Choice Unit--Day 11

We began today's class by sharing passages from yesterday in choice book groups. Then, students worked on the second set of response questions for the choice books.

Homework: Finish your choice book; bring outside reading book to class tomorrow (regardless of whether or not you have finished it); quote tracking bookmark due tomorrow; notebook check tomorrow (see previous blog post for list of choice unit notebook pages).

If you were absent today, start a notebook page entitled, "Response Questions #2" and respond to the following about your choice book:

Author
1. Why do you think the author wrote this book?
2. What would you ask the author if he/she were here? Why?

Characters
3. Do some of the characters seem more “alive” and believable than others? Which? Why?
4. How do the characters change in the story? What makes or helps them change?

Plot
5. Were you able to predict the ending? How? Why or why not?
6. Is there a main point or theme to the story? What? How do you know?

Setting
7. Which part of the story best describes the setting? Why? How?
8. How does the author create the atmosphere for the setting? That is, how does the author give the reader a feel for what it is like to be in the setting?

Mood
9. What was your favorite part of the book? Why? What did the author do to make that part of the book so enjoyable?
10. What was your least favorite part of the book? Why? What could be changed to make that part of the book more enjoyable?

Style
11. What special words or lovely language does the author use in the book?
12. What else that makes this author’s perspective or style unique? (think about the use of perspective shifting, framed narrative, etc.)

Choice Unit--Day 10

Today we worked on close analysis of our texts. If you were absent, please complete the following:

Locate 3 passages of the story that your group should reread, discuss, and think about.
Passages should be important things for everyone to notice, remember, or think about.
Choose a variety of passages, not all the same type--here are suggestions:
*surprising/startling
*confusing (something you wonder if other people "got")
*descriptive writing: figurative language, strong verbs, etc. (identify literary devices)
*important (maybe a clue? foreshadowing?)
*controversial event (elicits different opinions from group members)

Create 3 notebook pages (front-back-front) entitled, “Prominent Passage DJs”
Respond to your passages as dialectical journals.
Dialectical Journals:
*Fold page in half vertically (hot dog style)
*Write quote (with page #)on left side
*Respond to quote on right side (response to quote should be top to bottom of right side of page)

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Wednesday: Notebook Check, Bookmark Check, Outside Reading Book IN CLASS!
Choice Unit Notebook Items to be Checked:
5/4 Effects of War, A to Z
5/5 Character Analysis
5/8 Response Questions
5/11 Plot of _______
5/12 4-Square Vocabulary
5/15 Conflict and Setting Analysis
5/18 Prominent Passages
5/19 Response Questions #2 (not yet completed)

Thursday: Novel Final Exam (including vocabulary)

Friday: Choice Novel Presentations
Individual Summary and Project Due
Individual Quote Analysis (w/Works Cited Page) Due

Choice Unit--Day 9

Today we analyzed the conflict and setting of the choice books.

Homework: Read assigned pages; work on individual quote analysis and final project.

If you were absent, complete the following in your notebook:

1.Use a multi-flow map to analyze the major conflict in your book.
2.Use a brace map to analyze three parts of your novel’s setting. Each part must have a minimum of 3 details (objects, events, people).

Then, complete the following on a piece of notebook paper and submit on Monday:

Choose one of the maps your group created today. Use the map as prewriting and write a paragraph analyzing either the setting or the main conflict in your book.

TUESDAY, 5/19, IS AMNESTY DAY--COME IN FROM 9AM-10AM TO TURN IN ANY/ALL LATE WORK FOR HALF CREDIT!!

Choice Unit--Day 8

Today we began with group discussions. Then, students reflected on the discussions by responding to some questions at the bottom/back of their own typed questions.

Homework: Read assigned pages from choice book; work on individual quote analysis assignment; work on final project.

If you were absent, please handwrite responses to the following questions on the bottom/back of your typed questions. Turn your questions (w/reflection) into me tomorrow. Reflection questions:

1. What is the most memorable scene from your book thus far?
2. What is one question you have about the group that you would like your group to discuss?
3. What is one question that you expect to be answered by the end of the book?

Choice Unit--Day 7

We began today by using 15 minutes to read our outside reading books. Then, choice book groups got together to 1) review vocabulary to be sure that all group members have definitions, etc.; and 2) review the plot of the book, adding boxes to the flow map created on Monday.

If you were absent, add 4 boxes to your flow map from Monday.

Homework: Read assigned passages; complete discussion questions.

**Requirements for Discussion Questions:
1. 5 open-ended, ORIGINAL discussion questions. That is, questions about your book that will spark and maintain discussion--questions about characters, plot, symbolism, theme, etc. The questions SHOULD NOT have yes/no answers, and SHOULD NOT have a definite answer from the book. Hopefully, someone in your group will disagree with your answer to a question, thus sparking a discussion.

2. For each of the discussion questions, you must provide a minimum, 100-word answer. So, 5 questions and 5 100-word responses.

YOUR QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES MUST BE TYPED!! YOUR QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES MUST ALSO BE ORIGINAL. THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT. IF YOU HAVE THE SAME QUESTIONS AND/OR ANSWERS AS SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR GROUP, SOMEONE IN ANOTHER CLASS, OR A RESOURCE FROM THE INTERNET, YOU HAVE COMMITTED PLAGIARISM AND WILL FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.

Choice Unit--Day 6

Today we worked on vocabulary for the choice books.

Homework: Read the assigned pages in your notebook. Bring your outside reading book to class tomorrow. Also, start thinking about the discussion questions/responses due Thursday.

If you were absent, please print the vocabulary for your book (below--or find it on Edline). In your notebook, write out each word, its dictionary definition, and 2 synonyms for it. Here are the lists:

Vocabulary: Slaughter-House-Five

1.Dilates (15/20)
2. Lugubrious (105/134)
3. Imperishable (15/20)
4. Avuncular (130/166)
5. Magnanimity (15/20)
6. Sniveling (127/162)
7. Myriad (133/169)
8. Furlough (32/40)
9. Patronizing (138/176)
10. Addled (33/42)
11. Floridly (142/181)
12. Hankering (38\49)
13. Voluptuous (148/189)
14. Ramshackle (52/67)
15. Palpated (151/192)
16. Abominable (151/193)
17. Festooned (64/82)
18. Golliwogs (156/199)
19. Balderdash (67/86)
20. Bucolic (157/200)
21. Luminous (72/91)
22. Diffident (160/204)
23. Gallant (74/93)
24. Extrapolating (75/95)
25. Adulation (170/217)
26. Acrimonious (79/100)
27. Impudent (171/217)
28. Raptly (89/113)
29. Psychosomatic (173/220)
30. Impresario (90/114)

Vocabulary: The Weight of All Things

1. caromed (3)
2. imploration (4)
3. redolence (8)
4. enigmatic (15)
5. indurate (25)
6. fastidious (49)
7. sonorous (68)
8. laconic (69)
9. malodorous (90)
10. conflagration (91)
11. despondent (98)
12. taciturn (105)
13. reconnaissance (117)
14. ruefully (119)
15. encumbrance (120)
16. reconnoitered (123)
17. nonchalant (123)
18. litany (130)
19. talisman (132)
20. millet (142)
21. myriad (151)
22. garrison (151)
23. lintel (152)
24. subversive (152)
25. traversed (157)
26. gossamer (171)
27. unguent (192)
28. allay (209)
29. penchant (222)
30. fusillade (229)

Vocabulary: In the Time of the Butterflies

1. Posthumous (3)
2. Volition (45)
3. Obligatory (3)
4. Beatific (48)
5. Impertinent (4)
6. Titter (71)
7. Veritable (4)
8. Subversive (75)
9. Shies (5)
10. Constituency (136)
11. Prickly (5)
12. Disillusioned (141)
13. Monolithic (7)
14. Admonitions (195)
15. Circumscribed (7)
16. Parceling (199)
17. Transcending (7)
18. Contraband (198)
19. Gullible (9)
20. Invariably (200)
21. Agitating (9)
22. Pious (9)
23. Gabardine (202)
24. Immaculate (17)
25. Catechism (31)
26. Contingent (207)
27. Contrition (31)
28. Bemoan (36)
29. Desecrating (207)
30. Extol (51)

Choice Unit--Day 5

Today we worked in groups to plot the sequence of events in our choice books. Then, we worked on reading.

Homework: Read your assigned pages; also, think about working on the discussion questions that are due on Thursday.

If you were absent, create a flow map for your novel's plot from the beginning of the novel up to last night's reading. Your flow map should have a minimum of 15 boxes.