Class today: October 31st

Happy Halloween!

1. After we take our Formalism/New Historicism Annotation Quiz...

2. Open the following Gatsby and the Lost Generation Assignment: Gatsby and the Lost Generation

You will read through the background information on The Lost Generation first. You will then find 6 relatively simple/obvious questions from this information. Answer these, but leave some space in between each response.  When you are done answering these questions, go back 2-6 and jot down some connections that you find in Gatsby to the philosophies and historical aspects that are presented. Stretch beyond the obvious... see what more intricate findings develop.

3. Pick up the Marxism and Gender Criticism handout. Make your way through this for Wednesday, November 2nd.  You will need the basics from the first few pages in your notes, plus the additional questions from the "Literary Theory" questions link.

Some translations from the general category to the specific school of theory on
the Lit Theory Questions Handout:
"Biographical" and "Historical" are New Historicism
"Sociological" is Marxism
"Feminism" is Gender

Due: Monday, October 31st.

1. New Historicism claim and evidence are due by class on Monday, October 31st. This assignment is to be posted in Google Classroom.

2. I have provided a few links to help you with Fitzgerald biography and early 20th Century history. They are found under Gatsby links. Please use these to build your historical perspective.

3. You will have a quiz on Monday over Formalism and New Historicism. You will need to have at your disposal examples of questions.... a definition of each school... and ability to apply each school to annotate a passage from Gatsby... and then end with a literary claim.

For Tuesday, November 1st: Lost Generation and Gatsby Themes (Found under Gatsby Links)

The Great Gatsby- 1974 Film

During Bronco Time, I will be showing the 1974 Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version of The Great Gatsby.  It will be a great opportunity to compare it to the Luhrman version we will be watching in class. By looking at different interpretations of a single text, it can help us examine a primary text more thoroughly by comparing choices of interpretations, etc.

I highly encourage you to utilize this opportunity.

Bronco Time: November 9th, 11th, and 16th

Due: Friday, October 28th

1. 7 New Historicism Questions.
2. New Historicism annotation of Gatsby.  Go back through the text... utilize the NH questions and see what you can discover. We will continue the BBC Documentary on Friday.

Class today: October 25th

1. Read and take notes on the Bob Dylan song, "Summer Days".
Utilize the Formalism approach... Imagery. Symbolism. Diction. Syntax. Point of View.

Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days and the summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on

I got a house on a hill, I got hogs all out on in the mud
I got a house on a hill, I got hogs out lying in the mud
I Got a long haired woman, she got royal Indian blood

Everybody get ready, lift up your glasses and sing
Everybody get ready to lift up your glasses and sing
Well, I'm standin' on the table, I'm proposing a toast to the king

Well I'm drivin' in the flats in a Cadillac car
The girls all say, "You're a worn out star"
My pockets are loaded and I'm spending every dime
How can you say you love someone else when you know it's me all the time?

Well, the fog's so thick you can't spy the land
The fog is so thick that you can't even spy the land
What good are you anyway, if you can't stand up to some old businessman?

Wedding bells ringin', the choir is beginning to sing
Yes, the wedding bells are ringing and the choir is beginning to sing
What looks good in the day, at night is another thing

She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She's looking into my eyes, she's holding my hand
She says, "You can't repeat the past," I say, "You can't?
What do you mean, you can't, of course you can!"

Where do you come from? Where do you go?
Sorry that's nothin' you would need to know
Well, my back has been to the wall for so long, it seems like it's stuck
Why don't you break my heart one more time just for good luck

I got eight carburetors, boys I'm using 'em all
Well, I got eight carburetors and boys, I'm using 'em all
I'm short on gas, my motor's starting to stall

My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
My dogs are barking, there must be someone around
I got my hammer ringin', pretty baby, but the nails ain't goin' down

You got something to say, speak or hold your peace
Well, you got something to say, speak now or hold your peace
If it's information you want you can go get it from the police

Politician got on his jogging shoes
He must be running for office, got no time to lose
He been suckin' the blood out of the genius of generosity
You been rolling your eyes, you been teasing me

Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
Standing by God's river, my soul is beginnin' to shake
I'm countin' on you love, to give me a break

Well, I'm leaving in the morning as soon as the dark clouds lift
Yes, I'm leaving in the morning just as soon as the dark clouds lift
Gonna break in the roof, set fire to the place as a parting gift

Summer days, summer nights are gone
Summer days, summer nights are gone
I know a place where there's still somethin' going on

2. When you are done, hopefully you have made some connection to The Great Gatsby.  You will now need to pick out 10 lines that you feel have significant meaning and connection to Gatsby. Bring in Fitzgerald's words into your notes. Find similar text in Gatsby. What do the comparisons reveal about each other? How are they different? How does the overall tone differ? 

3. You will have our first Socratic seminar on Wednesday over The Great Gatsby. You will need to review the Socratic seminar scoring guide. You will also need to bring 5 higher level questions.  You will bring in your Formalist work and your work with comparison to Dylan. 

