English 10--11/6/2018

Jump Off (8-10 mins.)

--Please take out your notebook and skip down from your last section of notes (or start a new page).  Put today's date in the lefthand margin (11/6).  Label this section of your notes "Theme/Theme Statement (Central Idea) Review".  Mindfully copy down the definitions written on the front board.  Then, label the next section of your notes as follows: "Theme Words for Animal Farm".  List as many theme words as you can think of for our reading of George Orwell's novella up through page 75.  (For example, if I was making a list for Karen Russell's "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves," my list might look like this: adaptation, compassion, immaturity, identity, and savagery.  If I was making a list for William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, it might look like this: communication, death, fate, impulsiveness, and love/"love".)  Good luck--wave me over if you need clearer directions!

S. the C. (8-10 mins.)
--oral reading of "Jump Off"/clarification of directions/Q & A (e.g., Does anyone remember some pathways for determining emergent themes from last school year?)
--Reminder: Beginning with the end in mind:

ROUGH End-of-Unit Assessment Writing Prompt:
Write a text-based, grammatically sound, tightly-written response of two to three paragraphs.  In your response, respond to the following question so as to reveal a theme statement (central idea) drawn from Animal Farm: What is George Orwell's "thesis" about human nature as revealed in the story he tells?  Then, analyze how Orwell's use of characterization or symbolism (or...) helps develop his "thesis" about human nature.  Use at least three pieces of strong textual evidence spanning the entire text to support your analysis, and be sure to tie back to your claim often.

--Reminder: The essential questions that drive our course:

Why do people say what they say, do what they do, etc.?  What are human beings really like?  What is your "why?", and how is it related to your observations about/understanding of human nature?

--FYI: At the end of class today, you will demonstrate your depth of understanding of Orwell's story by writing a meaningful and complex theme statement on an index card to turn in in the black basket.

--agenda/HW

Share-Out/Discussion (cont.) -- Animal Farm up to Page 75 (5-15 mins.)
--finish sharing/discussing Post-its

• As this occurs, you are strongly advised to jot down notes in your notebook!

Review/Instruction/Establishing Reading Purposes -- Theme/Theme Statement (Central Idea) Review and Theme Tracking in Chapter 9 of Animal Farm
--go over theme definition written on the front board/Q & A
--share theme words in pairs
--"dump" theme words for Animal Farm on the front board via a drawing of cards
--Reminder: Today's closure
--go over theme statement (central idea) definition written on the front board/Q & A
--sample theme statements written on the front board shared (one for "St. Lucy's..." and one for The Tragedy of Romeo...)
--purposeful reading tasks (theme words for evidence gathering and propaganda examples) assigned via a drawing of cards

Transition
--Please pick up 3-5 Post-its from the front table.  Is your purposeful reading task clear

Purposeful Oral Reading -- Animal Farm Chapter 9 (Theme and Propaganda Focus)
--complete Post-its as per assigned reading task (and other what-to-put-on-Post-its strategies as well!) while I read the text aloud
--whole-class share-out via a drawing of cards

Transition (10-ish mins. remaining)

--Pick up an index card from the front table.  Write your first and last name at the top of the lined side. 

Closure -- A Preliminary Theme Statement (Central Idea) for George Orwell's Animal Farm (remainder of class)
--On your index card, write a meaningful and complex theme statement for George Orwell's Animal Farm on the lines.

• What does Orwell want readers to learn/understand about the "big ideas" that emerge in his story?
• What seems to be Orwell's "thesis" about human nature/why people do what they do, say what they say, etc.?

HW (Practice/Take-Home Assessment/Class Preparation)

--Complete 45 minutes of Membean training in three different days before 11:59 PM on Thursday, 11/8 (see the "English Department Membean Routine" sheet).
HW (Class Preparation/Take-Home Assessment)

--Finish reading Animal Farm.  Demonstrate your best skill level in reading actively/purposefully via the Post-it Note strategy, and expect any or all of the following to occur NEXT class: 

• collection of your Post-its for assessment purposes
• a reading assessment
• a final discussion geared in part around your Post-its

--An Animal Farm multiple choice assessment will take place in class on Tuesday, 11/13.  The assessment aims to measure the following:

• how well you comprehended the basic plot (as one must understand the plot before any deeper analysis can occur)
• how well you actively/purposefully read (and, maybe, re-read sections of?) the novella by...
• clarifying confusing aspects (e.g., studying diction)
• questioning the text
• determining and tracking themes
• etc. (SEE POST-IT DIRECTIONS)
• how well you engaged in our whole-group discussions of the story
• "Fair game" multiple choice questions, then, include the following (providing four options from which to choose):
• What do the pigs sell to get money to purchase whiskey?
• In Chapter 10, the author states that after the death of Boxer, "Old Benjamin was...more morose and taciturn than ever."  What is the best definition of taciturn as it is used in this sentence?
• Throughout the text, what do the sheep symbolize?

HW (Class Preparation)

--Read at least 10 pages of your free reading book between now and next class.  You have up until early December to finish your book.  ALWAYS BRING YOUR FREE READING BOOK TO CLASS!

On the backburner:

• Adding to "Interest Inventory" (AGAIN!)--selecting an initial research topic