F451 Quiz and continued reading

Today you took a quiz on the first part of Fahrenheit 451.

Following the quiz you continued reading until you got to the part: "My uncle says...an...my uncle ...Her voice faded."

While you read, in lieu of questions to answer, complete a reading log.  Your log should include some/all of the following:

• questions you have as you read
• highlights of main parts
• extraordinary description
• allusions, similes, metaphors, or other figurative language
• predictions you want to make

The reading log is due on Monday.  And on Monday we will discuss what you read.  Your reading log will help you bring up ideas in our discussion.

Continuing F451 and test tomorrow!

Today we discussed tomorrow's quiz on F451.  Then we kept reading the story.

Essay question (you may use your novel on this question, so annotating this evening would be an excellent idea!)
How is the world Bradbury created similar, yet different from today's world?

• MUST have at least 2 similarities and 2 difference
• technology can be A PART of the answer, but you should also analyze their society with our society
• must have specific examples from the test and you must fully explain (not simply list)

Other things to note/to know:

• Guy Montag
• Clarisse McClellan
• Mildred Montag
• Captain Beatty
• The old woman and what happened with her
• The animal the firemen use to hunt and kill people

NO HOMEWORK

F451 Continuing to read

Today we picked up around page 30(ish) and continued reading.  We read about the fire Montag was at with the crew where the homeowner was there and she lit the fire herself, then the part where Beatty discusses the quote the woman said, and then when Montag returned home to Mildred and how he was nervous because he had taken a book from the scene of the home. (page 39ish)

Please keep up with the reading!  If you are at home, you can be doing this work to keep up if you are feeling well enough.

NO HOMEWORK

Up and Coming:

• continue reading and review tomorrow for Friday's quiz
• Friday quiz and discussion on writing an introduction for your paper (intros will be due on Tuesday)

F451 Mock test

Today you created a mock test for the pages you have been assigned to read so far.

You made sure to include the following items in your mock test:

• character matching (Guy, Mildred, Mechanical Hound, Beatty, Clarisse) with a description
• 5 short answer questions (about Bradbury himself or anything we have read)
• 3 true / false questions
• a key for the answers to the test

While you did this I continued to talk with a few people about their thesis statements.

To end the hour we went over the questions for the last section we read.

I also collected questions for sections 1-3.

HOMEWORK:

Make sure your thesis is sound so we can move forward with the introductory paragraph

Thesis Statements and Reading pages 23ish-30ish

Today you worked on reading in your literature circles, while I met individually with students to help them better construct their thesis statements.

While you read, you were to answer 8 of the 12 questions below:

Questions for first reading 23(ish) – 30(ish) of Fahrenheit 451 (you must answer 8 of the 12)

1. What does Clarisse tell Guy about what she will (and won’t) tell her psychiatrist during her sessions with him?
2. What kinds of questions does Clarisse ask Guy regarding his job this time?
3. Based on what Clarisse says about how it’s strange to her that Guy is a fireman, that it does not seem like the right profession for him, given that he looks at her when she talks, and looked at the moon when she said something about the moon, and has never threatened her, and has made time for her and put up with her, what does Clarisse seem to think about firemen in general, versus about Guy specifically?
4. How do the firemen amuse themselves each night?
5. What does this show us about the values of the firemen?
6. What happens when Guy touches the muzzle of the Mechanical Hound?
7. When Guy tells the other firemen about this happening, how does Captain Beatty react?
8. What is Guy’s theory on why the machine reacted to him the way it just did, which it has also done two other times in the previous month?
9. What do you suspect it is that Guy has hidden behind the ventilator grille in the hall at his home?
10. When Guy says he wouldn’t want to be the Mechanical Hound’s next victim, what does Captain Beatty say, and how does Guy react to Beatty’s saying this?
11. What does Clarisse reveal to us about herself, and about the society in which they live, when she talks about why she skips school so often and what she considers being social versus what others consider being social?
12. What does Clarisse say about how she feels about kids her own age, and how and why she is different from them? 

