English 8 – Nov. 10 & 14

This class: We started working on our mini-posters using The Hunger Games or another novel to explain literary forms, techniques, and features.

Homework: Complete your poster and finish reading the book.

English 11 – Nov. 9

This class: We worked in groups, reading and sharing our chosen poetry books, making notes on the sound qualities we found there.

Homework: Review the notes you and your group members took on your book. What conclusions or main ideas come up?

English 8 – Nov. 8 & 9

This class: Formalist responses to literature! We looked at an overview of literary terms and each selected one to research independently.

Homework: Research your chosen literary term on the internet. Next class we will make miniature illustrated posters defining them and relating them to The Hunger Games.

English 11 – Nov. 7

This class: Sound in poetry: lecture number 2.

Homework: Bring your poetry book in to next class.

English 12 – Period 3 – Nov. 7

This class: We had a visit from Canadian playwright and novelist Dan Hannah!

Homework: Read your own book at home for at least thirty minutes a day.

English 11 – Nov. 3

This class: We looked at the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, and “The Raven” in particular, with an emphasis on sound devices.

Homework: Read Edgar Allan Poe’s essay about writing “The Raven”, “The Philosophy of Composition“. Don’t worry about understanding every word. Just get a general idea of the approach to writing he describes.

English 8 – Nov. 2 & 3

This class: We discussed The Hunger Games in political terms such as class, gender, and ideology.

Homework: Read chapters 19 and 20!

English 11 – Nov. 1

A stereotypical poet?

This class: We began our poetry unit! We started by looking at Haikuleaks and “Common Sense“, asking, “what is a poem?”

Homework: Find a book of poetry that you feel good about reading. It could be a book you borrowed from me, or it can be a book you find somewhere else. Preferably it will be a book by a single poet, and not an anthology of many poets. Bring the book in to class no later than next week.

English 8 – Oct. 31 & Nov. 1

This class: We looked at Katniss from a psychological perspective, asking why does she warm up to Rue so quickly and easily when Katniss was so cautious and cold with Peeta.

Homework: Read chapters 17 and 18 of The Hunger Games

English 12 – Period 3 – Oct. 28

This class: We read excerpts from Die Twice and The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and discussed them in terms of gender.

Homework: Read your own book for at least 30 minutes a day.