Wednesday, 23 April 2014

To Kill A Mockingbird GROUP WORK

In groups you will look at chapter 12 and do the following:

1) List and explain a theme that fits this chapter
2) List all the characters who appear in the chapter
3) Find one symbol
4) briefly summarize what happens in the chapter
5) Act out a scene from the chapter

 You will present these to the class at the end of the period

Questions for chapter 12
  • Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase church.
  • What new things does Scout learn here about how the black people live?
  • What does Scout learn from Calpurnia's account of Zeebo's education?
  • Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church.

HW: Chapter 13

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Chapter 11

Today we will read chapter 11 of To Kill A Mockingbird.  I want you to apply the following theme to it: Appearance vs. Reality and Prejudice.

Discussion questions:

  • How does Atticus advise Jem to react to Mrs. Dubose's taunts?
  • What does Mrs. Dubose say about the children's mother? How does Jem feel about this?
  • What request does Mrs. Dubose make of Jem? Is this a fair punishment for his “crime”?
  • Explain in your own words what Atticus thinks of insults like “nigger-lover”. How far do you agree with him?
  • Why, in Atticus's view, was Mrs. Dubose “a great lady”?
  • Atticus says that Mrs. Dubose is a model of real courage rather than “a man with a gun in his hand”. What does he mean? Do you think he is right?
  • Chapters ten and eleven are the last two chapters in the first part of the book. Explain why Harper Lee chooses to end the first part here.


HOMEWORK: Read chapter 12. 


Monday, 21 April 2014

Expository Essays DUE!

Turn in your expository essays today. 

We will also be taking a short quiz on Chapter 9 of  To Kill A Mockingbird and reading chapter 10.

Here are some discussion questions for chapter 10.

  • Scout says that “Atticus was feeble”. Do you think that this is her view as she tells the story or her view when she was younger? Does she still think this after the events recorded in this chapter?
  • In this chapter Atticus tells his children that “it's a sin to kill a mockingbird”. What reason does he give for saying this?
  • Why does Heck Tate not want to shoot Tim Johnson?
  • Near the end of this chapter Atticus cuts off Heck Tate as he is speaking to Jem. What might Heck have been about to say, and why would Atticus want to stop him from saying it?
  • Jem and Scout have different views about telling people at school how well Atticus can shoot. Explain this difference. Which view is closer to your own?

Friday, 18 April 2014

Homework for MONDAY

Read chapter 9 of To Kill A Mockingbird.  Come to class with what you think is the inciting event of the book.

Thursday, 17 April 2014

YOUTUBE citiations

For those of you using YouTube as a source - you might check HERE for a link for proper steps to cite the source.  NOTE - Purdue OWL offers the following help on citing YOUTUBE videos:

The MLA does not specifically address how to cite a YouTube video. This has, it appears, led to some confusion as to the best method of for citing YouTube videos in MLA. 
Based on MLA standards for other media formats, we feel that the following format is the most acceptable for citing YouTube videos:
Author’s Name or Poster’s Username. “Title of Image or Video.” Media Type
Text. Name of Website. Name of Website’s Publisher, date of posting. Medium. date retrieved.

Here is an example of what that looks like:


Shimabukuro, Jake. "Ukulele Weeps by Jake Shimabukuro." Online video clip.

YouTube
. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2006. Web. 9 Sept. 2010.

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

To Kill A Mockingbird

Today we will look at the study questions from yesterday and begin chapter 8.  At the end of chapter 8 you need to do the following:

1) Outline the plot so far
2) List one theme and write 2-3 scenes from the book that fit that theme
3) Make a list of people Scout fits
4) Make a list of lessons Scout has learned so far

and answer the following:

  • Why does Scout quiz Atticus about his visit to the Radley house? How much does Atticus tell her?
  • What is the “near libel” which Jem puts in the front yard? How do Miss Maudie and Atticus react to it?
  • Why does Atticus save Miss Maudie's oak rocking chair?
  • When Atticus asks Scout about the blanket around her shoulders, what does Jem realize?
  • Explain what Atticus means by telling Jem not to let his discovery “inspire ” him to “further glory”? Is there any reason why Jem might now do as his father says?

Monday, 14 April 2014

Monday 4/14/2014

The final draft of your expository essay will be done next Monday!  Trevor you and Denver should turn yours in NOW!

Today will will be looking at chapters 6-7 of To Kill A Mockingbird

Trevor and Denver you need to read through chapter 22 and keep a reading journal listing and explaining one interesting thing per chapter that you found = what it was and what it means in the larger picture: example - the stuff that Jem and Scout find in the knothole could be a symbol for someone (such as Boo) wanting to communicate with them. 
Chapter 6
  • Why does Scout disapprove of Jem's and Dill's plan of looking in at one of the Radleys' windows?
  • What does Mr. Nathan Radley know about the intruders in his garden? Why does Miss Stephanie refer to a “negro” over whose head Mr. Nathan has fired?
  • Why does Dill's explanation of Jem's state of dress almost land him in trouble?
Chapter 7
  • When Jem tells Scout about getting his trousers back, he tells her of something strange. What is this?
  • Can you find any evidence that Jem is beginning to understand more than Scout about Boo Radley? What do you think this is?
  • Does Jem still fear the gifts in the tree? Give reasons for your answer.
  • When the children plan to send a letter to the person who leaves the gifts, they are prevented. How does this happen? Who does it, and why might he do so?