Saturday, December 12, 2015

End of Fall Semester

I hope you all enjoyed our Christmas class finale!  You were so much fun!  I look forward to seeing you next semester.

Final assessment marks are up on the assignment record.  If you have any work that still needs to be submitted, feel free to email that to me so you can get your A.

Our first class will be January 7, 2016 from 1:00p - 4:00p

Tuition is due in full the first day of class to receive the discounted rate.

Assignment for Jan 7

  • Complete the preceding assignment for The Odyssey for week 12 if you have not done so


  • Read and highlight books 13 and 14.  Make good margin notes so that you can narrate easily.  Narration sections are as follows:
Book 13
  • 1-92
  • 93-183
  • 184-286
  • 287-365
  • 366-end
Book 14
  • 1-108
  • 109-239
  • 240-359
  • 360-456
  • 457-end

Friday, December 4, 2015

Week 12

Hard to believe, but our fall semester is coming to a close.  I hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of Homer’s Odyssey and the Greek Myths as much as I have!  We have seen Odysseus through his wanderings, and will pick up in the spring with his homecoming. 

Please let me know whether you plan to continue with us next semester.  Classes begin on Jan 7.

PARENTS: You should have received a balance statement showing deposit status, deposit options for next semester, and spring tuition.  If you did not get a statement, send me an email and I’ll get that to you. Due to some schedule changes, our spring class will meet from 1:00 to 4:00 (still Thursday afternoons).

Next Thursday, please come with all incomplete work corrected.  We’ll set aside time in the first hour to answer questions and wrap up unfinished assignments for those who need it.  I’ll have an alternate review activity for those who are finished.

In our second hour, we’ll have some fun with a white elephant gift exchange.  Bring something that connects in some way with our reading/discussion this semester.  Briefly explain the connection on an index card and attach it to your gift.  Each person will have to guess the literary connection in order to swap.  Keep it under $10, or better yet, don't spend anything :) The best gifts for this game turn out to be the imaginative ones that use ordinary things from around the house.

I have not updated the assignment record yet, but will have that done by Monday.

Reading Assignment:
  • ·      Scan books 13-24 of The Odyssey. Highlight names in pink, setting (places, times) in green, and block off the dialogue.


Writing Assignment:
  • ·      Complete comparison II on pg. 35 (We noticed a few workbooks are missing information on this page, so I will scan and email it later today for you to print if your edition is one of them.)
  • ·      Add 10 more points to your ANI chart, for a total of 20 in each column.


Thursday, November 19, 2015

Week 11

I'm enjoying our discussions more and more.  You are all getting better at narrations and at finding interesting things to bring up in class.  Its a joy to teach you!

This week we talked about some helpful tools to clarify your blues.  You can use the following symbols in your margin to remind yourself why you thought a particular passage was important. Try experimenting with these this week:

a lightbulb - something stood out to you, clarified another idea, or answers a question you had
a question mark - you have a particular question about this passage
an arrow - you think this passage has an interesting life application
a cross - you see shadows of stories or truths from the Bible in this passage

As we approach the end of the semester, please check your assignment record for any work that still needs to be checked off.  Remember that it is your responsibility to check for missing work and to approach me at the break to get that checked off.  The following people are up to date on resubmissions:

Lauren Rape
Luke Gray
John Picard
Savanna McGallion

If you do not see your name, please check the assignment record to see what you are missing.  All work must be marked A or E in order for you to receive an A (All work complete) for the fall semester.

Writing Assignment

  • Choose a new issue from either a myth or The Odyssey and begin a new ANI chart.  Since we only meet twice more, we'll work on this ANI chart for the rest of this semester rather than write a new essay.  For those of you who are joining me in the spring, you can use this ANI chart to write essay 3, so hang on to it!  You will need 10 reasons in each column by our next class on December 3.  You can add 10 more for the last week, for a total of 20 by 12/10.
  • Comparison I worksheet (pg 23) - list 10 similarities in each column
Reading Assignment

DeAulaires'
  • The myth of Orpheus p. 102-104
Metamorphoses
  • Orpheus and Eurydice pp. 341-344
Sir Orfeo

I look forward to comparing this "Christianized" retelling of the Orpheus myth to the pagan version.  As you read this week, try to think of similarities and differences between the tales.  What 'are' they both?  What do they both 'have'?  What do they both 'do'?  Are there any critical differences?  Do you think Sir Orfeo more closely reflects the gospel?  If so, why?

It's not necessary to highlight in Sir Orfeo (you can if you want to).  For each section, write one or two sentences summarizing/narrating the section.  You are basically making your own prose version of the poem.  Do try to use the new symbols we discussed (lightbulb, question mark, arrow, cross).  

  • 1-24
  • 25-56
  • 57-76
  • 77-88
  • 89-116
  • 117-130
  • 131-148
  • 149-162
  • 163-174
  • 175-190
  • 191-200
  • 201-218
  • 219-226
  • 227-240
  • 241-264
  • 265-280
  • 281-296
  • 297-314
  • 315-330
  • 331-342
  • 343-354
  • 355-372
  • 373-386
  • 387-404
  • 405-416
  • 417-428
  • 429-434
  • 435-446
  • 447-456
  • 457-462
  • 463-476
  • 477-490
  • 491-496
  • 497-510
  • 511-518
  • 519-530
  • 531-534
  • 535-548
  • 549-574
  • 575-582
  • 583-591
  • 592-595
  • 596-end




Thursday, November 12, 2015

Week 10

I was so glad to see you all today after our 2 week break.  What a great discussion!  Thank you for being prepared despite the time gap between classes.

Writing Assignment:

  • Check the record of assignments to see if you have any incomplete work to turn in.
  • Complete workbook pages 16 and 19 on Parallelism.
  • Review the essay samples for essay 2 on pages 118 - 120.  Notice that these samples do not indent the first line of each paragraph.  Instead, they skip lines between paragraphs. You will need to add the indention in your essay. Do not skip lines between paragraphs.  
  • Write essay 2 from your outline using the checklist on page 109.  Compose one sentence for each main proof and one sentence for each sub proof.  Paragraphs 2-4 should contain exactly 4 sentences each.  
  • Add parallelism to your essay at least once and mark it so I can find it easily.  If you are comfortable with the new idea, add parallelism in a few additional places for more practice.  
  • Make a copy of the checklist and attach it to the front of your essay.
  • Ask an adult to proof read your paper for mechanical errors (grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc.).  Errors are hard to spot in your own writing. 
Reading Assignment:

The Odyssey Book 12
  • 1-110
  • 111-221
  • 222-302
  • 303-end
DeAulaires

read pages 132-146
  • pgs. 132 - 139 (Luke narrate)
  • pgs. 140-146 (Corbin narrate)

Metamorphoses Book 9

  • read sections about Hercules (first 6)


Saturday, November 7, 2015

Thursday, October 22, 2015

But I've already read that!

Ever wonder about the C.S. Lewis quote at the top of our blog page? Click on the picture to the right to watch a short video posted by a friend of mine over at Classical Conversations.  

Week 9


Important Reminder!
I'll be traveling for the next two Thursdays.  We will meet again for class on Thursday, November 12th.

This week was our second lesson on essay 2 arrangement.  We cover a lot of ground in this essay! We are moving from a rudamentary 3 proof essay to an essay containing three main proofs with three supporting proofs each.

Last week, we learned how to sort information on the ANI chart.  From now on, the invention and arrangement for every essay will include creating an ANI chart with 20 points in each column, and sorting those points into sub groups for BOTH the A and N columns.

This week we will move from the sorted ANI groups to an outline.  AS ALWAYS, this will involve an intermediate step (Arrangement B, the essay worksheet).  This intermediate step is necessary in order to cultivate the habit of THINKING in the right order when choosing the content for an essay.  

Writing Assignment

  • Choose the 3 best groups in your sorted A and sorted N
  • Select the best 3 supporting points in each of the groups you chose
  • Decide which side you will argue in your essay
  • Complete the worksheet on pages 13 & 14
  • From the content of the worksheet, create an outline according to the template on page 15 (use your blank outline handout from class)
Reading Assignment
Highlight and narrate in the regular way.  If you have not yet moved from written narration to oral narration, be prepared to read your written narrations aloud in class.  They should explain the content of the section in such a way as to help your classmates remember all the main events in that part of the story.  

The Odyssey, Book 11

*Please be prepared to narrate the last two sections from week 8 since we didn't finish those today in class.  If you completed written narrations for book 10, bring them with you.
  • 1-80
  • 81-149
  • 150-224
  • 225-332
  • 333-384
  • 385-461
  • 462-337
  • 338-end

DeAulaires
  • The Boar Hunt - pages 176-77
  • Theseus - 148-157
Metamorphoses
  • Book 8, first 5 sections: pages 263-286 (line 782)



Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Romans Road Media 40% off on Ancient Histories

The complementary history curriculum I recommended in our kick off meeting is currently 40% off for anyone who might be interested.

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b6a6f11226682d3dd11804388&id=6db5e93856&e=ee89bce8ca


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Week 8

Writing assignment:
  • Sort your ANI chart this week.  You need to sort both the A and N columns.  If any 'I' points can be used to argue one side or the other be sure to move them to 'A' or 'N' before you begin.  If you need a refresher on how to sort, you can watch the video for essay 2 arrangement.  You can also refer to the detailed instructions on page 10 of your student workbook.
  • Use the sorted columns worksheets that I gave you in class today to list the items in their groups with the labels you gave to each group.  This chart will replace workbook pages 11 and 12.
  • Do not use catch-all categories such as "miscellaneous" "random" or "irrelevant".  Keep working with your groups until you can find some unifying idea for each group.
Reading Assignment: 

No myth reading this week

The Odyssey book 10
  • 1-55
  • 56-132
  • 133-209
  • 210-273
  • 274-347
  • 348-448
  • 449-495
  • 496-end

Friday, October 9, 2015

Week 7 Writing assignment

Sorry...forgot to add the writing assignment to the original week 7 post.

Complete your ANI Chart.

A complete ANI chart contains at least 20 points in each of the A, N, and I columns.  Use your 5 topics questions to gather enough information to fill your ANI.  Number your ANI points so that I can clearly see how many there are.  Do not attempt submit an ANI with less than 20 items in each column.  

Remember that you are not looking for "the good stuff" that you will decide is worthy material for your essay.  You are simply gathering a lot of information that relates to your issue.


Week 7

In a sense, we are starting at the beginning of The Odyssey this week.  What do I mean by that?

Homer begins his tale in the middle of things, showing us the state of affairs at the home of Odysseus and telling of his son Telemachus' journey to find his lost father (books 1-4).  While Telemachus is searching, we are carried to Kalypso's paradise, where Odysseus is finally able to leave the island with hopes of reaching his home (books 5-8).

When a story teller begins in the middle of the story, as Homer does here, we say that he begins "in medias res".  In medias res = in the middle of things.   Books 1-4 and books 5-8 occur over the same period of time.

As we enter book 9, we will be taken back to the beginning of the story in what is often referred to as a flashback.  Over the next 4 books, we'll learn what happened before Odysseus came to Kalypso's island where we found him in book 1.

Handy new vocabulary
  • in medias res - in the middle of things
  • flash back - a movement of the narrative back to an earlier time
  • hubris - pride toward or in defiance of the gods (Niobe/Arachne/many others...)
  • motif - an image (often repeated in a story or tradition) representing an idea.  For example, weaving/spinning in The Odyssey represent storytelling and wisdom.  Note that Athena, the goddess most closely involved in The Odyssey, is the goddess of both wisdom and weaving.
Reading Assignment

*Highlight with all 5 colors and block the dialogue in The Odyssey.  Try to find at least one blue per book to contribute to our discussion.  You will continue to highlight the same way all year, unless instructed to change.

