RHETORICAL ANALYSIS:
EXAMPLE OF PARALLEL STRUCTURE
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way -
Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities
AP LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
Tuesday: Test over rhetorical terms
Discussion of Huck Finn:
Questions to consider--Why does Mark Twain locate his serious commentary on American society within the voice of a fourteen year old uneducated boy living in a village in the 1840s?
How does Twain set up the association of Christianity and slavery.
How is slavery introduced in the novel? Is the novel an attack on the institution of slavery or Twain's reading of the public's practice of religion?
How do the Grangerfords and the Shepardsons play into this debate?
What does Twain have to say about the notion of the "Romantic South?"
Silas Phelps is a Christian preacher. How does Twain use this to underscore his point?
What role does the river play in the work? Some critics say it plays such a significant role that it is a character in novel.
What commentary does Twain have upon parenting?
Friday: You will complete your rhetorical analysis worksheet that you were given on Friday last.
REMEMBER: IF IT'S AP IT AIN'T EASY AND AP STUDENTS KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING: SO.....
*Continue to listen to NPR 89.3
*Read this each day:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/world/
English 11
Test Monday over SAT/ACT vocab A-B
This week we will be again looking at types of sentences.
We will complete Huck Finn and you will take a reading quiz over chps. 20-29
Thursday you will write an essay over Huck Finn
Here is a list of prompts to choose from:
1. Compare and contrast the Shepherson/Grangerford Feud with either a) the Montague/Capulet feud or b) the Hatfield/McCoy feud.
2. Discuss the place of morality in Huckleberry Finn. In the world of the novel, where do moral values come from? The community? The family? The church? One’s experiences? Which of these potential sources does Twain privilege over the others? Which does he mock, or describe disapprovingly?
3. Discuss the role of superstition in the novel. Explain how Twain criticizes superstitious beliefs and give specific examples.
4. How is Huck’s trip down the river actually a passage into manhood?
5. Huckleberry Finn has been called the “Great American Novel.” However, it is the sixth most frequently banned book in the United States. Discuss why this masterpiece is banned mostly in Christian academies and in all black institutions.
6. Explain how the American Dream is or is not achieved by three characters in this novel. Begin by explaining what each character holds as his or her American Dream.
7. Discuss how Huck displays several textbook characteristics of the child of an alcoholic.
8. Analyze and trace the moral maturation of Huck Finn. Discuss the events that disgusted and depressed him, the coping skills that he learned, and his actions and the circumstances for such.
9. Explain how Huck’s loss of innocence as a boy is symbolic of the loss of a nation as America moves toward the Civil War.
10. What do you think makes this novel an important record of American culture?
11. Discuss Jim as a Christ figure.
12. The overall American critical reaction to the publishing of The Adventures of Huck Finn in 1855 was summed up in one word: “trash.” Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women and Little Men) said, “If Mr. Clemens cannot think of anything better to tell our pure-minded lads and lassies, he had better stop writing for them.” The Public Library Committee of Concord, Massachusetts excluded the book as “a dangerous moral influence on the young.” Defend or refute the position that the novel is indeed “trash” with evidence from the text to support your claim.
13. Although Mark Twain, in his introductory “notice” to the novel, denies that there is a moral or motive in the story, the work itself contradicts its author. How?
14. What is “civilization” in the mind of Huck?
15. Critics often agree that the most disappointing part of the novel is the ending, when Tom Sawyer returns with his pranks, ignoring Huck’s growth and maturity that he has gained during the course of the novel. With an essay, attack or defend the appropriateness of the ending for the novel and be sure to use evidence from the book to support your argument.
We will examine each of these in class to prepare for your essay.
Reading: Additionally, we will read an excerpt from Richard Wright's 1940 Novel Native Son. The excerpt is "Big Boy Leaves Home". This work examines the marginalization of African Americans in the deep South in the modern period.
New link to essay about Richard Wright and his writing of Black Boy. You should definetely read this: http://literatureandbelief.byu.edu/publications/seeking_salvation.pdf
Myth and Legends
From the World Literature Textbook:
Complete Gilgamesh
Read the Hebrew Bible's account of creation
Read a Native American account of creation
Now we must consider what ties these myths together. This requires synthesis of the materials we have examined. What are the universal elements that we find in myths of various cultures? How can we account for this across diverse cultures? How do we account for the similarities between the creation account in Genesis and the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh? Is the Gilgamesh Epic used to deny the authority of the Bible because of its predating? These are questions we will explore in class.
Test on Thursday over elements of creation myths
READING ASSIGNMENT: Begin reading Edith Hamilton's Mythology. I will assign your reading in class.
ENGLISH 9 HONORS
Tuesday: Test over SAT/ACT A-B
This week you will write an essay discussing the following element of To Kill A Mockingbird. You will be given two blocks to construct your essay. You have a handout from my lecture on thesis statements. This will be indispensable to you in constructing your essay. This will count as an essay grade (30%). You may want to begin an outline for your essay at home.
Essay Prompt: One of the most inspiring characters in 20th century American literature is Atticus Finch. A morally upright lawyer, a committed and loving father, and an overall good citizen, Finch is regarded highly by most citizens with a sense of justice. Write an essay in which you analyze Atticus Finch’s character. You may wish to focus the content of your essay by selecting a single quote or passage (consider a portion of the courtroom speech, for instance) and explain how it reflects Finch’s character strengths. Address whether Finch has any flaws, and explain how he conveys his beliefs to his children and his community.
