American Lit. for August 3-7

Post date: Aug 03, 2015 12:7:49 AM

Here is an overview of what we will be doing this week:

Monday 8/3--We'll start the week--and the year--with expectations, introductions, etc., as we start to get students and allow them to get to know us. Students should expect to do a little writing on the first day and will have several handouts to take home.

***Please bring $12.00 to purchase a vocabulary book during the next week. If this isn't practical for your family, let us know, and we will provide a book that students are asked not to write in.

Tuesday 8/4-- We will continue to discuss procedures, etc., and we will also begin gathering some data on what students know and are able to do, via a short diagnostic assessment. We will also begin to focus on tone by assessing the language choices two writers make in an article about teens and texting. Here is a link to the article's text:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/tech/netiquette-open-letter-teenagers/

Wednesday 8/5--We will wrap up the discussion of tone in the article from Wednesday, and write a brief response to the article's viewpoint. We will also examine a few pieces of Native American poetry, focusing on their themes and use of a variety of poetic devices.

Thursday 8/6--We will finish analyzing and discussing Native American poetry and complete a brief writing assignment related to them. We will also start to discuss the idea of the American Dream, a concept that will frame much of our discussion of American literature this semester. Students should bring something in for Thursday that relates to their idea of the American Dream. I'll explain this further in class.

Friday 8/7--We will wrap up our first week as students work on a variety of activities related to the American Dream at an assortment of stations or centers.