The Joy Luck Club!

Tomorrow we will go to the book room to pick up our last novel - The Joy Luck Club! Here is a copy of the study guide/questions that I will pass out in class:

Joy Luck Guide

In the Time of the Butterflies Essay Revision

Please type/revise your In the Time of the Butterflies essay. It is due on Monday, April 28. Here is the prompt:

Write an essay in support of OR against this claim:

When people are fighting for what is right, they can and should disregard the law.

Use at least one example from Julia Alvarez's novel In the Time of the Butterflies to support the claim and at least one example from your studies, another book you have read, something you saw on TV, someone you read about in history class, etc. (Please do not confess to a crime).

Benchmark Revision

Your benchmark essay revision is due at the BEGINNING of class on Wednesday, April 16th. You can turn it in at the end of the class on the 15th however.

Your essay must be TYPED using MLA format (see below). You CANNOT ask me on Wednesday to print your essay for you or email your essay to me. You CAN print your essay on Monday or Tuesday in the computer lab or in the library at lunch or after school.

We will be in the computer lab Monday and Tuesday so you can revise and type your essay. The following information will help you with your essay:

Here is the prompt and the article:

Prompt A and Article

And here is the rubric:

Analytic Rubric 2014

Here is a previous post on this blog about MLA format:

Writing Essays in MLA Format

Things Fall Apart: Tradition and Change

One of the key themes of Things Fall Apart is the idea of tradition vs. change. Sometimes change is a good thing and sometimes it is not. There are many traditions we value and want to hold onto and pass on to our children and there are others that become lost.

For this assignment, you and a few group members (your groups cannot be smaller than two or larger than five) will read and answer questions about a modern day example of this theme in order to relate it to our reading of the novel.

FIRST:
Choose your group and sit together. You can each work on your own computer or you can share one.

SECOND:
Go to the Sparknotes.com page for Things Fall Apart and read their description of this theme and how it relates to the novel.

Sparknotes: Themes in Things Fall Apart

THIRD:
In your group, think of a modern-day issue that has recently been in the news that has something to do with tradition, change, resistance to change, etc. For example, here is an article about the worst men's grooming trends of all time. Trends come and go, so that is about change! (Do not choose this topic, that was an example).

FOURTH:
Using a REPUTABLE news source, find an article about your issue. Try these sites:

CNN
BBC
USA TODAY
The Wall Street Journal

FIFTH:
Read the article.

SIXTH:
Using ONE of your online email accounts, sign in and open a blank email. Type all of your names in the subject line. Then, in the body of the email, put a link to the article and then answer the following questions. You do not have to include the questions - just be sure to number your answers.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is the title of the article? Who wrote it?
2. What website did you get it from?
3. What is the issue? How is it about change, tradition, resistance to change, etc.?
4. Briefly summarize the article.
5. Does the article take a side on the issue of tradition vs. change or not? Explain. (For example, is it trying to get us the change something?)
6. Where do YOU stand on the issue? Do you agree or disagree with the article? Include evidence (such as a quote) from the article to support your answer.

SEVENTH:
Cite your article as you would in an MLA Works Cited page. Include this at the bottom of your email. For tips on how to do this, visit the Owl at Purdue website:

The OWL at Purdue: MLA Works Cited (Scroll down to "An Article in a Web Magazine")

Here is a sample:

EIGHTH:
Send the email to:

naylor_lori@ausd.us

You are done!

If you finish early, please sign out and turn off your computer(s). You may then do work from another class or read. Please be sure to collect all your belongings and push in your chair before you leave.

This assignment is DUE TODAY!

Example:

Things Fall Apart Chap. 1-6 Review

This is the group worksheet we are going to use tomorrow to review and discuss Chapters 1-6 of Things Fall Apart. You might want to think about or begin working on the summary section tonight.

TFA Chap. 1-6 Review WS

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos + Reading

Here is a copy of the Ethos, Pathos, and Logos document we went over in class today.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byj0T4Z090A1ZG1rV2E5SDh5aEU/edit?usp=sharing

And here is the Things Fall Apart Reading Schedule: