Notes 2/8-23

2/23/11	NOTES: The class created the following vocabulary list: pungent: having a strong, acrid odor - When Bobby castrated the skunk, the scent of its spray was pungent. disreputable: dishonorable, lowly, lacking respectability - Your disreputable history was earned by such actions as selling your grandmother’s dentures on e-bay, and by putting the frog in Mr. Bourne’s chair. vicariously: indirectly, as by, or through, a substitute - When Peter scored the touchdown, his father vicariously felt Peter’s excitement. triumvirate: a group of three people, usually leaders - Joe, Jay, and Josh make a scary triumvirate, because  they’re not afraid of speed. pretensions: unjustified lay of claim to something - I have no pretensions of becoming the next President of the United States. schadenfreude: pleasure or satisfaction felt at someone elses misfortune - When the obnoxious bully’s car was hit by a snowplow, I felt schadenfreude. paranoia: irrational anxiety or fear that something bad will happen - The elderly woman never left her house, because of her paranoia that something bad would happen to the house while she was away. Discussion of book: When do we have preconceived notions?  What are stereotypes? Examples: People who wear glasses are smart.  Blonds are less intelligent.  Asians are good at math.  Stereotypes exists for reasons, but don’t apply them to an individual.  In other words, don’t all sit next to Jay during the next quiz, because he wears glasses. Notes from the board: _________________________________________________________ Definition: one that is                                       Characteristics:                   self-enclosed and has                                       -have a purpose around all services (food and                                         a mission lodging) - can be inde-                                       -have form of govern- pendent from the                                                 ment or leadership outside                                                               -lodge and feed “in-                                                                             mates”                                                                           -populated Complete Institution Example:                                                            Non-example:                                                            -Alabaster                                                           -country -colleges                                                             -HHS (open campus) -prison                                                                 -hotel (people come -nursing homes                                                    and go freely _________________________________________________________ Why is the above important? Panopticon _________________________________________________________ Definition:                                                          Characteristics: always being watched                                        -paranoid but can’t see the watcher Panopticon Example:                                                            Non-examples: -prison                                                                -zoo -schools                                                             -bouncy house -Natzi Germany -Patriot Act -1984 _________________________________________________________ HOMEWORK: read pages 66-86. Either do RWR on The Disreputable History..., or take reading quiz on Friday.  ( You may choose to do both!)  There will be also be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.  There will be an “x” on Thursday, if you are caught up on all work.  You must check in, regardless.
2/22/11	INTRO: Students got into small groups to discuss the following questions: (and reported back to the large group) Frankie undergoes both a physical and emotional transformation in the book.  Where, in the text, do we find evidence of these transformations?  Why do you think people only recognize one of them? Is it difficult for people who are beautiful to be taken seriously?  Why, or why not? NOTES: Discussion with sub of the above questions. Physical transformation of Frankie: She has grown and become more attractive, in “all the right places”.  People have started to notice her. Emotional transformation of Frankie: She is more confident, and is fed up with being treated like a child.  Emotional changes are not as obvious as the physical ones.  They are more internal. Beautiful people who present themselves with confidence and intelligence can be taken seriously most of the time.  It’s all in how you present yourself. We used the rest of the class period to read out loud, stopping to define words we did not know. HOMEWORK: For Wednesday, Read p. 47-65, The Disreputable History..., and find vocabulary words.
2/21/11	INTRO: For three minutes, wrote or drew a picture of a highlight of vacation.  Shared some. NOTES: Discussed first part of book. Story is centered around the protagonist, Frankie, female sophomore at Alabaster.   The first part is her letter, in which she confesses to the headmaster that she masterminded a certain 5 events that have occurred at Alabaster. (told in voice of first person narrator) In part 2, “The Swan,” told in random third person narrator voice, Frankie is being transformed from an “ugly duckling” to a “swan”. Frankie has older sister, Zada, who is smart, popular, and was a Senior at Alabaster when Frankie was a Freshman there. Setting of the story is at Alabaster, which has a white, rich and preppy population On page 8, “A Chance Encounter That Would Prove Seminal,” (seminal refers to a changing moment in your life) despite over-protective parents, Frankie, dressed in a string bikini, meets an unusual boy who eats some of her frozen custard.  He goes to school in Landmark in New York City, and refers to his Mom as the “menstrual unit.” HOMEWORK: Read p. 22-46, The Disreputable History... for Tuesday.  For Wednesday, Read p. 47-65, and find vocabulary words.  You will get an “x” on Thursday, unless you are missing some work.  In any case, you must check in.  On Friday, there will be a reading/vocab quiz, covering up to page 106.
