Here are two approaches to writing topic sentences for body paragraphs. In Approach 1, you don't reference the book in the topic sentence (reference the book in the examples). In the second approach, you reference the book, but you don't use a specific example in the topic sentence.
Let's start with this thesis statement that we worked on in class:
Thesis Statement: Love is often corrupted by the power of money.
Approach 1: (Break down the thesis statement method)
Paragraph 1: Money often corrupts people. (Followed by examples in the book of money corrupting)
Paragraph 2: People sometimes say they love someone, but they're really interested in their own gain. (Followed by example)
Approach 2: (the novel method -- explain how the novel
discusses the main ideas in the thesis statement):
Paragraph 1: In the novel, money plays a huge role. In case after case, characters who don't have money are driven to commit immoral acts to get it.
Second body paragraph: The novel draws a picture of what love can become when people use other people for gain. Characters in this novel frequently say they love someone, but in fact they are really interested in their own gain. Often this gain is monetary. (Follow this with examples)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Essay Assignment
Homework: Write a 2-3 page literary response essay on theme. This essay should be double-spaced in 12-point type with one-inch margins. It should follow the format we've discussed in class. Choose one of the following topics (themes) to write about:
1. criminality
2. poverty
3. influence of surroundings on people
Remember, developing a theme from these topics requires you to really think about what the book says about the topic. This can't be a simple thought that could apply to any book on the subject; it needs to really reflect what Dickens is saying in Oliver Twist. For example, it won't be sufficient to say that poverty is a bad thing that makes people's lives hard. Or that criminality leads to people being put in prison. Or that people's surroundings often influence who they are. Instead, you need to get at how poverty is a bad thing in Dickens' view; what are the effects of criminality both on criminals and on the society, in Dickens view; and how do people's surroundings influence them and how does that play out against their basic natures.
This paper is due on Monday, January 3. It must be uploaded to turnitin.com by that date and must be sent as an attachment to me in your engrade account. Attach the file as a Word document or, if you don't use Word, attach it as an .rtf file.
1. criminality
2. poverty
3. influence of surroundings on people
Remember, developing a theme from these topics requires you to really think about what the book says about the topic. This can't be a simple thought that could apply to any book on the subject; it needs to really reflect what Dickens is saying in Oliver Twist. For example, it won't be sufficient to say that poverty is a bad thing that makes people's lives hard. Or that criminality leads to people being put in prison. Or that people's surroundings often influence who they are. Instead, you need to get at how poverty is a bad thing in Dickens' view; what are the effects of criminality both on criminals and on the society, in Dickens view; and how do people's surroundings influence them and how does that play out against their basic natures.
This paper is due on Monday, January 3. It must be uploaded to turnitin.com by that date and must be sent as an attachment to me in your engrade account. Attach the file as a Word document or, if you don't use Word, attach it as an .rtf file.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Period 11: Post your comments on O.T. here!
Make at least one comment by clicking on the comment button below: either a point about the reading, a question, or an answer to a question.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
Period 6: Post your comments on O.T. here!
Make at least one comment by clicking on the comment button below: either a point about the reading, a question, or an answer to a question.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
Period 5: Post your comments on O.T. here!
Make at least one comment by clicking on the comment button below: either a point about the reading, a question, or an answer to a question.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
And please remember to sign your comments using your first name ONLY -- this is the way I'll be able to give you credit.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Some thoughts on Oliver Twist
Here's some suggestions for reading Chapter 3 of the novel! Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
And all the vocabulary for Tuesday's test
1. Enviable (1)
2. Hitherto (3)
3. Perversely (4)
4. Atrociously (5)
5. Stupefied (11)
6. Consolation (12)
7. Extraneous (14)
8. Magistrates (18)
9. Preliminary (19)
10. Parochial (19)
11. Acquiesced (21)
12. Philosopher (24)
13. Countenance (26)
14. Atrocity (29)
15. Merriment (31)
Secret Life:
Chapter 1: Imbecile, 11, Smirking, 13, Oblivious, 21, Impersonation, 31
Chapter 2:
Brazen, 38, Beseeching, 40, Pious, 44, Blaspheme, 44
Chapter 3: Speculating, 63, Consternation, 64
Chapter 4: Corrugated, 71, Meander, 80
Chapter 5: Naïve, 84, Bona Fide, 85, Righteous, 87, Indignation, 87, Eclectic, 90
Chapter 6
Ingenious, 104, Deliverance, 107, Solace, 109
Chapter 7: Incessantly, 120, Consignment, 125
Chapter 8:
High-caliber, 137, Kamikaze, 151
Chapter 9: Ambitious, 165
Chapter 10: Anguish, 199, Vigil, 200, Ritual, 205
Chapter 11:
Dillydallying, 214, Sauntered, 224, Quiver, 225, Taunting, 239
Chapter 14:
Demoralized, 286, Melancholy, 287, Skittish, 291, Resolve, 298,
Perpetually, 301
The Kiterunner:
• Chapters Eight-Ten: pp. 70-108 lumbering, insomniac, embodiment, bazaar, drone, shrouded, withered, stench
• Chapters Eleven-Twelve: pp. 109-144 cretin, permeate, cardamom, tarpaulin, suitor, carcinoma, palliative, metastasized, chastise
• Chapters Thirteen-Sixteen: pp. 145-187 posh, ensuing, incessant, chuff, presumptuous
• Chapters Seventeen-Twenty-one: 188-238 wary, oblivion, dismissive, snickered, burlap, relic, obliges, haphazardly, hunkered
• Chapters Twenty-two to Twenty-three: tote, morbidly, calloused, hemorrhage, paunchy
• Chapters Twenty-four to Twenty-five: irrevocably, teeming, turmoil, insomniac, epiphany, eccentric
monarchy, integrity, imminent, demise, unscrupulous,
notorious, hemorrhaged,
carcass(versus corpse), liability,
affluent, congenital, skeptic,
virtuous, exhilarating, melee, jostled, vehemently,
nemesis, obstinacy, irony
2. Hitherto (3)
3. Perversely (4)
4. Atrociously (5)
5. Stupefied (11)
6. Consolation (12)
7. Extraneous (14)
8. Magistrates (18)
9. Preliminary (19)
10. Parochial (19)
11. Acquiesced (21)
12. Philosopher (24)
13. Countenance (26)
14. Atrocity (29)
15. Merriment (31)
Secret Life:
Chapter 1: Imbecile, 11, Smirking, 13, Oblivious, 21, Impersonation, 31
Chapter 2:
Brazen, 38, Beseeching, 40, Pious, 44, Blaspheme, 44
Chapter 3: Speculating, 63, Consternation, 64
Chapter 4: Corrugated, 71, Meander, 80
Chapter 5: Naïve, 84, Bona Fide, 85, Righteous, 87, Indignation, 87, Eclectic, 90
Chapter 6
Ingenious, 104, Deliverance, 107, Solace, 109
Chapter 7: Incessantly, 120, Consignment, 125
Chapter 8:
High-caliber, 137, Kamikaze, 151
Chapter 9: Ambitious, 165
Chapter 10: Anguish, 199, Vigil, 200, Ritual, 205
Chapter 11:
Dillydallying, 214, Sauntered, 224, Quiver, 225, Taunting, 239
Chapter 14:
Demoralized, 286, Melancholy, 287, Skittish, 291, Resolve, 298,
Perpetually, 301
The Kiterunner:
• Chapters Eight-Ten: pp. 70-108 lumbering, insomniac, embodiment, bazaar, drone, shrouded, withered, stench
• Chapters Eleven-Twelve: pp. 109-144 cretin, permeate, cardamom, tarpaulin, suitor, carcinoma, palliative, metastasized, chastise
• Chapters Thirteen-Sixteen: pp. 145-187 posh, ensuing, incessant, chuff, presumptuous
• Chapters Seventeen-Twenty-one: 188-238 wary, oblivion, dismissive, snickered, burlap, relic, obliges, haphazardly, hunkered
• Chapters Twenty-two to Twenty-three: tote, morbidly, calloused, hemorrhage, paunchy
• Chapters Twenty-four to Twenty-five: irrevocably, teeming, turmoil, insomniac, epiphany, eccentric
monarchy, integrity, imminent, demise, unscrupulous,
notorious, hemorrhaged,
carcass(versus corpse), liability,
affluent, congenital, skeptic,
virtuous, exhilarating, melee, jostled, vehemently,
nemesis, obstinacy, irony
Oliver Twist Vocabulary for Chapters 1-5
1. Enviable (1)
2. Hitherto (3)
3. Perversely (4)
4. Atrociously (5)
5. Stupefied (11)
6. Consolation (12)
7. Extraneous (14)
8. Magistrates (18)
9. Preliminary (19)
10. Parochial (19)
11. Acquiesced (21)
12. Philosopher (24)
13. Countenance (26)
14. Atrocity (29)
15. Merriment (31)
2. Hitherto (3)
3. Perversely (4)
4. Atrociously (5)
5. Stupefied (11)
6. Consolation (12)
7. Extraneous (14)
8. Magistrates (18)
9. Preliminary (19)
10. Parochial (19)
11. Acquiesced (21)
12. Philosopher (24)
13. Countenance (26)
14. Atrocity (29)
15. Merriment (31)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Poverty in Victorian England
Read this, and write a one-page summary of what you learn. In your view has society advanced beyond the state of affairs in the Victorian era?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Homework for Monday
Homework:
1. Read pages 165-213 (end of Chapter 10) and create a chart like the one below:
Major Events Significance
Major Event 1:
Major Event 2:
Etc.
