Welcome

Hello. How are you

Test Tomorrow

Well, it has been a long year and it all comes down to the test tomorrow. I am confident that you will all do well and give your best effort. It has truly been a pleasure working with all of you this year.

Take some time tonight to reflect on the great literature we read this year and on the last nine months. Things will definitely ease up for you starting next week. You should all be proud of what you accomplished this year. It takes exceptional students like you to make it this far. Thanks for your hard work.

Now, to the test. Please arrive on time tomorrow. You really do not want to start the day off the wrong way by rushing with feelings of anxiety and stress - which is what happens when you are running late for something important. Bring blue/black pens, #2 pencils, and water. You may want to wear a watch as cell phones are not allowed. Give yourselves extra time so that you are relaxed and anxiety-free before the test. I would recommend a good breakfast of fruit, granola or oatmeal, juice, and water - these are good brain foods. Avoid foods that weigh you down or cause you to feel tired. If you have a chance, do some exercise this evening. It will clear your mind. Eat a good healthy meal for dinner and get a good night's rest. Go to bed early. Set an extra alarm, or have someone else wake you up as a backup. Other than light review, I would not spend too much time studying. As I mentioned, think about the literature and what you liked about it. Okay, have a great night. I will see you all tomorrow before the test.

Break HW

Hello. I realize that it has been some time from my last blog, but it is important that you all read this one. For the break, I would like you to read Stoppard's play Rosencrantz and Guidenstern are Dead. This is - for obvious reasons - a great supplemental reading to Hamlet. You may be able to find a link to the text online, but I do not know this for sure. My search turned up a few things, but it may be better to purchase the text. The play focuses on the two minor Characters in Shakespeare's play. I will not ask you to do any writing, but I do ask that you actually read the play.

The test is on May 5th, which means we are out of time. You should spend some of your time preparing for the AP lit exam. As we have discussed, this is the hardest AP test you are are likely to take. Please dedicate some time to reviewing terms, m/c questions and stems, allusions, reference materials, etc. Remember, preparing for any test is really a matter of organizing materials and compartmentalizing concepts. Look over old m/c tests to see what kind of questions give you the most trouble. Form study groups, quiz each other and exchange materials. Whatever it is that helps you become better prepared, is what you should do.

Finally to the writing. You need to practice your writing. Look through your study guides and work the prompts. There really is no excuse for not getting the grade you want (3 or better). It is a matter of understanding your weaknesses and addressing them. It is also a matter of outsmarting the test makers. Ask yourselves, what it is they are really looking for? How can you write the kind of response they want? It's about avoiding plot summary, subtle quote integration, sophisticated analysis, and essays that are well-strucured. You need to make sure that you develop your paragraphs fully and explore each idea thoroughly. Look over the sample essays and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.

I would like you each to do at least one 40 minute timed write and bring it in the day we get back from break for credit. You can find these in the study guides you purchased. If you do not have one, figure something else out.

Finally, please read the poetry handouts and complete the poetry terms section. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me. Check the blog occasionally, as I will try to attach some criticism and other readings for you. Have a good break.

I have posted the link to Eliot's criticism of Hamlet in the literature links section. Please read it.

HW 4/5

Hello. For this evening, please read 3.3 and 3.4. If you are part of group 3.4, be prepared to present tomorrow. If you need props, feel free to email me, or visit me in 2047 before class.

I am also assigning the first essay for Hamlet (The Position Paper) to be due in a week. To be clear, the due date is 4/12. No exceptions. If you don't have it then (typed) it loses half credit. If you have misplaced it, please see me. Make sure that it is no more than two pages. Have a good night.

HW 3/31

Hello. Please read 3.2 of Hamlet and be well-prepared for tomorrow's presentation. Remember, Mr. Marx has other things he could be doing, but is taking time from his busy schedule to lecture in our class. So, please be on time and prepared. Have a good night.

HW 3/23

Hello. For tonight, I would like you to make sure you have read all of act 1. Tomorrow we will have a wrap up on the act.  No additional reading assigned for tonight.

HW 3/22

Hello. For tonight, I would like you to complete the handout on Appositives and complete the exercises that go along with it. Then, you should read 1.3, 1.4, and 1.5 of Hamlet. I will put you in groups tomorrow and assign your group a scene to prepare for the class. Have a good night.

HW 3/21

Hello. I hope you all enjoyed today's presentation by Mr. Marx. While we cannot spend that kind of time on each scene, it is a nice to view the play through a theatrical lens.

For tonight, I would like you to read 1.4. Consider Polonius' character here. What purpose does he serve? How is Polonius ever the good confidant to Claudius. How does he seem adept at understanding the game of staying on the "good side of power"?

We will work on Hamlet's soliloquy tomorrow.

Remember to pay your exam fee for the AP lit. The last day to pay in March 29th. If you are having any issues, please let me know. Have a great night.

HW 3/10

Hello. I am sorry for my absence today, but I hadn't been feeling well for a day or so, and woke up feeling a little feverish this morning and decided to stay home. In any case, I wanted to give you a heads up for tomorrow. We will have a timed write on a prose passage. I know it is Friday, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.

I have been reading the Wharton paragraphs and am still seeing many of the same mistakes. If you are not sure exactly how to improve your writing, you should make frequent appointments to see me. It is important that you begin to make a conscious effort to improve your essay writing. I would rather you take more time and prepare better paragraphs than rush through them. For tomorrow's essay, please bring your tone word handout as well as the recent handout on "writing about literature." I want you to use these handouts when you write. I hope you had a good day today. I will see you all tomorrow.

HW 3/9

Hello. For tonight, please complete the Wharton paragraph and bring it to class tomorrow. I am looking for  strong literary paragraphs on tone. If you can type it, that would be much appreciated. Also, please bring Hamlet with you to class starting tomorrow. We may use it during the second half of class. There will be a timed write on Thursday on a prose passage.

As far as meetings go, I will have another sign-up sheet for the rest of this week and next.

You should be finishing up the independent reading soon, so continue to make your way through your books. I think that is it.

I hope at this point you have purchased an AP prep book and are beginning to prepare for the test. This is not an easy test. Any work you can do on your own to prepare will be beneficial. One last thing. We will meet on the 19th in 3032 to take a mock AP. Please clear your schedule for that morning. I will have a sign-up for that as well. I know that some of you may not be able to make it, but I strongly suggest you make an effort to attend. You will get a chance to see a real AP test, get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate your ability to work within the constraints of the test. I will also provide you with an unofficial AP score. This will let you know how much work you need to do in order to raise your score.

 Please feel free to see me if you would like any additional help. Tutoring will start soon. I am working on clearing it with my AP and getting permission. Have a great night.

HW 3/16

Hello. Please read the handouts from today's class. It is important that you have some background knowledge the bible and archetypes. Also, please copy and paste the following to get the Folger Shakespeare text:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hamlet/William-Shakespeare/e/9780743477123/?itm=2&USRI=folger+shakespeare+library+series

I need you to try to get this text asap. Thanks.

Have a great night.

Break HW

Hello. I hope you are all having a great break. I just realized that some of you may have been absent on the last day of school. Here are the questions that need to be answered by Monday. Sorry for the delay. Enjoy the rest of your break.

Prologue and Parados Questions:

1.              In their first scenes together, Antigone and Ismene are foils, characters who have contrasting or opposite qualities.  How would you characterize each sister?  Does Sophocles seem to side with one sister over the other?  Explain in detail.

2.              In verbal irony, what is said is the opposite of what is meant.  Where does Antigone use verbal irony in her scenes with Ismene?  How does this make you feel about Antigone?

Scene One and Ode One:

3.              Dramatic Irony is a situation in which the audience knows something that a character does not.  What dramatic irony do you sense each time Creon refers to the “man” who has buried Polyneices?

4.              On the basis of Scene One, how would you characterize Creon’s strengths and weaknesses as a leader?  Is he a believable character?  Why, or why not?

