AmStuds English, Ms. Monson
“Calendar” of Class Activities and Assignments
Jan. 4 to End of Semester, 2016
Mon. Jan. 4, 2016 – Happy New Year! Star Wars movie both hours.
Tues. Jan. 5 = Substitute was planned, but not needed this day. Collaboration/Advisory Schedule.
Target: reteach interpretive analysis with examples from projects; close reading text analysis skills
1. Hand back all graded work. A pile is on the counter in room #2-308.
2. Re-teaching:
a. Writing Analysis = explaining meaning of the text, explaining a text’s significance in your interpretation of that text,
and in ways that link the text to other text/media (Walden Notebook)
b. Do not use “you” – why? Who does the “you” refer to?
c. Must focus on idea of the text, not a person. Hence, also, “reader” does not matter!
d. Similarly, using words like “that” or “this” or “it” is referential and assumes there is a clear antecedent for the
reference. Typically, analyses lacked clarity.
e. You must be specific and write clearly. Most interpretations lacked clarity and depth.
f. Poor example: “Thoreau’s quote …” – assumes the entire quotation by referring to the entire thing.
g. Better: “Thoreau explains his belief in simplicity by …” (however you interpret it)
h. I noticed a pattern of about 8 quotations used by most, 95% of you. Why? I will prefer to assume that 95% of you
gravitated toward the obvious text portions that we discussed in class.
i. Problem Interpretation: i.e. “Time is but a stream I go a fishin’ in.” What does this mean?
3. Re-group from Tues. Dec. 22 (when I had to be gone for unexpected family need).
4. Discuss Ambrose Bierce (1843-1914?). P. 466.
Civil War Soldier
Journalist – cynical and malicious social commentary
Stories – cruelty and futility of war & indifference of death
5. Discuss story by Ambrose Bierce “Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” – narrative point of view,
sequence of events - regular plot line vs scattered (flashback?) plot line, detailed imagery of sights
and sounds, and (of course) historical context that clearly provides REALISM. 
6. Discuss the 1962 film. Representation of Realism.
7. Review assignment to Read and &Take Notes:
a. P. 518 Mark Twain
b. P. 519, especially Literary Focus and Reading Strategy
c. P. 525-529, “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County” (entertaining ‘tall tales’ and
exaggeration) KNOW THE STORY
d. P. 529 Be able to answer Critical Thinking
e. P. 530 Read “Reading Strategy” and “Build Vocabulary”
f. P. 530 Read and DO/WRITE “Literary Focus” #2 and #3
g. P. 530 “Grammar and Style; Double Negatives”
h. Answer: How (in what ways) is the amusing story “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County” an
example of Realism?
8. Be prepared for a brief Quiz over “Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County” on Thurs.
9. Reminder: Read for Friday:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
P. 554 Jack London and Background
P. 555 Read all, especially Internal and External Conflict
P. 556-565 “To Build a Fire”
P. 565 Guide, Read and be able to answer
P. 566, Read and be able to answer all, paying specific attention to
i. Critical Thinking: Interpret #2, #4
ii. Lit. Focus #1, 2, 3
f. How is this story an example of Naturalism?
g. Be prepared for a quiz over “To Build a Fire” on Friday.
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Wed. Jan. 6
Guidance Dept. Pre-Registration for 11th grade classes.
Thurs. Jan. 7
1. Brief Quiz: “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County” – ½ sheet of paper.
2. Begin Journal Set #3. Journal #1: Tall Tales. Why do you think people like telling and listening
to tall tales such as the one told by Simon Wheeler?
3. Discuss Journal.
4. Mark Twain (1935-1910) Samuel Clemens
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Mississippi River “two fathoms deep”
Hannibal, MO
11 yrs. when father died. Left school. Printer’s apprentice.
21 years, riverboat pilot
Civil War  to Nevada, journalist and lecturer
“Notorious” – a version of a tall tale in mining camp; earned international celebrity
1869 Hartford, Conn.
Travel to Europe and around US
Wife and 3 of 4 children died – more pessimistic view of society and human nature.
5. Discuss Twain’s story, “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calavaras County”
6. Techniques of Humor:
a. Exaggeration, Embellishment, Serious Tone makes story seem more ridiculous, Regional
Dialect and Colloquial speech.
b. Examples of each from the story
7. Narrative Technique, from Opening Premise = main narrator removed from the story by replacing
him with a different / 2nd Narrator.
8. How does the con man get conned?
9. Eventually, tale about the wrong “Smiley” = Irony. Irony in “Andrew Jackson” character.
10. Purpose, Audience, Tone
11. What experiences from Twain’s boyhood do you think may have influenced this story?
12. Assignment for next class: Jack London and “To Build a Fire” – Quiz tomorrow over the man’s
actions, the character of the dog, and Naturalism in the story.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
P. 554 Jack London and Background
P. 555 Read all, especially Internal and External Conflict
P. 556-565 “To Build a Fire”
P. 565 Guide, Read and be able to answer
P. 566, Read and be able to answer all, paying specific attention to
i. Critical Thinking: Interpret #2, #4
ii. Lit. Focus #1, 2, 3
How is this story an example of Naturalism?