1. Read pages 165-213 (end of Chapter 10) and create a chart like the one below:
Major Events Significance
Major Event 1:
Major Event 2:
Etc.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Secret Life Vocabulary
For Tuesday, look up meanings and write practice sentences for Chapter 1 and ChapterS 7 and 8!
Chapter 1: Imbecile, 11, Smirking, 13, Oblivious, 21, Impersonation, 31
Chapter 2:
Brazen, 38, Beseeching, 40, Pious, 44, Blaspheme, 44
Chapter 3: Speculating, 63, Consternation, 64
Chapter 4: Corrugated, 71, Meander, 80
Chapter 5: Naïve, 84, Bona Fide, 85, Righteous, 87, Indignation, 87, Eclectic, 90
Chapter 6
Ingenious, 104, Deliverance, 107, Solace, 109
Chapter 7: Incessantly, 120, Consignment, 125
Chapter 8:
High-caliber, 137, Kamikaze, 151
Chapter 9: Ambitious, 165
Chapter 10: Anguish, 199, Vigil, 200, Ritual, 205
Chapter 11:
Dillydallying, 214, Sauntered, 224, Quiver, 225, Taunting, 239
Chapter 14:
Demoralized, 286, Melancholy, 287, Skittish, 291, Resolve, 298,
Perpetually, 301
Chapter 1: Imbecile, 11, Smirking, 13, Oblivious, 21, Impersonation, 31
Chapter 2:
Brazen, 38, Beseeching, 40, Pious, 44, Blaspheme, 44
Chapter 3: Speculating, 63, Consternation, 64
Chapter 4: Corrugated, 71, Meander, 80
Chapter 5: Naïve, 84, Bona Fide, 85, Righteous, 87, Indignation, 87, Eclectic, 90
Chapter 6
Ingenious, 104, Deliverance, 107, Solace, 109
Chapter 7: Incessantly, 120, Consignment, 125
Chapter 8:
High-caliber, 137, Kamikaze, 151
Chapter 9: Ambitious, 165
Chapter 10: Anguish, 199, Vigil, 200, Ritual, 205
Chapter 11:
Dillydallying, 214, Sauntered, 224, Quiver, 225, Taunting, 239
Chapter 14:
Demoralized, 286, Melancholy, 287, Skittish, 291, Resolve, 298,
Perpetually, 301
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
A very short story (with a few vocab words thrown in)
The insomniac was truly having a hard time sleeping that night. He was the embodiment of the idea that you can’t sleep well if you are criminal. Many thought he was lacking in intellectual ability, a real cretin, though this term is a bit ugly. We should perhaps chastise those who use it, though certainly the insomniac criminal deserves punishment too. It would be presumptuous of us to claim that we know more than we do know. Perhaps he isn’t a criminal. Who snickered in the back? We won’t have any laughter here. The criminal himself is like a relic from an older time: a throwback to a by-gone era, like old pottery found at an archeological site. I don’t mean to be dismissive, but he’s not a very good criminal. It’s just hard to take him seriously. His incessant stealing is a problem. It will permeate everything he does, as a terrible stench permeates the room long after the source has been removed. There is no way to reduce the offensiveness, no palliative that will make everything better. The criminal obliges us to arrest him. The ensuing trial will be very entertaining. It won’t take place in a posh atmosphere either – the courtroom is not fancy at all. But we have to be wary of the criminal. He could get away before we know it. Perhaps we’ll find him years later, withered like an old corn husk in the hot summer heat.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Kiterunner Vocabulary
Here is the vocabulary for the rest of the novel. Let's get busy!:
• Chapters Eight-Ten: pp. 70-108 lumbering, insomniac, embodiment, bazaar, drone, shrouded, withered, stench
• Chapters Eleven-Twelve: pp. 109-144 cretin, permeate, cardamom, tarpaulin, suitor, carcinoma, palliative, metastasized, chastise
• Chapters Thirteen-Sixteen: pp. 145-187 posh, ensuing, incessant, chuff, presumptuous
• Chapters Seventeen-Twenty-one: 188-238 wary, oblivion, dismissive, snickered, burlap, relic, obliges, haphazardly, hunkered
• Chapters Twenty-two to Twenty-three: tote, morbidly, calloused, hemorrhage, paunchy
• Chapters Twenty-four to Twenty-five: irrevocably, teeming, turmoil, insomniac, epiphany, eccentric
• Chapters Eight-Ten: pp. 70-108 lumbering, insomniac, embodiment, bazaar, drone, shrouded, withered, stench
• Chapters Eleven-Twelve: pp. 109-144 cretin, permeate, cardamom, tarpaulin, suitor, carcinoma, palliative, metastasized, chastise
• Chapters Thirteen-Sixteen: pp. 145-187 posh, ensuing, incessant, chuff, presumptuous
• Chapters Seventeen-Twenty-one: 188-238 wary, oblivion, dismissive, snickered, burlap, relic, obliges, haphazardly, hunkered
• Chapters Twenty-two to Twenty-three: tote, morbidly, calloused, hemorrhage, paunchy
• Chapters Twenty-four to Twenty-five: irrevocably, teeming, turmoil, insomniac, epiphany, eccentric
Homework for Friday
Answer the following questions on loose leaf to be turned in on Friday:
