Wednesday, January 31st

Study Questions for ll. 301-1271

Belief Systems
15. According to Hrothgar, why is Beowulf there?
16. What does Beowulf mean by “Fate goes ever as fate must” (455)?
17. Look at the stanza which runs from ll. 473-79. In what/whom does Hrothgar believe?

Friendship
18. What kind of words does Unferth speak?
19. What story does Unferth cite when challenging Beowulf? Describe it.
20. How does Beowulf respond to Unferth’s challenge?

The Role of Women in the Poem
21. Who is Wealhtheow? What does she do when she enters?

The Battle with Grendel
22. What will Beowulf use to defeat Grendel?
23. Describe, ever so briefly, the battle between Beowulf and Grendel.
24. How do Beowulf’s men help him?
25. What does Beowulf get from Grendel that is proof he has defeated him?
26. Where does Grendel go to die?

Stories within Stories
27. Describe the man who appears in ll. 866-873. What does he do to honor Beowulf and why?
Honor, Fame, and Riches
28. How does Hrothgar thank Beowulf?
29. What does Hrothgar say about Bewoulf’s mother?
30. What do Danes and Geats do to Heorot (990- ?)? What do they do next?

Heorot Continued
31. Fill in the blank: “Inside Heorot / There was nothing but ________” (1016-17).
32. What kind of gifts are bestowed on Beowulf?

Another Song
33. The man who sang of Siegmund’s and Beowulf’s greatness sings again. What, in very general
terms, is the second song about?

The Role of Women
34. What does Hrothgar’s Queen say as a toast?

January 30th

January 30th- State of the Union assignment.

Friday, February 2nd:
                      Lines 662-1231
                   - Quiz over introduction and first 1200+ lines of Beowulf

January 29th

1. Poetry Terms Quiz.

2. Teacher of the Year Form
Submit by January 31st to laura.maxwell@lsr7.net

3. Read up to line 661 in Beowulf. 

State of the Union Assignment:

President Trump will make his first State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 30th. The address will air live on most news channels, and will be available online after the speech is made. 

The following is a description of the address on Wikipedia.

“The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the Unite States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and national priorities to Congress. The State of the Union is typically given before a joint session of Congress and is held in the House of Representatives chamber at the U.S. Capitol Building.”

This paper is an extra credit grade and will be due by Monday, February 5th. 

The paper must be typed.

You need to watch the State of the Union, either live and/or online. You should take notes as the President delivers his address. You will be turning in your handwritten notes with your paper.

Then, identify four major issues the President discussed in his speech and do the following.

1. Identify and explain what the issue is.

2. Explain the President’s view/opinion on the issue.

3. Explain what the President wants to do about the issue and how he plans to do it. USE SPECIFICS!

4. What was audience reaction to each of the above issues?

Each of the items above needs to be very thoroughly explained. It will take multiple paragraphs for each issue.

After you have watched the President’s address and explained the above points, watch the Democratic response to the President’s address by Joseph Kennedy. This will air immediately after the State of the Union, and can also be viewed online. 

For two of the issues you chose above, explain the critique given in the rebuttal response.

1. Who is giving the response? Is there any specific reason why the Democrats chose this person to respond to the President’s address?

2. What specifically did this person say about the President’s points? Did this person agree with any of the President’s plan? What parts did they disagree with? Why? Did they offer any alternatives they felt would be better? Each of these issues will require at least 1 paragraph, if not more.

Feel free to start on this assignment right away, and bring any questions/concerns to me before the end of the week so I can help guide you if necessary.

January 25th

1. In Search of Beowulf video.
2. Intro to Beowulf  discussion.

Beowulf study questions 1-300. Beowulf Study Questions 1-300
These will help your reading. Both reading and study questions are due on Monday.

For Friday: Poetry Terms Test

January 23rd.

1. Continue Formalism conversation- James Baldwin.

2. Open up the literary criticism essay of Michael Clark- Identify his thesis for his paper.

3. You will need to come up with a Formalism-prompted thesis on "Sonny's Blues" and "Amen" or "Munich, Winter 1973". This is two literary thesis statements.

