Slaughter House Five

Slaughter House 5

Answer the following questions by using references from the novel. Any assertions should be backed up with text from the novel. I expect your answers to be thoughtful and thorough. Your answers should be typed.

1. Why is SH5 dedicated to Mary O’Hare? (15)

2. In chapter 2 Billy Pilgrim is behind the enemy lines with Weary. Why does Weary beat him up?

3. Is SH5 Science Fiction or Psychological? Why do you so answer?

4. What is the significance of Vonnegut’s use of repetition? ( So it goes)

5. On page 128-130 Vonnegut records German “propaganda” that states that poor Americans are taught to hate themselves for being poor. That essential being poor in the US is a sin because it is believed that being poor means you are either too lazy or too stupid to make money. Do you agree that to a degree Americans believe this? Is the statement pure propaganda or does it have some basis in truth? Defend your answer. “…who have no one to blame for their misery but themselves.”

6. SH5 is truly a modern American classic. Partly due to the fact that Vonnegut uses a unique structure and employs literary devices in unexpected ways. What sorts of literary devices or structures do you see Vonnegut using that make this novel different from other novels.

7. There is a great deal of strong symbolism in SH5 choose five examples and write a paragraph explaining what each one means and how it fits into the context of the novel.

Posted on on May 28th, 2009 in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

The Awakening

Pick three of the following projects. They must be completed on the first day of school.

1. Write a letter from Edna to her husband explaining why she does not want to live with him any more. Make sure the letter is written in the correct format and that it displays your knowledge of the novel.

2. This novel is told from Edna’s perspective. Retell a part of the story from the perspective of Robert, Mr. Pontellier’s or the children’s.

3. Create a scrapbook that visual represents each chapter of the novel. You may do this digitally or as a paper scrapbook. Include captions with your photos.

4. Research the Creole culture and write a report explaining the origins, beliefs and traditions of the culture. The concluding paragraph should explain how what you have learned applies to the novel.

5. Read one of Kate Chopin’s short stories and write an essay comparing the female character to Edna.

6. Write a poem as if it was written by Edna. Remember that the purpose is for you to display your knowledge of the novel so include as much information about place, feelings, other characters, and her thoughts that you can.

Posted on on May 28th, 2009 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

American Literature

Junior English

Instructor: Peggy Henderson Murphy

Weblog: www.writingforfun.edublogs.org

E-mail address: pmurphy_ic@scoca-k12.org

Objectives

Students will be able to explain the creation, evolution and demise of the American Dream.

Students will improve their ability to express themselves orally and in writing.

Students will learn to use technology to enhance their ability to communicate ideas.

Students will learn to use writing as a method to think critically, understand concepts, discover connections and explore ideas.

Students will write everyday.

Journals: We will do Wild Writing (journaling) almost every day this year. You will need a notebook to write in. You must use a one subject spiral notebook for a journal. Each of you will need a 3 ring binder to keep your journal in and use as a portfolio. Keep in mind that your classmates will have access to your portfolio. Although I would consider it an extreme breech of privacy to read someone else’s journal without permission you need to be aware of the possibility. (Anyone found removing a portfolio/journal from the shelf that is not their own or reading someone else’s journal without the owners permission will loose 100 journaling points.) Please get your portfolio from the shelf before class begins you will need it EVERYDAY. Loose pieces of paper stuck into journals will not be accepted. Please date and number each journal. You do not need to write the journal prompt in your journal but you may. At the end of the year all journal entries for the entire year will be turned in.

Journal entries are worth 10 points each. You are expected to write for the entire journaling time (5-7 minutes). For even the slowest writers 5-7 minutes of writing should result approximately into a page of writing. As you write regularly your quantity and quality will improve, but in the beginning just write what ever comes to mind.

Weblog- I have created a blog for the junior class. I will post assignment sheets, pictures, your writing, and other information there. I encourage you to post your poetry, short stories, art, pictures, and reflections. I want to the blog to be your blog and reflect what is important to you.

Portfolios- Portfolios will be left in the classroom. You will put all of your writing and in your portfolio and save it for the entire year. I will be checking them periodically and they will receive a grade at the end of each quarter. As a class we will maintain a list of what should be in the portfolio.

What You Need To Know About Me

1. Turn in work on the day it is due. If you are absent the day an assignment is due you must turn it in the day you return. Assignments that are late will receive a letter grade deduction. No assignment will be accepted more than a week after the due date. Assignments are due at the beginning of your class period if you do not have it to turn in at the beginning of your class period you will receive the letter grade penalty. Most of the assignments I give are ones you will know about in advanced. I will give you an assignment sheet with a due date so know your schedule and plan ahead. If you are absent the day an assignment is given that must be turned in the next day or the day after you will be given an appropriate amount of time to complete the assignment. Be sure you understand when you must turn in the assignment. However, an assignment given in advance of your absence DOES NOT entitle you to extra time.

2. I do not want to hear the following excuses:

I had a game last night

My computer wasn’t working

My printer ran out of ink

The computer will not read my disk or memory key

My dog eat it

My little brother/sister tore it up

I left it at home

All of these problems are the result of either poor planning or lack of motivation to find a solution.

3. I will not loan books, pencils, pens, paper etc.

4. I am here to help you in anyway I can, but I will not do it for you. You must take responsibility for your own education. I believe that teachers should be facilitators and coaches not disseminators of information. You will be expected to work independently, think critically, problem solve, synthesize information and make connections to other disciplines and knowledge. DO NOT expect me to do your thinking for you. If you need help I will lead you, support you and point you in the right direction.

5. I believe that each and every one of you has the potential to be successful, but you must choose success. I value and reward creativity and risk taking. Do not be afraid to be wrong or fail at a task we learn from every experience. If we only do what we are comfortable doing we do not grow! You will feel uncomfortable and frustrated at times this is part of the learning process.

Schedule

1^st Quarter (Literature from book, 1 Essay, 1 Presentation, 1 Novel)

Week 1 Writing Warm up

Week 2 The American Masters

Week 3 The Reflective Essay

Week 4,5,6 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Week 7,8,9 Rock Poetry

2^nd Quarter

Week 1 The Moderns (Pound, Elliot, Williams, Faulkner)

Week 2 Literary Analysis “A Rose for Emily”

Week 3 Mid century Voices (Welty, Thurber, Frost,)

Week 4, 5, 6 The 1920’s and 30’s Technology presentations (Websites and Newsletters)