*Narrations: You may now move from written to oral narration as you feel prepared to do so.  To become an oral narrator, you will need to come to class with complete written narrations and highlighting.  You will then need to successfully narrate twice without looking at anything while you are speaking.  You will be given 15 seconds to look over the highlighting and notes in the text itself before you begin.  You may not look at your written narrations during this time.  Once you have met these requirements, you may dispense with written narrations for the rest of the year, unless instructed to resume them due to inadequate class preparation.  So far, our oral narrators are Kate Meine and Evie Nichols.  

The Odyssey - Book 9
  • 1-81
  • 82-104
  • 105-176
  • 177-249
  • 250-306
  • 307-406
  • 407-461
  • 462-end
DeAulaires
  • read pages 162-175
  • Narrate the story of The Golden Fleece
Metamorphoses
  • read pages 223-242 (line 648)
  • Narrate - first 5 sections involving Media

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Week 6


Writing assignment:

Note: You will create and ANI chart for each essay we write this year.   You can 1) make a copy of the chart on page 3 of the workbook, 2) email me and I’ll send you a printable version, 3) create your own. 

This week, start a new ANI chart with a new issue.
Use any myth we have read, except the one you used for your last essay.

Write all A and N points you can think of easily.

Next, write three sets of comparison questions using the forms given at the top of page 9.  Here is an example of one set of comparison questions.

*How Is X similar to Y?
(Example: How is Penelope similar to Clytemnestra?)
*How is X different from Y?
(Example: How is Penelope different from Clytemnestra?)

Issue: Whether Penelope should have unwoven the shroud… (“terms” of the issue are underlined)

X term = Penelope (term in the issue)
Y term = Clytemnestra (term outside the issue)

Use a term in your issue for X.  Use anything you want to compare to X for the Y term.  Be sure you compare nouns to nouns, and verbs to verbs.  If you choose a character for X, it is often helpful to compare with another character in the same story or another myth you remember.  When you are finished, you should have a total of 6 questions, three similarity questions and three difference questions.

Write at least one answer to each question.  Then go through your answers one by one, decide whether it argues for the A or N side of your issue, then write it in the appropriate column.  If an answer does not argue for A or N, then write it in the I column.  EVERY ANSWER TO EVERY QUESTION GOES ON YOUR ANI CHART.
You want to get as much information on your ANI chart as possible.

Reading assignment:

The Odyssey: Books 7 & 8

Book 7 narration sections
·      1-77
·      78-181
·      182-235
·      236-end

Book 8 narration sections
·      1-95
·      96-151
·      152-265
·      266-366
·      367-420
·      421-520
·      521-end

Metamorphoses
·      Read pages 189 – 202
·      Narrate the story of Arachne and the story of Niobe

DeAulaires
·      Read pages 34-47
 Narrate the story of Arachne and the story of Niobe

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Free audiobook - DeAulaires Greek Myths online

For anyone interested, there is a free audiobook of DeAulaires Greek Myths available online right now.  I'm not sure if this is ongoing, or just for a limited time.  You have to sign up to get a newsletter in order to download.

https://www.facebook.com/PenguinRandomHouseAudio/app_391853374173361?ref=page_internal



Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Changing narration sections

MEA CULPA!

Last night as I was reading through The Odyssey, I realized that I created and posted narration sections for books 6 and 7 rather than 5 and 6.  The ones I listed for book 5 are actually for book 6.  I am posting new sections for book 5 that make more sense with the narrative.

If you have already begun your narrations according to what I posted over the weekend, that's fine.  Please don't redo them!  It won't hinder our class discussion.

Here are the correct sections

Book 5
  • 1-84
  • 85-200
  • 201-277
  • 278-353
  • 354-423
  • 424-end

Book 6
  • 1-70
  • 71-185
  • 186-254
  • 225-331

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Week 5

Great class today!  Congratulations to our winning "bard" Kate Meine, and to Luke Gray and Corbin Travis for bravely donning the toga and enchanting us with your storytelling!

Writing

This week we moved on to the elocution lesson for essay 1.  This essay is ALL ABOUT STRUCTURE!  Please suppress all urges to dress up this essay in order make it more interesting.  If its "interesting" you will have to rewrite it.  Stick to the form!

Your essay should contain no more than 6 sentences;  one to two sentences for your introduction (depending on whether you choose to use a colon to combine the thesis and enumeration with your exposition), one for each of the proofs in your proof section, and one for your conclusion.  Your thesis should be stated 5 times, once in your introduction, once in each proof, and once in your conclusion.  Include the numerical "scaffolding" in your proof section (the first reason..., the second reason..., the third reason....) followed each time by the thesis and the proof.

Refer to the samples on page 118 in your workbook.  Remember to double space.  Attend to your verb tense and sentence structure.  Do not use contractions.

IMPORTANT
I failed to mention in class that you need to use the self-edit checklist on page 108 of your student workbook.  Please attach this checklist to the front of your essay.

Reading assignment

The Odyssey

  • Books 5-6 (narration sections TBA)

Metamorphoses

  • Book 5
  • Narrate "the rape (kidnapping) of Proserpina"
DeAulaires
  • pages 56-62






Friday, September 18, 2015

Narration sections: Odyssey Book 4

Book 4


  • 1-58
  • 59-119
  • 120-218
  • 219-289
  • 290-362
  • 363-480
  • 481-624
  • 625-672
  • 673-768
  • 769-end

Please check your bags!

Luke is missing his copy of The Odyssey.  Please check your bags for an extra copy and let me know if you accidentally picked his up.

Have a blessed weekend!


Thursday, September 17, 2015

Week 4

We are in the process of writing our first essay, the "rudimentary" persuasive essay.  This essay is as basic as an essay can be, containing only the bare essentials: an introduction, thesis and proofs, and a conclusion.  This is the foundation on which we will build for the rest of the year.

Last week we completed the invention portion of this essay (an ANI chart).  This week, we'll move on to arrangement.  The final product of the arrangement process is an outline.  However, to transition from the ANI chart to an outline, we must pass through an intermediate step - the arrangement worksheet.
The outline begins with an introduction.  However, a writer should not think first of how to introduce an essay.  Rather, it is necessary to think first about the thesis and proofs, followed by the conclusion. The introduction is the last thing a writer decides upon.
Since the "thinking order" is different from the "writing order" we add the arrangement worksheet to train our minds to think in the right order before approaching the outline.

Writing assignment:

  • Check to see if any of your I column points might argue for A or N.  If they do, move them.
  • Choose the 3 most compelling reasons in A
  • Choose the 3 most compelling reasons in N
  • Choose whether you will argue in favor of the A(affirmative) or N(negative) position.
  • Complete the Arrangement worksheet on workbook pages 4-5
  • Use the information from the arrangement worksheet to complete an outline according to the template on page 6.  You may use the blank outline handout from class.
Reading assignment:

The Odyssey, Book 4 (narration sections TBA)

Metamorphoses, Book 4
narrate the following stories
  • Cadmus and Harmonia
  • Perseus and Atlas
  • Perseus and Andromeda
  • Perseus and Medusa
DeAulaires
  • pages 114-122
*Bring your narrations for Echo and Narcissus from week 3 since we didn't get to discuss that story today.

Friday, September 11, 2015

Narration sections for The Odyssey, book 3

Last week, I gave brief titles for each narration section.  This week, I'd like for you to come up with your own.  Here are the sections by line number.

1-30
31-66
67-101
102-200
201-252
253-328
329-384
385-429
430-end

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Week 3


Today we discussed the difference between analytical questions (used to gather relevant information) and normative questions (questions that lead us to make judgements based on "norms").  We were able to identify several examples of norms in this week's reading.  We encountered the norm of hospitality (proper conduct toward guests and conduct of guests in the home of a host), the norm of looking out for others (Ithicans' responsibility to act against the suitors), the norm of respecting elders (Telemachus' treatment of Athena in disguise and the suitors' disrespect of community elders), and the norm that discourages rash vows (Apollo and Phaethon/Jephthah's vow in the Old Testament book of Judges).  
These norms, and many others, guide us in right judgement and conduct.  For example, one might argue that German citizens had a responsibility to stop Hitler from killing the Jews in World War 2 which would reflect an understanding of justice similar to that voiced by Mentor in today's reading of The Odyssey.  Some of the norms we encounter in our reading will be tightly connected to specific societies, their circumstances, and their customs, while others will be universal as shown by their many illustrations across time and culture.  Careful consideration of the norms we encounter in our reading will help guide us on the path to wisdom!

Writing Assignments 
  • ·      Choose character and action from any myth we have read so far
  • ·      Complete top of ANI chart handed out in class
  • ·      5-10 reasons in each column (number them)
  • ·      check 3 rules for chosen action (actual, voluntary, specific time)

Reading Assignments
Highlight and narrate as you have in previous weeks.  Find at least one blue in each myth and in Book 3 of The Odyssey.

DeAulaires
  • ·      Cadmus founds Thebes - pg 108 (last two paragraphs) through pg 110
  • ·      Actaeon and Diana – pg 44
  • ·      Zeus and Semele - 64 – 66 paragraph 2
  • ·      Echo and Narcissus - pg 92
    Ovid
  • Read Book 3.  Write narrations on the stories listed above for DeAulaires

   The Odyssey
  • Book 3
  • Narration sections TBA by the weekend



Thursday, September 3, 2015

Week 2

Our class is off to a great start!  I was very pleased with this first round of narrations and discussion.  We'll continue reading, highlighting, and writing narrations for next week's reading.

I have set up our assignment record (click on the picture of the greek guy with his ancient laptop and stylus to the right).  Please check this record weekly to see if you have any previous work to complete. Next week I will assign the letters for the columns on the assignment sheet.

Each Thursday I will check the current week's reading during the break.  I'll also take up written assignments, both for the current week and previous weeks.  If a student needs a previously assigned reading assignment checked off, it is the STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY to come to me at break time and show that the reading has been completed.   Incomplete assignments are always due the very next week!  In the absence of extenuating circumstances (severe illness/injury, family crisis, etc. ) parents will need to assess incomplete work not resubmitted after the second week.

Week 2 reading:

The Odyssey  - Book 2
narration sections
  • 1-81 (Telemachus takes the scepter)
  • 82-145 (who is to blame?)
  • 146-207 (prophecy and response)
  • 208-223 (Telemachus' plan)
  • 224-257 (Mentor's indictment - suitor's response)
  • 258-300 (Telemachus and Athene)
  • 301-320 (Antinoos and Telemachus)
  • 321-356 (plan of the suitors)
  • 357-412 (preparations)
  • 413-end (setting out)
Ovid's Metamorphoses - Book 2
Read all, but narrate only the following sections
  • Phaethon
  • Jove and Europa
DeAulaires
Read and narrate these sections
  • The Muses (pg 100-101)
  • Eurpoa (pg 108 - first 5 paragraphs)
  • bring last week's narration of Phaethon (pgs. 82-84)





Friday, August 28, 2015

Highlighters and thin pages

It has come to my attention that some highlighters are bleeding through the pages of our particular edition of The Odyssey pretty badly, making the back side of the page difficult to read.  This happens sometimes, especially when we order low cost copies.  I have a few solutions to offer.
  • Turn the highlighter so that you underline with the thin edge rather than highlighting the whole word with the broad side of the highlighter.
  • use colored pencils and underline
  • Use pencil highlighters
  • Get Bible highlighters from Lifeway
 *Here is a link where you can order a set of non-bleeding gel highlighters on Amazon prime for $6.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NF6PAJC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Sorry about not warning you ahead of time.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Welcome!

