The Great Gatsby: Chapter 7

On Wednesday, 4 November, I will ask for volunteers to read the dialogue beginning on page 118-"They certainly look cool," and ending on page 135-"No...I just remembered that today's my birthday."

Please do not volunteer if you did not do a "close" reading of the "conversation" that takes place. It is probably best that the same volunteers read through the dialogue, rather than assigning other students to read-aloud after several pages.

Approach this task as if you were reading a play. Decide before hand on your character-prepare by reading aloud that "part."

We will discover together why this chapter is considered to be the climax of the novel.

You Quote It, You Note It

Please click on this link for a tutorial that will help you NOT to plagiarize. Something that Diedrich is suspecting that several students have been doing for their journals.

The Great Gatsby Vocabulary Test

Vocabulary Test 2: On Thursday, 5 November

desolate to impetuously (31-60)

Test Format: Multiple Choice this time rather than sentence completion.

I suggest you make up flash cards.

The Great Gatsby

Chapter 7 Rhetorical Journals Due

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Since this chapter is considerably longer than the others, I am only assigning one chapter instead of two. What does this mean?

I expect this assignment to be one of your best-refer to the handouts-especially the one on schemes and tropes. Also, visit nicenet.org and check-out what the links have to offer.

Chapter 8 and 9 Rhetorical Journals are due on Friday, 6 November.

Under no circumstance will I accept your assignments late. NO EXCUSES!
The assignment is due immediately upon entering the classroom. Do not ask if you can email it to me.

The Dos and Don'ts of Blogging

The Great Gatsby Novel

Bring your novel to class on Thursday, 29, October.

B-Band: You will be rewarded next week (Wednesday) for your return of the lunch applications. I apologize for the delay. (or on Thursday, 5 November)

Homework Policy

Effective immediately, Unless you are absent when an assignment is due, I will not accept an emailed assignment. NO MORE EXCUSES. You will turn-in an assignment when it is due.

In other words, if you are not in the school when an assignment is due-you must email it to me.

Three-Ring Binder Requirement

Unfortunately, several students from each band have not yet entered the class with the required binder. Beginning on Tuesday, for those who enter without one, they will receive a "0."

I am considering this a homework assignment. Imagine what that will do to your average...

How will you explain this to your parents?

Attention: Parents and Students

It has come to my attention-in a rather accusatory manner-that certain individuals who did not complete the Summer Reading Assignments-received an "A" for the First-Marking Period.

This could very well have been true for those who were NOT on the AP English Language and Composition register in June and only discovered that they were in the class upon their return in September.

I will under no circumstances continue to tolerate students "getting in my face" making this accusation. Ironically, this accusation has been made by mediocre performing students. If it continues, your parents and the AP of the Humanities Department will be invited to meet with me to discuss this situation.

Furthermore, I find it disturbing that some of these very same students are not abiding by the "twenty-four" hour rule. Amazingly, immediately upon receiving their graded timed-write, I am approached in a belligerent manner. Why is this so "amazing"? They have done so without carefully re-reading the passage, without carefully re-reading their written response, without reading a classmate's paper that received a higher-grade than they did, and without reviewing the handouts and/or the links provided on nicenet! (Can you name that rhetorical device?)

You are NOT in a "literature" class! You are in a "rhetoric" class. Clearly by now, you have discerned the difference.

The Great Gatsby Rhetorical Journal Assignment

Rhetorical Journals for Chapters 5 and 6 due: Wednesday, 28 October.
(Only 3 entries per chapter)

The Great Gatsby Novel

A and B Bands: Bring both your textbook and the novel to class on Tuesday, 27, October.

Format and Scoring of a Recent AP Exam

Language of Composition Textbook Assignment

For the weekend, you will read the excerpt from Emerson's essay "Education" on pages 102 to 109. You will also answer the twelve questions under "Questions on Rhetoric and Style." You will word-process (type) this assignment. You will leave space after each response. You will answer in complete sentences. You will turn-in this assignment on-time.

D-Band: Monday, 26 October
A and B Bands: Tuesday, 27 October

I will not accept this assignment late.

Urgent Action Time Compliance Technical Order

Now that I caught your attention-An "Urgent Action" simply requires your attention. I am furious by the number of students who emailed me the most recent assignment -past-the-due date. In the future., I do not care if your printer is not working or if you had other assignments to complete.

This is unacceptable-I must now take the time to "print" your assignment! I give you ample time-yet, many of you still find excuses... . Furthermore, those who fall into this category are often unrealistic about the grade they should receive. This will be discussed with your parents next week. Please invite them!

Language of Composition Textbook

ATTENTION: A, B, and D Bands

Do Not Bring Your Textbook To Class On Wednesday, 21 October.
In fact, you will not need your textbook this week. However, you will need to bring your textbook home for the weekend to complete an assignment that I will post soon.

The Great Gatsby Vocabulary Quiz

Study the first-thirty vocabulary words ( for Thursday, 22 October ) from the link I have provided-not from the handout distributed in class.

The Language of Composition Textbook

All classes will bring the textbook to class on Wednesday, 21 October. We will analyze the Emerson essay on pages 102-109. If you do not bring the text to class, you will not be part of the class.

The Great Gatsby: A Reminder

D-Band will bring the novel to class on Monday, 19 October and A and B Bands will bring the novel to class on Tuesday, 20 October. Do not forget the Rhetorical Journal assignment.DO NOT ASK TO PRINT AND/OR DOWNLOAD YOUR ASSIGNMENT-IT IS DUE IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE CLASSROOM.

All classes will read Chapters 3 and 4 for Thursday, 22 October.

Beginning with Chapters 3 and 4, you will only have to complete "three" rhetorical analysis entries for each chapter. This will allow for a more thorough analysis.

First Marking Period Grades

For the first-marking period, you will receive a "letter" grade. Unfortunately, this does not reveal the "accurate" numerical grade you would have received-if numerical grades were given for this marking period. All of the grades have been averaged-since the grades are "cumulative," the numerical grade you earned for the first-marking period will be part of the grade you receive for the second-marking period.

Please keep in mind that an "A" could be at the "low-end" or at the "high-end" of the scale (90-100). Yes, several students did earn a "100" for this marking period. Furthermore, a "B" could very well have been an "85," a "C" a "75."

Your grade was determined by the following breakdown:

Summer Reading-25%
Timed Writes-5%
Project (PSA)-30%
Homework-10%
JFK Analsis-15%
Class Participation-15%

I readjusted the percentages at my own discretion-a "generous" act.

Rhetorical Devices Journal

You will maintain a Rhetorical Devices Journal for each chapter. Refer to the handout distributed in class for specific details. ALL WORK WILL BE WORD-PROCESSED (TYPED).

RHETORICAL DEVICES JOURNAL FOR CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 DUE:

D-Band- Monday, 19 October

A and B Bands-Tuesday, 20 October

NOTE: If you are absent, your work must be emailed to me-send as an attachment. NO EXCUSES! I WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE ASSIGNMENTS.

The Great Gatsby Vocabulary

Periodically, quizzes will be given over the words contained in this resource. Begin studying the words NOW!

The Great Gatsby

On Thursday, 15 October, we will begin reading The Great Gatsby, one of my favorites-although for some English teachers-their least favorite. Soon, I will post the assignments as well as links that will enhance your understanding of this text. Naturally, the primary focus will be on the rhetorical analysis of The Great Gatsby.

Loose-Leaf Binder Check

I have given you ample time to comply with my directive that you will maintain a loose-leaf binder for this class. On Thursday, 15 October, I will check to see if you have complied. If you have not, you will receive a "0" in the homework assignment section of my grade book. This could dramatically influence the grade you receive for the first-marking period.

A Textbook Reminder

Attention A and B Band Students: Bring your textbook to class on Tuesday, 13 October. I will record a "0" in my gradebook if you fail to do so.

Synthesizing Sources: Entering the Conversation (Ch. 3)

Refer to the assignment box on the top of page 72.

The links below will assist you in locating what is required. Naturally, you may use other resources as well.

Make sure to include complete citations for all four of the articles! If you neglect this component, your assignment will be returned and you will NOT receive any credit.

DUE: 16 October 2009, Friday.
Your assignment should be typed!

http://www.artsandlettersdaily.com/
Arts and Letters Daily...
A valuable resource for links to columnists, magazines, newspapers, essays, and all sorts of news and literary commentary.

http://www.newswealth.com/Internet_TV_Channels/internet_tv_channels.html
NewsWealth
A news directory with links to prominent columnists. Live broadcasts from around the world.

Media Memory

You tell me what this has to do with Analyzing Visual Images...

Conducting Visual Arguments

A valuable resource for class discussion and for the "project." TBA