Scene Two and Ode 2

4. What would you say is the greatest force motivating Antigone in this scene – pride, love, or principle?  Explain your response.

5.              The Chorus makes an allusion, or reference, to the Oedipus myth.  Look back at those pages.  Why does “God’s vengeance” loom over the House of Oedipus?  What human fault dos the Chorus say is responsible for this “curse of heaven”?

Scene Three and Ode 3

6.              At this point in the play, do you think that both Antigone and Creon should be more yielding, or do you believe that there are some principles that a person cannot compromise?  Explain your opinion.

7.               

8.              Why do you think Creon changes his mind about how to punish Antigone?  How can he believe that he can absolve himself, or the state, of the death?

Scene Four and Ode Four

8.              How is Antigone’s tone in this scene different from her tone in earlier scenes?  Do you think the change results from circumstance or from a change in her character? Explain.

9.              How do you feel about the Chorus’s opinion that Antigone is responsible for her own death?

Scene 5, Paean, and Exodos

10. Why is it ironic that the prophet Teiresias is blind?

Longer Reponses:

7.              Find lines from the play that you think are especially important.  Then, state what you think is the main theme in the play – what does it reveal about human life?  How do you feel about the theme?

8.               

At the end of this tragedy, Eurydice blames Creon for the disastrous turn of events.  Creon accepts her curse, saying, “I alone am guilty.” What do you think of Creon’s statement of sole responsibility?  

HW 2/16

Hello. For this evening's HW, I would like you to closely read "Jocasta." Consider any significant themes, ideas, images, etc. while you read. You should be done with Oedipus at this point. We will take a test on the play on Friday, and you will have to work on the other two plays over the break. You have a great deal of reading to do at this point, so please work on that. Have a great night.

HW 2/15

Please complete the play this evening. If you did not do your reading, schedule, please do it this evening. have a great night.

HW 2/14

Hello. Sorry for the late post, but I had PM school today. For tonight, please read up to page 60 in the text. I will allow some additional time for answering questions in class. Have a good night.

Weekend HW 2/12-2/14

Hello. For this weekend I would like you to read up to the part where Creon "enters from the side" and addresses the citizens. He says, "I hear King Oedipus levels terrible charges against me. I had to come. I resent it deeply." I have a different version, so look for this part about 30 pages into the play. Please read the text closely. Answer one question:

This play is know for its various levels of irony. What is ironic about Oedipus' statement to the citizens: "Well I know you are sick to death, all of you, but sick as you are, not one is sick as I" (Your book may be a little different. but the message should be similar).

Here are a few other books for your independent reading assignment:

Ford Madox Ford (The Good Soldier)
Saul Bellow (The Adventures of Augie March)
Truman Capote (In Cold Blood)
Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights)
Anita Desai (Clear Light of Day)
Raymond Carver (Cathedral)
Henry Fielding (Tom Jones)
Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace, Surfacing)
Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
James Baldwin (Go Tell It on the Mountain)
Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre)Charles Dickens (A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations)
Louise Erdich (Antelope Wife)E.M. Forster (A Passage to India)
Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five)

HW 2/8

Hello. For tonight, I would like you to read the two essays closely and make marginal notes. Using the rubric, determine what the score is and point out the positive and negative attributes of the paper. What did the student do well? What did he/she do poorly? How is the intro? Did they mention the author? did they mention the techniques? Is it organized?  We will work on the final paragraph and go over them with each other tomorrow. Have a good night.

Three questions for HW

Hello. Please answer the following questions for homework. This is due tomorrow.
Have a good day

A. If Gilgamesh represents the pride of civilization, what might Enkidu represent? Give reasons for your answer.
B. What role do literary images play in conveying the story's intent? Give examples of images and what they communicate.
C. Which of the eternal questions/conflicts seem to be embedded in the story? Explain with evidence from the text.

HW 2/3

Hello. I have attached the next reading for the class. Please read the story carefully. Consider any themes that may be present as well as any issues the text may raise. I will give you a related handout for this weekend's homework. Please be reminded that the next set of reading cards is due on Tuesday. Have a great night.

