Book Clubbing, Day 1: April 30, 2018

Focus: What current American issues are you starting to understand better or differently?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Discussing your opinions and analysis of Waiting for Superman, interview-style

• What did this film help you understand better or differently?

• Which rhetorical appeal(s) were the most effective for you?

• To what extent do agree with the documentary's points?

• What are you left wondering?

3. Reacquainting yourself with the one-minute speech:

• Click here for the list of topics.

• In your speech, utilize the ONE rhetorical appeal you tracked in Waiting for Superman.

4. Investigative Journalism Book Clubbing, Day 1

Reminders:

• Make sure you have made a book club folder. It should have the title of your book in its title, and it should be shared with all book club members and with me.

• Your first syllabus (and all subsequent syllabi) should be in that folder.

• Type discussion notes into your syllabus as you go.

5. Wrapping up with your exit ticket (to be filled out individually and honestly)

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading and syllabus for Wednesday, May 2.

2. Prepare your one-minute speech for this Friday, May 4, heavily emphasizing the ONE rhetorical appeal (ethos, pathos, or logos) you tracked in Waiting for Superman.

Waiting for Superman, Day 2: April 26, 2018

Focus: What do we need to understand about public education in the United States?

1. Warming up with a large-class collection of your ethos, logos, and pathos observations

2. Watching the second half of Waiting for Superman with your documentary tracking notes

3. Concluding by investigating what this documentary helped us understand better or differently about American public education: Returning to your Waiting for Superman pre-writing questions and turning them into post-writing questions

Turn in your pathos, ethos, and logos tracking sheets.

HW:
1. Assigned book club reading and syllabus for MONDAY. Remember that you may earn up to 30 points per syllabus:

• 20 points for a thoughtful, meaningful syllabus that is ready to go before class begins.
• 10 points for clear and thorough discussion notes on the syllabus.
• Click HERE to see a 1st semester sample with student discussion notes and my feedback.

2. If you have any missing assignments from Gatsby or you have not yet turned in your signed contracts, use the long weekend to take care of this.

Setting the Bar High: April 25, 2018

Focus: What standards do we need to establish and hold ourselves to for the next 4 weeks?

Turn in your book club contracts.

1. Warming up with an overview of your final speech and the importance of your book club

2. Recommitting to high standards: 

• Book clubs: Your freedoms and responsibilities

3. Setting your book clubs expectations (please have your signed sheets and books out on your desks):

• Click HERE to revisit what an excellent syllabus looks like.

• Fill out the bookmark: Which reading will be due which days? Who will be in charge of the syllabus each day? Please write this on your bookmark AND in your calendars.

• Create a shared folder called "[Title of your book] Book Club Folder." It should be shared with each member of your group and placed inside your Transcendentalism folder. ALL SYLLABI AND CLASSWORK must be placed inside this folder.

• Complete your book club manifesto and place it inside your shared book club folder.

4. Voting on your third documentary: Please click HERE to vote.

I Am

Life, Animated

HW:

1. Bring your documentary tracking sheet back to class tomorrow; you will turn it in before you leave tomorrow.

2. Complete your assigned book club reading and syllabus before class on Tuesday.

3. Make sure all Gatsby work (journals, fishbowls and timed writing) is 100% complete. Turn in your Gatsby book if you have not done so yet.

Waiting for Superman, Day 1: April 24, 2018

Focus: What do we need to understand about public education in the United States?

Please turn in your signed documentary contract.

1. Warming up with the fine print of your documentary contract

2. Questioning American education with high-velocity writing on your Waiting for Superman pre-writing stats

• You can save this in your brand-new, shared Investigative Journalism Folder.

3. Viewing Waiting for Superman with a focus on ethos, pathos, or logos (tracking sheet given as a handout in class)

HW:
1. Make sure your timed writing is complete, revised based on today's lessons, and in Turnitin.

