--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 (11/25 [ACE] or 11/26 [BDF]). Label this section of your notes "Theme/Theme Statement (Central Idea) Review". Mindfully copy down the definitions that I am about to project on the SMART Board. Then, label the next section of your notes as follows: "Theme Words for Animal Farm". List as many theme words as you can remember/think of for our reading of George Orwell's novella. (For example, 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.
--oral reading of the "Jump Off"/clarification of directions/Q & A
--Reminder: Beginning with the end in mind:
End-of-Unit Writing Assessment Prompt:
Write a text-based, grammatically sound, tightly-written response of two paragraphs. In your response, discuss George Orwell's characterization of at least one important character. Then, analyze/explain how Orwell's use of characterization helps develop a theme statement (central idea) drawn from the novella. Considering the following question might help when crafting a theme statement: What seems to be Orwell's "thesis" about human nature/why people do what they do, say what they say, etc. as revealed in the story he tells? Use strong and thorough textual evidence spanning the entire text, and make sure that you reason through your evidence by tying back to your claim(s) often. Good luck!
--Reminder: The essential questions that drive our course:
Why do people do what they do, say what they say, 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: After going over today's notes together, 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. These cards will be used next week when we work on the Animal Farm writing piece.
Review/Instruction -- Theme/Theme Statement (Central Idea) Review
--go over theme definition projected on the SMART Board/Q & A
--share theme words in pairs
--"dump" theme words for Animal Farm on the front board via a drawing of cards
--go over theme statement (central idea) definition projected on the SMART Board/Q & A
--go over theme statement written on the front board (The Tragedy of Romeo...)
Transition
--Please pick up an index card from the front table. Write your first and last name at the top of the lined side.
--"dump" theme words for Animal Farm on the front board via a drawing of cards
--go over theme statement (central idea) definition projected on the SMART Board/Q & A
--go over theme statement written on the front board (The Tragedy of Romeo...)
Transition
--Please 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
--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.?
--When you finish, please place your index card in the black basket on the front table.
Brain Break (time permitting)
HW (Practice/Take-Home Assessment/Class Preparation)
--Complete Membean training until you have earned 100 correct responses (approximately 45 minutes) over three different days before 11:59 PM on Thursday (12/5). DUE TO THANKSGIVING RECESS, I AM ADDING TOGETHER THE "STATS" FROM THE 11/22-11/28 REPORT AND THE 11/29-12/5 REPORT, MEANING THAT ONE OF THESE TWO WEEKS IS AN "EXTRA WEEK." (See the updated "English Department Membean Routine" sheet.)
HW (Class Preparation/Take-Home Assessment)
--An Animal Farm multiple choice assessment will take place in class our first day back from break (Monday, 12/2 [ACE] or Tuesday, 12/3 [BDF]). The assessment aims to measure the following:
--An Animal Farm multiple choice assessment will take place in class our first day back from break (Monday, 12/2 [ACE] or Tuesday, 12/3 [BDF]). 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 listened to (and, maybe, re-read sections of?) the novella
- 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?
--Aim to read at least 10 pages of your free reading book each day over break. If you achieve this goal, you will have read 50+ pages! (I know that I, personally, am quite looking forward to reading (finishing?!) Stephen King's It!) You have up until the middle of next week to finish your book. ALWAYS BRING YOUR FREE READING BOOK TO CLASS!
Miscellaneous
--We will work on the Animal Farm writing piece when we return from break!
--Enjoy the break! May the effects of tryptophan spare you from having to hear conversations about the effects of tryptophan.--We will work on the Animal Farm writing piece when we return from break!
