HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE
Aptos High School Core Values:
Aptos High School Expected School-Wide Learning Results:
The Rules are basic:
To Earn the Best Possible Grade:
Note: Misbehavior and disruption indicate lack of academic focus and engagement and contribute to a student earning a low grade. Contribute positively to class discussions and academic environment. Don’t disrupt. There are consequences for misbehavior and lack of work ethic. See student handbook. “There is no free lunch.”
My expectation is that problems will be few and you will find the course challenging and rewarding.
Each weekday evening students are require to write a one-page typed response to The Writer’s Almanac as well as one or more of the following sections of the Internet site, Refdesk.com. Thought of the Day, This Day in History, In the News, Article of the Day, Today’s Birthday, Today’s Pictures, and Word of the Day. The one-page response is due the next day in class.
Book Review Form
Knowledge:
1.
List the
characters and describe them.
2.
What problems does
one of the characters have, and how does he or she solve it?
Comprehension:
3.
What was the
problem in the book, and how was it solved?
4.
Which characters did
you admire or disdain and why?
5.
How did the major
character feel during the story?
6.
What did the title
have to do with the book?
7.
Find and list six
opinions from the book.
8.
What was the
significance of the setting/landscape/environment?
Application:
9.
Did the book give
you any new ideas about yourself? Why?
10.
What would the main character be likely to do
if he/she visited the classroom?
11.
If you were in a problem situation like the
one in the book, how would you have acted?
Be sure to tell what the situation is.
Provide relevant context and background information.
12.
What lesson did you learn from the story?
13.
Tell about a time something similar in the
story happened to you or to someone you know.
14.
Write a letter to a friend recommending the
book.
Analysis:
15.
If your story
happened in a foreign land, compare that land with the United States.
16.
If your story occurred a long time ago,
compare that time with today in a well-developed paragraph. If it was a modern story, compare it with a
long time ago and explain what would be different.
17.
Pick one of the
main characters. Think of a shape that
fits that person’s traits. Draw the
shape. Then describe the character
inside the shape.
18.
Decide what parts of the book include the 5
W’s (who, what, where, when and why) and the H (how). Then write a good paragraph for a newspaper article including
these facts.
19.
Tell five ways that the main character is
like you.
20.
Find one word that describes a character in
your book very well. Give five reasons
for your choice of words.
21.
In a well-developed, concise, and clear
paragraph state the main idea of your book.
Synthesis:
22.
Write a poem that
captures the essence of the novel or reflects your emotional and/or
intellectual reaction to the theme.
23.
Make an eight-section comic strip with
captions showing the main events of the story.
24.
Write a radio announcement or brief
television segment to advertise the book.
25.
Prepare a book jacket that reflects the theme
or focus of the novel.
26.
Design costumes for the characters.
27.
The climax or most
novels is especially exciting or interesting.
Explain what you think is the climax of your book.
28.
Choose an interesting character from your
book. Think of what the character
likes, dislikes, or values. Discuss
what gift you might give the character.
Also design a greeting card to go along with the gift in which you
explain why you gave the gift.
29.
Identify one problem and resolution in the
novel. Provide an alternate resolution
or solution to the problem.
Evaluation:
30.
If you could only
save one character from the book in the event of a disaster, who would it be
and why?
31.
Did you like the way story ended? Why or why not?
32.
Which character in the novel would you select
as a friend and why?
33.
What did you think was the most exciting part
of the book? Why?
34. If the novel received an award, why do think
the judges decided the novel was
exceptional and worthy of recognition?
Commentary Analysis
Carefully read and think about the assigned commentary. Write a two-page response to the issues discussed. Type and double-space response. 12 point. Times. Carefully proof read and revise essay.
The essay should consider the following:
1. Author’s thesis or focus.
2. Author’s supportive evidence. Is it credible and sufficient?
3. Author’s use of anecdotes, quotes, and examples. Are they relevant and supportive of author’s thesis?
4. Is the author’s argument fair and balanced even though the author favors a particular viewpoint?
5. Does the author discuss or at least allude to opposing viewpoints?
6. Is the author’s writing style accessible, clear, concise and engaging?
7. Discuss your opinion or perspective on the issue?
8. What would be the impact if your or society adopted the author’s recommendations?
9. Discuss at least one alternative to the author’s suggestions or recommendations.
10. Discuss how the author
encouraged you to reassess your ideas and thoughts about the issue discussed.
100. Ben- Hur
Individual
Novel: Book Review Due: December 5/6‑Wednesday and Thursday
Movie:
Movie Review Due: November 7/8‑Wednesday and Thursday
Journals:
30 pages for the quarter by December 19/20‑Wednesday and Thursday.
Read, React, and Respond: Three per week.
Summer Reading Essay
Read, React, Respond 1
Saving My Cat
Read, React, Respond 2
Pet Essay
Kellior
Read, React, Respond 3
Chicago poem
The Great Gatsby
Read, React, Respond 4
“Why We Buy” Essay
Summer/School Year Essay
Read, React, Respond 5, 6, 7
The Great Gatsby
Period Three:
1. Lucinda Matlock
2. The Great Gatsby
3. Richard Cory
4. Miniver Cheevy
5. Art vs. Life
6. We Wear the Mask
7.Devil in Every Fan
8.Legacy of Little Rock
9. Sympathy
10. Winter Dreams
Period Five:
Period Six:
Period 3:
Period 5:
1. Killing the consumer Essay
2. Space brains
3. Ambush
4. You Are Not My Friend-My Space Essay
5. Qualifiers-Libertarian Essay
6. Camouflaging the Chimera
7. Deciding
8. Life Choice Essay
9. Afghanistan
10. Bees
Period 6:
1. Killing the consumer Essay
2. The Great Gatsby
3. Space Brains
4. Ambush
5. You are not my friend- My Space Essay
6. Qualifiers –Libertarian Essay
7. Camouflaging the Chimera
8. Deciding
9. Michael Clayton/Into the wild
10. Life choices Essay
Period Six:
Period Five:
Period Three:
Period Three: Friday, Due February 1, 2008
Period Five: Due: Friday, February 1, 2008
Period Six: Due: Friday, February 1, 2008
Movie Review: February 20/21 Wednesday/Thursday – 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 19, 25
Book Review: March 5/6 Wednesday/Thursday- 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 21, 27, 29, 31
Journal: March 12/13 Wednesday/Thursday
Period Three:
Period Five:
Period Six:
Period 3:
Period 5:
Period 6:
Period Three:
Period Five:
Period Six:
Period Three:
Period Five:
1.Making a Proposal Essay 3-4 pages
2. A Writer in the Family –questions and responses
Period Six:
Movie Review: April 28, 2008 – Questions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 19, 25
Book Review: May 21/22 Wednesday/Thursday- 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 21, 27, 29, and 31
Journal: May 28/29 Wednesday/Thursday
Writing A Proposal Essay for California Authors, due Friday, May 2.
Expressing An Opinion Essay for California Authors, due Friday, May 9, 2008.
In a 3-4 page essay, state an opinion of your own.
Suggestions:
Where you can, use your own experience for details you need.
“Who Will Tell the People” Assignment for May 14/15 2008:
1.
1.
Read the article "Who Will Tell the People?" (http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20080505monday.html),
focusing on the following questions:
a. What does the columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, mean when he says that, “people
want to do nation-building ... in America”?
b. How does it make you feel to hear someone say that “we're just not that
strong anymore” as a nation? What support does he offer for this statement?
c. What do you think Mr. Friedman means when he connects President Bush's
post-9/11 exhortation that Americans keep shopping for consumer goods with the
president having to go “shopping the world for discount gasoline”?
d. What do you make of Mr. Friedman's take on how American values have changed
over time? Do you agree? Why or why not?
e. Are you surprised by Mr. Friedman's description of the New York airport and
the airport in Singapore? Why or why not?
f. Why are Singapore's investments in infrastructure and scientific research
important for Americans to notice?
g. Do you agree with Mr. Friedman about what we need in a president? Why or why
not?
h. Do you think that, “the notion that the idealism [as espoused by Barack
Obama] has inspired in so many young people doesn't matter”? Why or why not?
i. What do you think America needs to do to be considered a thriving nation?
2. 2. Consider the phrases: “America was..., America is..., America can be...” Complete these three phrases from their own points of view, drawing on what you read in Friedman’s column. Write at least three sentences for each phrase. Keep in mind different aspects of life in America while writing your phrases. Think about all of the different parts of American life: health, education, employment/livelihood, civil and other rights, activism, the military, economics, international relations, personal stories, the American dream, poverty and wealth, government and politics, science and technology, the arts, literature, entertainment, and anything else that you would like to include.
3.Briefly state Friedman’s thesis in three or more sentences.