12/07/2012

Short Story Focus Notes: Get them in order, ORDER!
Bring your Citizen Kane Essay Descriptions with you Monday to eliminate questions.

Have a fantabulous weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

Homework

Below are the Short Story Focus Notes Instructions for each story. Please ignore the calendar; scroll below it to get the instructions. I will give you a calendar of the reading assignments in order on Monday.


Short Story Focus Notes Instructions and More: Click here

It was nice to meet some of your parents at conferences.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

We will discuss existentialism and Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka on Monday. The story is in both books.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

11/05/2012

Today in class:

• We took some notes on rhetorical devices. Finish taking notes tonight. Here is the Power Point. Only take notes on the starred items: A to Z Rhetorical Devices
• Please read "The Battle of the Ants" page 1746 in the black book; I am not sure which page in the red, but I know it's in there (sorry).

Happy Monday!

Mrs. Johnson

10/24/2012

Essay test over Analytical Poetry Prompt
Today in class:

• We finished terminology review for test

Essay test tomorrow

• Time Period Review Friday

Johnson

10/23/2012

Hola,

I doublechecked the "Power Points From Lecture" tab and found the "Victorian" Power Point listed at the very bottom. You will find the "Modern" period lecture notes included with that time period as well.
Some of you indicated some concern over due dates.
Monday: The Glossary or Flashcards due when you take "The Beast"
Original Poem with Analysis (see Poetry Syllabus for description of analysis assignment) due Tuesday for Poetry Tea Party Day
Poetry Prospectus 5-8 due Wednesday of next week or Halloween I believe:)

Adios,

Johnson

10/19/2012

Musee dex Beaux Arts Power Point

Musee Outline

Modern Poetry Readings: 

Channel Firing     672 or 735

To an Athlete  677 or 739

Leda and the Swan 684 or 741

Sailing to Byzantium  685 or 742

Fire and Ice 695 or 674

Acquainted with the Night 699 or 677

Danse Russe 707 or 746

Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock  714 

Ars Poetica 729 or 753

Ars Poetica 730 or 754

***CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE POEM OUT OF THE MODERN SELECTIONS AND BE READY TO DISCUSS IT!!! 

***Musee paper due Monday

Calendar for Next Week:

Discuss Modern Poetry Monday
Review Poetry Terms Tuesday
Review Poetry Time Periods Wednesday
Essay Portion of Test Thursday
Review Poetry Forms Friday
"The Beast" Monday: Glossary due
Tea Party Tuesday--Original Poem and Analysis Due
Prospectus due Wednesday



Have a good weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

10/11/2012

Today in class:

We finished our Romanticism Discussion, finally!

• You need to make up the "Dance" prompt by Wednesday if you haven't done so already.
• You need to make up the partner prompt also by Wednesday if you haven't done so already. 
• Please take care of those make up essays to receive credit.

Homework:

If you were absent, choose one of four poems and write quality open-ended 3-5 questions on it for discussion. 

*You will be graded on the quality of your questions.

*The best questions will be chosen for discussion.

Poem Selections (not all of these are in black anthology, sorry, but you can find them online of course):

• "I heard a fly buzz when I died" Emily Dickinson
• "Remembrance" Emily Bronte
• "Ulysses" Tennyson
• "In Memoriam A.H.H." Tennyson

Bring questions and book obviously Tuesday and have a wonderful long weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

10/08/2012

Click here for thorough in-class writing prompt tips. Writing Tips


Mrs. Johnson

10/04/2012

Homework: Victorian Readings: See older post
Work on:

Prospectus 5-8
Original Poem
Studying Poetry Terminology for "The Beast" and for Tuesday's in-class Essay

Mrs. Johnson

Victorian Readings

Victorian Readings and One Romantic Reading left:

Ode on a Grecian Urn (Romantic Period) pg 632 or 719


Ulysses 649 or 724
Windhover 675 or 737
Remembrance pg. 656 or ? look it up by Bronte online
I heard a Fly buzz--when I died pg. 664 or 647

09/30/2012

Romanticism Power Point is under the "Power Points from Lecture" tab

09/28/2012

A couple of "Cool Student Quotes" from Today's Discussion:

"Writing is intentional."
"Simplicity can be beautiful in poetry."

Weekend Homework:

• Romanticism Readings Click Here!
• Prospectus

"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth" 
- Buddha

09/27/2012 Thursday

Tonight's Homework: I know that I said that there would be Romanticism Readings tonight, but I have decided that we should spend one period discussing Neoclassical and Metaphysical poetry. Students have indicated that they are still feeling uneasy about the Metaphysical period, and I want to make sure that we have a solid grasp on all of the periods.

Read Alexander Pope's "Sound and Sense" pg. 478 or 528 and use your Neoclassical Notes to help you understand the meaning of the poem.
Next, read "The Sun Rising" by John Donne pg. 466 or 517 and use your Metaphysical Notes to help you understand the meaning of the poem.
Come tomorrow with a solid grasp of both poems. I want to actually DISCUSS!
*Then this weekend, aside from working on your prospectus, you can read the poems from the Romantic period for Monday's discussion. I will post the Romantic Lecture under "Power Points by Lecture" so that it's there by Friday night, if not before.

Take care and happy almost Friday!

Mrs. J

09/25/2012

Tonight's homework:
See helpful Metaphysical info link below.
Here is another handout where you can note the differences between both the Renaissance and Metaphysical poetry characteristics. Click here
Tomorrow, I will give the lecture on Metaphysical poetry traits to review/go over for those who may still be confused--pay close attention to your notes and analysis of this time period as it's often the most difficult for students to grasp.

Bye Bye
Au revoire
Ciao
Aloha
Adios
Sainara
Cheerio

09/25/2012

Helpful Metaphysical Info

Tonight's homework

Make sure you have read all of the Renaissance readings listed in an older post below. Be ready to discuss the poetry tomorrow!

Mrs. J

***Final day to turn in cummings' paper, TODAY!

Peer Edit Questions as requested:)

***To achieve full credit (10 points) on this peer edit, you must provide thorough and thoughtful feedback.

On your own paper, please respond to each of the following questions:

1. How do you know that the writer included a clear and strong thesis and POA?
2. Explain whether or not the writer provided a topic sentence for each POA point, thus each body paragraph introduced the topic and tied to their thesis statement:
3. Describe how effective the writer's analysis of each device is in each body paragraph: Does each body paragraph provide strong support for their thesis statement? Do they have at least two to three cited examples for support per paragraph?
4. Provide a brief comment about the conclusion--does it effectively address the central argument of the essay, without being redundant?

One More Thing . . .

If you needed to get the lecture notes on the "Poetic Forms," here they are! Obviously you don't have to take notes on the poem examples, and you can always print out the notes too.

Mrs. Johnson

HAPPY WEEKEND!Poetic Forms

Weekend Homework

Weekend Homework: Please read all of these and be prepared to discuss them Monday.

 584-or 687 "One Day I wrote"
589-? Couldn’t find in black book (look online) "Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part"
590-or 688 "Let me not...”‘“
590-or 688 "My Mistress”‘“ eyes"
593-or 690 "The Canonization"
595-or 692 "The Flea"
596-or 693 "Death be not proud"
599-or 695 "To the Virgins"
601-or 695 "Easter Wings"
602-or 697 "When I consider"
605-not in the black book (look online) "Dialogue between the Soul and Body"

09/19/2012

Please continue to work on your final draft of cummings' poem. Also, work on original poem and flashcards.
See you tomorrow! On the syllabus, it states that the Forms Power Point is on the blog and an old one very well might be under "Power Points from Lecture," but I decided that I am going to continue lecture and we may push back the group quiz to Friday, which is fine.

See you tomorrow!

Ms. Johnson

09/14/2012 "Weekend Homework"

Rough Draft of e.e. cummings' poem "when serpents bargain for the right to squirm"

Write a five paragraph analytical essay focusing on the following devices: figurative language, structure, diction, and syntax.

Please write a rough draft that's more like a final draft and have it ready to go first period on Monday morning. Please don't email to me or need to print it the morning of...if you have to, handwrite it.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

09/13/2012

Hopefully the Rhythm and Meter lesson helped in your understanding of scansion today.
*Don't forget quiz on that tomorrow!
The quiz will be more technical. You will be asked questions like: What is a dactyl? A trochee? A spondee? And things like that? Reviewing the Rhythm and Meter section in your text and maybe even making flashcards is helpful.
The e.e. cummings essay assignment is located under "Essay Assignments" on the blog page. So go there to get the poem and prompt. Rough draft due Monday for a very intense peer edit session.
That's it for now!

Mrs. Johnson

Homework:

Read about syntax: 516-522 in black book
465-472 in older text
*Rough Draft of Prospectus Due tomorrow

Read about diction on pages 436-444 older book
488-502 in black book

Optional: Work on "Original Poem"

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson

To Do Lists:

Howdy:

***I need to get your survey final goodbye packets ASAP. If I don't send them off Monday, then I can't get them back Wednesday to give to you for our final gathering, and I would really like to give them to you then.

***I need the letters for Wednesday as well for the same reason! Also, they are worth a lot of points!

***I need any GRIMMS BRO books you borrowed so I can return them to Salem Public Library.

I think that's it for now...have a fabulous weekend!!!

Mrs. Johnson

Brothers Grimm  (Power Point of Elements in case you need it)

Mrs. Johnson

05/17/2012

Reading in Cat's Cradle
Up to chapter 30 please

05/08/2012

 AP Review

05/08/2012

I am putting together a terms, classic novels, and key quotes document, but it's like 40 pages long and ongoing! Be back soon!

Johnson

05/04/2012

This weekend:

Practice Compare and Contrast Poetry Essay and:

• Receive extra credit points for practicing another timed write.
• A good idea to practice since there has been a Compare/Contrast Poetry Prompt in 7 of the last 10 years on the AP Exam.
• Studying points this weekend: Poetry Terms/ Rhetoric Terms these in particular: anaphora, balanced sentence, cumulative sentence, parallel structure, ellipses, apostrophe (these are words that seem to be frequent answers on the sample tests)

***Monday we will take another Multiple Choice Practice Test, and I will send you home to finish it Tuesday and check answers, and we will discuss results.
Tuesday Night: Study Fiction Terms
Wednesday: Overall Review of Terminology
Wednesday Night: Review Terms/Get a good night's sleep


Next novel to purchase:
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Mrs. Johnson

05/03/2012

Inner Artist Musings:

When Stephen's epiphany occurs on the beach, the experience liberates him for the first time in the sense that he is no longer confined by what his family and society have imposed on him his entire life. This liberating moment for Stephen allows him to realize that "To merge his life in the common tide of other lives was harder for him than any fasting or prayer, and it was his failure to do this to his own satisfaction which caused in his soul at last a sensation of spiritual dryness together with a growth of doubts and scruples" (157). As Stephen begins to find "His Language," he rids himself of the language he feels was never really his to begin with: "His own consciousness of language was ebbing from his brain and trickling into the very words themselves which set to band and disband themselves in wayward rhythms" (182). He then begins crafting a poem in his mind about ivy: "The ivy whines upon the wall . . ." as the ivy continues up the wall, Stephen notes that it's "yellow ivy" and at one point even "ivory ivy." If green references throughout the novel symbolize Ireland, then here it seems to suggest that Ireland is fading for Stephen as he realizes that he must exile himself from his native country in order to completely transcend as "The Artist."