1. What is revealed about Hassan in the letters ? How do they make Amir feel?
2. Describe Farhid. How does he treat Amir and why?
1. What is revealed about Hassan in the letters ? How do they make Amir feel?
2. Describe Farhid. How does he treat Amir and why?
Literary Elements and Devices
Take a look at this website. It's going to be crucial for the class. The site contains a run-down of the main literary elements and devices. You'll be expected to know these, to be able to identify them readily, and to understand how they fit together in a work of literature. To get the difference between literary elements and literary devices, think of it this way: literary elements are like the elements on the periodic chart -- they're the building blocks that are required to build stories; literary devices are the techniques, the ways, in other words, that authors make their points to readers, to shake them up, to wake them up, to make them want to read on.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Vocabulary words
monarchy, unwittingly, harassing, trepidation,
lorries, foyer, integrity, squabbling,
gnarled, imminent, demise, unscrupulous,
notorious, hemorrhaged, garrulous,
carcass(versus corpse), liability,
affluent, tapestries, chandelier, vaulted,
congenital, perpetually, skeptic, scoffed,
virtuous, intricacies, exhilarating, melee, jostled, vehemently, revving,
nemesis, obstinacy, irony
lorries, foyer, integrity, squabbling,
gnarled, imminent, demise, unscrupulous,
notorious, hemorrhaged, garrulous,
carcass(versus corpse), liability,
affluent, tapestries, chandelier, vaulted,
congenital, perpetually, skeptic, scoffed,
virtuous, intricacies, exhilarating, melee, jostled, vehemently, revving,
nemesis, obstinacy, irony
Questions for Wednesday's class
1.How are the boys different after the attack? Give at least 3 details.
2. What happens between Amir and Assef at the party? What does this show about each of them?
3.What is “Hassan’s final sacrifice to Amir”? What happens to sever their relationship? What is revealed about Ali in all of this?
2. What happens between Amir and Assef at the party? What does this show about each of them?
3.What is “Hassan’s final sacrifice to Amir”? What happens to sever their relationship? What is revealed about Ali in all of this?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Questions for discussion
Be ready to talk about these questions when you come to class on Tuesday:
1. Why is kite flying so important to Amir?
2. Explain the significance of Hassan frequently saying to Amir, “For you a thousand times over.”
3. Why doesn’t Amir help Hassan when he is attacked? What does this show about him?
1. Why is kite flying so important to Amir?
2. Explain the significance of Hassan frequently saying to Amir, “For you a thousand times over.”
3. Why doesn’t Amir help Hassan when he is attacked? What does this show about him?
Independent versus dependent clauses
Check here for a website that gives a very clear and concise explanation of how dependent and independent clauses work.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Critical Questions for Chapters 1-3
These questions aren't homework, but you ought to be able to answer them after reading the chapters for Tuesday's class.
1. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
2. What mood is established in chapter 2?
3. Why did Ali and Sanaubar make an odd couple?
4. Why doesn’t Amir invite Hassan to the lake? How does Baba treat Amir that day? From these things what can you conclude about the father/son relationship?
