The Late-Night (Book) Club: March 23, 2018

Focus: What do our British authors want us to understand better or differently?

1. Warming up by looking over your 5-6 syllabi and highlighting any questions or notes that you feel respond well to today's focus question

2. Meeting with your book club to select the your top three Q3's

• Click HERE for a list of all Q3 prompts from the past 40 years.

3. Viewing the film version of your novel, if time allows

HW:
1. Compose your big question before class on Tuesday, April 4 (which is the day of your book club timed writing). You will have time in class (30 min) on Monday to work on this.

2. Continue refining your prompt and brainstorming how your prompt connects to each of your books.

The Frog in the Swimming Pool: March 22, 2018

Focus: How do allusions help us understand poetry?

1. Warming up with one of poetry's most famous couples: The Brownings

"The Clasped Hands of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning"

• What do you notice about the way their hands are clasped?
• What does this suggest about their marriage?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee?"
Robert Browning's "Love in a Life"

• With your partner, turn your two poems into a single found poem that functions as a dialogue between the two speakers.

2. Reading "The Frog in the Swimming Pool" in real time and taking on the multiple choice questions

• Where are the allusions to Browning, and how do they function in this poem?

3. Slowing down on how to select the right answer

HW:
Continue editing your culminating essay prompt, brainstorming ideas about each of your books, and finding patterns.

Finding the Underlying Structure: March 21, 2018

Focus: How do you go about structuring a complex, lengthy essay?

1. Warming up with vocabulary review (Sets 1-7)

• Rafa, Griffin, Julia, Hallie, and Bella--please head to A.P. Language!

2. Testing your understanding of the past 42 academic vocabulary words with this quiz

3. Revising your culminating essay prompts and starting to work on the structure/outline of your essay: Brainstorming ideas book by book, then finding patterns

• Click here for Chase's brainstorming

• Click here for my brainstorming

HW:
Continue working on your culminating essay. 

Sestina, Anyone? March 20, 2018

Focus: What can sestinas teach us about poetic form and meaning?

1. Warming up with "Here in Katmandu"

• Moment (Which metaphors, words, phrases, images, etc. make you pause?)

• Movement (What patterns start to emerge? Is there an extended metaphor? Where do you see progress, regression, shifts, repetition, circularity?)

• Bonus Round: Look at the last word of each line. What are the mathematical rules of this poem?

• Multiple Meanings (What complex ideas can infer about the speaker, situation, tone, themes?) How does the structure of the poem fit its multiple meanings?

2. Trying out "Sestina" as a class; attacking the multiple choice as individuals

3. Working through some of the harder questions together

HW:
1. For TODAY: Draft your possible culminating essay prompt (you may have several, and that's fine) and start piecing together your book list. E-mail them to me. If you were absent on Thursday, you kind of missed everything. Stop by today or tomorrow.

2. For WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break. We will Quizlet Live tomorrow before the quiz.

3. For the TUESDAY after break: Complete your big question blog on your British novel.

British Book Clubbing, Day 6: March 19, 2018

Focus: What is resolved at the end of your novel, and what is left unresolved?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Considering how it all ends:

Reread the first three pages and the last three pages of your book.

• What has been resolved?
• What has been left unresolved?
• Who is the (tragic) hero of your novel, and what has he/she come to realize that he/she didn't know at the beginning?

Revisit the title of your novel. 

• Why did your author select this title? 
• How has its significance shifted throughout your novel?

3. Enjoying Day 6 of your British Book Clubs (since I'm not here today, please keep slightly more meticulous notes)

4. Wrapping up with your final exit ticket

HW:
1. For TUESDAY: Draft your possible culminating essay prompt (you may have several, and that's fine) and start piecing together your book list. E-mail them to me. If you were absent on Thursday, you kind of missed everything. Stop by today or tomorrow.

2. For next WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break.

3. For the TUESDAY after break: Complete your big question blog on your British novel.

British Book Clubbing, Day 5: March 16, 2018

Focus: What tensions/conflicts are on the rise in your British novel?

1. Warming up with Victorian Clue #5: Life Below the Stairs (watch first 10 minutes)

• Connect: What are you noticing, and how does it connect to what you already know?

• Extend: How does this film clip widen or deepen your understanding of the characters/situations in your novel?

• Challenge: What does this document make you wonder about?

2. Enjoying Day 5 of your British Book Clubs (since I'm not here today, please keep slightly more meticulous notes)

3. Wrapping up with a quick exit ticket

HW:
1. For MONDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading/syllabus creating.

2. For TUESDAY: Draft your possible culminating essay prompt (you may have several, and that's fine) and start piecing together your book list. E-mail them to me.

3. For next WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break.

How Does It End?: March 15, 2018

Focus: How do we synthesize our school literary experience?

1. Warming up by brainstorming your favorite books of all time from childhood and middle school

2. Taking a field trip to the book room to walk down your high school memory lane

3. Developing an overview of the culminating essay

• What is the culminating essay? Browsing examples from the past

• How do I start? Brainstorming book lists and blogs

• When should I start? Click HERE for the timeline.

4. Forming your own prompts and book lists

• Click HERE for 40 years of A.P. Literature #3 Question Prompts

HW:
1. For FRIDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading/syllabus creating.

2. For TUESDAY: Draft your possible culminating essay prompt (you may have several, and that's fine) and start piecing together your book list. E-mail them to me.

3. For next WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break.

Enjoying the Poetry Experience, Day 2: March 14, 2018

Focus: What can we learn through experiencing poetry?

1. Warming up with notecard reminders

2. Presenting our poetry projects

3. Wrapping up a quick round of Quizlet Live, Unit 2 (if time allows)

HW:
1. For FRIDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading/syllabus creating.

2. For next WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break.

Enjoying the Poetry Experience, Day 1: March 13, 2018

Focus: What can we learn through experiencing poetry?

1. Warming up with notecards and how they work

2. Presenting our poetry projects

3. Wrapping up a quick round of Quizlet Live, Unit 1(if time allows)

HW:
1. For FRIDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading/syllabus creating.

2. For next WEDNESDAY, March 21: Study Academic Vocabulary, Units 1-7 for a cumulative quiz. No new words before spring break.

British Book Clubbing, Day 4: March 12, 2018

Focus: What tensions/conflicts are on the rise in your British novel?

Project people: Please submit a hard copy of your poem right now if you have not done so.

1. Warming up with Victorian Clue #3: Victorian Attitudes Towards Sexuality

• Connect: What are you noticing, and how does it connect to what you already know?

• Extend: How does this document widen or deepen your understanding of the Victorians?

• Challenge: What does this document make you wonder about?

2. Enjoying Day 4 of your British Book Clubs

3. Wrapping up with a quick exit ticket

HW:
1. Poetry papers and projects are due on Tuesday, March 13 (that's tomorrow).

Project creators: Remember to complete and print your rubric.

Paper makers: Remember to use the Monday Night Checklist and staple it to the top of your essay.

2. Complete your British Book Club reading and syllabus for your next meeting on Friday. 

British Book Clubbing, Day 3: March 8, 2018

Focus: What tensions/conflicts are on the rise in your British novel?

Project people: Please submit a hard copy of your poem today.

1. Warming up with Victorian Clue #2: The British Empire

2. Enjoying Day 3 your British Book Clubs

3. Wrapping up with a quick exit ticket

HW:
1. Complete your British Book Club reading and syllabus for your next meeting on Monday (remember that your group is allowed to take a reading day. Monday might be a good one if you haven't done so yet).

2. Poetry papers and projects are due on Tuesday, March 13.

Project creators: Remember to complete and print your rubric.

Paper makers: Remember to use the Monday Night Checklist and staple it to the top of your essay.

Men (and Women) at Work: March 7, 2018

Focus: How do we begin our poetry papers and projects?

1. Warming up with a brief assessment on Academic Vocabulary: Set 7

2. Building the foundation if you're writing the PAPER:

• Enjoy two new freedoms: Background and structure (see the overview)

• Use the thesis workshop if you're still struggling with your thesis.

• Check out the sample essay.

• Use the Monday Night Checklist before you print and submit your essay.

3. Building the foundation if you're creating the PROJECT:

• Using the proposal as your starting place; submit this or conference with me by Tuesday.

• Creating your own rubric. Bring this with you on the day of your presentation.

• Considering the role the presentation will play in your project (check out "Your God" as an example). See the presentation guidelines.

4. Getting to work, work, work, work

HW: 
1. For Thursday: 
If you're a project person, please PRINT AND SUBMIT your poem before the long weekend.
Complete your assigned book club reading/syllabus by tomorrow.

2. For Tuesday, March 13: Projects and papers due.

Writing About Conceits: March 6, 2018

Focus: How do we write compellingly about a poem's conceit / extended metaphor?

1. Warming up with a physically close reading of The Thought Fox

2. Composing a poetry timed writing (40 minutes)

HW:
1. TODAY: Finish your poetry proposal and turn it it, or finish your intro/thesis and e-mail it to me if you haven't done so yet.

2. For Wednesday: Look over your Academic Vocabulary words, Sets 4-7. Also, tomorrow will be your last in-class work day for poetry projects/papers.

3. For THURSDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading and syllabus (no school Friday).

Heads-up! March 13: Poetry papers and project are due. 

British Book Clubbing, Day 2: March 5, 2018

Focus: What conflicts are heightening in your British novels?

1. Warming up with three good things and Academic Vocabulary: Set 7

2. Offering you the highlight reel from Friday; enjoying British Book Clubs, Day 2

• What went well: 
• You found a good balance of being formal and feeling relaxed.
• Most of you seem to be enjoying the book.
• You're able to answer each other's questions and ease each other's confusion.
• You're using techniques from class and making them your own (ex: Wuthering Heights family tree).
• You're exploring and applying the historical context of your book (Remains of the Day).

• Where there's room for improvement:
• Syllabus and reading need to be complete before you walk into class.
• If you didn't have enough to talk about, then you need to do more work as you read.
• Consider having a task master in your group.
• Be honest in your exit tickets. Don't tell me what you think I want to hear.
• There's no such thing as senioritis in here. This is a sophomore college class.

3. Wrapping up with a quick exit ticket

HW:
1. For Tuesday (tomorrow): Finish your poetry proposal and turn it it, or finish your intro/thesis and e-mail it to me.

2. For Wednesday: Look over your Academic Vocabulary words, Sets 4-7. Also, Wednesday will be your last in-class work day for your poetry project/essay.

3. For THURSDAY: Complete your assigned book club reading and syllabus (no school Friday).

Heads-up! March 13: Poetry papers and project are due.  

British Book Clubbing, Day 1: March 2, 2018

Focus: What essential information can you garner from your novel's opening chapters?

1. Warming up with Victorian Clue #1: Victorian Women

• Connect: How can you connect this to what you already know about Victorian culture?

• Extend: What does it help you understand better or differently about Victorian culture? About your British Book Club novel?

• Challenge: What does it make you wonder?

2. Offering your a reminder of book club expectations; enjoying British Book Clubs, Day 1

• All members participate.

• Keep phones away. I don't want to see them.

• Just like Socratic seminars, book club discussions should be text-based. Books should be open, and passages should be read aloud.

• You don't need to type away the entire time, but keep notes on your syllabus so I can see what you're understanding about your novels.

3. Wrapping up with a quick exit ticket

HW:
1. Complete your assigned book club reading and syllabus for Monday.

2. For Tuesday: Finish your poetry proposal and turn it it, or finish your intro/thesis and e-mail it to me.

Heads-up! March 13: Poetry papers and project are due.  

You Gotta Work, Work, Work: March 1, 2018

Focus: How do we begin our poetry papers and projects?

1. Warming up with a brief Academic Vocabulary Quiz: Set 6 and the answers to yesterday's MC

2. Offering you a little poetry project inspiration from Aly T.

• (Click HERE for the sample film we watched before break.)

3. Touching base briefly with poetry paper people:

• Enjoy two new freedoms: Background and structure

• Use the thesis workshop; e-mail me your thesis (any outlining/drafting) by Tuesday.

• Check out the sample essay.

4. Conferencing with poetry project people

• Using the proposal as your starting place; submit this or conference with me by Tuesday.

• Considering the role the presentation will play in your project (check out "Your God" as an example).

4. Getting to work, work, work, work

HW:
1. For tomorrow: Complete your reading assignment, syllabus, and anything else assigned by your book club.

2. For Tuesday: Finish your poetry proposal and turn it it, or finish your intro/thesis and e-mail it to me.

Heads-up! March 13: Poetry papers and project are due.