Vacation Reading

Over the break, please complete the first novel in your author study. We´ll have a summative timed writing the day we return from break. It will be similar to The Stranger timed writing. You´ll be given an axiom, maxim or proposition and you´ll have to apply this to the book you read. You´ll be asked to cite from the book, so make sure you bring it with you.

via GIPHY

My Blue Peninsula Boxes (summative)

Please bring in your printed poem for the day of our Semester Exam (timed writing).

Here you can find our rubric.

Model Close Reading (formative)

You can find a model of the close reading here of the poem we briefly read in class.

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Assignment: Printed Dickinson Poem Close Read (formative)

You need to bring in your Emily Dickinson poem, printed and annotated (with a close reading), in addition to analyzing rhyme and rhythm for Wednesday, December 4th. As you'll be focusing on this poem for the Semester Exam timed writing and creating a visual version of it, this formative feedback will be key as to understand whether you are on the right path in terms of analysis.

You can choose your Emily Dickinson poem from this article or from the Complete Poems available in class. 

Mini-lesson: Rhymes

Scrapbooks!

Please don't forget to turn your Richard II scrapbooks in for a summative assessment. You can leave them in the inbox before we leave for Thanksgiving break.

If you can't find it here is the rubric again.

Calendar Until Vacation Posted

If you´re interested I`ve posted a calendar of the remaining classes of 2019 and what we´ll be doing each day, in addition to the assessments. You can find it in the AP Lit Links column.

Thou Hast Richard II Performance Rubric

You can find the rubric for our performances here.

We will perform on Monday, 25 November in the Theater MPR Block 3.

Writers Workshop: Complete These Apostrophe Exercises

You can find your exercises here.

Homework: Memorizing Your Lines

I´ll be assessing your script edits next class, but please don´t forget I´ll assess your memorization of your lines on Friday, November 22nd.

Immortal Combat

See you all tomorrow in the theater Block 3. I hope you're all as excited as I am!

via GIPHY

What was antithesis, again?

This might be helpful for your timed writing.

Edited Script (formative)

As a group you will have decided on a theme to emphasize. That theme will be reflected in the cuts that you make in your scene. 

You can cut whatever you feel is fit -- including characters -- as long as you can tell me why you decided to cut it. Why wasn't this important to your group?

If you can justify any cut it is a 4.

If you can justify most cuts it is a 3.

If you can justify some cuts it is a 2.

If you cannot justify any cuts it is a 1.

Your edited script of your scene is due Friday, November 8th.

See you next Saturday!

Understanding Your Scene from Richard II

For next class, you must complete the work we began today. You should spend time annotating, working through editor's notes, finding any versions online to watch -- basically using all tools at your disposal for a formative assessment next class. In this assessment I'll ask you a few questions about the scene itself. You'll need your script for this exam. 

A 4 means that you can understand nearly every phrase or word in the scene.

A 3 means that you understand most words or phrases from the scene.

A 2 means that the idea of the scene but you can only understand basic phrases.

A 1 means that you do not understand the scene even on a basic level.

Formative Discussion of "We Ate the Children Last' on Thursday

We will have a formative discussion of "We Ate the Children Last" by Yann Martel on Thursday. Here is the rubric we'll be using. Be sure to review any terms or vocabulary from class that might strengthen our discussion.

I will not be bringing the food that day.

A Poem Guide for Robert Frost's "Mending Wall"

Here you can find a guide to the poem on our progress check in AP Classroom -- "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost

Class for the Next Few Weeks

We have entered probably the busiest time in the school year for upperclassmen. As such, you'll probably miss a few classes here or there. It's no problem, but I need you to stay up to date with the class, as it can get complicated. Please check the calendar in the popular links. It is listed as the calendar for First Quarter. All assignments will be listed there as well.


If we cover a scene, you have to read/listen to the scene or read/watch the scene and complete a scrapbook entry for said scene. 

AP Classroom Progress Check Poetry I

If you have not already, please complete this Progress Check. Only three students have completed it.

Richard II Scrapbooking

For our record of our understanding of Richard II we're going to go paper - and keep a Richard II scrapbook. The scrapbooks will stay in our classroom.

For every scene we'll study you'll create a Richard II scrapbook entry.

There are some requirements that we'll discuss first.

- cite text specifically following MLA format
- note the date and the scene and lines covered
- depict one example of a literary device
- deal with at least one word in detail

In addition, you should chose a creative strategy to deal with text. Remember: the entries should be a reflection of your understand of the scene. It should also be a creative representation of your thinking. You can choose one of these or create your own:

- create a collage of a character
- demonstrate inference by animating/illustrating text
- comic book style illustration of dialogue
- paper circuitry
- summarize the scene in a paragraph written in different colors (color-coding)
- write a journal entry as a character in the scene (narrative)
- play what if: create a what if scenario and imagine what the consequences would be
-depict a close reading in illustrations of a small piece of text
- translate a series of lines to emojis (stickers)
- justify cutting the scene out of a production of Hamlet
- justify not cutting the scene out of a production of Hamlet
- re-write the scene as a children's story or children's illustrated book
- imagine the scene without Hamlet and think about its effects

Here is the rubric I will use to grade your scrapbooks (once every two weeks - formative). Be sure to keep your scrapbook up to date. If you miss class you must either come to Opportunity Day or study the scene on your own with the help of scenes on youtube.

Want some examples? While it's not exactly like what we're doingthis is more or less the same idea only with The Great Gatsby. Ours make look a little different as they'll include work with text and more traditional written approaches in addition to the visual work. 

Another place you might go to get an idea of what a scrapbook can look like is Lynda Barry's books, in our classroom and library.



While I have a booklet for each of you, you may bring in your own, if your prefer it. Just know that the book will only be dedicated to Richard II. Think of the book itself as a work of art - in progress!

Bought Tickets for Saturday, November 2nd Cine Andino at 12pm

Bought Tickets for Saturday, November 2nd Cine Andino at 12pm

Student Samples of Question 3

While these samples do not cite text, they do interpret the prompt and incorporate it into their analysis.

Take a look. 

Save the Date!

We are going to study Shakespeare's Richard II over the next month. This will culminate in a trip to see Richard II the first weekend of November.

I invite you to come with me to the Avenida Chile Cinecolombia on Saturday November 3rd at noon, but if you'd prefer to go to a theater closer to your home, that's fine as well.

You can find showtimes and places here.

In-Class MCQ Unit 2 Review

That is an extremely boring post title! Please before our next class take the time to complete the AP multiple-choice on poetry. We’ll discuss it in class upon my return.

The Stranger Film Project Rubric

You will be graded individually however your film will be created as a group. 

Basically you want to create as much of the concept of the film as you can without producing the actual scene from the film.

You must create the following for one scene of the film:

one script

one storyboard

one series of stills


These will all be graded with the same rubric. You can find it here.

Please put these in one group folder, with your film title as the title of the folder and then share the folder with me.

The Stranger Film Project

For your film you should create another protagonist that is similar to Mersault, in a different setting but leaving us with the same message. Take a look at these similar protagonists from films. While they share a common history they are reminiscent in some ways of Mersault and leave us with a similar understanding.

What would Mersault look like at CNG? Or the Andino? Or as a taxi driver? That is what you want to fictionalize. Who would be willing to "die for the truth" as Camus said?

Our Rita Dove Mirror Poem Rubric

Here you can find our rubric for the poems due 18 September, Wednesday.

What is a found poem?

This is what a found poem is. Over the next few weeks be one the look out for found poems.

Progress Report

While not everyone has finished, we've got great results from our first progress check on short fiction. Well done!

Rita Dove Mirror Poem in Writers Workshop

Please don't forget to bring in your mirror poems of Rita Dove's artistry to class tomorrow. We'll be workshopping them.

Discussion questions for Battle of Algiers

Gillo Pontecorvo – director

Characters       FLN (National Liberation Front)- Ali La Pointe, Lhedi Djafar, Ben M’Hidi

French - Philippe Mathieu

1.      In the beginning we see the FLN talking about dialogue and negotiation. At the same time, we see it taking steps to strengthen itself among the community and become the dominant party of resistance. What are some of these steps the FLN takes? Sketch one shot or take a picture of one shot that supports your claim.

2.      What strategies does the FLN use to wage its campaign? How do these change over time? Who is involved in the fight? If we were to think of this in terms of escalating ACTS OF RESISTANCE on the FLN’s side, and ACTS OF RESPONSE on the French side, what would we describe? Sketch one shot or take a picture of one shot that supports your claim.

3.      What FUNCTION do these sorts of tactics seem to have? What impacts do they have? Do these impacts include the furthering of FLN goals? Sketch one shot or take a picture of one shot that supports your claim.

4.      What is the function of everyday people (the community) in this battle? How is “the community” perceived by both sides? Use two shots to support your claim.

5. Are there good guys and bad guys in this movie? What thoughts or lessons might we take away from the film regarding wars of liberation.? Can you relate this to Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People”?

Two Things for Class This Week

Please remember that the reading goal for Tuesday is page 71. We'll be meeting for Reading Conferences.

For Thursday, please complete your dovesque poems for then.

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Reading Goal for Thursday

According to Chris, we all should have read until Chapter 5 by Friday's class.

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Rita Dove Visit

Rita Dove will be in Bogotá this week. She's one of the famous living American poets and former Poet Laureate.

I'm offering an optional summative assignment.

Step 1: Go to the Rita Dove reading at el Gimnasio Moderno tonight at 6pm. Take notes in terms of the poems she will read.

Step 2: When done choose just one poem to focus on. In a video read the poem. Then reflect on how Rita Dove's reading may changed/altered or enriched the meaning of the text.

Here is the rubric.

The Stranger It Is

We've all chosen to read Albert Camus's The Stranger. The reading goal decided on for next class was the first two chapters.

What should we read next?

Gingernut!

Here is the recipe we'll follow to make Gingernut's favorite office treats!

Reading Conferences

We'll be having reading conferences (formative) during the next two classes. Be sure to bring your copy of Bartleby. Here is the rubric I'll be using for our discussions.

Weekend Reading

While reading Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville be sure to use post-its to slow down your reading, making inferences, noting figurative elements, etc. We´ll conference about the book next week.

Discussion of "A Hunger Artist" by Franz Kafka (formative)

On Thursday, we'll have our first discussion of "A Hunger Artist" by Franz Kakfa. While reading please be sure to highlight and annotate. This will aid you in our discussion of the work. You can find the rubric that will be used in your evaluation here.

Weekend Reading

Please read this short story by Jamaica Kincaid. Make as many inferences as you can.

Watch Alex Dang's performance of his poem "Michael Derrick Hudson Changes His Name to Ngoc Tran ". What kind of tone does his delivery underline? How does his reaction to the use of a pseudonym in this case relate to the theme of our unit, Questioning the Answers? 

Life Skills Homework

Please bring in an 8 x 11 notebook. We're going to decorate and personalize them so you don't have to worry about it. This will count towards your Responsibility and Organization.

Welcome to AP LIT

Don´t be scared away by the exclamation mark. This is Literature! - with a capital L and exclamation mark because we are going to be excited by literature this semester, with everything from song-writing to acting to watching TV, oh, and in the meantime analyzing and writing about our analysis. This class will teach you how to read and interpret anything from Hollywood movies to interpretive dance although mainly, you will understand and enjoy literature. Additionally, your understanding and use of the English language will improve.

This is a college-level course and as such, there will be college-level reading. Sometimes there will be choice. Other times, we will be reading books together. Some of these books will have  mature themes. In the end, this class will not only give you the analytic skills to read the world but additionally think about the world morally and emotionally. There will also be some humor, as that too is a part of life. Laugh, cry, whine - we hope to do it all this semester.