2. Complete your book club letter and have your book IN YOUR HANDS when you walk in on Wednesday, April 25. 

Our Last Day of The Great Gatsby: April 23, 2018

Focus: What resolution do we need to bring to our Great Gatsby unit?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Using these editing slides and Turnitin to revise Friday's timed writings

3. Viewing the end of the film version of The Great Gatsby

HW:
1. Make sure your timed writing is complete, revised based on today's lessons, and in Turnitin.

2. Bring in your signed documentary contract by Tuesday, April 24 at the latest.

3. Complete your book club letter and have your book IN YOUR HANDS when you walk in on Wednesday, April 25. 

Writing Our Way to Complexity: April 20, 2018

Focus: How can we write our way to a better understanding of Fitzgerald's themes?

1. Warming up with a few reminders:

Start your document:

• Call it "Great Gatsby Official Timed Writing."

• Place it in your "Wealth and Power" or "Gatsby" folder (whatever you called it).

Three tiny reminders:

• Avoid "you" and "your." Try "we" and "our."

• Avoid stating "This quote..." Lead out with some literary lingo or a statement about the author's intent.
• Here's an example: Instead of saying, "This quote reveals that the speaker feels ambivalent," try saying, "The two roads symbolize the speaker's ambivalence," or the "Frost emphasizes the speaker's ambivalence."

• Show off your newly discovered close reading skills.

2. Composing your timed writing (55 minutes)

• Click here if you need an online version of the prompts and rubric.

3. Using the rubric to edit your essay if time allows

4. Submitting your essay to www.turnitin.com

HW:

1. If you had issues submitting your essay to www.turnitin.com, please take care of that tonight by midnight. If you need extra time to finish your essay, please take care of that BEFORE CLASS ON MONDAY; cap yourself at 30 minutes.

2. Make sure your Gatsby blogs are complete. We are starting a new unit next week.

3. Bring in your signed documentary contract by Tuesday, April 24 at the latest.

4. Complete your book club letter and have your book IN YOUR HANDS when you walk in on Wednesday, April 25. 

Our Capacity for Wonder: April 19, 2018

Focus: What does Fitzgerald teach us about our capacity for wonder?

1. Warming up with the documentary contract and musical chairs close readings of passages from Chapter 9

2. Enjoying our final fishbowl discussion of The Great Gatsby, Chapter 9

3. Offering you my current final takeaway from this novel

HW:
1. Prepare for tomorrow's timed writing. Feel free to e-mail me your thesis if you'd like feedback ahead of time. Click HERE if you'd like to preview the rubric. IF YOU ARE ABSENT FRIDAY, YOU MUST COMPOSE THE TIMED WRITING ON YOUR OWN, BEFORE MONDAY.

2. Make sure your Chapter 9 Gatsby blog is finalized by tomorrow; I will be grading your journals as you compose your timed writings.

3. Bring in your signed documentary contract by Tuesday, April 24 at the latest.

4. Complete your book club letter and have your book IN YOUR HANDS when you walk in on Wednesday, April 25. 

Getting Set Up for Success: April 18, 2018

Focus: What do journalists want us to understand better or differently about America?

1. Warming up with an overview of our investigative journalism unit (see website for links to letter, book list, and bookmark)

2. Forming investigative journalism book clubs by selecting your groups and books; you must have at least FOUR people in your book club and no more than SIX (no exceptions to this rule this time)

3. Reading, conferencing, and journaling on the ending of The Great Gatsby

HW:
1. Complete your book club letter and have your book IN YOUR HANDS when you walk in on Wednesday, April 25. Also, if you're thinking about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (it's so good), it's being turned into an HBO movie. You can check it out here.

2. If you have not yet finished your Gatsby blogs or fishbowl comments, please do so by this Friday at the latest.

3. Prepare for tomorrow's timed writing by forming your thesis and gathering your three quotations; if you wish, you may also do an outline.

The Holocaust Was Complete: April 17, 2018

Focus: Why does Fitzgerald kill off Gatsby, and why in this manner?

1. Warming up with an enthusiastic round of "Fix My Thesis"

• Click here for my thesis criteria and sample Gatsby thesis statements.
• Try composing a first draft of your thesis statement.

2. Performing a close reading of the last line of Chapter 8; finding your own word or phrase from Chapter 8 to read closely and posting it on today's blog with a question or comment.

3. Enjoying our penultimate fishbowl discussion: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 8

HW:
1. Please read and blog on Chapter 9 by Thursday. Leaders should prepare the syllabus and post it on the class WEBSITE (not blog).

2. Keep tracking evidence that connects to your timed writing topic and refining your thesis.

Rising to Level 3: April 16, 2018

Focus: What does Fitzgerald want us to understand better or differently?

1. Warming up with three good things

2. Perusing the list of prompts for this Friday's timed writing and beginning to brainstorm by finding evidence:

• Find one or two passages from Chapters 1-4 that respond to the prompt you've selected.
• Find one or two passages from Chapters 5-7 that respond to your prompt.
• As you finish the book, find one or two passages from Chapters 8 and 9 that respond to your prompt.

• Put sticky notes on those pages (you may also wish to jot down page numbers on your outline in case the stickies fall out).
• Feel free to use your Gatsby journal to save yourself some work.

3. Recapping introductions and brainstorming ideas for yours

• Click HERE for a sample introduction.

4. Reading / journalling about / conferencing on Gatsby, Chapter 8; fishbowl leaders may meet

HW:
1. Finish reading Chapter 8 and complete your journal entry. Tomorrow's fishbowl leaders should prepare their syllabus and post it on the class website.

2. If you did not finish finding evidence or brainstorming ideas for your intro, please work on that tonight.

3. IF YOU ARE ABSENT THIS FRIDAY, YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF COMPLETING YOUR TIMED WRITING ON YOUR OWN BY MONDAY.

Friday Freewrite: April 13, 2018

Focus: How is the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby influencing your perception of the novel?

1. Warming up with your final Friday Freewrite (scroll to the bottom)

2. Watching the film version of The Great Gatsby with a focus on directorial choices/changes

In a New York Times review of the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, A.O. Scott writes the following in his article, "Shimmying Off the Literary Mantle":

"Mr. Luhrmann [the director] sticks close to the details of the story and lifts dialogue and description directly from the novel’s pages. But he has also felt free to make that material his own, bending it according to his artistic sensibility and what he takes to be the mood of the times."

As you watch the film today, consider the following: 

• How has Baz Luhrmann (the director) made the material his own, and for what purpose? 

• In other words, what artistic choices has Lurhmann made that differ somewhat from Fitzgerald's, and how do these choices affect your perception of characters, settings, symbols, and/or themes in The Great Gatsby?

• Please post your response to these questions on today's class blog at the end of class.

3. Wrapping up by posting your responses to the blue questions above on today's blog

HW:
1. Make sure your blog entry for Chapter 7 is complete.


2. Our fishbowl discussion of Chapter 8 is Tuesday, April 17. Please read Chapter 8 and complete your journal. Leaders should read ahead so that they can prepare their syllabus.

Driving Forces: April 12, 2018

Focus: What are the driving forces behind the death in Chapter 7?

1. Warming up with Henry's cars and a hands-on analysis of Myrtle's vehicular homicide

Each kit contains the following: A yellow car, a blue car, a "Myrtle", and a random car coming from the opposite direction.

Level 1: Reenact what happens in Chapter 7 with the cars. Who's in which car on the way there and the way back? Where are they going and why? Who is driving each car? Why do they switch around?

Level 2: Analyze Fitzgerald's choices here. Why did he make this so complicated? Why does it matter that _________ ran over ________? Why is _________'s car? Why are the car colors symbolic? Why this manner of death?

Level 3: What is Fitzgerald trying to teach us about...recklessness? Love? Lust? Dreams? Respect? 

2. Enjoying a fishbowl discussion of Chapter 7

3. Wrapping up:

• Why did Myrtle have to die?
• Was her death an intentional murder?
• What rising conflict lead up to this moment?

HW:
1. Make sure your blog entry for Chapter 7 is complete.

