Weekend...and the future!

Just read through Chapter 4. We will discuss on Monday.

Just so you know, you will be getting the opportunity (don't read into that too much, it's required) to lead the class discussion on a chapter.  You'll go in groups of 3 or 4 starting with chapter 5. We'll have a sign-up sheet on Monday.

It will look shockingly like this:

1. Chapter 5: May26th (whoever signs up for this date will of course get extra consideration for being first and brave and awesome)


2. Chapter 6: May 27th


3. Chapter 7: May 28th


4. Chapter 8: June 2nd


5. Chapter 9: June 3rd


6. American Dream Gatsby Summative Discussion Extraordinaire: June 4th

Tuesday will be a prep/work day in your groups. I will be largely silent during these discussions, or at least I will need to raise my hand and wait to be called on. YOU will be responsible for the discussion.

I will grade these on the following criteria:

• preparation


• how well the discussion goes


• if discussion stalls, how well the group kick starts or redirects the discussion


• Insights not garnered from Spark Notes or its competitors (Maybe I'll just print out the chapter write-up and have them with me during the discussion in case I forget something).

This is a very rich book with plenty to work through. We will take two timed writes on this book as well and you'll be able to pick your favorite to be graded in lieu of a big paper.

Book Blogs

[caption id="attachment_1193" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Party Scene"][/caption]

It seems the book blog assignment was unclear.

We are doing one blog post per chapter.

Unless otherwise instructed for a particular chapter, focus your observations on the following:

• The American Dream


• Character Development


• Literary Devices (metaphor, sensory details ie. color, foreshadowing, etc)

Make at least one observation per chapter from each category.  I apologize for any confusion.

I finally take my National Boards test tomorrow. I promise that when I'm done and after I relax a bit this weekend (we're going to the Paramount to see the Mark Morris Dance group), I will do things normal teachers do like grade papers again. :)

Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.

This weekend, read chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby. Write a "book blog." You may have heard of a book log before in which one writes their thoughts and observations about a book in general or focused around a particular theme or motif. Well, we will be doing just that, with the entries on our blogs.

Focus your observations on the following:

• The American Dream


• Character Development


• Literary Devices (metaphor, sensory details ie. color, foreshadowing, etc)

Make at least one observation per chapter from each category. At times, there may be other particular foci for the book blog. A reading schedule is forthcoming.

Don't forget to come out to Annie this weekend!