Midterm Study Guide

Three portions of the test: Essays, Short Answers, Reading Comprehension & Annotation, SAT Sentence errors.

Things you need to know (or have read) to do well on the test:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

People's History of the United States Chapters 1 - 3
All Columbus supplements from the blog and notes taken during Columbus debate
The Scarlet Letter
The Interesting Narrative on the Life of Olaudah Equiano
The Autobiogrpahy of Benjamin Franklin
NPR stories on Haiti and media discussion with Ted Koppel
Active Reading notes & Costal's Keys to Writing

Is that you, Huck?

Provide your opinion as Journal #23...is there a market for this rewrite, or this simply literary blasphemy?

Class Notes & Resources: Week of Jan 3

Info for class on Huck and Haiti stuff.

Tom Sawyer Essay Assignment

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Essay: Your assignment over break was to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. We will have only two planned discussion periods for the novel, Friday of this week and Monday of next week. All of your questions and comments on the novel will be reserved for those days. On Friday you will hand in an essay discussing one of the following essay questions. Each family will choose one of them (two families may share only numbers 3 & 4). Each should make specific reference to the text and may include 3rd party research.


1. What does Tom learn by the end of the novel. Discuss the ways in which he changes as a person and in society. Be sure your answer reflects not only changes in Tom’s personality, but also in his feelings toward St. Petersburg. How does his conversation with Huck in Chapter 35 reflect this? Be sure to cite instances from the conversations in your essay.

 

2. Write a comparison/contrast essay c/cing the characters of Tom and Huck. In your essay, reference specific instances from Chapters 26, 33 & 35 to support your views.

3. Discuss the role of superstition in the novel. How do the superstitions and beliefs in the supernatural shape the residents of St. Petersburg? What types of comments is Twain making about mid-19th Century America.

4. In what ways is Tom Sawyer a satire? How does Twain use irony to accent his story? Use reference to the character Dobbins or other minor characters to support your thesis.

"The Ocean Breathes Salty" Links & Assignment

Here is the video.

Journals #18 & 19 : Analyze the songs and videos, then compare it to the theme of The Life of Pi.  I would conceptualize it first. We will do this in class. All you jazzy singing folk must do on own. Happy Chanukkah!

November 30, 2010: Tis' the Season for In Class (timed) essays

I will be out tomorrow (drat!). Your assignment will be to complete an in-class essay on The Life of Pi. Following this will be a discussion day about the novel. The possible topics for the essay will be posted here. The number of the essay your family is assigned will not be revealed until you get to class tomorrow. You may have the novel and any pertinent notes with you. The essay MUST be turned in at the end of class. This will be preparation for the SAT essay as well as assessment of your reading. Enjoy.

1. This story is basically a story of survival. How are Pi’s survival tactics emotional? How are they physical?


2. Assuming the “other” story Pi tells the Japanese reporters is true, explain the human equivalent of each animal Pi puts on the boat. Why is each animal suitable to its human counterpart. Focus most of the answer on Richard Parker.

3. In my humble opinion, this story is an allegory within an allegory. How is Pi’s belief in Richard Parker the same as his belief in God. How is it different?

While I'm Gone...

Rather than waste your time with a lot of busy work, I am going to allow you to bleed your homework for the weekend into Friday.

By Monday, you must have read The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin found in the text. If you have not read An Interesting Narrative on the Life of Olaudah Equiano, (don't forget Journal #16), then do that as well. You will need knowledge of Ben for Monday. Olaudah is more fodder for our next debates. Otherwise, you may want to make sure your journals are squared away before T-giving (hint, hint)