12/19/2013

• Read Oedipus Rex over the break and answer focus note questions in your pink calendar packet. Email me Kane papers if you haven't turned them in already.

12/18/2013

• Read to scene two in Oedipus Rex
• Begin answering focus questions:

Where does Oedipus begin to show arrogance/pride?

Moments where Oedipus is a victim of his own fate?

Moments of dramatic irony

Semester I Study Guide

Today In Class:

• Worked on Prose T-Chart Analysis: DUE TOMORROW
• Lectured on Greek Tragedy (I will post PP before you go to break)
• Gave the following study guide for Oedipus Rex, which you are to read over break. 

Read “The Greek Theater” as well as Oedipus Rex over holiday break. Be prepared to take a quiz over the play when you return.

Know the following:

·      The characters

·      To be able to define how Oedipus is the tragic hero

·      The chronological order of events

·      Symbolism in the play

·      Irony

12/13/2013

Today: We finished Kane!
Kane essays are due Wednesday, December 18th; sorry for the mix-up, but all my essays in other classes are due that day, so that date is engraved in my mind as a big day for essay collecting, thus I decided to make all essay collecting on the same day: December 18th, Wednesday. 

Essay Requirements:

• MLA
• formal voice
• 2 pages
• Double-spaced
• A clear thesis(your clear and specific understanding of the meaning of the film) with clear POA points
• Structure is more open--it does not have to be in a five paragraph essay format, but if that is more comfortable for you, then you can structure it as follows:

Kane Character Analysis: Consider discussing several of the following elements: Kane's influences, motivations, desires, fears, relationships with others and connect these elements to the overall meaning of the film. Be sure to include quotations from the film in your character analysis paper.

Kane Device Paper: Discuss how Welles uses at least three different film techniques to enhance the meaning of the film. Be sure to specifically describe the effect of each technique. 

How to begin?

In such a short paper of this nature, briefly start broad, either relating to your argument--perhaps a general statement about tycoons and their relationship in society or possibly you wish to begin with commentary on Citizen Kane that relates to your argument. In a few sentences quickly relate to your argument and then move into your thesis. 

Body Paragraphs In Character Analysis:

Provide two to three thorough examples per point (include quotes for added depth and support when you can)

Body Paragraphs in Film Analysis:

If possible, try to provide two examples of one shot type and how Welles enhances the meaning of the film through the two different scenes using that same shot type.

For example: Welles uses the "Deep Focus Shot" in both the scene with Charles Foster Kane as a boy sledding outside while his parents discuss his adoption inside.

The same shot type is used again with Kane numerous times throughout the movie: 

Same with this shot (While it doesn't have Kane in it, the scene still reveals something about the man Kane was): 

 

Your paper will have more depth if you can provide two examples of each shot type. You can find tons of shot types by typing in the shot type and the title of the film.

Character Analysis Body Paragraphs:

This is your standard essay format if you so desire. Topic sentence with POA. Then provide two to three examples of how Kane reveals that trait and connect it to the as McElliott says MOAWAAW (meaning of a work as a whole).

Conclusion in film paper:

• Why does the art of film-making matter in a movie like this? How does the art of film-making contribute to the meaning of a movie of this magnitude? If the innovative film techniques weren't present, would this film be considered "One of the greatest movies of all time"?

Conclusion in Character Analysis:

• How are viewers' lives affected by the meaning of this movie? How does the life Charles Foster Kane led and the realization of his life at the film's end lend meaning to our own lives? 

Most of all, be creative and have fun (seriously)!

Ms. Johnson

12/09/2013

We watched 30 minutes of Kane and took character and film notes.
Be safe out there!

Ms. Johnson

12/06/2013

Film and Character Analysis Paper Chart: Film and Character Chart

12/03/2013

Quentin and Colton's Film Lesson

Prose Essay Analysis

Mrs. Johnson

Take notes on the Film Lesson above to prepare for Citizen Kane papers!

11/21/2013

If you were absent today, see me about making up the in-class 60 point prose essay.


Happy Thursday,

Ms. Johnson

11/13/2013

HW: Read the brief notes on existentialism and then read "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner. Look for those traits as you read. Be sure to respond in writing to the "Short Story Focus Questions" located on your pink calendar for each short story that we read.

Existentialism

11/12/2013

• College Essay due today unless otherwise arranged
• Read "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner

11/06/2013

• Below is a link to the notes about Feminism and "The Yellow Wallpaper."
• Read the story tonight, peruse the notes; be ready to discuss tomorrow.
• Take short story focus notes on the story--see the information after your calendar

Yellow Wallpaper Notes

Ms. Johnson

11/04/2013

HW: Work on College Admissions Essay/Rough Draft Due Wednesday
Read "Once More to the Lake"
***Study Rhetorical Devices

College Admissions Essay Example

Happy Monday!

Ms. Johnson

The Beast Test Prep

The links below cover everything on "The Beast" which takes place this Monday. It really is a game of memorizing all the terms, various poetic forms (sonnets, haikus, terza rima, etc), to the period in which a work was written.


Poetic Forms

Poetic Periods

Poetry Terminology


For tea party:

• Boys bring beverages
• Girls bring cookies/pastries/crumpets (or should Ms. Johnson reverse that?)

Suggestions please! 

Have a great weekend! Study hard; play later:)

Ms. Johnson

Victorian Readings

Click below for Victorian/Modern Readings Link:

Readings Link

Poetry Party Tuesday! 

***Glossary due Monday with "The Beast"

**Original Poem and Analysis paragraph due Tuesday

We are winding down to the of poetry:(

Ms. Johnson

10/21/2013

Monday Homework:

Please take notes on the Power Point link below:
Victorian to Modern Period PP

Ms. Johnson

Cool William Blake article; check it out! (Addresses how Blakean concepts prevail today)

http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v3_2/whitson/

A quote from the article: "Blakean text denies the idealist foundations upon which most literary criticism depends, and comes to rest, instead, in the realm of global capitalism and its celebrity fantasies."

10/18/2013

Today in class,

We finished the in-class poetry essay. If you haven't started it yet, or need to finish, please see me ASAP to set up a time to do so.

• Identify your favorite Romantic Era poem from the reading
• Work on second half of Poetry Glossary
• Work on "Original Poem" and analysis

Ms. Johnson

P.S. See older post for Romanticism reading assignment if you are confused.

Have a restful weekend!

10/17/2013

Homework:

Assignments to be working on:

• Second half of "Poetry Glossary"
• Study for "The Beast"
• Write Original Poem and Analysis--which is a paragraph explaining why you wrote the poem and how the devices you selected connect to the overall theme of your poem.
• Prepare for Poetry Party: Tea? Crumpets? May invite parents...

Ms. Johnson

10/17/2013

Here is the Romanticism Power Point link in case you haven't been here each day (three not full class days now) to get all of the notes: Romanticism PP


Also, things you could be working on:

• Second half of Poetry Glossary to prepare for "The Beast"
• Original Poem and analysis (analysis=thorough paragraph explaining what the poem means to you personally and how the devices you employed connect to the meaning of your poem).

FYI: Tomorrow, you will be given a writing prompt and a poem to write a five paragraph analysis paper on....

Mrs. Johnson

Romanticism Readings

I will lecture on Romanticism Tuesday, but you can start reading the poems in your anthology over the weekend. Additionally, work on your original poem this weekend. You need to include a paragraph analysis of your poem where you objectively and analytically examine three literary devices and their connection to meaning in your poem. Language such as "the writer used personification to glorify the meaning of autumn in the poem" is appropriate. No first person "I used this device" etc.

Romanticism Readings/may or may not be in both texts, you can then read them online:

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: “Nature and Art”

William Blake Poems:

v  “The Clod & the Pebble

v  “The Lamb”

v  “The Tyger”

v  “The Garden of Love”

Robert Burns: “A Red, Red Rose”

William Wordsworth: “The world is too much with us”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge: “Kubla Khan”

George Gordon, Lord Byron: “She Walks in Beauty”

Percy Bysshe Shelley: “Ode to the West Wind”

John Keats:

v  “When I have fears”

v  “Ode to a Nightingale”

Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Concord Hymn”

Edgar Allan Poe: “To Helen”

Alfred Lord Tennyson:

v  “Ulysses”

v  “from In Memoriam A.H.H.”

Enjoy your extended weekend!

Johnson

10/08/2013

Neoclassical Period here is the Power Point! I guess the link doesn't work on the other page, so here ya go!

Johnson

P.S. Prospectus 4-6 due Thursday--this time you are including body paragraphs not intros!

10/07/2013

Weekly Checklist:

• By Wednesday, come to class with a completed set of  Neoclassical Lecture Notes. You will find this Power Point under my "Power Point by Lecture" at the top of the tab bar. Go down and find the "Neoclassical Period" Power Point link. 
• By Wednesday, come to class having read all the assigned Neoclassical poems.
• By Thursday, turn in Prospectus 4-6.
• Over the weekend, read the assigned Romanticism poems.

Mrs. Johnson

10/01/2013

Click on the link below to get your Renaissance Readings schedule.
Also, today in class I lectured on the Renaissance Time Period. You can find that lecture under the tab called  "Power Points by Lecture" on my webpage and take notes on it. You'll need to know the concepts for THE BEAST EXAM.


Homework:

Renaissance Readings Schedule

Revise Poetry Essay for Friday due date

Have a good one!

Ms. J

09/27/2013

Rough Draft Due Monday

Out of Class Essay Assignment:

Choose any poem from the anthology that you want and write a five paragraph paper analyzing how three literary devices contribute to the overall meaning of the poem. Choose a strong argument as the central meaning of your chosen work and then three literary devices that you feel comfortable thus far in discussing. Work on condensing your argument down to as few of words as possible and being mindful about how it sounds. Read it out loud to hear how it sounds, read it to others to make sure that what you truly wish to convey comes across.

Here are some outstanding thesis statements from Sprague students over the years:

Sarah James: Auden utilizes structure, descriptive diction, and figurative language to support his view on human apathy and its development while witnessing individual suffering as illustrated in Brueghel’s Icarus.

Aimme Gregg: W.H. Auden’s “Musee des Beaux Arts” illustrates isolation of human emotion to only those directly affected, but conversely provides an exception as he comments on an artist’s deeper understanding of humanity through biblical allusion, structure, and descriptive diction.

Brad Dillingham: Auden uses techniques such as allusion, imagery, and a loose structure in his poem “Musee des Beaux Arts” to bring attention to Icarus’ abandonment in the painting.

Transitions: Make sure to transition from one POA point to the next.

Topic Sentences should connect to argument

Conclusion: Should state why it matters

09/23/2013

HW: pages 472-477 in Red Book or see Black Calendar page from an earlier post

09/20/2013

Homework:

Prospectus 1-3 Due Monday:

Your Prospectus 1-3 should include:

• Three T-Charts and Three Intros for Three different poems

Have a wonderful and safe weekend,

Ms. Johnson

09/19/2013

Work on Prospectus 1-3


Mrs. Johnson

09/18/2013

Writing about Meter paragraph if helpful

Homework: Find a song that is symbolic or allegorical and bring it to class tomorrow.
Analyze the song first and make notes to show how it's either allegorical or symbolic


Mrs. Johnson

09/13/2013

On this cryptic Friday the 13th, remember to do the following over the weekend:

1. Prospectus #1: Create a  Device and Effect T-Chart for one poem. Your T-Chart should include three poetic devices and contain 2-3 examples per device and an introductory paragraph to a hypothetical paper. Remember to include a thesis statement and three POAs at the end of your introduction. If you are unsure what a POA is, see McElliott's Manifesto.

2. See AP Poetry Calendar for Syntax reading.

Adios,

Mrs. Johnson

09/08/2013

Meet the Class

 

 

 

Can I really define myself before I've lived the span of my existence?
I am a believer in equality and freedom.

I am a confused teenager trying to make sense of the world.

I would rather put someone's happiness and well-being before my own.

I am exceedingly empathetic.

My brother and my mom are my best friends, my confidantes, and my family.

All my stress and anxiety go away in the pool.

My biggest obsession is classical music.

The vibrations of the string rushes through my body and into my heart.

I stand together and apart from different aspects of humanity.

Sometimes I am torn between the enchantment of the dark and the pure goodness I see in the light.

I am the flower upon the wall watching and observing the world around me.

I neither follow nor lead but rather make my own path in life.

I am more complex, an undeniably existential scholar who explores the HDR (Heavy, Deep, and Real).

Who is but a form following the function of what, and what I am is a man in a mask.

I am an individual.

Horses occupy much of my thoughts and time.

I rescued young and old neglected horses, which is not something a "typical teenager" would do.

For inside my head is an abundance of assorted thoughts that roam around searching for answers.

If I were to describe myself as an animal, I would definitely go with a little crab who lives in a shell.

I am a sweet hard candy with a gooey center.

I am a girl who loves to be active and a girl who loves her family more than anything.

My mind is my company.

The declaration of divinity is a recognition of the power of self to control my reality through optimism and hard work.

I'm not just a sub-standard kid but indeed a charismatic legend with many weapons in my complex intellectual arsenal.

Reject the cultural norms which plague our society.

I am a motivated (somewhat) slacker. While this is an oxymoron, I feel it describes myself nicely.

The future scares me, the past is out of my control, the present is here and so am I.

I realize that it is often what I focus on and care about the most that makes me the way I am.

What I do know is that the times I grow as a person and gain a couple inches towards an answer are the times when I delve exceedingly past my comfort zone.

The world should be a peaceful place for growth and a place for love.

The country will know of my thoughts.

I see myself as someone who keeps getting back up knowing something horrible might happen next but doesn't let it stop him.

Who I turn out to be is up in the air. I figure that I'll be up there for quite awhile.

I believe that I have almost infinite possibilities.

I like to think that, when I'm done and I finally get tired, the struggle will have been worth it.

To define is to limit.

 

 

 

 





09/06/2013

Welcome 2014 AP Seniors!

I am very excited about working with you this year; after reading your intro paragraphs, it's clear to me that we have a very dynamic, fun, and intelligent group this year, and I feel honored and privileged to work with you.
Red Book Students refer to the Reading Calendar for the reading homework this weekend.
Black book students may refer to the revised schedule below as your pages differ from the Red Book.

 Black Book Reading Calendar:

9/6: pages 461-474

9/11: 488-496

9/13: 516-523

9/16: 531-542

9/23: 523-531

9/24: 558-560 (when in groups)

       542-551 as homework

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Mrs. Johnson

LAST POST:(

THE AP "BOOK OF LOVE" booklets are in--come get them!
Best wishes as you prepare for graduation. I will see you there! I will miss you in the morning. It will be very odd without you . . .    :(

***Make positive changes in the world, specifically to education:)


Mrs. Johnson

05/30/2013

We have to finish the Satire Projects tomorrow, so if you are not able to go or absent tomorrow, then you will have to present to me on your own time--if you want a grade that is:)

SPEAKING OF GRADES, THE AP CLASS BOOK IS A PARTICIPATION GRADE AND ALSO SOMETHING NICE TO REFLECT BACK ON WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND YOUR MEMORIES ARE SHOT:), SO GET THAT INFORMATION IN TO COLLYN NO LATER THAN TONIGHT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT GET THAT IN WHEN YOU'RE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR READING HOMEWORK DURING PRESENTATION TIME. AM I RIGHT? 

WEEKEND HOMEWORK: YOU GUESSED IT--FINISH THE NOVEL!

JOHNSON

05/24/2013

Read up through chapter ten of TFA.

See you Tuesday; happy long weekend!


Mrs. J

05/22/2013

Homework:

• Read chapter one and complete a character list for Things Fall Apart. 
• Write a half page response to the prompt below. 

Journal #1:

Journal Prompt:

If you were an author, considering your current life, societal surroundings, environment, what struggles would you write about today?

Today in Class . . .

We discussed the novel . . .

Read up to chapter 80 for tomorrow,

ciao,

Johnson

HW: IF ABSENT TODAY... Finish the Kurt Vonnegut Youtube special: "And so it goes..." finish notes, turn in.

Read through chapter 49.

Johnson

Review Session Power Points

Here are two good terminology Power Points and one template for reviewing Works and Time Periods that are good.

Poetry

Literary Devices

Reviewing Works and Time Periods

Johnson

Good afternoon:

Please check the "Power Points from Lecture" tab to find the Rhetorical Devices information. It's listed as A to Z Rhetorical Devices. Review those terms, create, or review already created flashcards.

Review Poetry terms again.

Review Drama Devices as well.

Also make sure you know the difference between:

• Direct and Indirect Characterization

***I will have a practice AP Language Test for you to take just to review those terms.

***Also I will have another AP Lit one to go over.

***Plan to do test prep every day after school or create your own study group.

Have a great weekend; study hard!

Johnson

04/16/2013

Finish chapter two of Portrait and journal.
***Write five questions for Dr. Yehnert and star your top three.
***Think of something to bring to class Thuirsday to help out--maybe half the class contributes this Thursday and half next? Girls do it this Thursday, boys next? Thoughts?

Johnson

Write 5 meaningful questions about the AP essay prompts for Dr. Yehnert Thursday.
Read pages 70-95 in Portrait and follow your journal.

Johnson

04/11/2013

***Purchase Journal if you haven't already
We will finish research presentations tomorrow.
We will begin discussing pages 1-38 tomorrow--so you don't need to read all of it but at least the first 15 pages or so. Begin writing in your journal.

Happy almost Friday,

Johnson

04/08/2013

Today in Class:

• Took the final WH Quiz
• Began discussing the entire novel

***Purchase The Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man by James Joyce and be ready to discuss by Wednesday.

Mrs. Johnson 

04/03/2013

Today in Class:

I handed out the WH reading schedule: Click Here
You will be writing three AP Practice Exam essays over the course of the next three days, including today.
See me if you're going to be absent, and I will give you instructions on how to make those up.


Johnson

03/21/2013

***Over Break*** Read up through chapter twenty of Wuthering Heights
If you want to, you can begin your research papers. I handed out that assignment today.
We continued the AP 2012 Practice Exam today. We will finish it tomorrow and discuss answers.

See you tomorrow,

Johnson

03/11/2013

Today in class:

• We started the Drama Test; students will finish their exams tomorrow; please bring your Wuthering Heights book to read after you have finished the test and enjoy the one and only time (maybe) that you get the luxury of silent reading time in class.
• By Wednesday, you should be read through chapter 6 and ready to begin chapter 7. Additionally, I should be able to ask you at any given time to produce your character lists, and you should have a nice developed working one by this point.
• Also, everyone should have their Wuthering Heights novels with them every day now. This way, you can refer to your novel during discussions and take margin notes etc.

See you tomorrow!

Johnson

P.S. I may not have my book; it has gone missing, so I might have to do all my reading online:(

Today in Class:

Reviewed for Drama Test

What to know . . .

• Know all authors of the works: Oedipus, Hamlet, Tartuffe, A Doll's House, Death of a Salesman
• Key Significant Quotes: If you know the character's personalities really well, then you often can determine who stated each quote.
• Greek Drama Origins
• Oedipus background story
• Era of Hamlet (when Shakespeare wrote it since the history itself is confusing due to Shakespeare borrowing from multiple sources).
• Tartuffe background information
• Know the foil characters
• How does the deus ex machine structure apply to Tartuffe?
• A Doll's House background info
• Symbolism in the play
• A Death of a Salesman background information
• Willy as the tragic hero
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
• How is the play characteristic of the tragicomedy and absurdist literature?

Still have read chapters 3-6 of Wuthering Heights

03/08/2013

Works Covered on Drama Test:

• Oedipus the King
• Hamlet
• Tartuffe
• A Doll's House
• Death of a Salesman
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Know:

•  The major plot events for each of the plays
• Key quotes from key characters
• Know the Greek drama devices: characteristics of the tragic hero
• Authors of each of the works
• Aristotle concepts
• Sequence of events for each play

Test Tuesday
Homework: Read chapters 3-6 of Wuthering Heights

03/06/2013

Purchase Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and have it here tomorrow, so you can read it by tomorrow night.
Pick an "ism," and research it for tomorrow:

• Feminism and Wuthering Heights
• Psychoanalytical Criticism and Wuthering Heights
• Marxism and Wuthering Heights
• Existentialism and Wuthering Heights 

Homework

Finish A Raisin in The Sun
*Today we discussed themes present in the play; we will continue discussion on that tomorrow.
Drama Test will be Friday.

JJ

Homework

Finish R and G
Today in Class:

• Students completed a "Quote Activity."
• To make this assignment up, see me.

Mrs. Johnson

02/26/2013

Today in class:

• We wrote an open-ended essay on "Social Change"; this needs to be completed by Friday.
• Dolls House Quiz must be taken today.
• Death of a Salesman Quiz by March 1st.

Homework: Read Act I of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. See the library or McElliott for copies of the text.

See you tomorrow!

MJ 

02/25/2013

Doll's House Quiz must be made up TOMORROW OR IT BECOMES A ZERO!!!
Death of a Salesman quiz must be made up by this Friday.

Homework: 
Read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Act I by Wednesday.
***See McElliott or library to see if there are copies available.

MJ

HW 2/22/13

Finish the play "Death of a Salesman"- Buy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - by Tom Stoppard (by Monday)

AP Exam Study Guide

Final Exam Study Guide


Have Hamlet read by Tuesday.
Finish Act II by tomorrow.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Johnson