I'm super excited about our new class!  I've posted the first assignment just below the class calendar on the right side of the page.  Click on the picture of Odysseus and the sea monster.  Our calendar is updated if you'd like to view our class schedule for the semester.  I look forward to seeing you all next Thursday!

Mrs. Rape

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Week 10

We have just two more weeks of class (hard to believe!)  Be sure to get all your assignments that still need to be corrected in as soon as possible.  Assignments for next Thursday are as follows:

Reading

  • Aristotle chapter 22
  • Huck Finn ch 28-36
Writing
  • comparison essay -use check list handed out in class.  Choose 2 or 3 schemes and 2 or 3 tropes that suit your essay and mark them.  

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Week 9

We are now in the process of writing our first comparison essay.  You can relax, because you have already learned almost everything you need to know in the process of writing persuasive essays.  All you need now is to learn the the new arrangement patterns.

If you missed today's class, you'll want to watch the DVDs for lessons 9 and 10 arrangement.

I've posted two sample comparison essays.  Click on the picture of the mad puffy cheeto (he is obviously angry about this writer's thesis) to see the Snack Food essay.  Click on the picture of Brutus and Cassius to see the Roman Traitors essay.  You also have the dogs and horses sample essay in the book to refer to.  Each of these three essays uses a slightly different outline.  You have a choice of which outline to use for your essay.  You can use the outline template in the book (alternating terms as you discuss each theme), the  outline on  your handout (discussing all 3 themes for each term in its turn), or you can do a little detective work to extract the outline from the Snack Foods essay.  This is the first time you've had freedom to choose your arrangement.  Enjoy it ;)

Writing
  • Complete the arrangement worksheet on pages 195-198
  • Create an outline from the template on pages 199-200.  Alternately, you can use the outline I printed for you in class or create a new outline based on the Snack Foods essay.
Reading
  • Aristotle 20 - 21
  • Huck Finn 19-27 

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Week 8

A quote to contemplate in light of our discussion of Jekylll, Hyde, and Romans 7.

"The Christian religion, then, teaches men these two truths: that there is a God whom men can know, and that there is a corruption in their nature which renders them unworthy of Him. It is equally important to men to know both these points; and it is equally dangerous for man to know God without knowing his own wretchedness, and to know his own wretchedness without knowing the Redeemer who can free him from it. The knowledge of only one of these points gives rise either to the pride of philosophers, who have known God, and not their own wretchedness, or to the despair of atheists, who know their own wretchedness, but not the Redeemer."  - Blaise Pascal, Penseees, Section VIII)

Writing
  • Complete the extended comparison worksheet that I will email to you.  Use these terms.
  • Term A = Frankenstein's monster (Frankie) 
  • Term B = Hyde
Reading
  • Huck Finn chapters 10 - 18
  • Aristotle chapter 19

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Week 7

We missed our athletes who were playing in the tournament today!  I hope you all were victorious.  We finished up our discussion of Frankenstein this afternoon, and discussed the Byronic hero archetype.  You can get an idea of what we learned by clicking on the picture of Lord Byron to the right.  Please read over these notes if you missed the discussion.  The term "byronic hero" is likely resurface.  We also learned litotes (a new trope) so you'll want to watch that video.  The worksheet is pretty self explanatory.

Writing Assignments:

  • Litotes worksheet
  • Essay on Rime of the Ancient Mariner.  Include litotes and hyperbole for your tropes. Choose your own schemes.
Reading Assignments
  • Aristotle chapter 18
  • Survey Huckleberry Finn - write 10 things you notice in the back cover
  • Read chapters 1 - 9 Huckleberry Finn
*Aaron has Huckleberry Finn books for Walker and the Meine family

Friday, February 20, 2015

Week 6

Reading Assignments:

  • Finish Frankenstein and Jekyll and Hyde this week
  • Read Romans 7.  List similarities between the state of man that Paul describes with the story of Jeckyl and Hyde.
Writing Assignments:
  • Hyperbole worksheet (pages 201-204)
  • Complete a story chart for either Frankenstein or Jekyll and Hyde
  • If you need to redo your "Strengthening the Proof" worksheet based on our class discussion, do that this week.  Feel free to add to your outline if you discover ways to improve the content of your essay as you complete the worksheet.
  • Optional: begin work on your Rime of the Ancient Mariner essay. It will be due March 5th.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Week 5

No class next week.  Our next class date will be February 19th.

