Computer Lab: Getting the Blog Rolling - Registering at Tripod - Emailing Me

Writing: No formal assignment.  I suggest giving the Cornell Note Taking method a try as you read, however.

1. Sharing/Collect Name Myth Stories
2. Introduce Four Theories of Myth and 
discuss "The World on the Turtle's Back"
3. Share the Cornell method applied to "The 
World . . . "
4. Poems: "The Earth is Your Mother" Leslie Marmon Silko
   and "Warrior Song" (Omaha)
5. Video: "Coyote Eyes"
6. Native American Values and Beliefs/Comparison with European values
7. Excerpt from Columbus's Journal (Howard Zinn)
8.  Excerpt form his First Mate's Journal 
9. Transition into Early Colonial Writing: John Smith and William Bradford

- William Bradford: from Of Plymouth Plantation HA: pp 215-225; 
7th ed.: pp 26-37; 
6th ed.: 12-22

* I encourage use of the Cornell Note-Taking method for these reading assignments. 

5. Review Letter Assignment (web link)

 Scarlet Letter Reading Goals (Quizzes will be given on each of these days)

• Chapters 1-11 by Tuesday, January 27th

• Chapters 12-19 by Thursday, January 29

• Finish by Monday, Feb 2^nd

Option #2: Which writer that we've read so far appeals to you most?  Again, make sure to include a short quotation.

Terms: End Rhyme, Near Ryme, Inverted Syntax, 
Poems:
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” – 6^th p. 51 / 7^th p. 75
“Upon the Burning of Our House” – 6^th p. 58 / 7^th p. 78 “The Flesh and the Spirit” – 6^th ed. pp. 49-51 / 7^th ed. pp. 66-68

1. Poetry Explication: "Exhuming McCarthy" - R.E.M.
2. "Loaded Questions" and the art of interrogation: Activity: Writing and Delivering Loaded Questions
3.  Brief Arthur Miller background lecture 
4.  Begin Viewing The Crucible

NOTE: LETTERS DUE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD (in order to correspond with your reading schedule)

Another is simply, "Thou hast escaped me!  Thou has escaped me!"  These seem somewhat strange thoughts coming from a man who wants revenge; after all, the person he seeks vengeance upon is at that very moment  humiliating himself in front of the world.  (Why would this be a bad thing?) 

In your letter for this week, comment on the significance of these lines, what they might tell us about Chillingworth's character, and add any other thoughts you might have regarding Chillingworth and the Scarlet Letter.

Option #2: Reflect on  the Poetry of Anne Bradstreet.

Weekly Letter: 

1. Feedback on the course: (no more than 1/3 of your letter) Tell me how the course is going for your right now.  What's working?  What's not?

2. Reflect on the Roger Williams reading:
What's  this business with the ship is in the Roger Williams reading.  What does the ship stand for, who are the crewman and the officers, and what does it all mean?  Practice your "chunking" as you analyze.  What else might you apply this "ship" metaphor  to?

3. Feel free to reflect on anything else we've studies this week as well.
 

Extra Credit Opportunity
Surf the web or consult an encyclopedia and find 3-5 interesting facts about the life of William Billings (early American Composer). Any facts that you find that no one else in the class bring in will be worth 2 extra credit points.

1.. Music of William Billings
2. Music and Culture of the Quakers and Shakers
3. American Visions Video
4. Introduction to Paine's Age of Reason

- Write a paragraph in which you identify three interesting ideas that you either agree with or find objectionable in The Age of Reason.
 

Read Excerpt from Common Sense
6th ed: 284-290 (to " . . . already put to"
7th ed. pp 338-343 ((to . . . already put to)

Questions to think about as you read:
1. What reason does Paine give for the protection Britain has given the colonies?
2. What role do physical distance and nationality play in the familial relationship between England and the colonies?
3.  Why is it in Europe's best interests for the colonies to separate from England?
4. Who is interested in reconciliation according to Paine?
5. What would be a better type of country for England to colonize and run according to Paine?

YOUR ESSAYS ARE DUE MONDAY

selections from Franklin's Autobiography:
6th ed: p. 252 (begin at "It was about this time . . . and go to p. 255 (stop at "In 1732, I first published . . ." 

7th ed. pp 302-305.  Begin at "It was about this time . . . " and end at "In 1732, I first . . . "

1.  Discuss Declaration 
2.  Discuss Ben Franklin 

Begin Review for Midterm

(6th ed. begin on page 721)
(7th ed. begin p. 1036 and p. 1031)

Letter Assignment: 
3 options:
Option 1 - Write a reflection on your 5 day experiment of striving toward Franklin's Moral Perfection. Which of the 13 virtues did you struggle with most?  Why?  What came easily to you, etc.  No need for a quote if you choose this one.

Option 2: Your own Declaration of Independence - Choose some group or organization that has some sort of control over you, and declare your independence from them following Jefferson's four part rhetorical structure. No need for a quotation if you do this one.

Letters this week are for Extra Credit
5 point extra credits

Songs of Slavery:
    - "Follow the Drinking Gourd"
    - "Give us a Flag"
    - "No More Auction Block for Me"
    - "Run, Mourner, Run"

Excerpt from PBS Video "Songs of the Civil War" and short PowerPoint Presentation.

Write
a well developed one paragraph explication of the poem. 

2. Reading of "Romance" by Edgar Allan Poe 
3. Draw Conclusions about characteristics of American Romanticism (brief Notes) 
_________

4. Introduction to Poe and American Gothic 
    (brief notes)
5. "The Raven" - Christopher Watkin Reading and Simpsons Episode
6. "Annabelle Lee" Recording

1. Collect Letters
2. Preview of Week's Activities
3. Handout Moby Dick Books
4. Melville Background and Novel Background: Brief Powerpoint: 
5. Starting the Book: Read and Analyze "Loomings"
6. Preview MD Journal
7. Reading Time

and "The Mat-Maker" through "Ahab's boat and Crew, Fedalah"

and "Fast-Fish and Loose-Fish"

and "The Castaway"

Write in MD Journal

MD Journal Questions

No class 1st and 2nd Blocks due to MCA Testing

Block 3: Catch Up/Reading Day

Group 2: "The Mast-Head" Key passages about from Ishmael's first time atop the ship

Group 3: "The Mat-Maker" - Reflections of the loom

Group 4: "The Whiteness of the Whale"

Write Letter #6: 
Option 1: In "The Candles" Starbuck says what others are thinking when he states "God is against thee, old man . . . let me make a fair wind of it homewards, to go on a better voyage than this."  But Ahab refuses  to relent.

Previous to Starbuck's warning, Ahab looked to the storming sky and said "Oh! Thou clean spirit of fire, I now know that thy right worship is defiance . . ."  He is addressing God here.  We discussed this in class already, and Ahab's view of defiance as a good way to worship is a little controversial to say the least..  Read the last section of this chapter carefully and reflect on both Ahab's message and what your opinion of "defiant worship " is.

Option 2: Reflect on other passages that you found interesting or significant from this past week's readings.

Complete your reading guide (class handout) 

Read: