Note: if you don't already have the proper paper edition of Fences, please buy this over break!
Plume Edition, ISBN 987-0-452-26401-4
Note 2: Assignments for Fences might change/shift around a little. Another writing assignment (P/F, homework) will likely be added since we have one unscheduled day at the moment.
Mon 4/9--S: Bring Fences to class
Tues 4/10 or W 4/11--L: In Fences, read "Characters," "Setting," "The Play" and Fences, Act One, scene 1 (pp. 1-20)
Th 4/12 or Fri 4/13--L: Read Fences, pp. 21-40 (Act One, scenes 2 and 3)
Mon 4/16--S: Writing assignment on Fences:
Do the following assignment as a quasi-freewrite.
By "quasi-freewrite," what I mean is, don't worry too much about grammar, sentence structure, etc.
In Part I, however, you must quote from the text and practice your close reading skills.
Part I: In Fences, what does being a good father mean to Troy? What does being a good husband mean? Find specific words and lines from the play that illustrate your responses.
Part II: What is your personal definition of a “good” father? In your opinion, is Troy a good husband and father? Why/why not?
Word count total: 400 words minimum
Please post your assignment here on Canvas.
Tu 4/17--S: Read Fences, pp. 41-58 (Finish Act One)
W 4/18 or Th 4/19--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 4/20--S: Read Fences, pp. 59-77 (Act Two, scenes 1 and 2)
M 4/23--S: Finish Fences, pp. 78-101 (Act Two, scenes 3, 4, and 5)
Tu 4/24 or W 4/25--L: Revision assignment:
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
Th 4/26 or Fri 4/27--L: Writing assignment to help prepare for in-class essay:
Please write a list of all the key topics you've observed in Fences (minimum number of topics: 7)
Think about the connections you can make between topics
In other words, try to connect topics to find an interesting theme
After you've thought about this, please find two sections of text that illustrate the theme you've found
Write down each of these sections/passages and provide page numbers
After each passage, write a brief analysis of each section/passage, explaining how/why it illustrates the theme you've found
Please post your assignment here
Minimum word count (not including passages): 300 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!
M 4/30--S: In-class essay on Fences
I'd suggest doing more of the type of work you did for homework Thursday/Friday 4/26, 4/27.
Keep writing and actively thinking about the themes and passages of Fences.
Also, you can use the following questions to think about the play more. Again, I'd recommend writing on these questions--freewrites and formal timed writing are both good!
1. Why does Cory initially refuse to go to 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. Why does Gabriel end the play?
6. What are fences supposed to symbolize in this play? What do they represent to each of the characters?
7. Has your understanding of the play and its characters shifted as you read through it?
8. What do Troy’s and Rose’s respective metaphors (baseball, garden) say about how they understand the world?
9. What commentary does this play make on the American Dream (if you think it does)?
Tu 5/1--S: Grammar: Voice and Usage
Read pink workbook on voice, p. 84
Do exercises on page 86-88 (skip the exercises on mood)
Read about usage and usage errors on pp. 93-94 of the pink workbook.
Try the exercise in your pink grammar book, p. 95.
Don't worry if you're confused/don't understand where the errors are. We'll go over this in class.
W 5/2 or Th 5/3--L:
Please note that we're skipping the section on mood this year. This will not be on the test.
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
Fri 5/4--S: Please review exercises in the pink workbook. Bring in any questions you have!
M 5/7--S: Grammar test
Note: The list of books to read during writing conferences is attached below.