2/11/11	INTRO: If you missed the in-class essay you need to make it up in one of the following ways: make it up during a free period write it at home write it during our next “x” NOTES: Research presentations began today. Ruth and Billy: Mohandas K. Gandhi 1869-1948 dedicated his life to the pursuit of freedom and peace in India fought for civil rights led peaceful protests against British government spoke against caste system after he died, his daughter became Prime Minister Eben and Taylor: John Lennon 1940-1980 was born of middle class when he was a teen, his mom was hit by a car “a dream you dream alone is only a dream” married Yoko Ono they fought for beliefs “against establishment” peace not war led peace gatherings he was controversial; because of upbringing, had chip on shoulder considered himself a “working class hero” (showed YouTube video) was murdered Max: Abbie Hoffman crazy, uncertain gender, anarchist known for befuddling people, hijinks, and other acts of madness wrote book about how to live without paying for anything idea of “free society” The Chicago Seven Trial, protest, case was thrown out because of illegal taping attention-getter, was a rebel just for the sake of being a rebel arrested for drug dealing went to Mexico committed suicide at age of 51 HOMEWORK:  Read pages 1-21, The Disreputable History...by end of vacation.
2/10/11	INTRO: Order of business for today: Write in-class essay Staple essay to scoring guide and assignment sheet. Hand it in. Sign in The Outsiders. Sign out The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. HOMEWORK: Read pages 1-21, The Disreputable History...
2/9/11	INTRO: Answered in journal: Did you like the ending of The Outsiders? Why, or why not?  Discussion followed. NOTES: The purpose of doing the literary analysis essay is to provide a way for you to give your own unique perspective on an aspect of The Outsiders.  Although we all read the same book, we will each see things in different ways.  The idea behind doing the essay, is to help others see what you see in  the text. You must observe the following when writing your essay: The most important thing to remember in writing a literary analysis essay, is that you must have an argument.  Put it in your thesis statement.  Your thesis is usually the last sentence in your introductory paragraph. Use a topic sentence to begin each supporting, or body paragraph.   Use a quote sandwich in each supporting paragraph to provide evidence for the topic sentence. Your conclusion should provide some different insights.  Don’t just restate something you’ve already said. HANDOUTS: “Guidelines for Writing a Literary Analysis Essay” “Androids Don’t Kill Androids, People Kill Androids” (sample essay) “”The Quote Sandwich” HOMEWORK: Read over the handouts in preparation for tomorrow’s in-class essay.  You may do the essay outside of class and bring it tomorrow, or you may bring an outline and preselected quotes to use in writing your essay in class.  Presentations of rebel project will begin on Friday.
2/8/11	INTRO: reading and vocab quiz NOTES: Talked about plots needing to have conflicts.  Listed 3 conflicts in The Outsiders: Socs vs Greasers, one conflict, is escalated by Bob’s murder.    Randy talks about Bob, who was his best friend.  We are sympathetic with Randy because his friend showed bad judgement, resulting in his death.  The tension in the story heightens until the rumble, where it  climaxes. Ponyboy vs Darry, another conflict , is heightened when Darry slaps Ponyboy.  The climax comes when Darry visits Ponyboy in the hospital and cries.   Dally vs the world and emotions is yet another conflict in our story.  Dally robs people, fights, and doesn’t seem to have any emotional connections, except for what he feels for Johnny.  This conflict is heightened when Johnny dies, as he was the only thing that Dally really loved.  The climax comes when Dally gets shot. HOMEWORK: Finish reading The Outsiders.  Rebel presentations start tomorrow.  We will talk about essay writing and outlining.  You could bring an outline for your in-class essay (which will be Thursday).