Derek Thomas -- PHS AP English Blog

AP Literature: King Lear Act 2

Miss Friday?  Catch Up Over the Weekend

Many of you missed class on Friday due to chorus, pep rally commitments, or various other reasons.  Thus, you are behind in King Lear.  We watched Act II in full and then had a brief discussion of the events.  Therefore, it is imperative that you read Act II this weekend.

Additionally, I assigned the next pages of A Thousand Acres -- to page 212 by Friday, December 11th.

We also took a quiz on the first 106 pages of A Thousand Acres which you will make up Monday.

Here is a link to Act II of King Lear.  Please read and analyze before Monday.

http://www.shakespeare-literature.com/King_Lear/6.html

AP Literature: Let's Get Back To Work

Bye Bye Thanksgiving Break

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break and appreciated the fact that you did not have any work assigned by me.  Edline and Turnitin are now completely up to date.  Both the Granny Weatherall and Popular Mechanics essays have been graded.  The Popular Mechanics essays have extensive comments.  The Granny Weatherall essays only have comments on some of your papers.  However, they were read carefully and your grade represents a 'real' score.

I must make TONIGHT the last opportunity to get in any late assignments up to this point.  We will be in a race to the end of the quarter once we return -- three weeks until Winter Break and then only one week after we return from the Winter Holidays.  The final week will be exams.  That makes us almost 1/2 through the quarter already.

Be prepared to jump right into King Lear tomorrow (Monday) in class.  You will also receive A Thousand Acres and be expected to begin reading that tomorrow night.  We will complete both books before Winter Break.  Thus, please be prepared to work.  Hard.

Many of your grades are below your capabilities at this point.  Many of you have Fs because of incomplete assignments.  Please buckle down.  I hate giving Fs, but will do so.

See you tomorrow.

AP Literature: How to Read Literature Like a Professor - Part 2

Chapters 10-19 Due to Turnitin Thursday Night

Just a reminder .... that the second set of chapter questions from HTRLLAP are due to Turnitin on November 12th.  I've attached the assignment below, in case you have misplaced it and don't want to dig back through the blog.

It's 200 points.  40 points off for each day that it is late.  Good Luck.

Download ProfessorAssignment

AP Literature: The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

Essay Due to Turnitin Monday Night

Below you will find a copy of The Jilting of Granny Weatherall, the story we read in class on Monday, in case you need it to write your essay.

Here's the prompt:  Discuss the symbolism of light and darkness in the story.

Good Luck.

Download The Jilting of Granny Weatherall

AP Literature: Hemingway's Soldier's Home

Read TONIGHT (October 27th)

Be prepared to discuss and answer questions about Hemingway's short story, "Soldier's Home".

Download Hemingway-Solders_Home

AP Language: Grades

No More Late Work

Because the nine weeks is coming to an end, Turnitin has been 'turned off' with regard to late work -- meaning you will not be able to submit late assignments.

Any late assignments that you want to still turn in for partial credit must be done so by this Friday, October 23rd at 3pm.  They MUST be emailed to me at derek.thomas@sdhc.k12.fl.us.  I will not accept them in class.  After Friday, no late work will be accepted anymore this nine weeks.

No More Late Work

Because the nine weeks is coming to an end, Turnitin has been 'turned off' with regard to late work -- meaning you will not be able to submit late assignments.

Any late assignments that you want to still turn in for partial credit must be done so by this Friday, October 23rd at 3pm.  They MUST be emailed to me at derek.thomas@sdhc.k12.fl.us.  I will not accept them in class.  After Friday, no late work will be accepted anymore this nine weeks.

AP Literature: Grades

No More Late Work

Because the nine weeks is coming to an end, Turnitin has been 'turned off' with regard to late work -- meaning you will not be able to submit late assignments.

Any late assignments that you want to still turn in for partial credit must be done so by this Friday, October 23rd at 3pm.  They MUST be emailed to me at derek.thomas@sdhc.k12.fl.us.  I will not accept them in class.  After Friday, no late work will be accepted anymore this nine weeks.

AP Literature: Analysis of "The Reunion"

Great Piece by Paige Mason

I came across this analysis/summary of Cheever's "The Reunion" tonight.  While it doesn't specifically address the blend of pathos, humor, and grotesque in the short story, it does offer a full, deep analysis of the work that can/should help with your paper.  I just thought you might be interested.

Analysis of Cheever's "The Reunion"

AP Language: SATIRE and "A Modest Proposal"

 
Eating Children is NOT a Recurring Theme in This Class (Even Though It May Appear to Be)

Below you will find a link to "A Modest Proposal" in case you did not finish it in class or would like to refer to it to answer the multiple choice questions.  We will spend all day Monday analyzing the work and continuing our discussion of satire.  Be sure you complete the questions and are ready to discuss them on Monday.

Link to A Modest Proposal

AP Language: Final Argument Journal Entry for First Nine Weeks

Due Monday, October 19th

Just a reminder that the final entry in your Argument Journal for this nine weeks will be due Monday, October 19th.  Because it is your final entry this quarter, I want it to be fantastic.  Pull a great article from Arts and Letters Daily.  Then write a great essay.

I'm looking forward to reading them.  Due to Turnitin !!!!

AP Language: Dave Eggers Updates

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and Other Updates

 1.  Our quiz on the first four chapters of Dave Egger's memoir will be Friday.  We've had to postpone it because of this crazy week, but we will be having it Friday.

2.  The handout you will receive tomorrow (Thursday) introduces an article by Mr. Eggers called The Future of Words.  The article and assignment are posted below if you need it.  The essay response is due on Wednesday, October 21st.

Download Dave Eggers Essay and Assignment

3.  You should be completed with your reading of the memoir by Monday, October 26th.

AP Literature: Beloved Stylistic Prose Techniques

Assignment Due to Turnitin Monday, October 19th

  Notice the stylistic techniques that Toni Morrison uses in order to communicate more effectively and powerfully.  Examples of stylistic techniques are point of view, tone, diction, syntax, narrative pace, humor, satire, figurative language, imagery, irony, selection of detail, and many more.

1.  Prepare a list of at least ten examples of powerful stylistic prose techniques.

2.  Define the term in your own words, cite an example from the text, and provide a brief analysis of how the author uses the technique effectively.

3.  For each of the ten examples, tell me what you think makes this passage memorable to you and/or what makes it representative of Morrison's style.

Remember this is NOT an essay.  It is simply an analysis of the work of Toni Morrison.  You should have your papers numbered from 1 to 10 and have about a paragraph response for each number.

Submit to Turnitin by midnight on Monday, October 19th.  It's worth 60 points.

AP Literature: Reunion by John Cheever

Rewrite Due on Friday

Since the timed writings for the Cheever short story were not very good (to say the least), I'm asking that you rewrite them as a 'regular' essay and submit them to Turnitin by midnight Friday.  I'm looking for VERY good work here since you will have essentially written the essay twice.

The prompt is attached below.  It is QUESTION 2.  Remember that you are analyzing the blend of humor, pathos, and grotesque in the story.

Good Luck.

Download John Cheever Reunion Prompt

AP Literature: October 4th Updates

Some Good Work and Some Reminders

 Well, well, well students.  Finally, some words of encouragement about your essays.  I was very impressed with the essays that dealt with Achebe's accusations of 'racism' in Conrad's Heart of Darkness.  So impressed that I gave my first AP Scores of 9 for the year (6 of them in fact).  Your writing here just seems light years above what you have written for me so far this year.  I hope that means that the summer cobwebs are out of your system and that you all are now focused on consistently showing me good work.

However, this does not mean that all the essays were good.  Many of you still need work and surprisingly to me, there was a preponderance of essays that were still written using first person throughout.  Some of you used it sparingly, but still it really has no place in academic writing unless you are telling a personal anecdote.  Just get in the habit of leaving it out altogether.  It troubles me that so many of you are still relying on it.

Please log into Turnitin and look at the comments on your essays.  I think many of you will be very satisfied with your work and your grade.  Please keep it up.

Don't forget that the Things Fall Apart essay of choice is due tomorrow, Monday, night.  Then, the first entry in your Read Literature LIke a Professor work is due on Wednesday night.  Big week ahead.  Work hard.

AP Literature: The Lady With The Dog

Point of View Assignment

Here is the link for Anton Checkov's The Lady with the Dog.  Remember that you have the worksheet to respond to questions about the style of the story and you must create an outline for an essay about point of view using this prompt:  Why is the point of view of the short story essential to it's success?  I don't want you to write an essay, I just want a central idea, a thesis, and a few topic sentences that you can support.

All due Monday.  Have a great weekend.

AP Literature: Updates

September 24th Class Information

Hi Everyone,

Lots going on right now so I thought I would update you.

You should be completed with Things Fall Apart by Monday.  Part 3 is not very long but is very full.  Things literally "fall apart" for Okonkwo and it is a very satisfying ending.

The rewrites of your Conrad essay on the characterization of the narrator and the station manager is due to me, in class and by hand, tomorrow.  Remember that if you received an AP score of lower than 6 on the original essay you must do the rewrite.  If you received a 6 or above, the rewrite is optional.  Doing it adds 10 points to your score.  Not doing it if required takes 20 more points from your score.

Your essay on "A Rose For Emily" is due Monday night to Turnitin.

Additionally, please ponder the short story we discussed in class today, "A Worn Path".  Our discussion (my discussion?) is very emblematic of the kind of close reading you need to be doing for this class.  Remember it is all about the messages the literature offers us.  That is why we study it.  Read deeply to find what it is you are supposed to take away -- from everything.

AP Language: Updates

September 24th Updates

There's a bunch going on ... so to keep you updated.

Your rewrites for "The Leech" Character Essay are due tomorrow by hand to me in class.  Remember you are required to do a rewrite if you got an AP score of less than 6.  For those of you with a score of 6 or greater, the rewrite is optional.  However, it does add 10 points to your score.  If you are required to do one and you do not do it, I will take an additional 20 points off your score.

Also due tomorrow, by hand to me in class, is the draft of your Lincoln Innaugural Speech Analysis.  This can be hand written or typed.  We will do peer edits on the Lincoln Essay tomorrow in class.  This is a 30 point assignment just for having the essay to participate in the peer edit process.  Your final draft of the Lincoln Essay is due to Turnitin by Wednesday night and will be worth another 100 points.

There will be a quiz on the notes you took on diction and syntax and the handout on figurative language (schemes and tropes) on MONDAY.  It was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but I realize you have a lot due tomorrow so I am backing it up until after the weekend.

Lastly, your comparison of your ending to the story we read in class and the actual ending is due tomorrow.  It's the graphic organizer on the back of the story ending.  It should only take a few minutes but I will collect them for some easy points.

That's it for now.  You have a busy night ahead.  I know that most of you wait until the last minute.  :)

Download Lincoln Assignment

Download Tropes and Schemes Definitions

AP Literature: First Conrad Essays Are HORRIBLE

Rewrites Are Now Required

Unless you received a 6 or above on the FIRST Heart of Darkness essay (the one where you were given a passage and asked to discuss how the author characterizes the narrator AND station manager) you MUST rewrite it.  I was so disappointed in the essays.  They were simple, off the cuff, and obviously pulled together in a few short minutes.  Come on ... I expect so much more.  Do not sacrifice my class because you are busy.  The writing skills you acquire here will benefit you everywhere.  But you have to commit.

Not everyone's essay was bad and to be honest, I've only graded 1/2 of them.  But over 80% of the ones I've graded so far need to be rewritten.  I will finish reading and grading all the essays by the end of the night tomorrow, Tuesday.  Rewrites MUST be handed in to me (do not try to submit them on Turnitin -- it does not take rewrites) on Friday.  Good rewrites will add 10 points to your score.  If you do not do one I will subtract 20 more points from your original essay score.  If you do a bad one, I will subtract 10 more points from your original essay score. 

This is serious.  You must do better; or it will be a long nine weeks.

Mr. Thomas

AP Language: The Road is Now at Barnes and Noble

Pick Up Copy This Weekend

Remember that you have about 70 pages of Cormac McCarthy's The Road that you need to have read by Monday.  The books are on reserve at Barnes and Noble if you need to pick up a copy.  Stop by the front desk and ask for The Road for Mr. Thomas' class at Plant High.  They have them behind the counter.

AP Language: Recent Essays

If You've Missed Any School, Read This

Many of you have missed school this week and some of you have just failed to turn in assignments.  Below are the essays that were required in the first four weeks (including the one due Monday).  Make sure you have all these loaded in your Turnitin account.  All but one are late now -- and if you submit them now they will only receive partial credit.  But it's better than a 0.  Be sure you send me a note of tell me if you submit a late assignment as I don't regularly go back to look.

Download Douglass Assignment

Download The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

Download Argument Journal  The Second Entry is Due Today, September 18th

Scarlet Letter Character Essay from "The Leech" (Not available online)

Download The Scarlet Letter Essay of Choice

AP Literature: Setting Essays Graded

Overall, Essays are Quite Good

The Setting Essay grades for your short story of choice are now available on Turnitin. They were graded for the following criteria:

1. Thesis that indicates how the author uses setting to enhance the story. (15 points off)

2. Introductory paragraph. (10 points off)

3. Author and title of short story mentioned in introduction. (5 points off)

4. Concluding paragraph. (10 points off)

I may have also taken off 5-10 points if I felt the writing was sub-par. These are all essential elements in a successful essay. Please make sure that these are present in your future essays.

Rather than offer commentary on all the essays indivudally this time, we will review the essays in class tomorrow. I will use some anonymous essays as examples to point out the mistakes that can be made and should be corrected.

AP Language: First Argument Journal Graded

Please Read Carefully

Your grades for your first argument journal are now on Turnitin.

Here’s how I graded this first entry. I looked for four things: First, that you have a clear thesis in your introduction that states/implies whether you are defending or challenging the argument made by the author of the article you chose. Second, that the author and article title are mentioned in the introduction. These are two essential elements in writing an essay where you take a stand on something you read.

If you did not have a thesis where you make it clear that you are defending or challenging the article, I took off 10 points. If you do not include the author/article in your introduction, I took off 5 points.

Finally, if your article was too short, I took off another 5 points. And if you used first person, I took off another 5 points.

Each argument journal will be graded for different elements. But each journal entry MUST include the elements from the previous grade as well. For instance – you now MUST have a thesis where you clearly state your defense or challenge AND you must include the author/article in your introduction next time. If you do not, I will take off 25 points.

See me or email me with questions or concerns.

We will discuss your essays briefly in class tomorrow. In fact we will go over a few anonomously to assist in your next journal entry. I am also moving the due date of that journal entry to Friday.

AP Literature: Things Fall Apart

Reading Guide and Essay

Continuing our theme of colonialism in Africa, we will next read Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart.  The 1958 novel chronicles the life of Okonkwo, the leader of an Igbo (Ibo) community, from the events leading up to his banishment from the community for accidentally killing a clansman, through the seven years of his exile, to his return. The novel addresses the problem of the intrusion in the 1890s of white missionaries and colonial government into tribal Igbo society, and describes the simultaneous disintegration of its protagonist Okonkwo and of his village. The novel was praised for its intelligent and realistic treatment of tribal beliefs and of psychological disintegration coincident with social unraveling. Things Fall Apart helped create the Nigerian literary renaissance of the 1960s.

Also, you have recently read Achebe's speech, "An Image of Africa".  You will find the link below if you need another copy.  Your next writing assignment, due September 21st and also below, asks you to consider Achebe's speech against Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness and offer your opinion on whether or not you find it racist.  This is a very important and difficult essay.  Take your time.

Download Achebe vs Conrad Essay

Link to Achebe Speech

Download Things Fall Apart Reading and Assignment Guide

AP Language: Next Novel

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I do not have copies of The Road to loan you.  I have contacted Barnes and Noble and they will have 60 copies of this book in stock by Thursday, September 17.  They have some copies NOW and so does Borders and other book stores.  You do not need to have it in your posession until the 18th.  Use Barnes and Noble on the 17th to insure you don't waste a trip.  You will need to have the first 74 pages read by Monday, September 21st.  The Reading Guide is attached.  It is a VERY quick read.

You should know ... I think this is the best novel written in the last 30 years.  It is my favorite contemporary novel.  Reactions to this novel are very STRONG -- every year.  Most people either love it or hate it.  Either way, however, they cannot stop talking about it.  It will foster some great discussion in our classroom.  You will enjoy reading this novel -- I promise.

AP Literature: Cat's Cradle Essays

I'm Nearly Done -- Sorry

Well guys, it's been a busy start to the year.  As busy as you are writing them, I've been busy grading them.  The Cat's Cradle essays are about 60% finished.  Check your grade on Turnitin.  If there's no grade yet, it will be there by Saturday.  I also have every intention of getting the Setting essays complete by the end of the weekend as well.

Bare with me.  I slam you at the beginning and thus, I'm slammed too.  4 AP classes is a LOT of essays.

AP Language: AP Scoring Guide

Rubric Gives AP Score Values

Attached you will find the AP Scoring Guide that we discussed in class.  Remember that all your essays will receive two grades:  your score (0-100) and your AP score (0-9).  Please use the guide to assist in your rewrites.

Download AP Lang Writing Rubric

AP Language: "Diving Bell" Essays

All Essays Graded by Tonight

Hello everyone.  I hope you had a great, long weekend.  I've been working hard on grading your "Diving Bell" essays and nearly all of them are done at this point. I still have a few more to do and they will be completed before I go to bed tonight.

Overall, I'm a little disappointed.  But then I usually am after the first round of essays.  We have a lot of work to do.  I'd like to use part of our time tomorrow to talk about these essays.  So if you would, print out a copy of your 'marked up' essay and bring it to class.  It will make our discussion more relevant to you.

Don't be discouraged.  You are just learning what I expect from you.  I have high expectations as you might be figuring out.  You will be prepared to write for college when you leave this class.  That requires serious effort. 

See you tomorrow.

AP Literature: Two Short Stories for Thursday Night

Readings for September 3rd

Please read both short stories tonight and be prepared to discuss them FULLY in class tomorrow.

Download Appointment with Love

Download The Chaser

AP Literature: Harvard Reading Tips

Great Ideas for Good Reading Habits

As we discussed in class today, here is the link for the College Reading Habits you should develop according to the study from Harvard University.  Please read and become familiar.

Download Harvard Reading Tips

AP Language: Grades Posted for Douglass Assignment

Copy of Email Sent to Students Tuesday, September 1st

Hello Everyone,

Your memorials to Frederick Douglass have all been graded and you will find your grades on Turnitin. A few things to note: I did not really make comments on this assignment because they are not essays. It is the only assignment you turn in to Turnitin that will not be marked up and notated by me. Your "Diving Bell" assignment is a real essay and thus will be the first one that will have myriad comments from me.

That said, the Douglass memorials were very well done as a whole -- great tributes to a great man. Many of you showed intelligent, thoughtful diction; a good knowledge of effective syntax; and used smart, purposeful tone words to emphasize the theme of your work. As I stated last week, this assignment was mostly to allow me to see 'what you are capable of' as a writer. I've done that and I'm very impressed.

I can't wait to see some 'real work' from you and look forward to the start of reading your "Diving Bell" essays tomorrow night.

Well done Juniors.

Mr. Thomas