss the answers in preparation for the socratic circle on Monday.
This assignment is worth THREE HUNDRED POINTS!
The quality of your questions is worth 100 points.
The quality of your answers is worth 100 points.
The quality of your discussion in the socratic circle is worth 100 points.