4. When you have constructed a thesis for both, you will need to list three pieces of evidence for each thesis. Specific quotes AND explanation.  These can be bullet pointed.


Turn this into Google Classroom by Friday, January 26th.
Read the Introduction to Beowulf for Thursday.
Poetry terms quiz is Friday.

Beowulf Reading Schedule

As you read, you are expected to annotate the text and take thorough notes.
The posted line numbers are expected to be completed by the posted dates.

January 25th: Introduction

January 26th: Poetry Terms Test

January 29th: Lines 1-285
                 
January 30th: Lines 286-661
                  - State of the Union Speech

February 2nd: Lines 662-1231
                   - Quiz over introduction and first 1200+ lines of Beowulf

February  5th: Lines 1232-1491
                 - State of the Union Assignment Due

February 8th: Lines 1492-2199

February 9th: Lines 2200-2538

February 12th: Finish the poem
                     - Quiz over entire poem

January 22nd

1. Socratic Seminar- Formalism and James Baldwin.

For Tuesday:
1. Read the introduction to Beowulf. Pages ix-xxx.
2.  Remember your poetry terms quiz will be Friday, January 27th.

January 19th

I have had to leave early for my sick kid.

1. Read over the Formalism "How to Do" link on right side margin. Take good notes! 

2. Look over the Formalism Handout- keep it open to help with literary terms and devices. 

3. Read through the two Baldwin poems. Perform a Formalism read of both poems. Remember to annotate thoroughly using the literary device questions PLUS the literary devices on the Formalism handout. You will use these two texts, also, for your Socratic Seminar.
Here is an electronic copy if needed: Baldwin Poems

4. Remember to make your literary/poetry terms flash cards! You have a test NEXT FRIDAY! 

5. We will postpone the Socratic Seminar until MONDAY.  Use your time today to review "Sonny's Blues" PLUS the "Light and Dark" essay thoroughly for your discussion.  Have your notes full of ideas and questions to discuss. The seminar will be for a grade. 

Thursday, January 18th

1. Watch and take notes on the two literary theory videos:
Explanation of WHAT IS LITERARY THEORY
Methodology: Introduction to Literary Theory

For Friday, we are going to begin to wade into Formalist Criticism by first practicing a bit and then reading an example of an individual who has mastered the school of theory.

1. You first need to read James Baldwin's short story "Sonny's Blues". As you are reading, I want you to be utilizing the questions from the Formalist school of theory. Jot down things that you notice in conjunction with doing a "Formalist" read. This is just the beginning, so any thing that you are noticing when it comes to form and structure and HOW a piece comes together is good!

Sonny's Blues TEXT PDF

2. When you are done, look over your notes. Are there any connections? Any theme running throughout the things you were noticing? Groupings? (Think like you are reviewing a Brainstorm). Jot down any informal conclusions that you have.. Just jot them down on the bottom of your notes.. side margins, etc.

3. Read "Light and Darkness in Sonny's Blues" by Michael Clark. This is an example of what is going to be our end result. Clark has developed a Formalist argument from the exact same literary text that you have read. I want you to look at the development of thinking. The manner in which he examines the text, not so much what we can learn about "Sonny's Blues".   How did he look at the short story? What kind of things did he notice?

Take notes on HOW Clark examined the literary text and be ready to talk about it on Friday.

"Light and Darkness in Sonny's Blues"- Michael Clark  (Starts on 2179)

SOCRATIC SEMINAR ON FRIDAY! BE READY!! 

Friday, January 12th

Class:
1.  What is Literature? Why do we study literature? Socratic Seminar.

2. Look over the literary criticism "Schools of Theory" questions. Read through each set of questions and through your understanding try to write a summary of each school of theory.

3. Open up the literary theory PowerPoint. Start taking notes on the the first slides up through Formalism. Do your best. Some of it will be confusing. I will be explaining it in class. I just want you to have some familiarity with the concepts before I expand upon them in class.

4. Start making flash cards for poetry terms. Find the list of poetry terms under literature links on the right side. These are the tools for being able to do the first school of literary theory. Your quiz over these terms will be on JANUARY 26th.

Thoughts? >

January 9th

1. 3 Bears discussion- Turn in your question responses and Bears story.

