This week, we are beginning discussions on our novel for the year, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  This Pulitzer Prize winning novel follows the lives of Jean Louise Finch (Scout) and her older brother Jem.  It takes place in rural Alabama during the 1930's.  

To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Alabama during the 1930’s.  What social conditions existed during this time that would have made it difficult for African Americans or anyone who wasn’t rich?

To Kill a Mockingbird

Novel written by: Harper Lee (female)

Novel- long work of fiction usually broken up into chapters or sections.

Setting- Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s

Point of View- the perspective from which a story is told.  TKAM is written in the first-person narrative.  (Scout Finch)

***Theme- a message about life that is communicated through a work of literature.  TKAM- prejudice, growing up, and courage.  

Welcome Back Everyone!

Cumulative Task #2 Begins Today

Come Ready to Write!

Tonight's Homework: complete both sides of worksheet on "lie, lay, sit, set."

 Link to Youtube videos:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loi3gDeGTwU&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Do you think it’s ok to perform brain surgery in an effort to increase human intelligence?  Explain your answer.

“Flowers for Algernon”

by: Daniel Keyes

setting- March-July 1965 in New York City

Literary Element

Characterization- (The way the character is described)

Words to Know

tangible- (adj.) able to be touched or observed

          Ex. The doctors wanted to see tangible results of the brain operation.

          specter- (noun) a disturbing thought.

          Ex.  Any specter of doubt would have ruined her chances of survival.

refute- (verb) to prove wrong

Scholars often attempt to refute one another’s theories.

vacuous- (adj.) empty; showing a lack of intelligence

          Ex. The mentally challenged man had a vacuous look in his eyes.

obscure- (adj.) hidden; not easily discovered

          Ex. Our knowledge of life on Mars is obscure.

convolutions- (noun) uneven ridges on the brain’s surface

          Ex. Scientists study brain convolutions when treating mental illness.

fissures- (noun) narrow openings; crevices

          Ex. The earthquake produced many deadly fissures in the earth’s crust.

introspective- (adj.) looking inward

          Ex.  Some people keep an introspective journal to record their thoughts.

regression- (verb) to return to a less developed condition

          Ex.  As the athlete got older, his regression was more noticeable.



“Stop the Sun”

by: Gary Paulsen

setting- present day

main character- Terry Erickson

Literature Elements

Theme- the message that an author wishes to get across

Flashback- going back to an earlier time

3^rd person point of view- the narrator of the story is an outsider that is not a character in the story

a.            objective- the narrator only has limited knowledge of the characters

b.           omniscient- the narrator is all knowing

Words to Know

persist (verb)- to continue stubbornly

     ex. At times, students persist at being obnoxious.

dry (adjective)- direct and without emotion

     ex. After winning the World Series, the players seemed dry.  They weren’t even excited.

founder (verb)- to get stuck or to break down

     ex.  Cars that don’t have four-wheel drive often founder in the snow.

inert (adjective)- having no power to move or act; lifeless

     ex.  After being struck by the winning punch, the boxer became inert.

chant (verb)- singing or speaking in monotone.

     ex. One will often hear the crowd chant at a football game.

Tonight's Homework: Complete front and back of worksheet on adjectives and adverbs.

adverb- words that describe:

-a verb

ex. He drove slowly.

-an adjective

ex. He drove a very fast car.

-another adverb

ex.  She moved quite slowly down the street.

**Adverbs often tell when, where, how much, or to what extent something happens or is done.

Directions: Rewrite each sentence, inserting an adverb to describe the underlined words.  Identify the underlined word as a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

1.           Although their hiding place seemed safe, the boys were anxious.

2.           Cari was pleased that she was able to bring her cat.

Tonight's Homework: Complete pages 61 and 62 that focus on the usage of "its" and "it's."


Welcome Back!  Here are the notes for the literature we are covering this week.  There is also a classwork assignment attached that everyone is responsible for handing in on Thursday.

“The Great Rat Hunt”

By Laurence Yep (p. 107)

      VOCABULARY WORDS

            barricade-           blockade

            brusquely-          abruptly; sharply

            fumigate-            exterminate

            improvise-          to act without a plan

            ineptitude-         clumsiness

            mug-                    the face

            perpetual-          long lasting

            rationalize-         justify; excuse

            ravage-                destruction

            reserve-               unfriendliness

MEMOIR

Definition: A first-person recollection of an experience or event

3 Characteristics

1.             told from 1^st person point of view using       the pronouns I, me, we

2.             are accounts of actual events

3.             include the writer’s feelings and beliefs about his/her family and community

Theme

Definition: The message about life or human nature communicated by a literary work

·    Apply lessons learned by the main characters to ALL of us

◦  Themes of Rat Hunt

We don’t have to be good at everything

Sometimes it’s smart to be scared

Don’t underestimate love

Acceptance

It’s okay to be you

It’s important to try

“The Great Rat Hunt”

By Laurence Yep

(Pages 107-114)

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

Directions: On your paper, answer each question in a complete sentence.

1.           Identify this literary genre.

2.           Describe Laurence’s conflict.

3.           Do you think Laurence’s father resents him for not being able to keep up?  Why or why not?

4.           On page 108 in the top paragraph of column B, how does Yep use personification in describing the rat?

5.           What situations in Father’s past might explain his brusqueness and reserve? (Hint: see page 111) 

6.           Do you see any relationship between Laurence’s feeling of being an outsider in his own family and his father’s experience as an immigrant?  Explain.

7.           Why was it so important to Father that Eddy and Laurence learn to play American sports? (See page 112, col. A)

8.           Yep uses hyperboles on page 113, bottom of column A to describe the rat.  Write one of them on your paper.

9.           In your opinion, which is worse, being a failure or being a coward?  Why?

10.       Why is it significant to Laurence that his father called it “our” trophy?

11.       What do you think is the theme of this memoir?  (Hint: look in column A on page 114)

Listening Test #1 Today, November 5

-This will be the last graded assignment for the 1st quarter.