Homework 2/1

Hello. I did want to give you the next assignment for our class. I would like you to work on the next 5 reading cards. Please follow the format from the last assignment. If you no longer have it, please see me and I will get you another one. The due date for the next 5 will be 2/8. No exceptions. Please stay on top of your work. Assignments must be turned in on time, or they will be subject to a significant point reduction. Independent reading assignment 3 will be assigned this week and due at the end of the marking period. We will begin working on a new text and, of course, more AP prep. Have a good night.

HW1/31

Hello. I hope you all had an enjoyable break and are ready to return to work tomorrow. We will be starting fresh and begin to focus on the AP exam in May. Please bring your homework to class so that you get off on the right foot. FYI, I will be changing seats tomorrow for the benefit of all students. Have a great night. See you tomorrow.

Break Work Update

Hello. I hope you are all enjoying your time away from HSES. I did want to add the vocab assignment to your homework over the break. Please make flash cards for the following words. You should write the definition, pronunciation, part of speech, and use the word in a sentence. I would also like you to begin to use the words in your analysis when appropriate.

Transitory          Inveterate      Impinge        Truncated        Dilettante       Dogmatic     Obdurate
  
Assiduous        Clandestine     Stratagem      Spurious        Effusive          Gratuitous     Ebullience

Indolent            Despotic         Imperious      Exculpate       Incontrovertible     Cogent   Servile

Frenetic           Mollify           Arbitrary        Capricious     Equivocate       Tenuous     Dogged

Affable           Staid             Decorous        Equanimity      Propriety        Pugnacious   Austere

Deleterious      Hackneyed    Timorous      Nascent         Acrid

As far as the reading. Complete the novel and answer only the questions on the first page of Friday's handout. Enjoy the rest of your time off. I'm here slaving away. I will have your snapgrades entered by tomorrow.

HW1/20

Hello. No homework for tonight. See you tomorrow.

HW 1/18

Hello. I wanted to clarify tonight's homework for you. Please explain why you believe the correct answer is correct. Please be detailed in your response when necessary. Use evidence from the passage to to help make it clear.

Next, please take some time to read Eliot's poem again. Then, write a paragraph in which you analyze how Conrad's novella and Eliot's poem convey similar themes. Consider style, technique, literary devices, structure, etc. Have a good night.

HW 1/13

Good afternoon. Tomorrow we will have the final of our HOD presentations. Please make sure to read the remaining pages and be prepared for a vibrant discussion to end the unit. Thanks for all your hard work preparing your presentations. Have a good night.

HW 1/12

Hello. Sorry for the late post. I just wanted to remind you all that the last two groups will present Thursday and Friday. I believe Kristie's group presents tomorrow. Nesima's group presents Friday. Have a good night.

HW 1/6

Hello. I hope you all learned a lot from today's presentation. For homework, I would like you to close-read the next few pages of HOD. Toure will be presenting the passage to the class. I'm sorry, but I can't recall who Toure is partnered with. Please be prepared for tomorrow.

HW 1/4

Hello. For tonight, please close read the first several pages of chapter 3. Amanda and Marissa will present tomorrow.

I will be assigning the third independent reading assignment in the very near future.

Lastly, it is now January and the AP exam is rapidly approaching. By March, we will move into much more AP prep. More terms, poetry, practical lessons, etc. With that said, you should be proactive and begin preparing on your own. You should buy a book and begin using it to study. You should practice writing essays and use me as a support system to fine tune your writing. In other words, if you are relying on the class as your only source of preparation, you are going to be highly disappointed in your results. There is no way that a class like this can adequately prepare you for a test as complex and in-depth as the AP Lit. exam. Please purchase - or rent - a book to help you. If you cannot, see me and I will help you get one. I have plenty at school.

Finally, see me about your writing. I'm not going to lie. It is easy for me to ignore the fact that nobody has scheduled a writing conference. It takes a lot of my time to meet with students, and frankly, I have a lot of other things going on as a teacher.  I used to make students do this, but I've learned over the years that making students see me does not improve student writing. So...

Have a great night.