HOMEWORK:

• Make sure you finish the assignment above
• If you signed up and received advice from me today, I expect that you revise your thesis on the same sheet to reflect our conversation.
• If we DID not have a chance to speak, but I said I would speak with you tomorrow, please try to change your thesis in some way given the notes that I gave you on your sheet. I will definitely be able to talk with you tomorrow.

F451 page 11-21 (approximately)

Today we continued reading F451 out loud.  I stopped many times to ask you questions to make sure you were following along and understanding what was happening.

Finally you were to answer 5 of the 9 questions below.  These 5 and the first 9 from the previous set of questions are due on MONDAY:

Questions for reading pages 11-20 (approximately) of Fahrenheit 451

1. What does the way in which Guy views and responds to his bedroom and his wife tell us about their marriage?
2. What does Guy feel Clarisse had managed to (metaphorically) do before she ran off? What object that is lying on the floor in the darkness does Guy accidentally kick, and what are the two pale ‘moonstones’ he sees lying on the floor?
3. As Guy stands there mentally processing that his wife has overdosed on sleeping pills, what is the source of the tremendous noise overhead?
4. How does Guy feel about the technicians?  What can we infer about this society given what the technician says?
5. What does Guy hear from his neighbors’ house and how does it affect him?
6. The next morning, what does Guy’s wife Mildred still have in her ears?
7. What does Guy’s wife Mildred say to him that morning about the previous night? Does Mildred remember what really happened the night before?  What does she say to make you believe your answer?
8. What is the way in which Mildred is entertaining herself? How does it work?
9. What does Mildred want Guy to buy for her? And how much would it cost?

Paper rubric, charater chart, and Discussing first 10 pages

Today I began by passing out the OMAM paper rubric (see below).  We discussed my expectations.  There is no final due date, but please keep up with the small due dates.  TOMORROW your thesis is due!

Next I gave you a character chart to follow along with when reading Fahrenheit 451.  We filled in some of the characters/what we knew from yesterday's reading.

Finally we read up until page 10.

HOMEWORK:
prepare your typed or handwritten thesis statement by tomorrow!

Of Mice and Men Essay	Points Possible	Points Awarded
Conventions: The paper has been thoroughly edited.	10
Introduction: Paragraph is 3-4 sentences and ends with the thesis.  Thesis makes a claim/assertion that will be backed up with evidence in body.  No specific details are used in the introduction.	10
Body Paragraphs:  Uses textual evidence from Of Mice and Men to prove the claim made in thesis.  Each BP is 6-8 sentences.  Uses at least 2 direct quotes throughout the body of the paper	10
Conclusion: Carefully summarizes the thesis.  2-3 quality sentences.	3
Title: Includes a title	2
Sentence Fluency:  Uses varied sentence structures.  Fluent in simple, complex, and compound sentences.	5
Word Choice: Uses heightened vocabulary when appropriate.  Uses a variety of words.	5
Total Points:	45

                       

Name _____________________________________

Period _______

Webquest, Thesis Statement, and Beginning Fahrenheit 451

Today we began by getting a new literature circle group!

Then we corrected the web quest you worked on yesterday in class/homework.

Next we discussed creating a thesis statement for the paper you will write for Of Mice and Men.

Finally you worked on reading the first 10 (or so--depending on your version) of our new novel Fahrenheit 451.

You answered the following questions that went along with your reading:

Questions for the 1^st 10 pages of Fahrenheit 451 (depends on your version)

1. How does Guy Montag feel about his job in the very beginning of the novel?
2. What kind of impression and impact does Guy’s new neighbor Clarisse McClellan make on Guy?
3. When Guy asks Clarisse how old she is, what does she say, and what does she say that her uncle says about her age?
4. What does Clarisse ask Guy regarding the books that he burns?
5. What does Clarisse ask about what firemen used to do long ago?
6. What is Guy’s response to that?
7. What does Clarisse say about drivers, and how they see the world, and how and why she and her uncle (who lives with her and her parents) see the world differently?
8. What is Clarisse’s family doing that Guy finds unusual?
9. What is Clarisse’s last question to Guy before she runs home? 

HOMEWORK:

• Create a working thesis.  Although I am going to collect them on Friday, I will give feedback during our shortened hour tomorrow to those students who come prepared with a thesis statement for me to look over.  I HIGHLY suggest you do this!
• Make sure you finish the 9 reading questions listed above.

Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451

COMPLETE THE WEBQUEST AND THE FIRST SEMESTER SURVEY BY tomorrow, 1/21!

Name                           

Date

Ray Bradbury Webquest 

            Before you begin reading Ray Bradbury’s famous novel Fahrenheit 451, you will do some research on the author and on dystopian literature.

DIRECTIONS: Choose to either copy and paste the questions on a word document and write answers only OR hand write your answers and make sure to embed the question in the answer.

DUE: Wednesday, January 21st 

Website 1: www.Raybradbury.com/bio.html

1.      Where was Ray Bradbury born and where did he grow up?

2.      What awards has Ray Bradbury earned? (List two and give a total count)

3.      What is the “great fun” in Bradbury’s life?

Website #2 http://www.neabigread.org/books/fahrenheit451/readers-guide/about-the-author/

1. How long did it take him to write Fahrenheit 451?
2. Where did his ideas for the book come from?
3.  What does he say about making predictions? What does he feel his books do?
4. What would be the one book he would commit to memory? Why?

Website #3 http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson926/DefinitionCharacteristics.pdf

1. Give a short concise definition of a dystopia
2. List 3 characteristics of a dystopian society
3. Name and describe one type of dystopian control
4. What is a protagonist? Give 2/4 dystopian protagonist characteristics.

First Semester Survey                    STOP!  START!  REPEAT!

1.       What (if any) activity do you think we should stop doing?  You must explain why.

2.       What (if any) activity would you like to start doing?  What benefit do you think it will bring to our class?

3.       What activity do you think we should continue doing?  Why do you enjoy it?

4.       Rank the reading selections in order of your favorite (1) to least favorite (3)

____ The Miracle Worker            ____ Wonder                    ____Of Mice and Men

Mid-term exam review!

Today you had 47 minutes devoted to independent mid-term studying.  At that time you could have asked questions of me about our class, created note cards, made review sheets/filled in review sheets, reread chapters/parts of our novels---

Most of you used your time wisely!

Tomorrow we will watch the precept skits/videos in class.  If you would like to bring a small snack to eat while we watch, you are welcomed to do that.  Please do not come to class on time but then ask me to get the snack from your locker AFTER the bell rings; the answer will be no.

Of Mice and Men Chapter 6 and Robert Burns

Today we checked and I collected chapter 6 questions from Of Mice and Men.

Next we read and discussed the poem that inspired John Steinbeck to write Of Mice and Men, "To A Mouse..." by Robert Burns

Finally you worked on a fun word search that helped you review the story.

HOMEWORK:
Study for Mid-terms!

LOOKING AHEAD:
Tomorrow: bring items to study for mid-terms
Wednesday: We will be viewing precept skits/videos.  Make sure I have seen your video BEFORE Wednesday to make sure it works
NEXT TUESDAY: You must have our next novel, Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

Of Mice and Men chapter 6

Today we discussed chapter 5 (corrected and I collected your questions).

Then I read aloud chapter 6.  We discussed what happened. Then you worked on the following questions:

Questions for Chapter Six of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

1. How does the first part of the last chapter reflect the first part of the first chapter? 
2. What does Lennie say to himself about George?  What does he suggest to himself out loud that he could do
3. What does his first hallucination say to him when he suggests he could run away and let George have a good time? 
4. What is his next hallucination? 
5. What does it begin repeating over and over that Lennie doesn’t want to hear? 
6. What is the first thing Lennie asks George when he shows up, and why is this important? 
7. Why does he have Lennie look across the river as he tells again—for the last time—of their dream place? 
8. Why does George reassure Lennie that he is not mad, and never was mad?  Why is that so important? 
9. How does George explain to the rest of them what happened?  Why is this not believable? 
10. Why does Slim say “you hadda, George.  I swear you hadda.”                                                                    

HOMEWORK:

• Chapter 6 questions are due beginning of the hour on Monday.
• Make sure you have annotated for all of the chapters
• Start settling on a theme/motif you would like to write about for an essay that we will begin to write after mid-term exams.
• Your video/skit share will be Wednesday next week!  Make sure you are prepared!  Send me your video ASAP to make sure it works!

Of Mice and Men Chapter 5 questions

Today we corrected and discussed chapter 4 questions.

Then you got to work on chapter 5 questions.  They are due Friday at the beginning of the hour:

Questions for Chapter Five of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

1.       What do we find out about Lennie’s puppy?

2.       What is Lennie most worried about?

3.       How does Curley’s wife try to reassure Lennie that it would be okay for him to talk with her?

4.       How does she react to seeing the dead pup? Why do you think she reacted this way?

5.       How does Curley’s wife describe her own dream? What went wrong with her dream?

6.       How does Curley’s wife relate to Lennie liking to pet rabbits because they are soft?

7.       How does Lennie react to Curley’s wife’s screams? We have known Lennie to act this way before—when/where?

8.       How does Lennie react to the realization that he has killed her?

9.       How does Steinbeck describe what Curley’s wife’s face looks like? Give the two sentences from the book.

10.   Candy is the first to see what has happened. What does he do?

11.   What does George first propose they do for Lennie?

12.   Why does Candy not think that is a good idea?

13.   What is Candy’s greatest fear with all that has happened?

14.   Explain how George felt about his future in the beginning of the story and how he feels about his future now. What has changed?

15.   What does George instruct Candy to do, and why?

16.   What are Curley’s first expressed thoughts as he views the corpse of his wife? How would you describe his first emotional reaction? What is missing in his reaction—the reaction of a man whose wife has been killed?

17.   How does Curley plan to kill Lennie? Why?

18.   What last attempt does George make with Slim to see if there’s some way Lennie could just get out of this alive? What does Slim reply? Why does Slim’s opinion matter (remember what we discussed about Slim’s character)?

19.   Why does Curley insist that George go with them?

HOMEWORK: You will only have 30 minutes of class time tomorrow to work on chapter 5.  Budget your time wisely and work on items at home if you need to do so.

Chapter 4 Of Mice and Men

The following questions are due on Wednesday at the beginning of the hour:

Questions for Chapter Four of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men

1.       How does Steinbeck describe Crooks?   

2.       In what ways does Crooks defy stereotypes about blacks at this time period? 

3.       How does Crooks initially react to Lennie? 

4.       What does Crooks express about the importance of being with somebody else, about not being all alone?   

5.       Why does Crooks believe Lennie and George will never get their land? 

6.       “This is the first time I ever been in his room.”  What is so significant about this being the first time Candy has ever been in Crooks’s room? 

7.       How does Crooks really feel about Candy coming into his room?  Write a line from the story that proves this.

8.       When Crooks realizes that Lennie’s, George’s and Candy’s dream might possibly come true, what does he offer to do? 

9.       What does it mean when she says if she can get a man alone he’s friendly and will talk to her, but if she gets two or more they won’t talk to her?   

10.    How does she describe Curley, and her relationship with him?

11.    What was her failed dream? 

12.    Why does she insult them, and if she dislikes them so much, why is she talking to them and liking it? 

13.    What does Lennie say when Curley’s wife asks him how he got those bruises on his face? 

14.    What does this then accidentally reveal to her?  How do we know she knows the truth? 

15.    In what ways does she flirt with Lennie?   

16.    How does Curley’s wife exert power over Crooks? 

17.    How does Candy finally get her to leave?   

18.    What does George say to Lennie when he arrives? 

19.    When Candy tells George he’s been figuring about how they can make some money off the rabbits, what does George say to him, and what does he reply? 

20.    Who is the loneliest and most isolated character: Crooks, or Curley’s wife, and why? 

21.    What are your reactions to this chapter?  Your answer might include your emotions to certain actions/discussions/characters.  Other answers will also work.  You must include at least 5 sentences in this answer.

          Your mid-term exam for literature will be next Thursday.  The exam will consist of two selections with similar themes as the novels we have been reading this semester.  You will also take a final quiz over chapters 4-6 for Of Mice and Men (about 20-30 questions) with the same quiz format as we have had in previous quizzes for this book.

I      If you finish the above questions early, please bring items in to study for any exam that you would like.