Class today: October 24th

1. Turn in the Formalism and Gatsby  papers at the beginning of the hour. Please collect right after the bell.
2. Log into USATEST PREP and take the ACT Practice Reading Test.
3. For class on Tuesday, find the Literary Theory Powerpoint located under “literary theory links”. Scroll to the end to the “New Historicism” slides. Have this information and questions in their notes for Tuesday.

Class today: October 17th

1. By now, you should have your text thoroughly annotated for Formalist conventions.  Remember, the Formalism lens focuses us on a close reading of the rhetorical devices that an author uses AND then we theorize to the implications of this usage.

During class, we will be zooming in on specific literary devices that become the focus of a Formalist and responding to their usage by Fitzgerald.

Not only does Fitzgerald tell an interesting story, but the artistry of this text is phenomenal. Formalism allows us not only receive the results of his artistic talents... but to examine the devices used to create the stunning effects.

For a non-literary example....  Donatello's David, Michaelangelo's David, del Verrocchio's David

Questions to consider; 

1. How does the medium (material or format) impact the tone of the subject? 

2. How are all three works similar in their treatment of the subject?

3. How does each sculptor treat the human body? What impact does this have on the reception of this piece?

4. The inclusion of Golliath's head is in two of the sculptures... What are the implications of this inclusion? What are the implications in the absence in Michelangelo's David? 

5. How does the facial expressions of each David interact with the context of the Biblical story? (Formalist start with examination of facial expression... branching out to intertextuality with context portion of question. 

2. Complete the Gatsby and Formalism handout for Monday, October 24th. 

Remember: ACT Writing Field Test will be taken on Tuesday, October 17th. 

Class today: October 12th

1. ACT Writing Field Test #1
2. Turn in The American Dream annotations and questions.
3. Make sure you have annotations on conventions of fiction and Formalism in Gatsby for Monday, October 17th.
4. Reflection on IOP assignment, if choosing to do so, is due Monday, October 17th.

By the way... 
Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

Here is an article from the New York Times:
New York Times- Bob Dylan Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature

And... a video of Dylan's beautiful anthem "The Times They are a Changin'" (1964)

Class today: October 11th

1. Introduction to Literary Theory.
2. Add the Formalism Questions to your Formalism notes. Questions can be found under "Literary Theory" Links. Click "Literary Theory Questions".
3. Review/know the Argumentative Outline found under "ACT Links".  This is a general outline structure to help you with the ACT Writing Test.  We will be doing the first of two field tests tomorrow (Block Day- Wednesday)

For Monday, October 17th:
Utilizing the Formalism Questions, conduct a Formalism critique of The Great Gatsby. Take the questions and work through the text. Please be thorough in your investigation. You will need... evidence... conclusions/findings.... questions..  Focus on findings AND implications.

Choice assignment:
Reflection upon IOP... what do you want to work on for the next presentation? What were your strengths? Weaknesses? How will you approach Gatsby  knowing that this will be a concluding assignment? This is an optional assignment. Due: Monday, October 17th

Class today: October 10th

1. The Great Gatsby reading quiz. 
2. For class tomorrow, October 11th, using the 8 major conventions of fiction, find 3 points of interest for analysis with textual references for each convention. This will be put in your notes. Pull from your annotations. This will look like: 

Characterization: 
     1. Daisy has an underlying insecurity to her bravado.  Nick describes Daisy's situation, which would warrant her leaving; however, "It seemed to me that the thing for Daisy to do was to rush out of the house, child in arms--but apparently there was no such intentions in her head" (Fitzgerald 20). 

Class today: October 7th

1. Finish IOPs in class today.
2. Review "How to Mark a Text" and then look at Annotate a Text.
How are these texts different? Do they have similar goals and different approaches to achieve the same results? How are they similar? What do they reveal about the author? What is the importance of writing delivery on the meaning? The impact?

Homework; The Great Gatsby is due on Monday. There will be a reading quiz. You are expected to have the text annotated for 8 conventions of fiction and beyond.

Week of October 4th-7th

October 4th: Individual Oral Presentations
                  READ for WEDNESDAY: How to Mark a Book
October 5th: Lost Generation showing during Bronco Time
                     Individual Oral Presentations
October 7th: Lost Generation showing during Bronco Time
                     Individual Oral Presentations

Upcoming:
Monday, October 10th: The Great Gatsby is due.
                                      - Reading quiz on Gatsby
                                     - Be annotating for 8 conventions of fiction and significance.
                                     - Gatsby Annotation Guide
Tuesday, October 11th: Lost Generation showing during Bronco Time
                                     -  The Great Gatsby and The America Dream assignment due
                                         Gatsby and the American Dream Assignment Sheet
                                        Rethinking the American Dream PDF

Class Today: October 3rd

1. IOPs start tomorrow. Remember to dress professionally. Keep practicing and reviewing the IOP scoring guide.
2. In class, please review the following link discussing the ACT Writing Test.
Guide to ACT Writing Test
3. Write an outline for the following ACT Writing Prompt (NEW). Turn in outline tomorrow (Tuesday):

Intelligent Machines

Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives.