Note: if you don't already have the proper paper edition of Fences, please buy this over break!
Tues 4/11--L: Bring Fences to class.
Weds 4/12--S:In Fences, read "Characters," "Setting," "The Play" and Fences, Act One, scene 1 (pp. 1-20)
Fri 4/14--L: Read Fences, pp. 21-40 (Act One, scenes 2 and 3)
Mon 4/17--S: Read Fences, pp. 41-58 (Finish Act One)
Tues 4/18--S: Read Fences, pp. 59-77 (Act Two, scenes 1 and 2)
Thurs 4/20--L: Grammar Day: Agreement
Download the attached PDF on agreement
Read pages 1 and 2 of the PDF
Do the exercise on page 3 of the PDF
Briefly look at page 92 of the pink workbook
Fri 4/21--S: Finish Fences, pp. 78-101 (Act Two, scenes 3, 4, and 5)
Tues 4/25--L: Writing assignment to help prepare for in-class essay:
Please write a list of all the key themes you've observed in Fences (minimum number of themes: 7)
Think about the connections you can make between different themes
After you've thought about this, please find two sections of text that show a connection between two or more themes you've found
Write down these sections/passages
After each passage, write a brief analysis of each section/passage, explaining how/why you see your themes interconnect
Please post your assignment here
Minimum word count (not including passages): 500 words
Note: if you're confused by the assignment, just do your best and don't worry if you get it slightly wrong. Just a pass/fail assignment!
Weds 4/26--S: In-class essay on Fences
Please fix the mechanical errors in your Gatsby paragraphs
Please hit "reply" (not "resolve") and comment on whether or not you understand what the error is and how to fix it
For models of closely reading specific words and phrases, please review the sample passages on Gatsby here
Questions to think about:
1. Why does Cory initially refuse to go the funeral?
2. Why does he change his mind?
3. Is Troy a tragic figure? Should we feel sorry for him?
i. Where do you sense the love Troy has that he fails to express or expresses badly?
ii. What else is mixed with that love?
4. To what degree is this Rose’s play?
5. What’s the signif of the “Blue” song—Troy sings it, then Cory and Raynell together—why?
6. Why does Gabriel end the play?
7. What are fences supposed to symbolize in this play?
8. Has your understanding of the play and its characters shifted as you read through it?
9. What do Troy’s and Rose’s respective metaphors (baseball, garden) say about how they understand the world?
Fri 4/28--L: Grammar: Usage
Read about usage and usage errors on pp. 93-94 of the pink workbook.
Try the exercise in your pink grammar book, p. 95.
Mon 5/1--S:
Click here for overview of what's on the grammar test: Overview of content of grammar test
Click here for attached practice sheet: Practice comprehensive grammar test
Click here for additional practice: grammar test practice #2
Tu 5/2--S: Please review exercises in the pink workbook. Bring in any questions you have!
Th 5/4--L: Grammar test on Thursday, May 4th