English 10--2/16/2019

Jump Off
--On your desk, you will find the first "60/40" assessment for Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist.  Please look through your assessment and any commentary that I provided with the awareness that upon our return from February Break, you can expect the next "60/40" assessment to occur.  (FYI: I will be around to re-collect your assessments in a few minutes.)
--Please SEE ME at the end of today's class block:

• S. Gwyn
• C. Kearney
• E. Smith
• P. Thousand
• T. Willis

S. the C.
--agenda/HW

Transition
--In preparation for today's quick-write, we will first view the following TedEd video titled "What Makes a Hero?":

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-makes-a-hero-matthew-winkler

• Q & A

--Please pick up a copy of the halfsheet titled "Monomyth (Hero's Journey) Pattern Diagram" from the front table.
--Open your notebook to the section labeled "The Alchemist--Quick Write #5".  Draw a line under what you wrote last class block.  Date this section of your notes (2/15/2019) and label it "The Alchemist--Quick Write #6".

Thinking, Writing, and Looking Ahead Activity/Discussion Preparation -- The Alchemist--Quick Write #6 (8-10 mins.)
--write for 8 minutes in response to one of the prompts below:

• What book have you read, movie have you seen, show have you watched, etc. that seems to follow the hero's journey pattern?  How so?
• Example: Tommy Boy
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a1aaxJ3omw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSj2bvKtDSQ
• Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist follows the hero's journey pattern.  How so?
• "You leave your comfort zone, have an experience that transforms you, and then, you recover and do it again."  Write about about this quotation and how it relates to...
• your life journey as a whole OR
• a mini-journey-within-your-greater-life-journey.
• Example: Caleb Martin
• "What is the symbolic cave you fear to enter?"  Write about it!
• Example: AP Seminar

Discussion Preparation -- The Alchemist up to page 123 (2-3 mins.)
--Please take out your copy of the sheet titled "The Alchemist up to page 84--Discussion Preparation".  Next, we will continue engaging in discussion using the protocol below and the rating scale on the back of the sheet with which you are working.  Spend the next few minutes of class making sure that you are prepared.  Other contributions that you might consider sharing:

• your quick write from before lunch last class block
• items related to the notes that we took last class block ("APHORISM", "FOIL", and "MOTIF")
• today's quick write

Discussion Protocol

• Indicate your readiness (or lack thereof) via your “Ready to Answer/Still Thinking” sign.
• Raise your hand (respectfully) when you wish to be called upon to contribute.
• Attentively listen to contributors.
• The next contributor is selected by the previous contributor and ideally stays on the same discussion “thread”--try to “rope in” as many contributors as possible throughout the discussion.
• There is not a limit placed on total contributions per person today, but each of you must contribute at least once (class participation grade determined via “Discussion Contribution Rating Scale”), and no one can contribute a second time until everyone has contributed once, which means that we will first hear from everyone who did not get a chance to contribute last time. 
• I reserve the right to “jump in” to the conversation where appropriate and randomly select students to speak.
• Notes will be written on the whiteboard by a classmate--you are expected to copy these notes onto your sheet/into your notebook.

Transition
--form a circle via a drawing of cards

Discussion -- The Alchemist up to page 123 (2-3 mins.) 
--engage in discussion as per the protocol

HW Time (time permitting)

MATCH FORMS HANDED OUT BEFORE STUDENTS LEAVE!

HW (Practice/Take-Home Assessment)

--WE ARE TAKING A BREAK FROM MEMBEAN 2/15-2/21; HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL TRAIN THESE NEXT 7 DAYS (AND ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO DO SO IF YOU HAVE FALLEN BEHIND)!
--Complete another 45 minutes of Membean training in three different days before 11:59 PM Thursday, 2/28 (see the "English Department Membean Routine" sheet).

HW (Class Preparation/Take-Home Assessment)

--Read up to the second page break on page 143 of The Alchemist.  Demonstrate your best skill level in "first-draft" reading, aiming to both basically comprehend the text and respond to the following questions:

• How does Coelho continue portraying his "Four Obstacles" philosophy through his characters? 
• Why do the characters that we encounter in the novella say what they say, do what they do, etc.?  What are human beings really like?
• What in this section of reading further develops any of the commentary from the discussion that occurred both last class and today?  How so?
• What "things" (e.g., aphorism, flashback, foil, the hero's journey, irony, motif, symbolism, etc.) do you notice Coelho purposefully using/doing that help show his life philosophy (and, perhaps, help you clarify your "why?")?  (YOU CAN USE YOUR "LITERARY DEVICES REVIEW" SHEET FROM LAST CLASS BLOCK AND YOUR "MONOMYTH (HERO'S JOURNEY) PATTERN DIAGRAM" FROM TODAY'S CLASS BLOCK TO TRACK SOME OF THIS!)

Reminder: the nature of a typical “first-draft” reading of a difficult text:

• A gist reading = “survival mode” in order to understand/comprehend the text on a literal level
• Ask the “curious questions”
• Basic comprehension is essential if any deeper understanding is to occur.
• Easier with some sort of defined purpose (therefore, often a purposeful reading)
• Most effective when it is still somewhat active reading (annotate: jot down curious questions, jot down notes related to your defined purpose[s], etc.)

Expect any or all of the following to occur during our next class block: 

• A "60/40" READING ASSESSMENT
• a discussion geared around your "first-draft" reading

We will finish the novella in class together upon our return from break.

Writing

--Continue thinking about the following questions:

• Research Unit: What might you argue with regard to your research topic?
• I would like for us to head back over to the library again sometime soon!
• End-of-Course Assignment: What is your "why?"?

HW (Class Preparation)

--I challenge you to read 10 (or more!) "steps" of free reading over February Break.  A step equals 15 minutes, so 10 steps equals 150 minutes/2.5 hours.  Remember that your free reading book must be finished by mid-March.  ALWAYS BRING YOUR FREE READING BOOK TO CLASS!

• "Reading...a vacation for the mind..." (Dave Barry).

Miscellaneous

--If you complete the Valentine's Day match form, submit it to Mrs. D'Imperio ASAP.
--Be thinking about the memoir genre.  Whose life/what "type" of life would you like to read about during the last 12 weeks of the school year?
--Consider working toward achievement of your S.M.A.R.T. Goal.  Your deadline is likely approaching!
--Enjoy your vacation--you truly only get so many of 'em! :)

On the backburner:

• Library
• print a promising source procured from a database
• back at the classroom, engage in active/purposeful reading as per the same directions given on last AoW