Final deadlines and assignments!

There are two deadlines this week:

Death of a Salesman essay is due tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13th. Details are below.

If you are going on internship or have chosen to memorize your poem, your portfolio is due on block day. Details are below.

Note: If you are not going on internship, your portfolio is due on Tuesday, May 27

I am going to ask you to take a course survey on block day. If you are not going to be here, please let me know so I can send you the link to complete.


Death of a Salesman persuasive essay:

In reading and viewing Death of a Salesman, we have contemplated the idea of the American Dream. We have analyzed the choices Willy and his sons make throughout the play.  In your essay, you will articulate your nuanced ideas on any of the following questions: 

This assignment will ask you to use evidence from Death of a Salesman as well as current examples to answer one of the following the questions:

Is the American Dream a set-up?
How does the power of the American Dream influence the pursuit of happiness (or unhappiness)?
In what ways do the expectations of fathers impact Miller's overall message in the play?

You will write a well-organized essay of 750-900 words, using textual evidence from Death of a Salesman and one current example. We'll use the GHS writing rubric as our guide.

You can use the online version of the play for textual evidence:
Death of a Salesman online text


Final portfolio information: If you are leaving on an internship, your portfolio is due on block day, May 14th or 15th. If you do not have your portfolio completed, you may be ineligible for internship.

Here are the details of the portfolio assignment, along with the rubric: Portfolio instructions

Homework for week of 5/5

Independent reading: Check on Monday, 5/5.

Death of a Salesman persuasive essay:

In reading and viewing Death of a Salesman, we have contemplated the idea of the American Dream. We have analyzed the choices Willy and his sons make throughout the play.  In your essay, you will articulate your nuanced ideas on any of the following questions: 

This assignment will ask you to use evidence from Death of a Salesman as well as current examples to answer one of the following the questions:

Is the American Dream a set-up?
How does the power of the American Dream influence the pursuit of happiness (or unhappiness)?
In what ways do the expectations of fathers impact Miller's overall message in the play?

You will write a well-organized essay of 750-900 words, using textual evidence from Death of a Salesman and one current example. We'll use the GHS writing rubric as our guide.

You can use the online version of the play for textual evidence:
Death of a Salesman online text

Friday: Write 500 words for Monday
This essay will be due on Tuesday, May 13th.

Final portfolio information: If you are leaving on an internship, your portfolio is due on block day, May 14th or 15th. If you do not have your portfolio completed, you may be ineligible for internship.

Here are the details of the portfolio assignment, along with the rubric: Portfolio instructions

Death of a Salesman journals

Journal #1:
Choose one of the following statements discussed in class about which you feel most strongly. Then, explain your opinion and reasoning as to why you have formed this belief. Give examples to support your thinking. 
 
It's important to be popular to succeed in life.
If you work hard, you will be able to succeed in your career.
The American Dream is attainable for most Americans.
There is more pressure on men to make money in society.
I feel pressure to succeed financially.
Parents should always tell the truth.
If you think someone is suicidal, the best course of action is to confront the person.

Journal #2:
Part of Willy Loman's issues revolve around his nostalgia for the past and the "golden years" of his teenage son Biff. Do you believe that high school years are the "best years of your life"? Why or why not? Why do you think people say that so often? In your opinion, what do you believe your "best" years will be? Why?

Homework for week of April 28th

All week: Continue to read your independent novel. You should be reading two hours outside of class. I'll check this on Monday, May 5.
Monday: Complete journal #1 for Death of a Salesman
block day: Complete journal #2 for Death of a Salesman

Note: I'll plan to check journals #1 and #2 on Friday.

Homework for week of 4/14

Independent Reading:
This week, I am going to check-in with you on your reading on Friday, so plan on reading 30 minutes a day. Also, as we wrap up our poetry journals, I am going to ask you to write one of the fixed form poems for journal #6. I'll collect your journals on Friday.


Fixed form poetry rules:

Here are the rules for a villanelle:
Rules for a villanelle

Here is an example of a villanelle:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377

Here are the rules for a sestina:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue197/sestina.html

Here is an example of a sestina:
http://faculty.washington.edu/rmcnamar/383/bishop.html

Here are the rules for a Shakespearean sonnet:
http://www.sonnetwriters.com/how-to-write-a-sonnet/

Here is a famous example:
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/18.html

Homework for week of 4/7

Monday: Finish third quarter reflection you began in class. If you were absent, the questions were sent to you on Google. Continue to read. I'll conference with everyone at least once in the next two weeks.
Tuesday: Finish journal #3. Review poetry terms: 12 Advanced Literary Terms  Quiz on Monday.
Here is a quizlet with terms: http://quizlet.com/40485745/flashcards
Read!
Block day: Read. Study for poetry quiz on Monday.
Friday: Read independent novel. Study for poetry quiz on Monday.

Independent Reading and Poetry journals

Journal #1:

Consider the questions the author is asking in the independent book you are reading and what you think about those questions. Most of these big questions are at the center of the character's struggle and journey and when we step back, we often understand more. Don't spend too much time on summary. 1-2 sentences at the beginning will suffice.

Note: I have sent an exemplar for this question to each student in Google docs. 

Journal #2:
Brainstorm at least five ideas about potential topics. They could be anything, but think about a variety of things which you feel strongly about. These could be likes, dislikes, passions, loves, heartbreaks.

Based on the poem "Remember How We Forgot?" consider the following questions:

What have you forgotten about the person you used to be?  What memories show that person? What do you wish we as a society would remember more? What do we seem to have forgotten? 

You can take one of these questions or weave in all three. Try to use at least some specific detail or language every three lines. 

Journal #3:
For these journals, I want you to draft a poem. If you have an idea from journal #2 you want to try out, go for it. Below is a suggested prompt. 
Write a poem to an old flame. To make sure it doesn't get sappy, use one of the following words: dung beetle, politician, nuclear, exoskeleton, oceanography, pompador, toilet.

If you would like to add some poetic moves, try to write this poem in couplets.  

Journal #4: 
Turn on the radio (or your ipod) to any channel. Write a poem inspired by the first thing you hear (lyrics to a song, commercial, etc.) 

Journal #5:
Look at the poem you constructed and compare it to the original (either "Faith" or "Hanging Fire"). Then write an analytical paragraph in which you compare your choices with the poet. Here are some questions to consider:
What was your poem title? Why did you choose it? How does it compare to the original? Why might the poet have chosen this title?
How do your line and stanza breaks compare with the original poem? Talk about some of your decisions and compare it to the original poem. Be specific.
How do the endings compare? Which poem is more effective? Why? 

Journal #6 
Write a sonnet, villanelle or sestina. See rules on blog for 4/14 post.