Pre-AP Classes: Reading Assignments

Pre-AP English II: You should read through the break at the bottom of page 92 of Fahrenheit 451.

English I (Pre-AP): You should read through Chapter 9 of Ender's Game.

Pre-AP English II: Fahrenheit 451 Audio Files

Bring a USB drive to class tomorrow and I'll load an audio recording of Fahrenheit 451 to assist you with the reading of the novel.

All Students: Bobby, NOT Bob

Over the past few days I've heard several students say that Bob Marley recorded the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Y'all make me want to cry. "Marley was," as the saying goes, "dead [these seven years] to begin with." Bob Marley died in 1981, and Bobby McFerrin recorded "Don't Worry, Be Happy" in 1988. I know. I was there (not where Marley died or McFerrin recorded, but I was there in '81 and '88).

Here's the McFerrin video, courtesy MTV (which used to actually show videos -- for reals!): Don't Worry, Be Happy.

And here's a link to a YouTube video of Bob Marley singing, live in Santa Barbara: Concrete Jungle.

See the difference?

If I have taught you nothing else all year, I have failed miserably. Still, hopefully I will have saved you from future embarrassment when the song appears as the subject on Final Jeapordy. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

English I (Pre-AP): Romeo & Juliet Endings

Watch the two endings of Romeo & Juliet in the video below (disregard the comments and questions that crop up from time to time). Make notes on the presentation of the 1968 version on the left-hand side of your page; make notes on the 1996 version on the right. At the bottom of your page discuss which you prefer and why. Due: 4/23

If you watched the videos in class, we left off at about 21:00 (21 minutes in) on this video.

English I (Pre-AP): Romeo & Juliet Reading Assignment (4/18)

Be sure to read the following prior to class:

• Act 4, Scene 5


• Act 5, Scenes 1-3

Links take you to "No Fear Shakespeare" online; be sure to read the Shakespeare side.

Pre-AP English II: Caesar Reading Assignment (4/18)

For class tomorrow, read the following passages from Julius Caesar:

• 3.1.31-91


• 3.1.157-290

Links take you to "No Fear Shakespeare" online; be sure to read the Shakespeare side.

English I (Pre-AP): Reading Assignment (4/17)

Be sure to read the following prior to class:

• Act 3, Scene 3


• Act 3, Scene 5

Links take you to "No Fear Shakespeare" online; be sure to read the Shakespeare side.

Pre-AP English II: Caesar Reading Assignment (4/17)

For class tomorrow, read the following passages from Julius Caesar:

• 1.2.45-end


• 2.1.78-219


• 2.1.242-318

Links take you to "No Fear Shakespeare" online; be sure to read the Shakespeare side.

Pre-AP English II: Reading Assignment: Julius Caesar 1.2

Please be sure to have read Julius Caesar 1.2 prior to coming to class tomorrow.

Here's the "No Fear Shakespeare" paraphrase, but be sure to read the actual Shakespeare version.

English II (on-level): Julius Caesar 3 Speeches and Memorization Tips

To hear the speeches, select the links below:

Cassius: Two Stories

Brutus: The Serpent's Egg

Antony: Funeral Oration

(To download for MP3-player use: right click link, choose "save link/target as".)



MEMORIZATION TIPS

1. Use flash cards. Divide the speech into logical sections. Put the beginnings of sections on one side and the remainder of the lines on the other.


2. Draw a series of pictures that represent your speech or your lines. Remember picture stories from preschool? Be very creative and think of a picture story to go along with your lines. After you've created your picture story, go back and say your lines as you look at the pictures.


3. Say your lines in front of a mirror and move your face or your arms a special way to emphasize specific words or passages.


4. Write out your lines. The act of writing the words provides very strong reinforcement.


5. Carry your script or speech with you at all times and read the full text when you get a chance to get a strong emotional "feel" for it.


6. Get to know your character. Understand why you say and do what you do.


7. Act out your lines as you say them, even if this is an unemotional speech. You can exaggerate your words with dramatic gestures. Of course, you may not want to do this during your actual speech, but you will be thinking about it.


8. Record your lines with exaggerated vocal expressions. You may even want to yell your words. Exaggerations leave big imprints in your brain. Carry your recorder with you and listen to it as often as you can.

Audio Files copyright Caedmon Shakespeare, 1996. Academic Fair Use for student analysis. Do not reproduce or distribute these files.

Memorization tips via about.com

Pre-AP English II: Othello Socratic Seminar Preview

Be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Monday, April 9, 2012. Remember to support your answers -- even the World Connection questions -- with evidence from the book.



WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
What would you do if your parents disapproved of your choice of boyfriend/girlfriend? --L.C. (1st)

If someone offered you a drink at a party and you knew it wasn't a good idea, what would you do? --R.M. (6th)

If a friend suspected you were being dishonest/backstabby, what would you do to prove your innocence? --A.S. (7th)


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
Why did Desdemona choose Othello over her father? --J.S. (1st)

What did Montano call Cassio to get him to fight? --T.S. (7th)


OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
In what way(s) does Iago "use" Roderigo? --S.N. (6th)

With whom did Cassio fight when he was drunk? --K.M. (7th)


UNIVERSAL THEME / CORE QUESTIONS
How do you deal with liars or unfaithful friends? --S.P. (1st)

How do you determine whether a friend is honest/trustworthy or not? --M.R. (6th)

How would you get revenge if you found out your boyfriend/girlfriend cheated on you? --L.B. (7th)

How far would you go to get your "dream job"? --E.G. (7th)


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
How does Shakespeare develop the characters of Desdemona and Othello (and possibly Iago and Cassio) by employing the metaphor "Our general's wife is now the general..."? --V.M. (6th)

How does Shakespeare establish contrast between Othello and the rest of the cast and what does that help him gain? --J.L. (7th)

Pre-AP English II: Othello Socratic Seminar Question Types

Submit one (1) of each of the following by Saturday, April 7. I will pick several and post them to the website Sunday evening (4/8). Be prepared to discuss them in class on Monday, April 9th. Questions may come from any section of Anthem. Include answers with text support for each question.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
Write two questions connecting the text to the real world.

Example: What would you do if your best friend “stole” your boy/girlfriend?


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
Write two questions about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a “correct” answer.

Example: Who did Othello and the Venetians travel to Cyprus to fight?


OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Write two insightful questions about the text that will require proof and group discussion and “construction of logic” to discover or explore the answer to the question.

Example: How did Iago and Rodrigo screw things up for Othello with Brabantio?


UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTIONS
Write two questions dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.

Example: How do you cope with jealousy? (or as RM-6th put it, How do you defeat the green-eyed monster?)

LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Write two questions dealing with HOW an author chose to compose a literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, poetic form, archetypal hero patterns, for example?

Example: What does Shakespeare gain by employing Dramatic Irony when Iago is constantly refered to by others as “honest”?