2. Our fishbowl discussion of Chapter 8 is Tuesday, April 17. Please read Chapter 8 and complete your journal. Leaders should read ahead so that they can prepare their syllabus.

Recapping Chapters 5 and 6: April 11, 2018

Focus: What underlying conflicts are on the rise?

Shortened Class

1. Warming up with three good thesis statements from Monday:

T.J. AApril 9, 2018 at 12:54 PM

Gatsby is a more convincing hero because of his relation to the heroes' journey; he spent much of his time in the book in the known side of the map, then once he started to pressure Nick to get Daisy in for tea, he entered the unknown.

1. PercyApril 9, 2018 at 12:57 PM

   Fitzgerald is trying to communicate that wealth doesn't complete the hero's journey;even though Gatsby is wealthy, he's still going through the journey.

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Jacqueline P.April 9, 2018 at 12:57 PM

   Even though Nick views the world from an outsider's perspective, he fits within a hero because Gatsby's invitation is Nick's call to adventure; there is a clear beginning of transformation for Nick as he attends the parties and he is challenged to make odd/unique decisions.

2. Viewing the film version of The Great Gatsby, Chapters 5 and 6 (50-1:25)

3. Wrapping up: Why is Gatsby insisting that Daisy come to him and tell him that she never loved Tom? What underlying conflict/issue does this reveal?

• Form a THESIS that responds to the following question: What is this novel's central conflict and why?

• This time, improve your thesis by including author and title and keeping it to a single sentence.

• Post it on today's class blog.

HW:
Finish reading and journalling on Chapter 7 by TOMORROW. Leaders need to prepare their syllabus and post it to the class website.

Any Heroes Here? April 9, 2018

Focus: Is there any potential for heroism in The Great Gatsby?

1. Warming up with Grammar You Must Know #10: Transitions

2. Trying out the hero's journey in The Great Gatsby on Nick and Gatsby

• Quickly recap the different stages of the hero's journey. Look up anything you feel confused about; try this website or this one if you need a quick refresher.

• Try filling out the hero's journey so far for Nick.

• Try filling out the hero's journey so far for Gatsby.

• Draw larger conclusions: Is one character a more convincing hero than the other? Are they both heroes? Why? Is neither a hero? Why not? What might Fitzgerald want us to understand better or differently about the role of heroes in a Modern world? FORM A THESIS STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THIS AND POST IT ON OUR CLASS BLOG.

3. Taking time to read and journal on Chapter 7 (leaders may use this time to meet)

HW:
Read at least the first half of Chapter 7 by tomorrow; start your blog entry. You need to read all of Chapter 7 by Thursday and complete your blog entry (just one for the whole chapter). It's LOOOOOOOOOOOOONGG, so start tonight.

Friday Freewriting: April 6, 2018

Focus: What thematic ideas are emerging in the middle of The Great Gatsby?

1. Warming up with your last recap on apostrophes

2. Friday Freewriting! Click here for today's prompts.

3. Viewing the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, Chapters 4-6

4. Wrapping up with an exit ticket

HW:
1. Please finish reading the first half Chapter 7 by Monday; read the second half and complete your Chapter 7 journal entry by Thursday. Chapter 7 leaders need to post their syllabus to the class website.

2. Remember that you can use Method Test Prep to practice for the SAT or ACT (it has the timer function, which especially helpful on the reading portions). Click HERE for the link.

3. The end of 12 weeks is TODAY. All make-up work / revised work from the last 6 weeks is due.

Creating Reality: April 5, 2018

Focus: What realities are Fitzgerald's characters creating for themselves and why?

1. Warming up with the Apostrophe Wars

2. Getting into character and examining the reality you have created for yourself

• Watch the Ted Talk: "What Reality Are You Creating for Yourself?"

• Discuss the following questions in character and type your thoughts in your in-class brainstorming Google doc:

• What do you fear?
• What lies do you tell yourself?
• How do you embellish your truth and write your own fictions?
• What reality are you creating for yourself?
• How is this self-constructed reality harming you (and others)?

• To transition into fishbowl: Post a Level 1, 2, or 3 question about the reality your character has created for himself or herself.

3. Enjoying a fishbowl discussion of The Great Gatsby, Chapter 6

HW:
1. Please finish reading the first half Chapter 7 by Monday; read the second half and complete your Chapter 7 journal entry by Thursday. Chapter 7 leaders need to post their syllabus to the class website.

2. Remember that you can use Method Test Prep to practice for the SAT or ACT (it has the timer function, which especially helpful on the reading portions). Click HERE for the link.

3. The end of 12 weeks is Friday, April 6 (the Friday after spring break). All make-up work / revised work from the last 6 weeks is due by then.

Reading with Precision: April 4, 2018

Focus: How can we apply our reading skills to SAT reading passages?

Shortened class today due to lengthened Tribe

1. Warming up with the right answers and how to choose them

2. Reading and journalling on Chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby with a focus on possession

Note: If you have fallen behind in your Gatsby blogs, you have until THIS FRIDAY to catch up.

HW:
1. Please finish reading and journaling about Chapter 6 (due by tomorrow). Chapter 6 leaders need to post their syllabus to the class website.

2. Remember that you can use Method Test Prep to practice for the SAT or ACT (it has the timer function, which especially helpful on the reading portions). Click HERE for the link.

3. The end of 12 weeks is Friday, April 6 (the Friday after spring break). All make-up work / revised work from the last 6 weeks is due by then.

Close Reading: April 3, 2018

Focus: What can we learn by close-reading Fitzgerald's details?

1. Warming up with a whiteboard close reading of details in Chapter 5 (10 minutes)

• Pages 81, 84, 86-7, 90-2, 95, and 96

• Find three symbolic elements on your page (something concrete, like an object, a color, the weather, etc. that represents something abstract)

• Brainstorm what each one represents / connects to in The Great Gatsby. How so?

• Are any of your symbols represented on the book's cover? Does it help you understand anything about the cover?

• Quick gallery walk...On today's class blog, post one connection between one of your whiteboard symbols and a symbol on a different whiteboard. What's the nature of the relationship between the two symbols?

2. Enjoying a Fishbowl discussion of The Great Gatsby, Chapter 5 (until about 2:00)

3. Cooling down by applying our close reading skills to an SAT passage

Note: If you have fallen behind in your Gatsby blogs, you have until THIS FRIDAY to catch up.

HW:
1. Please begin reading and journaling about Chapter 6 (due by Thursday).

2. Remember that you can use Method Test Prep to practice for the SAT or ACT (it has the timer function, which especially helpful on the reading portions). Click HERE for the link.

3. The end of 12 weeks is Friday, April 6 (the Friday after spring break). All make-up work / revised work from the last 6 weeks is due by then.

Love or Lust? April 2, 2018

Focus: Are modern romances love or lust (or something else)?

1. Warming up with three good things and Grammar You Must Know #9: Apostrophes

2. Figuring out characters' romances by taking "The Love Quiz" in character

1st row: Nick

2nd row: Jordan

3rd row: Gatsby

4th row: Daisy

5th row: Tom

6th row: Myrtle

• Answer the questions in character. At the end of the quiz, find one passage from The Great Gatsby that supports the way you responded.

• With your "love interest," compare answers. Are you a good match? Why or why not? What is the nature of your romance: love, lust, or something else?

3. Reading and journaling about The Great Gatsby, Chapter 5; tomorrow's fishbowl leaders can use this time to prepare! Yes!

Note: If you have fallen behind in your Gatsby blogs, you have until THIS FRIDAY to catch up.

HW:
1. Please finish reading and journaling about Chapter 5. Enjoy all the awkwardness!

2. Remember that you can use Method Test Prep to practice for the SAT or ACT (it has the timer function, which especially helpful on the reading portions). Click HERE for the link.

3. The end of 12 weeks is Friday, April 6 (the Friday after spring break). All make-up work / revised work from the last 6 weeks is due by then.