2. Elif Shafak- The Politics of Fiction
WSQ Notes- Watch, Summarize, Questions

• What is the purpose of the video? 
• What is supposed to be learned from this video? 
• How does this video connect to the concepts covered in class/previous classes?
• What major points are significant in the video? Major take-aways? 

MORE ON ELIF SHAFAK if interested... Writing Under Watchful Eye- NPR

2. Read and take notes on the following link:
Why We Study Literature
(Please note that this reading developed from a religious university and the brief reference of Christianity is not being passed along by your instructor with the discussion of literature). 

3. Be ready for a small Socratic seminar on this reading for class on Thursday. You will need to bring 4 questions on the Ted Talk and the article. These will be your two sources of discussion.

Homework.
Next, you will need to take a copy of the "schools of literary thought". Please read through these questions and TRY.. try... to write a short summary of what you think each school of theory addresses.  Use the questions to see common threads... concerns. Have this for FRIDAY.

January 8th

1. Get out your "Three Bears" stories. Please switch stories with a partner. Read through their version of this story.

Answer the following questions: Write them down on paper.. you will turn these in at the end of the hour.
1. How are the bears portrayed.. positive? negative? 
2. How many bears are there in the story (for example.. there were always four in my story)
3. How is Goldilocks portrayed? 
4. How does the story end? 
5. What is the moral of this story? 
6. What differences do you see in your partner's story in relationship to your own? 
7. Do you feel that there is significance in the differences? 
8. What similarities to you see? 
9. Is there a significance in the similarities? Why do you both include these elements? 
10. Why is this story one that everyone knows? 

2. Once you have answered all of these questions... go through them with your partner.
Now answer the following questions:

11. What do the two/three of you notice about this story beyond just the plot?
12. What purpose does this story serve to society? the family? the individual? 

HOMEWORK :
Now open the link:
3 Bears History
Answer the following questions together:

13. In what ways has the story changed from the version you have written down? 
14. What do you feel is the significance in these changes? 
15. What influenced these changes? Speculate. Guess..   Imagine. 
16. What are some things you never thought of in consideration of "The Three Bears" that this information illuminated? 
17. What are some conclusions that you can make about the study of literature? Society? 
18. What questions do you have? 

Staple your questions together.. make sure your name is on your paper WITH your copy of your story.

January 5th

Today you are going to write out the story of the Three Bears. You will retell the story with as much plot and description that you can remember. This needs to be typed and a hard copy printed off for class on Monday, January 8th.

January 5th

1. Turn in the WSQ sheet to the sub from the Duckworth Ted Talk.

2. Read the article by James Clear: The Importance of Grit and Perseverance

3. Thinking about the definition, KC Star article, Clear's article, and Duckworth's video, your score on the Grit quiz, please respond to the following three prompts. Be thoughtful... be thorough... be critical in your thoughts and writing. Bring in examples and evidence from the article/video/life.

SUBMIT THESE TO GOOGLE CLASSROOM BEFORE CLASS ON FRIDAY!

What have you learned about the importance of grit in the classroom, and in life? 

How do you already exhibit characteristics of grit... or have exhibited characteristics of grit in your life thus far? 

In what areas of life do you want to improve on your grittiness? How? Why? 

On a side note, I am so sorry to miss you all the first few days of the semester! I have the flu, and I am totally miserable.

Happy New Year! January 3rd!

1. Write the above term and definition in your first page of notes for the start of the new semester. 

2. Read the following article from the January 3rd Kansas City Star: "Got Grit?". 

As you are reading, with your notes open, and pen in hand, jot down the following. 

• Article name, author, and date 
• Major warrants that the author makes (remember how warrants function)
• Pertinent specific examples that emphasize the argument. 
• Specific terms that are defined
• When done reading, write a one sentence summary of the article. 

3. Watch Angela Lee Duckworth's Ted Talk, "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance"

For Thursday: 

4. Take the following survey on GRIT: Grit Survey

You will receive a 1-5 score on your "Grittiness".  1 being not very gritty... 5 being extremely gritty. Keep track of this score in your notes. Jot down some ideas about your results for class on Thursday.