Fri. Jan. 8
1. Journal #2: Planning. If you were to live in Alaska in 1897, what 3 skills would you most need
and what 5 things would you most want with you? Prioritize your choices and explain.
2. Quiz over “To Build a Fire.” Turn in Quiz.
3. Discuss the Quiz/Story
Map of Alaska. Artic – times no sun in winter and when sun doesn’t set in summer.
Conflict: Internal and External.
Main Conflict = limits of his own perceptions and the cold
Jack London’s struggles developed sympathy for working class and lasting dislike of drudgery –
inspiration for writing.
e. P. 559 – Symbolism of man with no shadow.
f. Shift in man’s attitude  laughs at own foolishness  fearful of his predicament
a.
b.
c.
d.
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g. P. 561 – man saves himself and builds a fire; what is his mistake at this point? (under a tree)
h. P. 563 – Man attempts in awkward movement to capture dog, kill it, and use its body heat for
warmth
i. P. 564 – Disorientation and Stopping Shivering – result of sever hypothermia
j. At what point does the man accept the inevitable of his own death? P. 565… peace of mind,
drowsiness to sleep.
4. London’s Attitude toward animal instinct – high value.
5. Boundaries of Man’s relationship with the dog
a. Dog’s instincts characterize the dog as wise beyond man
b. Dog symbolizes that despite man’s follies, life goes on, instinctively.
6. Assignment for next class: P. 589 Painting; Pp. 590 Kate Chopin, through P. 596 “The Story of
an Hour”
Mon. Jan. 11
1. Journal #3: The Unexpected – an irony of shock and happiness.
2. Discuss Journal in relation to “The Story of an Hour”
3. Kate Chopin, “Story of an Hour” – Understanding Message and Meaning – Group Discussion
Guide (1/2 sheet)
4. Story of an Hour MCA Prep Packet – complete Multiple Choice and one Essay as homework for
next class.
Tues. Jan. 12 – Collab./Advisory Schedule
1. Homework for today:
a. Elbow Buddy, go over Multiple Choice. Come to a consensus on #1-20.
b. Essay: peer evaluate and write feedback. Switch, again.
2. P. 440 Stephen Crane (1871-1920). Poetry from Am Lit Poetry anthology
3. Tone and Imagery
4. Homework: Look up Lit Terms (on large packet from Sept.). Due Thurs.
Wed. Jan. 13
Frederick Douglas (1818-1895) “My Bondage My Freedom” Pp. 457-463.
Work on Lit Terms Packet
Thurs. Jan. 14
1. Robert Frost, Pp. 802-814, poetry and supplemental poetry. Groups Teach Poem to Class.
a. P. 804 “Birches”
b. P. 806 “Mending Wall”
c. P. 808, “Out, Out”
d. P. 810, “Stopping By Woods on Snowy Evening” P. 811,
e. “Acquainted with the Night”
f. P. 812, “The Gift Outright”
g. “Dust of Snow”
h. “The Road Not Taken”
2. Journals (#1-4) due next class.
Fri. Jan. 15
1. Journal #4: How do we know the poet’s voice?
2. Discuss Journal.
3. Turn in Journals #1-4.
4. Continue Frost poetry
5. “The Mending Wall” and others http://town.hall.org/radio/HarperAudio/012294_harp_ITH.html
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6.
7.
8.
9.
“Birches” (begin at 3:06) http://town.hall.org/radio/HarperAudio/012294_harp_ITH.html
“The Road Not Taken” read by Robert Frost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2Mspukx14
The Academy of American Poets http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/road-not-taken
“The Gift Outright”
http://www.openculture.com/2013/01/listen_to_robert_frost_read_the_gift_outright_the_poem_he
_recited_from_memory_at_jfks_inauguration_.html
10.
Mon. Jan. 18 – No Classes
Tues. Jan. 19 – Collab./Advisory Schedule
Listening to Poetry – the music of the human voice
http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poems-and-performance/listen-to-poetry
Wed. Jan. 20
Creating an Image from Literature
Citations
How many students will be using your own copy of The Great Gatsby next semester?
Thurs. Jan. 21
Literary Terms and Literary Movements - Study Tips for Final Exam
Floor Tiles Review Game
Fri. Jan. 22
Review for Final Exam
Mon. Jan. 25
Final Exam written segment.
Study independently.
Final Exam Week!!
Tues. Jan. 26 - Pds. 1, 2, 3
Wed. Jan. 27 – Pds. 4, 5, 6
Thurs. Jan. 28 - Pds. 7, 8, and Make Up
Have a great 2nd Semester!
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