Keep reading Romans chapter 7!  I can't overemphasize the relevance of this passage from Paul's epistle to the themes we'll be dealing with in our discussion of Frankenstein and Jeckyll and Hyde.  As you read Romans this week, consider carefully what Paul is saying about the condition of mankind after the fall.  Here are some important questions to think about:

What did the fall do to our nature?
What is our condition before we are united with Christ?
Which monster (Stevenson's or Shelley's) best  illustrates the condition of fallen humanity?
How does our condition change once we are saved?

See if you can find the verse where Paul transitions from describing his condition as a lost man to describing his condition as a redeemed man.  Hint - watch the verb tenses!

Reading for this week:

  • Aristotle chapter 17
  • Romans 7
  • Section 4 of the Monster-mester schedule
Writing:
  • Strengthening the Proof: complete 1 worksheet for each of your main proofs.  Consider your sub proofs as the evidence given for the main proof.  Modify or change your proofs as you find ways to strengthen them.
  • Create your outline from template 7




Sunday, February 1, 2015

Week 4

I have posted our class calendar.  Click on the calendar picture to the right to view our class day schedule for the remainder of the semester.  We will not have class on Feb 12th due to a CiRCE event I'm attending in Ft. Worth.

Reading

  • Romans 7 (read twice if you didn't read it last week)
  • Frankenstein chapters 11 - 15
  • Jeckyll and Hyde - Through "The Last Night" section (see reading schedule)
*Remember that for Frankenstein you need to write a title for each chapter and list a few key events in the upper margin at the beginning of the chapter.

Writing
  • Sort your Rime of the Ancient Mariner ANI

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Week 3

Thank you all for your patience as this post is on the late side.  We had an "incident" yesterday with Jackie.  Not perceiving the relative size difference between herself and a lab and boxer walking near our house, she decided it would be fun to harass the pair.  She did not fare well in the encounter and suffered many severe lacerations.  Thanks to Dr. D (our super-hero vet, who has saved her neck before) she is going to pull through.  She will now serve as a living illustration for our monster novels.  Frankendog!

Here are your assignments for next week:

Writing
  • Complete the Story Sequence chart for Rime of the Ancient Mariner
  •  Transfer 10 points to your ANI chart and mark them so I know which ones came from this week's invention
Reading
  • Romans 7
  • Section 2 of the Monster-mester schedule (click on the monster pic to the right to see details)

Friday, January 16, 2015

Week 2 - Spring

Readings:
As usual, highlight with yellow and pink as you read.  Use orange to mark schemes and tropes when you notice them.  If the highlighter bleeds through, feel free to use a pen to underline instead (the Dover Edition pages are a little thin).  You can put boxes around names instead of using pink, and use stars in the margin beside sections you would mark in blue.
For Frankenstein - after you read each chapter, go back to the beginning of that chapter and write a chapter title and a few key events to help you narrate.

  • Aristotle for Everybody Chapter 16
  • Jeckyll and Hyde: (Story of the Door, Search for Mr. Hyde)
  • Frankenstein: Letters 1-5, chapters 1-5
Writing:
  • Authority: Expert worksheet (pages 191-194)
  • Create an issue from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.  Make an ANI chart w/ 20 items in each column.  Include 10 items from the topic of Authority (Witnesses, Experts, etc.) and mark those with a circled letter A.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Week 1 - Spring

It was so great to see you all today!  Here are the assignments for next week.

Reading

Read the Rime of the Ancient Mariner AT LEAST TWICE!  Use pink for characters and orange for schemes and tropes you recognize. Write a short summary for each section on your second read through.

Writing
Complete the invention worksheet on pages 171-173 of your student workbook.