English 11: Get that first novel read . . .

You have four days off. What an opportunity to finish reading the first novel of April! Aim high. What would it take to read three novels this month? How will that much reading affect your English skills? Improved vocabulary, relaxation time, exercise for the imagination, exercise for the brain, exposure to new ideas, testing your philosophy against the author's views, learning sentence structure, dialogue, how to write etc . . .

Use it or lose it.

Happy Easter.

Lit 12: Finish your novels by Tuesday . . . .

Could be a surprise test prior to your bookclub meeting.

Today: John Milton's sonnet "On His Blindness" and an introduction to the impact of the King James Bible and read Genesis passage in the text.

Happy Easter!

AP Lit: Finish reading your novel by Tuesday . . .

Wed. after school write: Essay on novel 2. Choose another question from your list. I will give you some time on Tuesday to prepare the question. I will also return this week's essay on Tuesday.

Today: We read scenes 3, 4, and 5 and finished Act 1. Be sure to read the scenes carefully, noting changes in diction and character foils. Borrow notes from someone who takes careful notes. If you have questions about the act, do let me know.

Soliloquy 2 Presentation: Tuesday. April 2. 

Soliloquy 3 Presentation: probably Thursday or Friday Be prepared.
Soliloquy 4 Presentation: Friday, possibly Monday Be prepared. 
Soliloquy 5 Presentation: Monday or Tuesday (April 8, 9)
Soliloquy 6 Presentation: Tuesday (April 9)
Soliloquy 7 Presentation: Wed. or Thursday

AP Lit: Finish reading Act 1, Scene 2

If you were absent today, be sure to do a close reading of Scene 2, and pay particular attention to Hamlet's first soliloquy. We filled the boards several times with notes today so borrow the notes from a friend and copy them.
We had the Wed. after school session today to write the essay on your Feb. novel. Make arrangements for a time to write the essay.

Homework: Finish reading the end of scene two. Pay particular attention to how Hamlet is received by his friend, Horatio, and by the guards, who represent the common people. Take notes on several new observations regarding Hamlet's character. What facts does Horatio corroborate? Why is corroboration key to our understanding of the state of Hamlet's grief and embarrassment?

Lit 12: Donne and Herrick and Milton

We finished Death, be not proud today and I introduced carpe diem tradition in poetry and we took notes on the poet, Robert Herrick, and read, "To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time". A long discussion ensued about commitment, love, marriage and / or bachelorhood. We started to introduce John Milton but we ran out of time. Tomorrow, Stephanie will present the Restoration, and we'll do a sonnet by Milton.

Tuesday: Arrive with your novels read and have three passages chosen ready to discuss with your book club group.

English 11: Peer Editing

Today, we added works 35 and 36 to our list, had a test on words 22 to 36 and practiced our parts of speech. We also did reading speed tests so make sure that you can read at least 1 page per minute and that you are achieving your reading goals: 15 pages per day C+
30 pages per day B
45 pages per day A

Tonight: You must study! The test is hard. It is your first grade 11 English test. Use your vocabulary words throughout the test. Use what you have learned, plus all of the experience you gained in English 9 and 10.

Lit 12: John Donne

If you were absent yesterday, be sure to take notes on John Donne. Read the two poems on the core list written by Donne and get the notes from a partner.