French I
Chapter 1
vocab test Tuesday on Vocabulary 1 of Chp. 1
Review Days of the week and counting to 20.
Review Subject Pronouns
Introduction of indefinite articles Un, Une, Des and gender of nouns
The verb Avoir
Tele Roman Pages 28-29 We will view the video episode Au lycee, le jour dela rentree
French II
Quiz over Vocab 1 Chp. 1
Continue to read and complete exercises from Le Monstre dans Le Metro
Oral reading practice/Reading comprehension practice
English 11
Test Monday over SAT/ACT vocab A-B
This week we will be again looking at types of sentences.
We will complete Huck Finn and you will take a reading quiz over chps. 20-29
Thursday you will write an essay over Huck Finn
Here is a list of prompts to choose from:
1. Compare and contrast the Shepherson/Grangerford Feud with either a) the Montague/Capulet feud or b) the Hatfield/McCoy feud.
2. Discuss the place of morality in Huckleberry Finn. In the world of the novel, where do moral values come from? The community? The family? The church? One’s experiences? Which of these potential sources does Twain privilege over the others? Which does he mock, or describe disapprovingly?
3. Discuss the role of superstition in the novel. Explain how Twain criticizes superstitious beliefs and give specific examples.
4. How is Huck’s trip down the river actually a passage into manhood?
5. Huckleberry Finn has been called the “Great American Novel.” However, it is the sixth most frequently banned book in the United States. Discuss why this masterpiece is banned mostly in Christian academies and in all black institutions.
6. Explain how the American Dream is or is not achieved by three characters in this novel. Begin by explaining what each character holds as his or her American Dream.
7. Discuss how Huck displays several textbook characteristics of the child of an alcoholic.
8. Analyze and trace the moral maturation of Huck Finn. Discuss the events that disgusted and depressed him, the coping skills that he learned, and his actions and the circumstances for such.
9. Explain how Huck’s loss of innocence as a boy is symbolic of the loss of a nation as America moves toward the Civil War.
10. What do you think makes this novel an important record of American culture?
11. Discuss Jim as a Christ figure.
12. The overall American critical reaction to the publishing of The Adventures of Huck Finn in 1855 was summed up in one word: “trash.” Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women and Little Men) said, “If Mr. Clemens cannot think of anything better to tell our pure-minded lads and lassies, he had better stop writing for them.” The Public Library Committee of Concord, Massachusetts excluded the book as “a dangerous moral influence on the young.” Defend or refute the position that the novel is indeed “trash” with evidence from the text to support your claim.
13. Although Mark Twain, in his introductory “notice” to the novel, denies that there is a moral or motive in the story, the work itself contradicts its author. How?
14. What is “civilization” in the mind of Huck?
15. Critics often agree that the most disappointing part of the novel is the ending, when Tom Sawyer returns with his pranks, ignoring Huck’s growth and maturity that he has gained during the course of the novel. With an essay, attack or defend the appropriateness of the ending for the novel and be sure to use evidence from the book to support your argument.
We will examine each of these in class to prepare for your essay.
Reading: Additionally, we will read an excerpt from Richard Wright's 1940 Novel Native Son. The excerpt is "Big Boy Leaves Home". This work examines the marginalization of African Americans in the deep South in the modern period.
New link to essay about Richard Wright and his writing of Black Boy. You should definetely read this: http://literatureandbelief.byu.edu/publications/seeking_salvation.pdf
Myth and Legends
From the World Literature Textbook:
Complete Gilgamesh
Read the Hebrew Bible's account of creation
Read a Native American account of creation
Now we must consider what ties these myths together. This requires synthesis of the materials we have examined. What are the universal elements that we find in myths of various cultures? How can we account for this across diverse cultures? How do we account for the similarities between the creation account in Genesis and the Babylonian epic of Gilgamesh? Is the Gilgamesh Epic used to deny the authority of the Bible because of its predating? These are questions we will explore in class.
Test on Thursday over elements of creation myths
READING ASSIGNMENT: Begin reading Edith Hamilton's Mythology. I will assign your reading in class.
ENGLISH 9 HONORS
Tuesday: Test over SAT/ACT A-B
This week you will write an essay discussing the following element of To Kill A Mockingbird. You will be given two blocks to construct your essay. You have a handout from my lecture on thesis statements. This will be indispensable to you in constructing your essay. This will count as an essay grade (30%). You may want to begin an outline for your essay at home.
Essay Prompt: One of the most inspiring characters in 20th century American literature is Atticus Finch. A morally upright lawyer, a committed and loving father, and an overall good citizen, Finch is regarded highly by most citizens with a sense of justice. Write an essay in which you analyze Atticus Finch’s character. You may wish to focus the content of your essay by selecting a single quote or passage (consider a portion of the courtroom speech, for instance) and explain how it reflects Finch’s character strengths. Address whether Finch has any flaws, and explain how he conveys his beliefs to his children and his community.
French I
Chapter 1
vocab test Tuesday on Vocabulary 1 of Chp. 1
Review Days of the week and counting to 20.
Review Subject Pronouns
Introduction of indefinite articles Un, Une, Des and gender of nouns
The verb Avoir
Tele Roman Pages 28-29 We will view the video episode Au lycee, le jour dela rentree
French II
Quiz over Vocab 1 Chp. 1
Continue to read and complete exercises from Le Monstre dans Le Metro
Oral reading practice/Reading comprehension practice