My point in creating the "Inner Artist" assignment was that, like Stephen, perhaps you too might discover something about yourself throughout the book and the discussions as you wrote in your "Stream of Consciousness" journal etc. that maybe you didn't know before or that you might feel liberated you to share an inner ability that no one else knows? Maybe we all know that you're a singer, but maybe we don't know that you've written your own song, and you want to share a little sample of it with us? Or maybe you simply want to share something that you've discovered about yourself this year that you feel is a minor or major epiphany of sorts. I'm not expecting for you to "Wow" us today, but simply share a part of you that you've never shared before or simply talk about some inner discoveries you've made about yourself as you've passed into this very important phase in your life.

Hopefully that helps! That's all I got!

Mrs. Johnson

04/25/2012

Today in class:

• We discussed the Practice Multiple Prose (Church) Section
• I handed out three AP exam prompts, so please get them tomorrow if you were absent today. Find a time over the weekend to write all three essays back to back. Time yourself for 40 minutes per essay. When finished, put all the essays in a large envelope and turn in to me Monday. I will randomly choose one to grade.

Mrs. Johnson

04/23/2012

Finish the novel this week!
Wednesday: AP Review Session: Poetry (Room 101)
Thursday: 7pm Clockworks downtown session

Mrs. J

04/19/2012

Here is the link for the chapter 3 notes. Please read up to chapter 5 by Monday

AP Review Session Wednesday in Room 101 2:40 til whenever
AP Review Session Thursday at Clockworks downtown 7 til they kick us out:)


***Bring all notes!!!

Mrs. J

04/19/2012

Here are the notes for chapter three with the sub tomorrow. I told the sub that you could access them on my blog, so hopefully you're here accessing them.
Please read up to chapter 5 by Monday.

Chapter Three Portrait Notes

***AP Review Session Wednesday April 25th 2:40-4:40 or so in room 101 (Bring Poetry flashcards and notes; we'll start there)
***AP Review Session Thursday April 26th at Clockworks downtown from 7 til they kick us out:)

See you at Oly Pageant (well some of you:))/all of you have a great weekend!


Mrs. J

04/18/2012

Please read up through the first half of chapter three... missed you today...see you tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson

04/10/2012

Today I handed out the Portrait packets, so if you need an extra copy or were absent, here you are:
Portrait Packet

Additionally, each student chose a research topic for tonight's homework. The assignment description is in the packet, but the assignment is to write a one page report on your chosen topic. If you were absent and wish to catch up tonight, then simply choose a topic and turn it in tomorrow. If you want more direction, then talk to me tomorrow, and turn it in Thursday.
Tomorrow, we will pick up where we left off with the Wuthering Heights presentations. Thank you for your patience with that.
Additionally, I would like all the letters to students by Monday please, so I can get those organized.

Thank you,

Mrs. J

04/06/2012

Hello again,

I am so thankful to have my blog back or at least from home. Anyway, I added a new "tab" called: Critical Analysis Essays from works read in class. If you click on that tab, you'll find a link to the baby Moocow story that opens Portrait. That particular story is incredibly important to the meaning of the entire novel, so eventually, I will ask you to read this analysis essay and write on it, as well as discuss it in class; however, in the meantime, it's a good place to start for answers about the novel.
Again, while you have the weekend, either purchase or make a journal this weekend that means something as well as personifies/embodies/and or symbolizes you!

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Johnson

P.S. We will have a guest speaker, who lived in Scotland for four years, traveled to Ireland, is a history major, and currently a grad student at OSU; she will address the following topics: Parnell, Homerule, conflict in Dublin then and now, and if time, going to University internationally, so I hope you can be there Tuesday!

04/05/2012

Yah! My blog worked! Oh Happy Day!

This weekend:

• Obviously purchase Joyce's novel if you don't have one.
• Purchase/decorate/make a personalized journal to bring with you to class every day of the James Joyce Unit. This journal will hold any notes on historical references/your own stream of consciousness writing/ and prompts of key aspects of the novel for you to write on along the way.  
• Finish Wuthering Heights Analysis paper as the deadline is Monday. Don't forget to include a Works Cited Page your paper as well.
• Also due Monday: your timed 40 minute AP Exam prompt of your choice.

