Weeks 12-15

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

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.