1. What is your most vivid childhood memory?
2. What mood is established in chapter 2?
3. Why did Ali and Sanaubar make an odd couple?
4. Why doesn’t Amir invite Hassan to the lake? How does Baba treat Amir that day? From these things what can you conclude about the father/son relationship?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Code of Conduct Questions
Homework:
Write down the following questions and then say
whether you believe the statement is true or false, based on your reading of the Code of Conduct, pages 18-28:
1. Cutting class is a minor infraction that will be handled by teachers calling your home.
2. Using profane, obscene, vulgar, lewd, offensive, or abusive language or gestures is punishable by a Principal's suspension.
3. Bringing visitors to school is okay if they are not disruptive.
4. Using a ipod in school okay as long as you use headphones and keep the ipod hidden.
5. Cheating on a test is more serious than plagiarizing.
6. Propositioning someone that you like is not considered sexual harassment.
Write down the following questions and then say
whether you believe the statement is true or false, based on your reading of the Code of Conduct, pages 18-28:
1. Cutting class is a minor infraction that will be handled by teachers calling your home.
2. Using profane, obscene, vulgar, lewd, offensive, or abusive language or gestures is punishable by a Principal's suspension.
3. Bringing visitors to school is okay if they are not disruptive.
4. Using a ipod in school okay as long as you use headphones and keep the ipod hidden.
5. Cheating on a test is more serious than plagiarizing.
6. Propositioning someone that you like is not considered sexual harassment.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Registering for Engrade
To register for Engrade, go to www.engrade.com. Click the student button and go to register. You'll be prompted to enter your special code. Your code is: mrvilbig-yourMidwoodId#-your top secret special four digit code #.
(The top secret special four digit code # is the one I gave you in class.)
Please note that mrvilbig is spelled with no periods and no capitals.
Good luck!
(The top secret special four digit code # is the one I gave you in class.)
Please note that mrvilbig is spelled with no periods and no capitals.
Good luck!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Grades
Grades will be based on the following:
Tests and at home literary essays and projects: 40 percent
Classwork, quizzes, and homework: 60 percent
Total: 100 percent
How we'll work: For each book or literary work we read, you’ll be expected to read about 15 to 25 pages a night. In addition you will sometimes have homework in which you'll be asked to write brief responses or answer questions about your reading or topics for class discussion. In addition, you can expect that for each book or literary work, you'll write one at-home essay and have one to two tests.
IMPORTANT: Grades are cumulative. That means the grades you make now count as much as the grades later in the semester. So it's important to work hard from the very beginning and not dig yourself into a hole in the first weeks of our class.
Tests and at home literary essays and projects: 40 percent
Classwork, quizzes, and homework: 60 percent
Total: 100 percent
How we'll work: For each book or literary work we read, you’ll be expected to read about 15 to 25 pages a night. In addition you will sometimes have homework in which you'll be asked to write brief responses or answer questions about your reading or topics for class discussion. In addition, you can expect that for each book or literary work, you'll write one at-home essay and have one to two tests.
IMPORTANT: Grades are cumulative. That means the grades you make now count as much as the grades later in the semester. So it's important to work hard from the very beginning and not dig yourself into a hole in the first weeks of our class.
How to use this blog
The blog is a place where you'll find a variety of material helpful to you in this English class. Sometimes assignments will be posted here; vocabulary lists will frequently be found here; additional material (videos, readings from around the web, and other miscellaneous matters) will also make their way to the blog.
It's important that you check in regularly. Some students link the blog to their email so they'll receive notification when there's new material. This is probably a good idea.
Remember too that in reading the blog, the latest posting will always be at the top. So make sure you don't miss a posting because a new posting has been placed above it: read a few down. If later in the course you want to find a prior post you can find them in the list to the right hand side.
Occasionally, I'll have a longer posting and will use a "more" tag. Just click on it and you'll be able to read to the end.
That's about it. Any questions about the blog, let me know.
It's important that you check in regularly. Some students link the blog to their email so they'll receive notification when there's new material. This is probably a good idea.
Remember too that in reading the blog, the latest posting will always be at the top. So make sure you don't miss a posting because a new posting has been placed above it: read a few down. If later in the course you want to find a prior post you can find them in the list to the right hand side.
Occasionally, I'll have a longer posting and will use a "more" tag. Just click on it and you'll be able to read to the end.
That's about it. Any questions about the blog, let me know.
Welcome to English 1
Welcome to English 1 and the beginning of your high school experience. We will be focusing in this class on helping you to become more adept and skillful readers and writers. In reading you will be introduced to a variety of classic and modern works of high literary merit. You will focus on developing your vocabulary and your ability to interpret and analyze literature. In writing, you will develop the ability to write a literary essay, sharpen your grammar skills and your understanding of how language and sentences work. You will become a skilled writer capable of expressing your thoughts concisely and creatively.
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