***Great job on presentations! I look forward to hearing the remaining ones on Monday and finishing up discussion on our final presentation today from that very intelligent psychologist:)

Mrs. Johnson

04/02/2012

You will now find an example of guidelines for the Wuthering Heights Research Paper under the Essay Example Link and also right here:)Wuthering Heights Guidelines

04/02/2012

I haven't forgotten about the Wuthering Heights Guidelines; in fact, I am typing up an example now:) It's taking awhile because I decided to type an introduction to an essay also:)


Mrs. Johnson

03/23/2012

Homework:

Finish Wuthering Heights and be prepared for anything regarding the novel when you return!
***Purchase A Portrait of The Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce start reading it as mere entertainment first and then  re-read it when we get back. Just a thought...if you have time.
Over the break: Collect ten citations total: seven from the book, three outside sources regarding your topic.
On the Monday you return, those ten citations are due:

• I will need the quotations and their page numbers: "Hareton, who was hanging a litter of puppies . . ., and blest as a soul escaped from purgatory, I bounded, leaped, and flew down the steep road" (Bronte 185).
• And a Works Cited page with all the sources listed (must be in MLA Format or you will be marked down). 

 That same week, on Thursday and  Friday:

• Your Essays are due (Thursday)
• Presentation of Topic

***Purchase A Portrait of The Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce

Have a wonderful and very safe break!

Mrs. J

03/17/2012

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!
Change in reading schedule:

• Read chapters 13-chapter 2 in part 2 over the weekend and be prepared to discuss/and or quiz over it etc.
• Turn in flashcards Monday
• Have at least 3 quotes towards your topic to share with your partner Monday

Gracias,

Mrs. Johnson

03/16/2012

Please read up through chapter 16 in Wuthering Heights
Write down quotes that pertain to your topic and bring them with you Monday
Create flashcards of terms that you need to know for AP Exam.

Thank you and have an awesome weekend!

Mrs. J

03/13/2012

Homework:

• Please read chapters nine and ten of WH
• Write on your assigned WH prompt and bring to class with you tomorrow

Thank you and see you tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson

03/10/2012

Please read chapters 3 through 6 for Monday. 
*Create a character list, so that you can start keeping track of all the "H" names, characters introduced etc.
*Also, choose your best two options for your group project and research paper, and we will make a final decision on that, so we can move forward on the projects Monday.

Happy Weekend!

Mrs. J

03/07/2012

Please read chapters 1 and 2 of Wuthering Heights for tomorrow's discussion.

MJ

03/06/2012

Still working to finish up the test . . .
*We will start lecture on WH tomorrow!!! YAH SO EXCITED FOR BEST BOOK EVER!

MJ

03/05/2012

We took the Figurative Language Assessment #2 today. It MUST be made up by Thursday. Also, the grammar assessment, for those who did it, is due tomorrow.

MJ

03/05/2012

BUY Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte; we will start reading it tomorrow!

03/02/2012

Here is the study guide in case you missed class today. We moved the test to Monday, so you have the weekend to review. Don't forget to purchase Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Take time to reduce any stress or grief in your life this weekend too. As quoted from Moliere: “If you suppress grief too much it can well redouble."

Drama Test Study Guide

Take care,

MJ

02/21/2012

Homework:

Read Act I of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard by Thursday. There are copies available in our library now.
Answer this question before tomorrow: What is Willy Loman's tragic flaw in Death of A Salesman? And how does this flaw contribute to the meaning of the play?
Additionally, take brief notes on Willy's relationship with the following characters:

• Linda
• Biff
• Happy
• Charley
• Ben
• "The Woman"
• Howard
• Bernard

See you tomorrow!

MJ

02/14/2012

Homework:

Elements taken from 1994 Open-Ended Prompt:

Write a paragraph discussing how Mrs. Linde serves as a confidante to Nora in A Doll’s House. Include the various ways this character functions in the work. To attain full credit, you must include a thesis statement with a three point POA. Before starting, consider Mrs. Linde’s roles (choose 3 and go with it)Avoid plot summary.

• Begin reading Act I of Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller

***Things to do this week:

• Register and pay for AP Exam
• Purchase a copy of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard

Happy Valentines Day,

Due to the holiday, there will be no test over the reading--I am just encouraging that you get started on it, but will expect that you've read Act I by Thursday.

MJ

 

02/10/2012

Today in class:

Continued A Doll's House discussion
Homework: Finish play!
Begin reading Death of A Salesman by Arthur Miller (Crucible) to jump ahead as we will start reading that Monday night.

Mrs. Johnson

02/09/2012

Homework:

Read Act II and take care:)

See you tomorrow!

MJ

02/08/2012

Homework:

Read Act I of A Doll's House.

Johnson-out

02/03/2012

Finish the play! YAH!

Adios ninos

MJ

01/31/2012

Power Point from today will be under the Power Point section, just so I can keep those separate.
Homework: Read Act I of Tartuffe by Moliere

Mrs. J

01/20/2012

Missed seeing you all this week! I only saw two on Tuesday:( Below is the Study Guide for the Final Exam, so you can begin studying for that. We will go over it in more detail Monday. Feel free to email me with questions over the weekend. InTouch is not updated. I have inputted grades at home, so I will have to update it when we return, which hopefully will be Monday.

Here is the Study Guide for the Final Exam: AP Semester I Study Guide
Suggestions for this weekend:

• Flashcards or however you study best on the poetry/lit terminology/authors' names and works. As the study guide states, focus on memorizing the names of those that we focused on for major papers, not ones we discussed for a day in class. In other words, we're not testing you over every poet covered during that unit.
• Review the short stories, Hamlet, and Oedipus, and focus on the key characters and significant quotes.
• Remember, we give you a bunch of rhetoric devices to know, but we only focus on a few of the more basic sentence structure ones for the exam, so you do not need to go memorize the entire Power Point of Rhetoric Devices A to Z I gave you. Going back through and reviewing the ones you knew coming into the class, periodic etc. etc. etc. will be much more beneficial...

***It would really be good to come to class both Monday and Tuesday as we will review for the exam in more detail.

Enjoy your extended weekend; I hope none of you were directly affected by the flooding.

Mrs. J

01/17/2012

***Announcement***
Due to weather and the shortened week, I am cancelling the Hamlet project. We will do the same project with Wuthering Heights, so that should work out just fine.
I don't want assignments to be rushed with finals approaching and your Hamlet paper due Monday.
Of course I was able to get the lab today to research for the paper (GO FIGURE), so I'll check for another day this week, but if you visit Dr. Lange's Hamlet link on the blog, you will find a plethora (ha ha) of literary criticim that should work quite well for this assignment. Do make sure to follow the essay guidelines on your assignment description sheet.
Also, please have the play read for class tomorrow, so we can have a valuable discussion:)
Enjoy the snow!

Mrs. Johnson

01/13/2012

Today in class:

• Hamlet Acts I-III Quiz

Homework:

• Finish the play
• Get together with your groups and plan your presentations

See you Tuesday!

Mrs. J

01/06/2012

Today in class:

• We talked a little Oedipus and a little Hamlet--more of that to come Monday.
• We finished up Kane facilitated discussion
• We will wrap up Oedipus completely Monday.

Homework: Read Act I of Hamlet; I would also suggest that you read some background information on the play as well. It wouldn't hurt to begin looking into your critical analysis paper. See Hamlet research link on website for help if you like or follow guidelines outlined in the assignment description (pink handout).

Assessments/Assignments for the week:

• Kane character and film analysis papers
• Mis en Scene element identification (the 15 traits) and analysis paragraph
• Oedipus Quiz

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!

Mrs. Johnson

01/03/2011

Click on link to get the Power Point Notes.
Please come prepared to do a Mis en Scene analysis of a Kane scene tomorrow.
Mis en Scene

Homework:

• Mis en Scene Notes
• Finish Oedipus
• Buy a copy of Hamlet

Welcome back--great to see all of you!

Mrs. J